Metro compared to other products

[DavidLV]

Hello,
I am new here and am getting back into writing songs and pursuing a song publishing contract. I have a Roland D-20, Roland U220 sound module, Chandler reverb unit for adding fullness when recording vocals and a Tascam Midi-Studio that was a nice one about 10 years ago. I was going to record my songs and mix down to a tape like the old days but now see there is cool software to do this. I record on my Roland D-20 the bass, drums, piano, etc. and it has a built-in recording sequencer that I write to a 3.5 diskette. I hook up my U220 Roland to get better sounds to my D20. I just bought a Apple PowerMac G4 1Ghz OS/X with 60 GB harddrive and 768 mb of memory and also the Hardan Kardan Soundstick speakers. I have been doing extensive research on zzounds.com, musiciansfriend.com, etc. looking for recording software.

1) I found this Metro 6.0 and curious what the difference is between Metro 6.0 and Metro 6.0 SE? I am working currently on a Windows based pc until the Apple comes via UPS so I can't test the free download out.

2) With the Apple do I need a USB Interface like Midiman or Edirol to connect my Roland D20 to the pc?

3) do I need a PCI Audio card or soundcard such as M-Audio makes to enhance the sound or does the new Core Audio features in the Apple PowerMac replace buying a soundcard?

4) Where does the microphone plug into and can I record vocals into the pc and will they be digital and pretty clear?

5) I am wanting to be able to mixdown to a mp3 type file and send it via the Internet or more importantly write a sound file of the song to a cd on my pc (I have a cd/r). I want to create songs and get them on cd's and mail them out or on mp3 files and send them via the Internet.

6) I am wanting to stay in the $75 to $300 range for recording software and have found the following products: Bias Deck LE, Bias Deck, Steinberg Cubasis VST 2.0 for Mac (don't have one for the MAC OS/X yet), Emagic Logic Audio Box 5.0 (5 items in one $239 - doesn't take advantage of Mac OS/X), Emagic Logic Audio 6.0 (out in April/2003 for the Mac OS/X), Yamaha UW500 (waiting for them to let me know if it's compatible to the Mac OS/X) and of course the Metro 6.0 or 6.0 SE. I don't mind spending up to $300 if one of these has a built-in synth so I can have more new sounds than my Roland D20 and U220 has.

I know there are alot of questions and apologize for all the questions but any help on how the Metro 6.0 or 6.0 SE matches up to the products above would be of great help. I just want to create great demos of my songs and pursue a song publishing contract as I have been close before. I don't make movies, voiceoevers, etc. Great site and any info on Metro would be great. Thanks!!!

David

[Scoot]

You couldn't really go wrong with either Metro or SE. The SE version is limited to the number of tracks playable at any one time......so depending on how many you would need would determine which to purchase. Limited effects and busses too.

Read
http://www.sagantech.biz/metro/metro6.shtml
http://www.sagantech.biz/metro/metrose.shtml

SE is quite amazing for the price............I think a little too cheap and probably cutting into full version revenue eh Jerm?


A Mac (stop using the term PC) does require some form of midi interface like you said. Some old synths used to have the old Mac serial connector so you could plug them directly in.

I don't think you will require a sound card unless you want to increase the number of inputs recorded at once. Most Macs come with sound in and out.

OK time for opinion.........and to duck out the way of friendly fire.......

Deck doesn't have midi. I found metro cause deck connects to it in a menu and I went in search of metro for the midi side of things. In the end I just gave up on deck.

Cubasis is yuk. SX is out of your price range and according to reviews a few updates short of being useful.

Emagic is powerful but with a steep learning curve. Interface made by someone into sci fi movies. (very pointy arrow controls and strange dials. looks silly).

Go and buy SE as there is no penalty when you want to upgrade to full Metro later........you just pay the difference. And if you don't need the extra features you haven't paid or them.

Do it before Jerm listens to me and raises the price of SE


PS.
I'm sorry you have to lower your starting price from $75 to $59 to buy SE. heheehe

[DavidLV]

Thanks, Scooter. I do appreciate info you gave alot. One other question, I assume that Metro doesn't have any extra sounds (synth, bass, drums, etc.) included in either Metro 6 or SE. If so, then what is a good synth software to buy so I can get updated sounds instead of buying a new keyboard? Also, with Metro do you actually play on your keyboard (Roland D20 in my case) or do you use the keyboard on the Mac to record the actual notes? Curious what you plug the microphone into to record vocals? I just want to still record my songs on my Roland D20 sequencer and transfer the song to the Mac and then maybe add some other sounds with some kind of synth software and then record my vocals into the Mac and mix it down to a mp3 file and cd on the Mac. I would probably only use 8 to 16 tracks. I am hoping the end product will bbe a better sounding demo that recoding to a Tascam 4 track studio on cassette tape. Curious if I transer the song to the Mac from the Roland D20 if I can assign newer sounds from a synth software without having to redo the whole song in Metro with the newer sounds? That is about all the questions I have and do appreciate you taking the time to help me out. The only product I was interested in was Emagic Logic Audio Big Box which is Logic Audio Gold 5.0 and 4 other Emagic products (synth, sampler, etc.) which is $239 but it sounds like Emagic is used more for futuristic sounds, dance music, etc. I am doing pop country, pop, christian type music and don't need fancy sounds. Any synth software you can recommend would be appreciated. Curious how many tracks can be recorded using SE. Apple recommended using a M-Audion 2496 card for multitrack recording but sounds like you don't think one is needed. Your right on the price of SE, it's a great deal. Thanks again!!!

David

[Scoot]

Metro SE

8 Sections with up to 32 tracks per section.
* Up to 4 audio tracks and 2 aux busses.
* Up to 4 audio effects or 1 synthesizer type plug-in.

Read the rest at http://www.sagantech.biz/metro/metrose.shtml

Go to www.sampletank.com and grab the free sounds to start with. That will give you some idea on how it all works.

You play your synth while recording into Metro. I could not imagine wanting to record everything on a synth and then transferring it over later just to change the sounds. It would be inefficent unless you were to tell me that the synth is a better editor than a sequencer like Metro or any other. If it were I don't suppose you would be looking to buy.

Plug vocal mic into a mixer which is then plugged into the mac.

The mac input standard out of the box is limited to one stereo input. You can off course add cards and USB devices to increase the number.

Also the sample rate is limited. To record at anything higher than 44100 and 16 bit you would need a 3rd party device. (SE goes only does 16 bit).

If you bought SE you would be limited to 4 tracks as you are on the cassette machine but the quality of bouncing tracks and mixing it down, the control over the midi and the addition of effects gives you a better final demo.

I was quite blown away the first time I recorded to disk instead of tape. No tape hiss in the background and any muddy'ing of the audio in a mixdown could easily be EQ'ed.

I don't know how many tracks Metro SE can display or store. If you can only play 4 at a time but have 24 to choose from then you could mixdown tracks 4 at a time. After 4 takes you have got 16 tracks down to 4 and playable. It's a little bit tricking to manage but it still means the original tracks are there as its non destructive recording and you can then live with SE. If you can't you just fork out for the full version.

[DavidLV]

Thanks again for the great info. Basically, I already have 6 songs I have written and recorded on my Roland D-20 sequencer and it's saved to a diskette. To get better sounds I hook up my Roland U220 sound module. I have a Shure mic (may buy another vocal mic) and a Chandler reverb unit that is for the mic. I normally would hook all that up to my Tascam Midi Studio ($1800 back in 1990). Sounds like I need a USB interface which is fine. I could buy the Metro SE 6.0 and assume I would hook up the Roland D-20 and U220 and have the audio out from the U220 go into the Mac input and transfer the songs into the Mac. Then when I am ready to record the vocals I hook up from the audio output on the Chandler vocal reverb unit into the Mac input and record to the Mac. I was curious if the full blown Metro 6.0 has any builtin drum, synth, bass sounds? I gues I have to decide whether I want to rerecord all 6 songs via Midi with some new sounds in the Mac (buy third party software - buy M-Audio Delta 410 PCI recording interface which has 700 possible sounds, 22 drum kits, etc.) or stick with the sounds I have for these 6 songs and on future songs record thru the Mac.

I was under the assumption that the Midi USB interface is for playing the keyboard thru the Mac and a edirol or M-Audio 2496 Audiophile, etc. audio interface was for plugging in external instruments, mics, etc. for recording to the Mac. Sounds like it's not a requirement to buy one of these Audio interface when the Mac already has one input in, etc. Also, someone from zzounds.com was recommending Emagic Logic Audio Box Set ($239) and has a fix/patch for it being compatible for Mac OS/X. He also pushed audio interface card but said the audio interface card doesn't make the music sound better but is required when recording to the Mac from a keyboard, guitar, mic, etc. I just want to have a better demo of my songs without going wild on cost. Let me know what you think. You have been a great help!!!

David

[Scoot]

I think all you have to do is make up your mind what to buy.
Everything is pretty well covered.

Audio cards will make the audio sound cleaner if it can record at a higher sample rate but that is all a fine balance between sample rate and hard disk thru put as that increases too. Its all to do with how good your ear is and do you really need it that extreme? There is no problem having only one input. The main thing is mixing the tracks later to get the right levels to make it all gel together...........and that can be done at any time.

You may need some form of pre amp for your mics unless you have it already.

yes - midi interface for synth and mac communication.

[Jerm]

I am in complete agreement with Scooterman. Thanks.

[simon201]

David
A fairly cheap way of adding some realistic drum sounds to your songs using Metro 6 in OS X is to do what I am currently in the process of doing, which is to buy a copy of the LM4 VSTi (you should be able to get one of these for around $20 secondhand on Ebay). Then download the LM4 OS X version from Steinberg. (it requires an original LM4 CD to work). This would give you an virtually infinite number of drum sounds/kits. I'm not up and running with this myself at present, but maybe there are other Metro 6 OS X users who can comment on this.

Simon M