Logic Pro or GarageBand for MultiTrack Recording.

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Level 1

63 points

Logic Pro or GarageBand for MultiTrack Recording.

I've been using Garageband for several years and now have a trial of Logic Pro. Next week I want to do an ambitious (for me) multi-track recording, probably 8 or 10 tracks simultaneously. I don't plan any processing or effects, just four instruments, four voices, and maybe two drum tracks, all recorded live. I'll have an aggregate input device giving me the 8/10 tracks.

I just plan to hit record and let it run for a couple hours while we play, stop when we break, and start another recording when we resume. I'll do this for a few days, with several hours of recordings for each day. After all is done I'll use either Garageband or Logic Pro to mix and edit the recordings into songs. I have no professional ambitions for these recordings, they will just be shared with the players, but hopefully I'll learn something too.

My question: Is there any advantage to using Logic Pro for these recordings, or will GarageBand work just as well? (if there's no advantage I'd rather not install LP on my 2nd Mac mini). Can I even install Logic Pro on a 2nd machine while my trial is going on?

Thanks for your advice!

Mac mini, macOS 11.6

Posted on Oct 10, 2021 4:30 PM

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Answer 1

Pancenter

Level 6

14,770 points

Oct 10, 2021 6:58 PM in response to A07570

If it's just recording audio... both programs will record exactly the same.

Do some trials first. MacOS is fairly weighty these days and tends to not be as stable during extended recording sessions.

Run some trials using Garageband with the aggregate device, If it works, don't change now.

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Answer 2

Oct 10, 2021 9:25 PM in response to A07570

If you want to just do a simple recording and do a simple mix , you can use GB. If you want more advanced mixing capabilities then use Logic X because it has some additional features like mixer view were you can chain effects together ( you can do this in GB too) and create buses, which is helpful for drums and vocals. The sampler may be useful as well if you want an easy way to fly vocals or parts that repeat.

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Answer 3

A07570 Author

Level 1

63 points

Oct 11, 2021 8:10 AM in response to Pancenter

Thank you both for your replies. The other guys in the band have warned me about spending too much time thinking about the recording, so I hope to set the levels and let it go. I will try GarageBand, and hope my lesser Mini 18 is up for the task. Thanks again for you help.

🎤🔊 🎸🎹🥁🎷 🔊🎤

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Answer 4

Pancenter

Level 6

14,770 points

Oct 11, 2021 11:05 AM in response to A07570

Plenty of disk space... yes? Stick with 44.1kHz sample rate, 24-bit depth if possible... even 16-bits will be acceptable.

The only concern is the aggregate device, make sure nothing else is running. Record after a fresh restart.

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Answer 5

A07570 Author

Level 1

63 points

Oct 11, 2021 1:14 PM in response to Pancenter

I’ve freed up a 1TB external G-Drive, I’ll probably hook it up USB-C to B-micro, but it will likely connect as USB3.0 or maybe TB-2, hopefully fast enough and not too much overhead. Was planning on 48/24 as I often use TV to playback on my system, and hoping I can use these tracks to learn how to mix down into 5.1, 7.1, or even Atmos. Yes, fresh start, nothing else running. 🤞

Thanks!

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Answer 6

A07570 Author

Level 1

63 points

Oct 30, 2021 9:26 AM in response to Pancenter

Just reporting back that the recording worked! I’ve only listened to a bit of it and it sounds good, but have hours to sift through over the coming weeks and months (after skiing ⛷).

The main problem I had has been ongoing since Catalina, namely that with my Mac minis (both), when 4K TVs are used as monitors via HDMI, and a ‘significant’ number of USB devices are used, the mini looses track of the monitor and won’t wake up the display. I’m just mentioning this, and not extending this ticket, the solution is to use a USB to HDMI adapter, however with this recoding I didn’t have a spare USB port.

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Answer 7

Pancenter

Level 6

14,770 points

Oct 11, 2021 7:16 PM in response to A07570

Sounds good! Let us know how it goes.

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Logic Pro or GarageBand for MultiTrack Recording.

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