CD Recording Software for Windows

[DigitalBrad]

What's the best recording software to use? I'm looking for something that does sub indexes meaning I'll have Track 1, Track 1A, Track 1B. These would be for track IDs within a track much like you would find in an opera e.g Scene 1, song 1, song 2 etc. Make sense? I'm currently using Easy CD Creator Version 3 and it doesn't seem to do it.

[SGTROCK]

Hey Brad, there are many PC based recording software packages to choose from. Pro Tools, Logic, Nuendo, and Cubase to name a few. I have chosen Cubase myself and find it is AWESOME for my purposes. I have set mine up for 64-tracks of digital audio and limitless tracks of MIDI, but the newest version can be set-up for 96-tracks! Even 64 tracks is more than enough for almost all recording situations, including Opera. You can name each segment as you choose like, 1st Verse, Chorus or even ActI, Scene 3 etc. The best thing about these software packages is it keeps your audio tracks synced to your MIDI tracks, so you don't need to synced them up the old way, like using a S.M.P.T.E. or FSK timecode track. Another added feature of Cubase is you can get a ton of free effects plug-ins and Virtual drum machines and Virtual keyboards that don't require outboard gear. They are all mini programs that run inside, and with Cubase to expand it's capablities immensely. It gives you access to volumes of sounds as well as a means to record them to hard drive. If you are thinking about doing this make sure you buy a GOOD audio card, one that has multiple inputs and outputs and has a low latency. I'm sure you can find all, or most of these at SweetWater Sound. Ask a lot of questions and buy right the first time! Easy CD Creator is only good for recording your final song when done, or backing up data. You can check out what I have been able to create with Cubase and a few guitars here: http://www.mp3.com/TheRobJamesBand
Good Luck,:D

[DigitalBrad]

Thanks SG. I'm still not sure about CD burning?. Cubase doesn't burn the CDs and what I'm looking to do is to take those markers that you spoke about in Cubase and make them as track IDs on a CD. I envision the tracks on the CD looking something like this:

Track 1. Act One Intro
Track 1A. Scene One
Track 1B. Scene Two
Track 2. Act Two


Here's another good example to use subindexes. Some performers sing to background arrangements on a CD and you could use subindexes for rehearsal marks within the arrangement. For example:

Track 1 - beginning of song 1
Track 1A - Song 1 rehearsal mark at Chorus
Track 1B - Song 1 rehearsal mark at Verse 2
Track 2 - beginning of song 1

Is there any CD Recording software that does something like this and do you have to have a special CD burner in order to create these subindexes?

[tenebrae]

DigitalBrad - I don't think the existing CD Audio format supports what you're trying to do.

Your best bet is probably going to be concurrent tracks, which I know you don't want to hear.

One little trick that might work for you would be to record the related pieces, or scenes as you've referred to them, with no gap in between the tracks, and set the standard 2-second gap in between scenes 1 & 2.

That will give each scene the continuity that I think you're looking for (unless the clue fairy has eluded me on the gist of your post).

Hope this helps.
-Tenebrae

[e801]

Sonic Foundry had a plug in for Sound Forge called "CD Architect" which they no longer produce or support. It is capable of putting track indicators wherever you desire without sticking the dreaded 2 second pause in. you can also do crossfades between tracks. I think these features are now an inherant part of Sound Forge 5.0.
I was searching other cd burining software and I am not certain but it looks as if Nero 5.5 supports Red Book cd burning.
The track naming convention would not be as you exampled:
1
1a
1b
2
2a etc .

But it would be numerical
1 (for 1)
2 (for 1a)
3 (for 1b)
4 (for 2)
5 (for 2a) etc.

Keep searching because what you are trying to do is possible!

[DigitalBrad]

Thanks for the input tenebrae and e801. I'm not familiar with CD Architect. I've also heard a little bit about Wavelab from Steinberg. I'll check into that and see if that does the 1. 1A. 1B thing. I swear that I saw an off the shelf CD that did this, but I can't remember which one. While I'm looking into other software I'll use both of your advice on taking out the 2 second pause. That at least accomplishes what I'm trying to do for now.

[Clay Stahlka]

While Steinberg's WaveLab 3 is a fine editor and RedBook CD authoring package that I highly recommend, if you're looking for a low cost alternative, you might look at Ahead Software's Feurio! It sells on-line for $29 from their website www.feurio.de and will handle about anything you throw at it, so long as you don't need a sophisticated editing program to master your audio first. For the mastering, WaveLab is the best currently available choice. As for Feurio! - it allows ripping from CD, supports multiple CDR drives, allows total control over spacing between cuts, and even handles splitting up long multiple song files with their editor. The only thing that Feurio! does not do is crossfades between cuts. For that you need WaveLab or the now discontinued CDArchitect. Feurio! is a heck of a bang for the buck!