Sound recording software

[SFRT - Frenchy]

My kid is getting pretty deep into music, making her own songs. We'd like to find an affordable sound recording software, any recomandations?

[Denholm]

Try Audacity. It's free.

Other than that I can't recommend much of anything, as I've never tried it.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

[Yeager]

SONAR is supposed to be a flexible dynamic and professional audio recording suite. I have never used it but I am told by reputable sources that its one of the best out there.  Comes in different price packages depending on what you want to do with it. 

Lots of powerful software available for sure.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Music-Production-Software-Software.gc

[ROX]

THE most affordable professional sound recording and mixing software is Cool Edit Pro.  There is a freeware version of it, but it has use limitataions and a short expiration date.  For personal use, it's only $100 bucks or so...maybe even cheaper now.  It's a professional package that comes with every sound modification (echo, auditorium, flange, etc.) you can humanly think of.  It's in use in just about 80% of radio stations in the US.

Sadie (with AudioVault) is far more expensive and has a far steeper learning curve.  SoundForge is pretty good, kind of in between the two.

Remember that raw sound files and songs take up a large amount of computer space, so have plenty of Gigs of storage on hand or get one of those 254G external storage drives.  

When ever she is done with a song (project), back it up on the external drive AND burn it to disk, label and catalog it in a safe place.  I have seen talents go into a RAGE when a project was lost, damaged, or a computer crashed and it was all lost--hours of work down the drain in an instant.

Good luck!  If there is anything I can do to help let me know!



ROX

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Apple is a nice start it comes with Garageband.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Great info, thx guys.

[Thruster]

For recording I started with Sonic Solutions, then was a big SONAR fan for years. Then ProTools, Then Cubase. Then Nuendo. Spent some time with Logic.

All pretty much the same. Except ProTools tends to be a bit more "portable" in the pro arena. Still don't like to mix with it.

Then I got the Sony suite.

Not cheap but for a full scale prosumer A/V production and editing package it can't be beat. Easy to learn, easy to use. Very stable and uses every plug-in I've collected over the years. It even mixes 5.1. It also has the best auto save I've come across. Every component interfaces seamlessly with the others. Vegas to record and mix (I think it was originally designed for video editing but works great for audio too), SoundForge to edit, Acid for super easy sequencing, CD and DVD architect for assembly and final output. Pretty good support also. No proprietary file types save the project file.

BTW it's not just HD space you need to beef up. Most if not all of them offer 999 levels of "undo" and that'll eat up RAM in no time if you're on an involved project.

And Rox is right. Back-up, twice if possible. Put them away. NEVER loan or audition with back up copies.