I recently switched from Linux to Mac for my home recording studio. I was really in love with the idea of using Linux for home recording, but I couldn't be happier to move back to Mac. I hope that my experience here could help others who are interested in putting together a virtual studio and considering where to start. Choosing the OS is going to be the starting point, IMO. I'm curious who else here has gone virtual and to what extent. Amp sims have come a long, long way and I think we're now in the golden age for recording and mixing in the box.

When I first put my studio together, Pulse Audio was the audio engine in Linux. Every once and awhile, Pulse Audio would bug out, but I had my workarounds to fix it quickly. However, at one point Pulse Audio was replaced by Pipewire. At first, it appeared to fix a lot of problems that Pulse Audio had. However, after a year of trying to use Pipewire, it became more of a hassle and less dependable than Pulse, as it was new and the bugs were getting worked out.

As far as software goes, the plugin options for Linux are skimpy, but there's always Airwindows, Tukan Studios and Analog Obsession to cover your basic needs. Reaper is awesome on any OS, there's nothing more to say there.

The straw that broke the camel's back for me was trying to upgrade my audio interface. You cannot rely on software or drivers for Linux on audio hardware, so it must be class compliant in order to "just work." This can be a hard problem to solve, depending on what you intend to do. I wanted to upgrade to an Audient iD. I found the digital console more useful for me than a physical board. Using something like the Audient on Linux was unfortunately a no-go.

Going back to Mac has opened up a whole new world for home recording and I hate to say that I couldn't be happier about it. The way I use my studio is for band practice and recording, all in the same workflow. My walls are thin, the room is small, my ears are sensitive and my wife and kids occupy the floor above, so making loud noise is a no-go. Amps go into load boxes that go into IRs; the drums are played on a vdrum kit. I have Reaper loaded up and we record as we practice. This works great for practice, but when it comes to recording and mixing, there's a lot that can be improved upon. This is where amp sims and IR and drumming software can really make the virtual studio work: being able to choose your mics, the placement of the mics, the rooms you record in, not to mention having more than one amp and cabinet and drum kit available is amazing.

lol, I'm 100% taking the opposite approach and wanting to do a lot more out of the computer & going so far as to really digging in to get my Otari working again. Tired of mixing w/ my eyes.

That being said, my DAW is 10+ years old at this point and kinda continue half-reading threads about current state of things with the guidelines to A.) Avoid gear lust and impulse buying a completely new & current setup while balancing it with B.) knowing what seems to have the longest longevity/lifespan. After this many years I don't see myself switching out of Mac OS. When I do pull the trigger, I've committed to giving Reaper an honest go but fully expect to get pissed off and go back to Pro Tools (thankfully can leverage my wife's employment for education discount at least).

I am at that age of straddling the line where I feel like I have a bit of a foot in both worlds of old tech/new tech and hybrid approach of working out of the box with a mixer, analog machine, outboard gear as much as possible, fly stuff into the DAW as needed is probably the route I'll end up taking. I think drum tracking will probably be 6-7 tracks for drums & saving 1 or 2 for a click or scratch track, x-fer into DAW to get a good stereo drum mix, then back into the Otari to have 6 tracks for bass, gtrs, vocals, whatever. It's a little cumbersome but sounds kinda fun too. I could record the drums live to a stereo mix but I'm a little hesitant to do that.

All that said, I certainly understand the value of staying entirely within the box, especially the power of being able to create bigger-than-life recordings without bothering the neighbors. All the things you mention above, the quality has gotten extremely good and would challenge even those with the best ears to differentiate.

Honestly, I'm considering selling off my amps and getting an amp modeler pedal that I can also capture my amps before I sell them. All you need at that point is a power amp if you want to play live. I love the idea that you can send the FOH a signal with your amp and an IR direct and just have the cab for stage, if you even want or need it. I even more love the idea of showing up with a guitar case and pedal case (though I don't play out as much at all these days). It's just insane how good amp modeling and IRs are right now and it's only getting better.

I'm going to check out this open source modeling software as soon as I get the time: https://www.neuralampmodeler.com/

And this IR software looks amazing: https://www.threebodytech.com/en/products/cabinetron

I also like the Softube amp rooms.

Garth wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 10:17 am lol, I'm 100% taking the opposite approach and wanting to do a lot more out of the computer & going so far as to really digging in to get my Otari working again. Tired of mixing w/ my eyes.

There's a bunch of options for surface controls to get the hands on feel, from small to full 24 tracks with memory recall on the faders. Really impressive stuff out there.

I recently got one of those single fader units. It was pretty nice, but a little too much for what I do. I just picked up a Behringer X-Touch mini to use as a knob twister for plugins and amp sims to replace it. Can't live without a physical transport, either!

Icon Pro has expandable professional surfaces with the fader recall and programmable buttons and led displays with vu meters. Really impressive. Eight tracks costs way less than you think, considering. Way, way less than an analog console. You can expand up to 24 tracks, with the main and two expansions, 8 tracks each. If only I had the money and space...

Yeah, I've tried a lot of interfaces over the years some medium-largish, some small. I know they're a good fit for a lot of people but perhaps unsurprisingly to anyone reading this, despite having tactile control at my fingertips, AND despite an actual desire to use my ears more & eyes less, I still found myself going right back to the mouse and keyboard shortcuts and not using the interface at all. I think one of the main things was still having to take the steps of assigning the rotaries to specific features within plugins.

Kinda feel like I need to completely force myself into a different workflow. So we'll see. Analog machines seem to be holding a pretty good value on Reverb now, certainly much higher priced than even 10 years ago, probably due to tape still being made by RTM & ATR so if it doesn't end up being a good fit, I'll finally call it dead for me, sell the Otari and get a Mac Pro or something.

I know what you're saying: least path of resistance! That's the spirit of creating this thread. Don't let the gear inhibit your creative process. What works for you, works for you!

Oh, on the Reaper note... One thing that I originally liked about it (years ago when I switched), was how much like Protools it is out of the box. So, if you end up needing to move on, it might not be as steep a climb as you think.

I've never stuck to fader controllers and shit like that. The mouse is right there and it does everything. I do have a streamdeck for some quick and dirty hot key action and I have a fantastic little thing called a Xencelabs Hotkey that is a programable thing but wireless! so I can sit on the drum throne and hit record, undo, shuttle around the project, goto markers without getting up. It's like a tv remote!

https://www.xencelabs.com/us/store/acce ... NyEALw_wcB

I have the luxury of being able to get as loud as I want in my basement so I can still record guitar and drums in there, But if im just sitting at my desk I'll just plug my guitar into a preamp with a front facing Hi Z jack and load a plugin. I use and like Neural Cory Wong Amp sim (no idea who that is but there are decent models for clean guitar in there), Neural's Tone Master Imperial Sim (sounds really good), and Plugin Alliance Ampeg Sims (b15, V4B, and SVT). These can pretty much get me any guitar sound or bass sound I ever need. I will sometimes Reamp these direct recorded guitars through my Peavey Tube poweramp into a cab in the other room... but not often.

For drums, I use Slate SSD, but I don't recommend it, as I think EZ drummer is better. I'll either pull in some ready made midi drum maps and edit them or tap them out on NI Maschine as I am the worst drummer to ever walk the earth. Gets the job done.

In keys land, We have a Rhodes, a Farfisa Compact, Hohner String Performer, Arturia Mini Brute, and various little table top fun toys ready to go at all times... They almost never get used because I also have the Arturia V Collection and a few good Cherry Audio synths and a midi controller right next to my desk. It's so much faster and easier to just use a plugin and gets you 90% there. With all the gear we have in the room, on a regular day almost none of it gets used. It's almost all plugins for me these days because it is just so much faster and easier to deal with.

As far as Computers, the main recording computer is a PC tower because it is a fucking monster and can't be stopped. In the other room I have a Mac Mini M2 that runs a second instance of reaper just for hosting NI Maschine and soft synths for live jams. All run by a single Midi controller and routed to all the hardware via a Conductive Labs MRCC (if you use a lot of midi buy one of these) and the Mac is connected to a MOTU UltraLite AVB interface. The interface for the PC is a MOTU 16a AVB and each computer can see all the inputs and Outputs from either interface. This way if I am making weird jamz with the keys and want to record drums, I can just patch them in and hit record from either side on either machine. Everything is interconnected. The "PA" in the "Live room" is an Allen Heath CQ18t digital mixer feeding a small power amp and speakers, It also has the ability to record all inputs simultaneously if I'm fee;ong really lazy and don't want to do anything other than hit a button. All the Key boards mult to that mixer and into the computer through DI's and I have a kick and overhead on the kit and a guitar mic and bass di that feed the mixer but not the speakers so I can get quick and dirty records of everything from the mixer with out having to do anything wacky.

The main record PC has a mouse keyboard and monitor on both sides of the wall so you can control main Reaper sessions form either side. This is very good. I've yet to implement it, but the plan is to be able to control the Synth Mac from the PC side as well, including connecting that sides Midi controller VIA RTP MIDI on the network.

It's kinda a lot, but building weird complex studio interconnectivity is what I do for a living and compared to work, my basement is basic as hell... Heather is always furious that it is overly complicated though, and wants me to leave shit alone so there are some very cool things. If you open Reaper and make 16 inputs, and absolutely nothing at all is plugged into the patchbay (very important rule) the first 16 channels of my console feed Reaper directly, so you can kinda run it like a big cassette recorder. Plug in a mic, turn a gain knob... record. Easy Peasy!

That's what I'm talking about! Love it!

I'm about to pull the trigger on Superior Drummer 3.

I've got a PA Megabundle going for awhile and was interested in their Ampegs and GK800 sims. What do you use for cabs/IRs? I have Wall of Sound, but I wanna try Cabintron out. I might just go with a couple of Softube Amp Rooms, though. The vintage and bass suites are way up my alley and the cabs and miking abilities are cool as hell.

cakes wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 5:32 pm That's what I'm talking about! Love it!

I'm about to pull the trigger on Superior Drummer 3.

I've got a PA Megabundle going for awhile and was interested in their Ampegs and GK800 sims. What do you use for cabs/IRs? I have Wall of Sound, but I wanna try Cabintron out. I might just go with a couple of Softube Amp Rooms, though. The vintage and bass suites are way up my alley and the cabs and miking abilities are cool as hell.

I just use the cabs built into the amp sims. I find switching out speaker IRs to be a distracting rabbit hole that for the most part is a waste of time. You just go back and forth a/bing filtered sounds and then none sound good in the end. For me, I just load a speaker before I ever play a note through it and leave it alone. I'm happier in the end for it. I have no interest in accruing a huge library of speaker IR's to accompany the already stupid enormous list of comp and eq plugins that are already there.

Do you recommend a passive or active DI or hi-Z input for recording guitar signal before amp sims?