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Posted by: IDontWantMyUsername Jul 9 2008, 09:26 PM

Hello guys, most of you have probably seen me around here for a while asking for tips about computers and VST's and all that, well, I think I know what to get now I'll make 3 lists: One cheaper option, one reasonable option and one more expensive option. Please tell me if there is something you think I should modificate on the lists and what I should choose from each of them before using all this money (About 15000-18000 NOK or 3000-3500 USD)

Ok, most expensive first:

Macbook Pro laptop: 2500 USD/13000 NOK
Mbox Pro Factory Bundle: 800 USD /4080 NOK
Axiom 61 Midi-controller: 550 USD /2800 NOK
EzDrummer: 150 USD /800 NOK
Trilogy bass: 300 USD /1530 NOK
Eastwest Symphonic Gold Pro Bundle 630 USD /3200 NOK
Final costs: 4930 USD/25140 NOK

Cheapest:
Macbook laptop: 1700 USD /8670 NOK
MBox: 450 USD /2300 NOK
Axiom 61 Midi-controller: 550 USD /2800 NOK
Sampletank 2.5 XL Sample Workstation Bundle: 400 USD /2040 NOK
Final costs: 3100 USD/15810 NOK

Reasonable (I guess):
Macbook laptop: 1700 USD /8670 NOK
Mbox Pro Factory Bundle: 800 USD /4080 NOK
Axiom 61 Midi-controller: 550 USD /2800 NOK
EzDrummer: 150 USD /800 NOK
Trilogy bass: 300 USD /1530 NOK
Eastwest Symphonic Gold Pro Bundle: 630 USD /3200 NOK
Final costs: 4130 USD/21060NOK

So... What do you think?

The Macbook Pro has a 2,4 GHz processor, 4GB RAM and a 200GB 7200RPM Harddrive.
The Macbook has a 2,4 GHz processor, 4GB RAM and a 160 GB 5400RPM Harddrive.

A few things that I wonder about are for example if the MBox Pro Factory Bundle has Virtual instruments included, because it says at GuitarCenter.com that it includes IK Multimedia SampleTank 2 SE? It's in the ignition pack that follows with the product. Another thing is if I have to check if the Macbook has FireWire ports, or does all macs have that? I need it for the Mbox.

Posted by: TreyDeschamp Jul 9 2008, 09:35 PM

Personally I would just go with the regular macbook. There really good! The macbook pro to me is thesame thing just with more hard drive and is more expensive.

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Jul 9 2008, 09:37 PM

I am no expert on this topic, but my only concern is the 200 GB harddisk. I know that could probably be extended, but I would say 200 is a little in the low end. If I remember correctly, EAST WEST Symphonic Gold takes up about 15-16 GB, Trilogy Bass takes up 4 GB...

Alright, maybe I've got this calculated wrongly in my head, and 200 or 150 GB might be fine - if it's for recording use only.

That's my two cents.

Posted by: Henry Dietzel Jul 9 2008, 09:38 PM

Not a Mac user sorry I can't share my advice good luck with your new comp

You can always buy an external HD. I usually keep my music and recordings on one anyway to limit what need to be on the comp

Posted by: IDontWantMyUsername Jul 9 2008, 09:42 PM

That was what I thought too

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Jul 9 2008, 09:43 PM

Alright - no problem then. I've "split" my harddisc (which may not be the best option, but that's too late now, as I don't wanna go through the hassle of re-installtion) to 3x200 gb and 1x150 gb. Works aight for me.

Posted by: black and white Jul 9 2008, 09:51 PM

I have a macbok pro and love it. Space is usually an issue so for me, i always thought that more hard drive is better......or buy and external hard drive and store all you music on that. I do that for my photos, they just go right to an extebnal hard drive so i can take large sized pics and not use space on the laptop. Good luck, always a good plan to have options

Posted by: MickeM Jul 9 2008, 09:57 PM

Trilogy bass is probably more advanced in regards to sound but I find Broomstick bass a great self playing bass and you can get it for 50 Euro, download version. Otherwise It's around 1000 NOK I guess.

Self playing by the way, you'll be best off with a MIDI keyboard but it couldn't get much easier than this.

And if I were you I'd add an external drive to that. So you can run the OS and your DAW on the internal drive and record/render etc to the external one.

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Jul 9 2008, 10:20 PM

One question, did you use Soundfonts first?? there are a lot of cool soundfonts in the Internet and sounds pretty good. This stuff is more advanced and I think that you would need some experience with other stuff first.

Your list is great but you'll study too much... if you have experience with recording go for them but if you are starting with this be careful, and go step by step (it's my humble opinion).

Posted by: MickeM Jul 9 2008, 10:25 PM

That's the best suggestion so far!!!

I couldn't agree more. With too much new stuff you would end up reading manuals and have no time for recording. Either that or with too much to read you'd only reach a novice leven and be better off with a simpler easier to use tool. And cheaper!

Posted by: IDontWantMyUsername Jul 9 2008, 10:59 PM

Do you know any internet sites where I can download soundfonts then?
The reason why I'm getting all the advanced stuff now is because I'm going to USA, and I think it's best if I buy equipment there as their prices are like 75% of what they would be in Norway

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Jul 9 2008, 11:08 PM

well just search in google or other browser...

for example this one: http://www.soundfonts.it/?a=soundfonts (lot of them are compresed with sfArk or sfPack, an special soundfont compressors).

There are also free DAWS... I don't remember where but I downloaded some free , I will search them tomorrow, ok?? now it's time go to the bed

Ah, of course all this stuff is not copyrighted, free downloadble

PS: I'm afraid "downloadble" is not correct... what's the hell is correct word ??

Posted by: IDontWantMyUsername Jul 9 2008, 11:18 PM

How do I "uncompress" the soundfonts?
Ah, they were on the site, sorry.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Jul 9 2008, 11:46 PM

Addictive Drums instead of EZ Drummer,
just my 2 cents.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jul 10 2008, 12:34 AM

Axiom 61 is great, but do you really need that much keys? 49 is usually enough for two hand work, unless you are playing piano for a longer time and you just need 61 keys.

Posted by: IDontWantMyUsername Jul 10 2008, 12:38 AM

This is one spot where I've been a little unsure as I've seen alot of recommendations for these two particular programs. What is better about Addictive Drums than with EZ Drummer and vice versa ?
Aha! I had a closer look at EZDrummer, and it looks like it isn't compatible with Mac or Protools. Is that what you meant when you said that?

@ Ivan
Axiom 61 is great, but do you really need that much keys? 49 is usually enough for two hand work, unless you are playing piano for a longer time and you just need 61 keys.

I've been planning to learn to play the piano for a long time now, so I thought why not just use this one in the start?

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Jul 10 2008, 12:43 AM

I've only tried EZ drummer. I've got good experiences from that however.

But as I say about almost everything: with a little tweaking (or much tweaking) you can get almost anything to sound good. In this case either Ez drummer or Addictive Drums.

Posted by: IDontWantMyUsername Jul 10 2008, 12:51 AM

That's for sure I chose EZDrums because they were a little cheaper, but it doesn't mean much, at least if I have a good reason to buy Addictive Drums.

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Jul 10 2008, 12:57 AM

You'll be happy either way - or regret it either way.

Søren Kirkegaard:

Marry, and you will regret it. Do not marry, and you will also regret it. Marry or do not marry, you will regret it either way. Whether you marry or you do not marry, you will regret it either way. Laugh at the stupidities of the world, and you will regret it; weep over them, and you will also regret it. Laugh at the stupidities of the world or weep over them, you will regret it either way. Whether you laugh at the stupidities of the world or you weep over them, you will regret it either way. Trust a girl, and you will regret it. Do not trust her, and you will also regret it. ... Hang yourself or do not hang yourself, you will regret it either way. Whether you hang yourself or do not hang yourself, you will regret it either way. This, gentlemen, is the quintessence of all the wisdom of life

Posted by: IDontWantMyUsername Jul 10 2008, 01:03 AM

I'm not used to being that negative Let's just hope I won't regret it very much at least

Posted by: Gerardo Siere Jul 10 2008, 01:52 PM

About the Mbox, the pro I find it kinda expensive, I hve recently purchased a Mbox1 (still hasent arrive home) they have Focusrite preamps, it as bfd bundled (so you may let out toontrack) also for nice and fast bt making try native bandstand as vst.

Posted by: ItsMe Jul 10 2008, 08:31 PM

Be carefull when you fly back home. The custom guys take that very seriously now. At least everybody from the euro-zone should be carefull. 3 of my friends had to tax the guitars, laptops and other stuff they bought in the USA at the custom controll . It gets really expensive because of the penatly you have to pay in addition to the tax.

Posted by: swingline Jul 10 2008, 08:53 PM

I would also say get addictive drums, EZDrummer is great but you only get a very basic kit and you have to buy ad-on packs to get more versatile sets. Everyone I know thought that the basic set will do, but then they all got that craving for more and they ended up shelling out more money.

Posted by: IDontWantMyUsername Jul 11 2008, 12:47 AM

I have planned to only buy stuff that I can fit into a bag so I hope it won't be noticed
How do they find out if it's bought in USA or not, and do you think there will be space for an Mbox Pro, a laptop and some Virtual instrument-packs or whatever I should call it in a backpack?




Ok, I am very sure that I'll go for Addictive Drums now

@ Gerardo
I thought it would be smart to buy it as there were quite alot of plugins following with the Mbox pro.

---

Do you think it would be smart to have all the instrument samples loaded on one portable harddisk or could that cause trouble somehow?

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Jul 11 2008, 07:34 AM

mmm that's true, but expansions sound amazing

Posted by: IDontWantMyUsername Jul 11 2008, 09:49 PM

If I should happen to choose EZDrummer, what expansions would you recommend then?

Posted by: javari Jul 12 2008, 08:25 AM

two suggestions:

imo an important difference between the macbook and the macbook pro is the screen size.
with a macbook pro there's just more room, and in my experience thats important. With a small screen you just keep scrolling...

And for the Axiom; why don't you consider the Yamaha KX series? They have great bundeld software. You get Cubase AI with it, which has lots of possibilities, a decent amount of samples and a great analog synth VST.

Posted by: IDontWantMyUsername Jul 12 2008, 03:21 PM

I don't think I'll need 2 mixing programs as I will get Pro Tools with the Mbox anyways, but if you know of other MIDI-controllers that have Plugins or other stuff bundled with them, please tell

By the way I've heard something about a bass sound library called Yellow Tools Majestic. What would you say of it compared to Trilogy?

Posted by: tonymiro Jul 13 2008, 11:07 AM

Majestic is a sampler/rom type bass and is actually very good but I would say Trilogy is a bit more flexible and easier to work with. I think you'd find putting bass lines together easier and faster with Trilogy. Where Majestic might win out over Trilogy though is if you buy it as a multi-pack bundled with Candy - YellowTools' really good sax rompler - and then are able to get a good discount. (YellowTools make some other romplers which are also good but to me Candy is the best of them.)

Cheers,
Tony

Posted by: IDontWantMyUsername Jul 13 2008, 04:20 PM

I looked a little closer at the Yellowtools-products, but I could only find a bundle with the percussion, sax and bass in one. One thing I noticed while looking through it was that I needed an authorization key for the software to work.
If I buy this, does it have to be licensed with that particular key, or can I use an iLok? I think it would be pretty hard to keep track on all these keys if I had to get one for each new library I got.