Audio Capture Software for MBPro

G

ggrantly

Veteran
Hello Listers,

I have been building my audio kit for some time, primarily to support my video work. My focus at the present is corporate and training, but my future goal is TV general interest features. I am not in the high end of recording, but have put a lot of effort into having a audio kit which is capable and versitile. My workflow is P2 + FCP. My overall audio scheme is to record the best audio I am capable of, and minimize editing. A while back, I purchased a MOTU Traveler for several reasons:

Studio interface
Field recording with laptop
Four pre-amps if I should have the need

So far it has been a pretty good piece of hardware.

My question now is what software to use for field capture with the Traveler and a MBPro combo. What I have is:

Logic 8 (Apple)
Soundtrack 3 (FCP)
AudioDesk 3 (Motu)

SD302 when needed

This question is about capture not editing.

I find all audio software intimidating. Not being a true audio guy, I am looking for opinions about the software, recording interface, and features which might be most useful in the field.

If you have any opinions about any of the above, or other comments, please tell.

Best Regards,
Grant
 
I had MOTU's 828mkII interface and I really liked it. MOTU is a good company. I used that with Cubase as a start. I eventually switched over to PT.

I guess in the end, for recording at least, any software will do. Conceptually, they do pretty much the same thing. Record, Edit, Mix. Done. With that said, the software you use depends on your personal taste. It's really what you do with your tools that makes the difference.
 
Ryan,

What do you think of Cue Mix? While it seems to have lots of features, I am finding the interface and controls pretty difficult.

Grant
 
ggrantly said:
Ryan,

What do you think of Cue Mix? While it seems to have lots of features, I am finding the interface and controls pretty difficult.

Grant
Click to expand...

Cue Mix is essentially software that routes your audio using the computer instead of using your actual hardware interface. It's just the GUI of the hardware.

Usually most manufacturers have some type of software like this. Presonus has one exactly like Cue Mix.
 
if you're going to be doing audio for film/tv then boom recorder is going to be your best bet. its super simple(but still has lots of advanced options), gives you reel/take input and you can have it generate a sound report with notes. its a very popular app in film and tv.

another popular app for computer based recording in film and tv is metacorder
http://www.gallery.co.uk/metacorder/intro.html
 
manglerBMX said:
if you're going to be doing audio for film/tv then boom recorder is going to be your best bet. its super simple(but still has lots of advanced options), gives you reel/take input and you can have it generate a sound report with notes. its a very popular app in film and tv.

another popular app for computer based recording in film and tv is metacorder
http://www.gallery.co.uk/metacorder/intro.html
Click to expand...

Metacorder looks pretty sweet too. Thanks for this.
 
manglerBMX said:
if you're going to be doing audio for film/tv then boom recorder is going to be your best bet. its super simple(but still has lots of advanced options), gives you reel/take input and you can have it generate a sound report with notes. its a very popular app in film and tv.

another popular app for computer based recording in film and tv is metacorder
http://www.gallery.co.uk/metacorder/intro.html
Click to expand...
Boom recorder is off the market due to incompatibility with Snow Leopard. Check your link. And I was just considering the upgrade.

Grant
 
Ryan,

What I meant to ask was how do you like Cue Mix as a front end. So far, for me, it seems to have plenty of features, but is a bit wild to control. Have you used a control surface with it. The mouse control over the knobs is pretty terrifying.

Grant
 
BR (BoomRecorder) or MC (Metacorder). You also need to think about sync when running these with your cams. So locking them to the right timecode would have less hassle in post.

I used to use my MOTU 2408MKIII as my AD for capture from my mixing panel. Since it has no mic pres, it takes the direct outs, auxes, and mains from my mixing panel and I would re-route the combos out to IFB's, cam sends, and video village. Downside is I needed an inverter, AC only. Your Traveler uses DC, which is a plus for film sets. Combined with Boom Recorder (cheaper and flexible) you can record almost anything you could imagine.

Cue mix is handy when you don't have any more space for a dedicated mixing panel. Using a mouse is terrifying. You can use an inexpensive controller such as the Behringer BCF2000. Once you think about it, why not go with a mixing panel since both takes up almost the same footprint? Plus you can do control/patch on the fly with a mixing panel.
 
Alan,

Now I am going to demonstrate my lack of knowledge with a couple of dumb questions:

I understand the idea of a digital mixer controlling the recording software. The inexpensive ones do this via usb. Can a digital mixer control the CueMix software thus controlling the firewire connected Traveler?

My understanding is that one of the benefits of controlling recording effects (pads - limiters) within the Traveler is that there is no (or less) latency. So it should be better to control the recording levels and or effects within CueMix right?

Crap, I just wish Motu had better instructions on how to use there gear, CueMix in particular. The preamps are very quiet on this box and it seems like pretty good hardware for how I intend to use it. But I am just a bit below the audio knowledge learning curve to be confident setting it up.

Thanks for your help,
Grant
 
ggrantly said:
Can a digital mixer control the CueMix software thus controlling the firewire connected Traveler?
Click to expand...

Yes, like the Yamaha o1V96 digital boards.

My understanding is that one of the benefits of controlling recording effects (pads - limiters) within the Traveler is that there is no (or less) latency. So it should be better to control the recording levels and or effects within CueMix right?
Click to expand...

Right, no latency involved when controlling your effects and mixing sliders in Cuemix. Unless you're moving the faders sporadically, you'll notice latency then. You can definitely use Cuemix for monitor/scratch sends. If you're riding faders like you would do on dramatic sets, then you'll see the latency occur.
 
You guys are talking about two different things. The "latency" he's talking about is the lag tat processing puts on the audio channel/ track. And you two are mixing up controllers and mixers. Actually I think it's the OP that is mixing them up. Some like the one Alan mentioned can do both, but not at the same time.
You are probably not looking for a controller.
As a rule the only things you want to do in production to your tracks is limiting and some low roll off. You don't have to worry about "latency" it's not going to be significant in this situation. You WANT to use software like BoomRecorder (though currently he's only selling it if you have 10.5 since 10.6 broke part of it) or the MUCH more expensive Metacorder. They both have a lot of features you want in a production recorder that the other apps (Cubase, Logic, Protools, etc.) don't have and they are much stabler. Not that the other apps crash a lot but for instance PT will think about it sometimes before rolling. It has a bunch of ways where it won't "just work" and the production apps are rocks so you don't have to apologize for missing the take or part of it etc. Also you can name the files while it's recording AND take notes. THe rest will make you rename after you record and don't auto name in a production friendly way.
 
I have to agree. Cubase, PT, Logic doesn't have a "convenient" way of renaming files. You're better off using BoomRecorder/Metacorder.
 
To each his own, a recorder that is specifically tailored to production sound is the probable way of getting things "right" without much hassle and workarounds.

As far as using other programs like Cubase, Logic, PT, Reaper, you need to first create the new tracks and name them properly before you hit record. This way you do not need to rename them once the file is made in their audio folder.
 
Thanks for all the good response.

I implied but didn't mention the way I want to use the Traveler to record. In this case I was thinking music, or other audio event where the cam(s) would be moving around untethered and needed more than the two tracks that a mini recorder could provide. I already had a MBPro, so adding the Traveler was much more thrifty than say a SD 4 track recorder and it has other uses as well. Having said that, I have tested out the MBPro + Traveler and it works fine. For sure, it is a bit slow and immobile to use. Thus far, I have recorded VO in my office with Sound Track Pro, which is pretty simple to use. The Traveler has midi also.

This Summer, I plan to due some venues and need to get my recording scheme into the "all worked out confident mode", so I was searching for suggestions.

In this case, naming the files and creating notes is a non-issue because of the way I work.

I am interested in improving or better understanding the software which controls the hardware combo, so I'll check into BoomRecorder, but I am still stuck with CueMix. MiaCulpa; not being a pro audio guy, I am grasping a bit at the best way to marry the many CueMix controls together with any recording software.

Best Regards,
Grant
 
"I am grasping a bit at the best way to marry the many CueMix controls together with any recording software."

CueMix and your DAW are completely separate... If you are using the Traveler and not the Traveler-mk3 (which has the built in effects of CueMix FX) and CueMix, there will be no effect over the audio signal being recorded into your DAW. CueMix is setup for no latency input monitoring directly through the box. This is so you can monitor a or multiple microphone signal(s) coming into your Traveler directly out of one of the many output assignments before the signal hits your Hard Drive.

What I would recommend is getting to know CueMix before even launching a DAW. Look into how you can route input signals to multiple outputs at the same time, this is great for setting up multiple headphone or monitor mixes.

You can control CueMix with a Control Surface if it is Mackie Control, HUI, Baby HUI, or any control surface that can go into any of those emulation modes. You can connect the control surface through the MIDI I/O of the Traveler but then you need to set up a dummy device in Audio MIDI Setup (if running on a MAC) and connect the virtual cables to the Traveler. Make sure that the new External Device you created has been setup to be Mackie.
 
Mat,

Thanks for bringing this thread back to life. I've been busy on other stuff so working with the Traveller has been on my back burner for a few weeks. I hope to do some live recording with it this summer.

I have the Traveller Mk III. After experimenting with Cue-mix and watching the tutorials multiple times, I have realized that it is pretty powerful, though most of that power isn't really needed for audio for video. Thanks for the info about control surfaces. How you describe the control surface hookup confuses my feeble ability. Does the control surface have to be MIDI oriented, or can it be in the firewire chain? In a live event, an external surface would be a great thing.

I have looked for this everywhere within Cue-Mix: Is there a reset so that all the parameters are set to neutral values? Once you start to jiggy the controls, it's hard get back to a neutral sound since none of the screen controls are marked. I should have made a audio parameters file before I turned every knob to see what it does. If not, I may re-install the software.

And, WELCOME to DVX user!

Best Regards,
Grant
 
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