[OSX] Which audio package ?

[mirko]

Hi
After yesterday poll about ProTools LE, somebody suggested me to go for something else, hence the current poll.
I am desperately looking for the perfect soft+sound unit for my Panther Powerbook, I need the hardware to have a pair of XLR in and reasonable latency (in order to record guitar overdubs...)
Though I had some problems with Logic, I finally want to give it a second chance, so the outsiders are now :

• Apple Logic Express
  Pros : Made by Apple, so not supposed to vanish from the platform.
  Also optimized and probably updatable via Software Update.
  Supposedly integratable with other packages.
  Cons : Steep learning curve.
  Which audio system ? I'd go for the M-Audio FW410 but this'd increase my costs.
  
• Digidesign MBox
  Pros : All in one including ProTools LE 6.2.
  Everybody tells me it is the best sounding package.
  Cons : I do not know anybody who uses it.
  
• MOTU DP 4
  Pros : Runs on Mac.
  Cons : Price.
  Which audio system ? I'd go for the M-Audio FW410 but this'd increase my costs.
  
• Steinberg System4
  Pros : Looks like what I used on PC.
  Cons : I need to carry the sound unit around because it acts as a dongle.
  Cubase S?2 has a VERY bad reputation on OSX.

Does somebody know if the ESI Quatafire 610 drivers will be ported to OSX ???
Thanks for your help.
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[mirko]

• Apple Logic Express
  Cons : Which audio system ? I'd go for the M-Audio FW410 but this'd increase my costs.

ESI just announced they'll release OSX drivers for their new Quatafire 610 in the end of March/begin of April...
Which makes this card cheaper and more performant (24bit/192kHz) than MAudio's FW410...
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[MartinBSE]

definitely logic - the learning curve is not that steep at all - i found it a lot more "logical" than cubase. To the best of my knowledge none of the others support audio units. remember to budget for the fxpansion vst-au adaptor as well tho.

i would say go for the full pro version than express tho.

[stevef4000]

The MIDI on pro-tools sucks, if you're used to programming stuff in the piano roll in Cubase then I'd think very hard before jumping into PT. Pro places tend to use Logic as a front-end for PT if they're doing any MIDI stuff. However its audio side is excellent.
Plugins for Pro-tools are very expensive.
SX does have a terrible rep on OSX. Never used it and probably never will because Steinberg don't seem to be that fussed about making it work properly on the platform.

[rachel]

1: Logic
2: DP4


rachel

[mirko]

1: Logic
2: DP4


rachel

Hi Rachel,
Last time you answered me, it was about the Logic Audio Big Box vs Reason 2.5
Not that I dislike Reason, but this time I'll follow your advice as I really need a complete audio midi package.
I also ordered the 101-book on Amazon.
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E-cigs

[andyeb]

I'd recommend Logic Express (or whatever the replacement for logic big box is). I've been very happy with Logic 6 on panther - but Cubase SX2 has been a completely different story :twisted:

Andy

[rachel]

I'd recommend Logic Express (or whatever the replacement for logic big box is). I've been very happy with Logic 6 on panther - but Cubase SX2 has been a completely different story :twisted:

Andy

Why? Is it better or worse in your opinion than Logic?


rachel

[andyeb]

Why? Is it better or worse in your opinion than Logic?

SX 2 on the mac is even more buggy than it is on the PC. In Panther there are no end of graphics bugs (dissappearing buttons) and features that only sort of work. For example MIDI plugins like the step designer can just stop working randomly.

The more I use it, the more I think they just didn't test it properly - or that fixing mac specific bugs is simply not a priority.

SX2 _is_ a great package, but it is more usable on the PC right now IMHO.

Andy

[mirko]

The more I use it, the more I think they just didn't test it properly - or that fixing mac specific bugs is simply not a priority.

• "The more I use it" : Pardon my curiosity but why do you keep using it, then ?
• BTW, you didn't actually answer Rachel : how does it compare to Logic Express (which I'll definitely buy, BTW, thanks to your help, Folks ) ?
• Will it run properly on my PB1,25GHz/G4 512MB RAM + external 250GB FW800 HD ?
• Which cheap audio interface could I use ? I need one with 2 XLR inputs, low latency (but I do not need MIDI ports as I also own a Steinberg Midex which is fully recognized by OSX3) ?

Thanks for your help
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