KVR Audio

megadude · Post by **megadude** » Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:09 pm

Hi all,

I recently moved to a different part of the world, but want to still be able to record music with my friends back home. I have been using a Logic based studio for so long that I don't even know what the options are for a windows based one. I am literally asking this for a friend. All he/we want is a program + inexpensive but reality ADAC converter for recording one microphone and one line-in, not necessarily simultaneously. I imagine it doesn't matter whether it is windows or macs for looking at the ADAC, but are there good free/cheap options for a recording platform. (E.g., something like garageband, but for windows?) Here I know nothing, and welcome your wisdom and experience! Thank you!

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:18 pm

https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk

Free and awesome. Formerly Sonar, a major player in the paid DAW world.

megadude · Post by **megadude** » Thu Oct 29, 2020 7:29 pm

cryophonik wrote: ↑Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:18 pm https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk

Free and awesome. Formerly Sonar, a major player in the paid DAW world.

That's a great tip! Thank you very much! It does look awesome. It is amazing what is out there!!

Do you have a recommendation for a DAC to use specifically with it?

Passing Bye · Post by **Passing Bye** » Thu Oct 29, 2020 7:35 pm

https://www.thomannmusic.com/behringer_ ... c202hd.htm

Very decent interface for peanuts
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digidesign-MBo ... SwdytflLZ4

transmisser · Post by **transmisser** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:20 am

Have you looked into Reaper? I believe a license costs $60.

https://www.reaper.fm

As far as an interface goes - the Focusrite Scarlett line is worth checking out:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... -interface

Paree · Post by **Paree** » Fri Oct 30, 2020 8:29 am

You can check these two articles from bpb, they've got you covered
https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2015/1 ... -software/
https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2012/0 ... io-editor/
Waveform 11 Free, Cakewalk are really good fully featured DAWs for free, If you only do Audio recording with very few MIDI tracks, you can get by with Studio One Prime

ztrauq · Post by **ztrauq** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:51 am

Absolute cheapest interface I've gotten away with was the Behringer UCA-202, think I got it for ~$30 or so online. If you can go a little higher the Scarlett Solo will get you XLR with phantom power for a pretty reasonable price (and it should be noted that along with the interface you also get I think a couple of bundled "lite" DAWs and also the Focusrite Plugin Collective with bonus plugins every month or two).

There are actually a surprising amount of free DAWs out there now - the newest one I think is MuLab came out with a free version. Cakewalk is probably the fullest-featured on available for free that I can think of, although Waveform 11 Free is a little more streamlined/easier to get acquainted with in my opinion. Neither is exactly close to GarageBand in terms of workflow, although Waveform is a little more "quirky" and Cakewalk is more the traditional DAW style. I've used both coming from Logic, and while personally I've found Studio One to be the best matchup in terms of that workflow, both Cakewalk and Waveform can easily serve as general replacements unless you're looking for a very specific Logic feature.

mixyguy2 · Post by **mixyguy2** » Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:35 am

megadude wrote: ↑Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:09 pm are there good free/cheap options for a recording platform. (E.g., something like garageband, but for windows?)

Mixcraft. Super easy and user-friendly. They have a free trial version and I think it's about $60, $90ish for the "Pro" version (that includes Melodyne).

Free or very cheap option for recording on a windows-based computer