Poor Man's Pro Tools Rig

[cloy26]

So, I am in the market for a new computer. I have been tossing the idea around of getting a OS X compatible set up. (spare me the legality issues, at least for now. :Smug However, I am using 2 fp10s and Reaper right now. I was planning on getting Logic 9, but am pretty turned off on it after reading a thread on here about how stupid some features are. This led me to the only other logical option on a mac based system: PT.

Which brings me to my next question:

Could I hypothetically track drums with an fp10 on another DAW, export them as wavs and import them into Pro Tools and do the rest of my tracking with an Mbox? Is this a common procedure? I could sell one of my fp10s for (roughly) 250 USD and buy an mbox (or something comparable) with Pro Tools and be out a lot less money. I would obviously LOVE to have the 003, but I can't shell money for that and a new PC.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[egan.]

You could do that no problem.

 

[cloy26]

 

[crazykarl]

I've done some similar things. Basically you just have to have everything starting at the same time and keep all the same settings (i.e. 48 and 24 or 44.1 and 16). Using consolidated and compatible sound files should work, it would be comparable to loading a professional multi-track (like the Bohemian Rhapsody multi-track that's been floating around for a while).

There may be some problems with tempo and meter maps since, unless if there's some way to import these as well.

 

[cloy26]

well, I could just look at the tempo mapped in reaper and then go to those bars in PT... It *seems* like a pretty painless way of doing things...

 

[AdamWathan]

Easiest way to import/export tempos between DAWs is to create a dummy MIDI file in the Reaper project, export that using the "Export Project MIDI" option and then import that into Pro Tools. Pro Tools will ask if you want to import the tempo information from the MIDI file and just hit yes and you should be good to go! Pro Tools and Reaper is a winning combination on every level.

 

[cloy26]

Bump for this question:

I am obviously looking to purchase a PT compatible interface. However, I have heard terrible things about the preamps and converters in the Mbox's... I don't have enough money for a 002 or 003... Is the Mbox Pro any better? Better enough to warrant paying double for it? I don't have any external pre's right now as I didn't think they would make a difference to my ears now, but I don't want to get stuck with a trash piece of gear I will regret. I could run my firepod pre into it? Any insight from the PT guys out there is really well appreciated.