Remixing tools ... Need advice.

What do you use to produce remixes?

I've admired the talents of the like of EuropaXL, Richard X, Motiv8, Steve Osbourne and Paul Oakenfold over many years.

I have a decent enough PC (Pentium 4 (3GHz), 1 Gig ram with more to follow, 80 Gig SATA HDD with another second drive to follow, ST Audio C-Port/DSP24 audio card, MOTU Midi Timepiece midi interface, my good old ASR10 sampler/master keyboard, Novation Drum Station and Novation A Station synth.

What software would be best for me? Sony Acid Pro 6? Reason? Cubase SX? This is purely a bobby and will probably never earn me any income from this and some of the software can cost over a grand. How about the learning curve? I come from using and old Atari and C-Lab many years ago :D

I would like to utilise VSTi soft synths if possible.

Any advice is truly appreciated.

Alan.

Anyone?

Cubase is what you're after. It'll allow you the flexibility to do audio and MIDI as well as support for VST instruments.

Although Cubase SX is indeed a very good sequencer/DAW. If you're going to be remixing tracks i'd plump for Ableton Live, as this has features that Cubase and no other sequencer/DAW has at this point.It still has VST support and the learning curve isn't too steep, plus you get a bunch of instruments/tools not available on any other platform, e.g. the ability to 'warp' audio files to any tempo without altering the pitch. [better than timestretch]

Website: http://www.ableton.com/

Brilliant info guys :)

Any definte do's and do not's, pitfalls and things I need to watch out for?

PC setup info, how to keep my PC fast and clean etc?

Alan, this thread's not really New Order related so it'll probably end up in BCD.

For what it's worth, I use Acid Pro for mixing just because it was cheap and easy to pick up. However, I do fall into a hole sometimes when it comes to changing tempo without altering pitch. If anyone has any tips, please spill them here...

:\pimp3:

depthcharge wrote: Alan, this thread's not really New Order related so it'll probably end up in BCD.

For what it's worth, I use Acid Pro for mixing just because it was cheap and easy to pick up. However, I do fall into a hole sometimes when it comes to changing tempo without altering pitch. If anyone has any tips, please spill them here...

:\pimp3:

Hi Depthcharge, sorry about the off topic thread, I hadn't considered that.

Intersting about tempo change within Acid Pro. Ableton is sounding good.

How about good soft synths and drums? Any advice? Do I need a software sampler to spin vocals in?

Alan.

I use Cubase SX3 google KVRaudio for some good free VSTs samplers and drum machines (ERS is a nice one) SX3 can time stretch warp easily, I find cubase easy coz I started early with pr024 having cut my teeth on early roland sequencers, get a cubase training dvd off ebay and work through happy doodling! check this link http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Oct04/articles/cubasenotes.htm

Moog wrote:

SX3 can time stretch warp easily

Oh yeah? So SX3 can instantaneously [and perfectly] stretch a whole audio track to any desired tempo upon import can it? Well that's news to me, Oh SX3 can 'timestretch', but not as seamlessly and as easily as Ableton Live.

We find SX3 warp easy and quick, We use it every day to earn a living, our studios PCs have a decent spec which is music only PCs with no internet or antivirus, lots of memory they can import big audio files and manipulate easily, our friend asked a question I answered with my experience of SX3. You have your preference and it works for you great! Take a look in most commercial studios and see what software is in use, most bands who come to us to record bring files from cubase, acid pro a few ableton. We are recording DJ output dance electronic and industrial. Try before you buy, most music shops will have a range of software, give them a go and see what works for you, ask the questions its a matter of personal choice.

Thanks Moog and Rob,

You guys are great, this is the kind of info I'm looking for.

What do your PC's consist of? Processors, RAM, do's and don'ts, short cuts, speed-ups, tricks?

Alan.

Hi Alan Our pcs are a very similar spec to yours with a larger hard drive and more ram but all non essential crud is stripped off, no office no games no internet no antivirus. As i said earlier the pcs are only used for music if you can do the same your audio performance will be great, to save posting a list of tips check this link for optimising your xp for audio http://www.thewhippinpost.co.uk/audio/optimise-pc-audio.htm Ebay is a good source of VSTs too Have fun! Steve

Thanks again Steve,

Checking out link now

You could probably start a sequencer war on here, get some demo's and find your prefference, I've just updated to cubase 4 from sx3 and love it, but find something you're happy with and learn it inside out, subscribe to mags like future music, sound on sound etc, let us here your stuff when you get up and running.

also, if you're using your PC for anything else, make sure all background stuff is off while using your sequencer, ie disconnect from internet, quit anti virus etc.

Good luck