groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/11/2025:  07:11:23

Gee whiz, of all the crappy luck things...lol. It hasn't been a good time for me musically...besides not having anybody to ever jam with at all...I had my presonus, but now with hubby having so many issues, I never get the chance to play...which means no chance to record either. So today he went out with daughter to get pictures of birds...I ran down to my "presonus" room and tried to hook the thing up, wouldn't let me into studio one...I had to put that stupid big long key in several times and it finally said my license is expired. What???? So...I had maybe half an hour or so to hurry and try to play something, spent most of it trying to get into it so I could record...now...I gotta admit, with my technological don't-know-how, and my desperation to play, now sitting with cold Chihuahuas and coffee...and yes, tears in my eyes...because I really wanna play some music, for my soul. I mean, I could sit here and play by myself...but I've gotten to where I like some extra guitar backup, main guitar, maybe banjo and fiddle, harmonizing voices...it ain't much fun to just sit and play one thing at a time. I don't know what to do about this...I paid for this studio one back in 2009 and I didn't know it was ever supposed to expire on me. Ok...gonna pet Chihuahuas, drink coffee...they'll be back home in a few minutes...I've wasted all the time I had for playing. Ugh...what do I do without a recording studio working for me????

DougD - Posted - 01/11/2025:  07:31:12

I think I read recently that Presonus was changing to some sort of subscription licensing scheme, and thought that might spell trouble. The days of buying software for perpetual use may be fading fast. You could try contactng Presonus: presonus.com/pages/contact-tec...l-support
I have the free version, which I think has been discontinued, but I don't know if it still works or not.
You could always try Audacity.

farmerjones - Posted - 01/11/2025:  08:23:44

Peggy, what do you take those great pictures with? I don't remember seeing any videos from you? Doesn't matter. Here's what I'm getting at: For some reason when I take video with my tablet, the audio is really quite good. What I'm saying is , make a video, and convert it to an mp3 using VTM converter. Not a plug for vtm converter. Mp3 take up less memory than video. This is what I been doing lately.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/11/2025:  09:20:41

I take the photos with my phone...it is an iphone, so it takes good photos...I bought it recently along with a Macbook because our computer was outdated...bought that to create a new setup for my presonus recordings, thinking it would be less time downstairs and I could do a lot of it, after it was recorded, upstairs with hubby by using the Macbook and iPhone together to make the videos and get them onto YouTube. I don't have much time at all for recording, so I've tried to make the process as quick as possible so I can be back up here with him...but...ugh...something always seems to interrupt my big plans. I was borrowing an old iPad from grandson before I got the Macbook and iPhone, so I gave it back to him and I guess all I would have to make videos now would be the iPhone. Maybe the Macbook does it too??? I don't know.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/11/2025:  09:25:06

I might try to contact them but it's sort of a big deal contacting those outfits and it's hard for me to get through right now. I know a lot of people have said how much they love audacity but I've never tried, also I think there's some apple thing on the Macbook...I don't even know...lol. To me, it's sorta like, if I get into the car to go somewhere, I don't wanna have to get out and change the tires first, learn how and then change spark plugs, etc, etc. I just wanna drive the daggone car...lol. I feel the same way with this stuff...the learning curves are always tough for my untechnical mind to get through...I don't know. Not sure what I'll do. Came back upstairs...drank coffee and cried...hubby got back home and then I tried to read my new knitting book, which didn't make any sense to me either...lol. I think I should just drink coffee and forget everything else...lol...so many hassles and I feel so intolerant and just inadequate to deal with all of it. I miss music very much. Seems there are always a lot of obstacles involved with it though, sometimes.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/11/2025:  09:25:59

I thought about staying up late at night, playing my own YouTubes, and just play and sing along for a jam...who needs sleep???? I might do that...catch up on sleep every couple of nights, maybe.

DougD - Posted - 01/11/2025:  09:39:46

Peggy, I don't know anything about Macs, but I thought the Macbook might have Garageband, but I don't know if your Presonus will plug into the Mac.
I'd keep trying - it might just be a glitch. Its not really too hard to contact these companies, and they're the ones who can help you. I provided the link to their support page - If you don't have time to follow it, that's all I can do.

Edited by - DougD on 01/11/2025 09:44:28

Quincy - Posted - 01/11/2025:  10:47:02

Hope you find a solution for recording Peggy and I sure hope things will work out fine for you and your husband! I am sending my best thoughts .
I suppose you want a recording program because you work with different instruments and vocals the same time. But something I just want to explain, without hurting your feelings, I have no bad intentions saying this, just hope maybe you also would benefit from it.

The thing is, you sound a bit like me. The doctor/specialist of the mobile team that is supporting me (yes I got a whole team backing me up lol, they visit me regurlarly to check up ) was here last week and all of a sudden she asked me about fiddle music. She asked : Do you ever just sit and listen to it ? So I replied: well yes, ofcourse, but when I hear something very cool that I want to be able to do as well I will start searching for the technique try to find the tricks. Then she said something I was totally not aware of: 'You seem to be focused on accomplishments, you really need to learn again to just BE , just sit and listen or just play for fun, without recording yourself , without any goals. That comment was not only related to fiddle playing but also to my working line dog! I have now the strict obligation to also just play for fun - besides studying fiddle stuff and trying to make progress- and to walk the dog for a long time each day, without any training goals.

Anyway, still I wish for you to find a quick and easy user friendly recording solution, I love the music you make , you are one of the most versatile fiddle players I 'know' (well not irl but here online in this digital world I mean) :-) But what I wanted to say and I read you too regret the time you could have just played too....: don't you forget to just be , just play !!

Best of luck to you and your husband.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/11/2025:  12:13:40

Yes, Anja...I get your point. I work too hard and rarely just relax or enjoy myself. That's how i've always lived...I know you have done the same and I've often thought we have that in common. I'm thinking the best thing at this point would be for me to just do what I need to do to keep hubby happy and forget about recording music...just play a little by myself here and there when I get the chance...and learn to chill out...lol.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/12/2025:  08:54:50

Well last night I had this dream that woke me up and the thought continued for a while... the dream was that I went through all of my YouTubes (yes, I know, I'm obsessed with multi track recording and putting them on YouTube so the four people who watch/listen can be bored to death by me...lol...) and recorded my playing along with them on an instrument that might not have been on the original...or an instrument that didn't do much on the recording...like...see if I can jam some in some kind of creative way with the YouTubes/ recordings already in existence.

I know I've mentioned this before that I don't enjoy listening to music because I like doing it my own way better...my keys, my tunings, slow paced...I don't wanna feel like we're running to the fire, but rather, that we are pensively experiencing the magical stuff the music can bring through chords, harmonies, melodic contours, and rhythms...sorry, but I can't hear all of that if the music is fast...it just ain't for me...and when I've jammed a long with fast music it just makes me nervous and feel like I'm treating the music in a brutal way. By the way, sorry for the fire example...and hoping all the FHOers in California (I think there are a lot) are safe and aren't affected by the horrible fires.

But anyway...not sure how I would go about fulfilling that dream last night...lol...last night I did in fact have the strangest dream, so to speak, so to sing...I guess prop up the iPhone or see if the macbook does do videos like that...but I'm so terrible on camera...but... well it would be boring for anybody to witness on YouTube...it would just be a project...with purpose, even if the purpose is only acknowledge by myself...lol...but I still would have a lot of difficulty trying to manage the time and all that...just a pipe dream...I should get me a corncob pipe and stuff that dream into my pipe and smoke it...lol.

DougD - Posted - 01/12/2025:  12:01:27

Peggy, your dream sounds a lot like what farmerjones suggested earlier in the thread, except he suggested starting with a new ideo, kind of missing the point of your interest in multitracking.
My question would be why not just play along with the orginal mixes you used for the videos, and bypass YouTube altogether?

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/12/2025:  14:25:30

Yeah I think I did mention I had the thought of just jamming with the groundhogs...but I really thrive on goals better...some type trajectory or point to what I'm doing. That would be great if I knew any live humans...lol...no, we live in practical isolation here...so...the internet is my way to get out of the musical closet, so to speak. If I had jams or places to play I'd have some sort of goal to propel myself forward...when it's just messing around all by myself I kinda don't stay as highly motivated as I like to be. I think that's why the need for youtubing. It makes no sense I guess...but I have a hard time just playing into the air and then it's just gone away...lol...I don't know. Makes no sense but it helps me to at least feel like I'm around other humans.  And also...that sense of a goal would help me to be able to find ways I can get those moments to myself for playing.

Edited by - groundhogpeggy on 01/12/2025 14:26:48

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/24/2025:  07:00:09

Update. Very frustrating. I'm going crazy here. I've tried to log in with my key number, my user name and password and they are never accepted. Studio one just has me locked out. I tried calling the tech support number on my studio one/presonus package I'd purchased...get a recording saying that number can no longer be reached. Ok....so they weren't paying their phone bills? I tried emailing the tech support site on my package...email sent back and said the address was a failure or whatever. Tried getting onto the site to access anybody who could tell me what's going on here...the site will not accept you in to ask a question unless you login, and my login is not accepted. So...now i'm going totally nuts....I really don't like my musical fast...bad enough I have to run through hoops to play any instrument at all...but I really want to play with harmonies and such, other instruments...I guess I got spoiled by my 15 years of recording studio fun...now I'm at a loss. I guess I try to figure out how one loads and operates that audacity thing everybody talks about. For one thing, I have such little time to fiddle around with this frustrating techie stuff and I'm really bad at it too. So it'll probably take me a couple of months to get it loaded and figure it out. I tried garage band that comes with the Macbook and I can't make heads or tails of it. I don't have a lot of time for this...it's kinda like, to me, you wanna get in the car and just get from point A to point B, but first you have to look up how to clean the carburetor, buy a new one, clean it out, and then get to drive the car. I mean...I just want to, long to play some music for my soul...I dread dealing with all this other stuff. So...we'll see what comes next. I'mg getting to be a nervous wreck of a human being. I just wanna play some music...very frustrating.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/24/2025:  07:01:44

If I would have known studio one was about to lock me out, I would not have bought that expensive MacBook I got just for easier recording and more room in our tiny house. This is such a bummer to me, all around.

NCnotes - Posted - 01/24/2025:  07:41:00

Peggy, your MacBook maybe came with Garage Band on it for free?
My Mac came with GarageBand loaded on it already…
Do you want to check that out?
It’s maybe not as sophisticated and polished as your usual, but it could scratch the itch…and there are tons of tuturial videos on how to use it…maybe simplest way is to have a mic you can plug directly into MacBook…

Edit: Oh I see you already tried it out! Well - in YouTube if you google GarageBand, there are lots of folks showing how to use it. Like, they show you where to click, etc…and you can pause/rewind as much as you want!

Hope you find a way with your music!

Erockin - Posted - 01/24/2025:  07:50:16

OH my goodness! Do you need help still, PJ??

I've got about 10 years of experience with GarageBand. PM me if you need. I can also send you my email.
Easy peasy!

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/24/2025:  09:14:06

Thanks, guys. My daughter purchased Logic Pro and it can be used for 5 people on her account...she says it's supposed to be a good, pro-quality recording studio. So I fiddled with it a little bit and it's just so different...I could only make one track sound at a time and couldn't get the doggone metronome to stop sounding out. So, daughter has no idea how to use it either, but she purchased thinking some day we could learn and do a few things/projects...like when we did her opera and I helped her with the backup to some other things she wanted to sing...anyway, I looked up on YouTube and mainly find people who want to use it with digital instruments within the program...I think I finally found a YouTube (2 hours long...I'm lucky if I can get 10 minutes to myself!), so, maybe after a couple of weeks of trying to get through this youtube, if I don't bust apart before then, maybe I can try something very basic and see if I can make it work. I couldn't understand GarageBand or anything else I've seen...but I don't understand this logic pro either.,,,but daughter paid for it and she thinks it would be a good one if I can learn it. She has little time these days too, for music...I have little time for anything but caregiving, which takes every bit out of me, and seems to get more difficult each day. But ... gonna try to gradually focus on the YouTube and see if I'm too stupid to get it or if I can learn any of it. Thanks for letting me voice my frustrations...there is nobody in our world now but daughter and her family...they are busy with a growing son and projects they're involved with...so...mostly it's sorta like solitary confinement plus a couple of Chihuahuas around here...lol...besides the need for music, I also have the need for yakking...lol...and I am totally losing my mind really fast. ugh...maybe I can play some music one of these days. gonna try.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/26/2025:  12:36:41

Well I managed to look at some minutes of YouTubes but haven't gotten past the whole digital music thing...wow...I can't believe that seems to be so popular...people want to loop digit sounds from the computer programs and put in some free but weird Apple music and call that a recording...lol...that just sounds boring, even annoying to me. So I guess when time permits again I'll try looking up acoustic recording of logic pro on a MacBook...see if I can find out how to put tracks on, make 'em all sound, mix 'em so they sound nice, get the metronome to mute...etc. Right now I'm really sick with a fever so I just don't have the energy to search...still gotta take care of everything here and it's hard...I can barely stand up on my wobbly legs. Can't take care of stuff and do anything and even having trouble just taking care of stuff, etc. As the neat little guitar picking song says...Life gets teejus, don't it?

NCnotes - Posted - 01/27/2025:  13:08:16

Hmm, I googled briefly ...

"Logic Pro" and "Garageband" are both made by Apple -

with Logic Pro being what professional musicians use (more powerful, more features) and Garageband designed to be more simple and intuitive. That is, if you play around in Garageband and get the hang of it, you should have no problem stepping up to Logic Pro.



The "looping digital music" thing is kind of fun! I was doing that when I had RSI and couldn't play guitar or fiddle at all ... but of course you can just ignore all of that, if you're going to record your own original stuff and multitrack it! Maybe just watch the videos about recording ... skip the rest...



I hope caretaking is not too overwhelming and you remember to "put on your own oxygen mask first"... hang in there! HOpe you'll get to play some music today.

Edited by - NCnotes on 01/27/2025 13:09:00

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/27/2025:  13:39:36

Ok well I just wrote on here and it all disappeared...that happens a lot on FHO...I think there is something I inadvertently tap on, or breathe on or something that erases the entire post. So...in a nutshell... because I am exhausted ...lol... ain't no playin' for me today because I've been so sick for the past several days...temps between 99 and 101, back and forth...finally got out one of the ol' gov. issued covid tests and Wham-O, bingo, blame! Yep. I've managed to avoid it for 5 years and it finally found me...got me...injected me with its insidious RNA...so...well I mostly sat half laying down for most of the day and now totally exhausted...lol. Fortunately daughter brought us some supper last night and today. I think I am feeling better right now...but really, really exhausted. The chihuahuas are so mad at me because right when the weather got better I suddenly got sick and they can't go for walks. Rotten timing on that one, hey?

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/27/2025:  13:43:06

Oh, yeah anyway I meant to say maybe I'll have another look at garage band...it's been a long time since I looked at it. I still wanna watch some YouTubes and see if I can find anybody just talking about how to put acoustic tracks on there and get 'em all sounding and get that metronome to be quiet...how to just do things like that. If I could put tracks on acoustically, get them to sound, control the mix of the them, get a scratch track with a metronome going for my own sake for doing getting the other tracks to hang together with the scratch track, and then get the scratch track either muted or deleted but keep the other tracks and get the metronome to shut up and make the whole thing into an mp3 and then export it onto some place in the Macbook...if I could do all of that...I'd be ok...lol.

DougD - Posted - 01/27/2025:  15:11:08

Peggy, sorry to hear you've been sick. There's a lot of stuff going around and I've been sick for a couple weeks too. We don't have anymore Covid tests, so I don't know what I've had, but I have no energy. Finally got to walk the dog yesterday, but I don't think we'll go today.
I've been meaning to give you some advice, so here it is:
1.FORGET LOGIC PRO. You're just wasting time banging your head against the wall. Your description of beats and loops and Apple music is exactly how Apple markets it, and its not what you want to do.
2. Your MacBook should have GarageBand, and you might as well look at it. People say its easy to use, but its built on the same "engine" as Logic, so it might just be more of the same.
3. You were able to use Studio One, so I'd spend some more time trying to get it to work. IIRC you've had problems ever since you switched to the MacBook (you could go back to your old computer if you still have it). Nowadays, software is not only restricted to one licensee, but often also to only one device, and it doesn't seem to recognize the MacBook. You also may not realize that Presonus was bought by Fender a few years ago. When this happens, contact and customer info should be transferred, but it doesn't always go right. They no longer offer the Artist and Prime (free) versions of Studio One, just Pro, and may not still support them, although they still seem to be bundling Artist with their simple interfaces. I have a copy of Prime, and I tried it a couple weeks ago and it works fine.
So forget the contact info on your package, and try this page: presonus.com/pages/studio-one-...resources
I'd try to log in, and if that doesn't work, say you've lost your password and ask for a new one. If that doesn't work, try starting a new account. If all else fails, contact Fender directly - they've been helpful to me in the past.
3. The problem with all these programs is that they started out as MIDI sequencers, mostly in Germany. If you want to create techno house music in Berlin, they might be fine, but very little music today is produced by recording acoustic instruments, which is what you want to do. One program meant for this is Audacity. They make a point of saying that its an audio recording/editing program, not a DAW. That's what you want, and I'd suggest you just download and install it and start recording again as soon as you feel better. I've used it once, and it seems a little clunky and homemade, but I think you'll be much more comfortable.
As a little (so called) bonus I'm including my one and only "one man band" recording, just to show you I know how to do it, and why I don't!

Edited by - DougD on 01/27/2025 15:18:14

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/27/2025:  15:28:31

Thanks, Doug... and sorry to hear you've been sick too. I tried several times to get a hold of studio one...does Fender own studio one? If I contact Fender they might be able to help? I sure would love to have it back. I have recorded on studio one for several months on my MacBook without problems...I mean...just figuring out how to get it on there, but grandson did come and set it up for me back...I can't remember how long ago but it's been several months now. I think it was just starting the new year, 2025, that suddenly it tells me my "free trial" and run out, and won't let me in. I never had any free trial...bought this whole recording package back at least 10 or 15 years ago. Anyway, if it's owned by Fender I might try to get a hold of them. Won't do any calling by phone for a while because I sound like a frog...so...lol...one of these days.

ChickenMan - Posted - 01/27/2025:  19:00:04

Peggy, I use Audacity for all my multi-track recording. I'll bookmark a few of the important things to know, like how to fix latency (making the tracks line up when you record one then another), and share them. It's no less clunky than many of the workstations out there, once you learn the layout. Let us/me know if you decide to go that route and in the meantime I'll get to bookmarking.

NCnotes - Posted - 01/28/2025:  06:06:07

I kinda agree with Doug that the most preferred method is to talk to a live human at Studio One/Fender and see if they can get you access again! (Sounds like they might be trying to get more money out of their users…)

Otherwise any of the other programs probably would work fine…with a bit of a painful learning curve…but you have lots of options - since your daughter already bought Logic Pro, GarageBand is free and has a huge user base with lots of teaching videos, and Audacity is great too…

I am sure forum members can help if you get stuck! :-) for example it’s easy to turn the metronome off/on in garage band…one click…I have to go in there to remember exactly how I did it though..,

Erockin - Posted - 01/28/2025:  09:16:19

Garage Band!! I can't promote it enough!

I remember discovering that I had Garage Band and a mixer with an interface built it. I plugged it and BAM, I started layering all sorts of tunes. The beauty also was that I had a midi keyboard piano that accesses all of the built in keyboards in Garage Band. All of the sudden I had a B3 Organ at my fingertips. Almost 90% of the music I post on here and on YouTube is from Garage Band. Logic is GB on Steroids. So if you plan on producing professional artists, they all use Logic and Protools. GB seems to be the most intuitive.

I'm also able to access it on my phone but every project I export as an MP3 and it's sharable then anywhere.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/28/2025:  09:30:56

I can't figure out how to get tracks on there that I play acoustically. Too tired and sick to look it all up and struggle with it now...lol...too much other stuff always going on here anyway...someday I'll try it again. I did call the number that came on my studio one when I bought my presonus back in 2009...it said that number was no longer in service...lol. So it's just so frustrating for me right now. I guess either I'll figure something out or I won't...thanks for all the suggestions. Gotta get over this COVID and get a little bit of energy and then eke out some time to myself to figure out what to do...all that sounds a little insurmountable right now..lol...but I'll try later. Thanks again, all you guys.

NCnotes - Posted - 01/28/2025:  20:33:09

Presonus customer support seems to be now via email only…you could open a support ticket: “Can not access my account” …?

presonus.com/pages/contact-tec...l-support

Hope you Get well soon, Peggy!!

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/29/2025:  04:39:15

Thanks, N C. I've been on that page many times...it lets me put in my email for shopping for software, but when I go to support it won't let me click on anything. They send me advertisements for different recording software but I can't get their attention that I have it and no access to it. If you go to where it says support, it won't do anything...you try to move onto a category under support and it goes back to shop. That's what happens to me. Maybe i'm just extra stupid but I can't get in to the point where I can tell them of the problem.

Drives me crazy. I think I feel better so far this morning, outside of watching the government crumble and us making enemies of our friends with our already enemies watching...which is making me sick in another way...I'm gonna do a COVID test and see if I can get to a negative. Hubby can't drive and even though we don't really go many places, the weather has been good while I've been down and everybody has about gone bonkers.

NCnotes - Posted - 01/29/2025:  06:27:31

Re Presonus - ARRGGHH! 

Ha, maybe you can pretend to be interested in buying their "PRO" version and get a live human...then switch the discussion topic...sometimes I have resorted to this when Tech Support ignores my emails and messages! "Sales" division always picks up... (I haven't dealt with music DAWs but I have dealt with a LOT of tech support for the website builders...grrr)



At least I hope the Covid is negative…

that would be a small win...

 

DougD - Posted - 01/29/2025:  07:57:23

Peggy and NC notes - As NCnotes said, Presonus support is by email only. You're not going to find any kindly humans just waiting to help you. I have Studio One v.5 Prime, which was free, and which I downloaded just to understand your problems in the past. I tried it the other day and it works fine, but i don't use it because as I've said before, I think a computer is a poor way to record audio, and I don't have any desiret be a one man band.
BTW - Did anyone like my song I posted earlier? That was done in Cubase.
Anyway I just went to connect.presonus.com/home and entered my email and password, and it let me right into my account. Is that the page you're using, Peggy?
As you said there are offers to buy things, and various news items. But at the top of the page it showed my Presonus products, including Studio One, registered in 2021. If you don't see your products it means they're not registered and you'll have to do that. There's the usual menu at the top right and if you click it and choose "support" it takes me to a page where I could start a trouble ticket, but since I don't need to I didn't pursue it.
If this doesn't work for you, let us know EXACTLY where it fails, and maybe we can help.
For the third time, (and echoing what Chickenman said) you can easily just download and install Audacity and get on with your life. Its relatively easy to use, and much better suited for what you like to do.
I'm finally feeling better today, so I'm going to start catching up on things around here.
Good luck.

DougD - Posted - 01/29/2025:  08:04:56

BTW, Presonus doesn't offer Studio One Artist or Prime anymore, just the full version of Studio One Pro, but I've read several places that if you download and install the free trial version and let the trial expire it will turn into the Prime version. I don't know if that's true, but if all else fails you could try it. At least you'd have Studio One to use for 30 days or so.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/29/2025:  18:44:00

I've been on those pages and theres' no place or way that I can see to tell them that studio one won't let me in. My COVID test was positive again and the fever was back today and I generally feel like just giving up on everything...lol. So i'll worry about presonus/studio one some other time. I can't handle anything at the moment and I don't live the sort of life where it works out for me to be sick...so...grumble grumble grumble is all I'm good for. But I appreciate so much help on here. One day I'll get back to it...trust me, fever, cough, no sleep, splittin' headache, hubby who can't understand and needs stuff and two little Chihuahuas who keep whining to go for walks in the woods. Where we live there aren't many places to walk without driving first, so...just gotta wait...apparently my COVID shot I got in October just didn't kick in...so...apparently also my immune system went out on vacation...lol.

alaskafiddler - Posted - 01/29/2025:  21:48:48

quote:

---

Originally posted by groundhogpeggy

Oh, yeah anyway I meant to say maybe I'll have another look at garage band...it's been a long time since I looked at it. I still wanna watch some YouTubes and see if I can find anybody just talking about how to put acoustic tracks on there and get 'em all sounding and get that metronome to be quiet...how to just do things like that. If I could put tracks on acoustically, get them to sound, control the mix of the them, get a scratch track with a metronome going for my own sake for doing getting the other tracks to hang together with the scratch track, and then get the scratch track either muted or deleted but keep the other tracks and get the metronome to shut up and make the whole thing into an mp3 and then export it onto some place in the Macbook...if I could do all of that...I'd be ok...lol.

---

For Logic metronome issue, easiest way to turn metronome on or off, on the transport bar, there is little metronome icon, looks like a little triangle, often next to a 1234 (count-in button) on more recent versions. The default keyboard command for turning it on/off is letter (K).

As far as Logic vs Garage band discussions, and comments of what folks want to do. Most all these DAWs have similar basic components/features to them and work similar, once familiarize with terminology and basic components of DAW. But might help break down different uses.

1. For basic recording, (like acoustic tracks) it really doesn't matter if it's Garageband, Logic.. or Cubase, Reaper, Studio One, Ardour, Cakewalk, BandLab, Wave/Traktion, ProTools, Ableton... or many others. They all do basically audio; generally in the same way; mostly have same basic functions and controls. That is just these basic features: Track controls to add track(s), assign the input source/soundcard, arm/disarm the track record, and generally some way to choose monitoring of live input (on/off).  The transport control bar/icons (or menu/key commands), playback, stop, pause, loop, mute, solo and record. There is also and output mixer, and way to assign where output soundcard/speaker goes. Of course to export it to basic format, like wave or mp3. For many folks that is all they need to know from those apps, again fairly similar.

2. Of course they also include more advanced features, options that not everyone needs. Display of time, or measures. Aforementioned metronome and tempo section (often in or near transport or timeline bar). Other features/display might include some aspects of assigning timeline ranges, markers, doing punch-ins, and takes/comps. And of course section for fairly easy way to optionally add basic plugins, from basic EQ, reverb to much more advanced ones; and might get into create different routing/busses. Of course some basic editing tools, automation, cut/copy/paste, slice, fades. These still have similar basic concept/functions, and can be useful tools, not overly complex to apply. Again, once get the basic concept, can find similar in other DAWs; but can start to diverge a bit from app to app in how they display, word or do some things. Some has to do with workflow, as many DAWs have a degree of giving option in customizable parts and settings; of how want some features and functions to work, be automatic; use of keyboard commands; as well as how/what is displayed on screen or windows/tabs; that can better fit your workflow.

3. then of course even more advanced pro(?) features, editing, quantizing, automation, routing, mixing/mastering, advanced MIDI tools... yada yada yada

If don't know what most of those in last two paragraphs 2. or 3. that's okay, none of these is required, or important to know if they are unimportant to your recording... just want to make basic raw recording, hit record and use that for final mix/output, thus can ignore. Including the metronome, or tempo, as many folks don't use that. They are just optional tools... you can use to apply to your recordings or workflow... if you want to. Understandably, the latter 2, features, bells and whistles, options, buttons, knobs, menus and GUI display can overwhelm, give bit of deer in headlight... but try just ignore those, focus on those reduced just common basic things you need. Again, these programs are all are similar when just using in the simpler basic way.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/30/2025:  04:31:21

I do use the metronome to go along with my scratch track just to keep my timing consistent so that making multiple tracks doesn't end up in a mess. But when I just put some gibberish on with metronome going, I could make the metronome not make sounds anymore...I kept clicking on it but it just kept pounding away. I just want a metronome that I can hear while recording my scratch track, just a bunch of keeping time with guitar chords...then just have the guitar chords sound for the rest of the tracks, then of course mute or delete the scratch track once I get the thing going with consistent timing...I.e., most people gradually speed up as they go along and that would for sure knock the tracks out of sync, without that scratch track. That's my thinking anyway, and it always worked for me on studio one, but the time I messed with logic pro the metronome was just there to stay. Also I had trouble getting tracks on...I need a lot of tracks...I need harmonies, guitar picking/counter picking and I like to play out of different chord configurations together...like pick in C, put the capo on and counter pick in A or something...plus I like vocal harmonies and bass and still tracks left for banjo or fiddle(s)...I like a lot of tracks. Anyway, I haven't tried logic pro without a fever yet...lol...maybe i'll get it better one of these days. I still would prefer studio one...I don't want the free trial they are always telling me to get, because with hubby needing so much, I'm lucky if I can pick an instrument up within 30 days...I'd probably never get to even use the free trial at all. Maybe I'm an idiot for thinking this, but I want a program that works easily and sounds pretty good that I paid for and have used for over a decade...don't understand why suddenly it's not mine anymore now. Anyway...I feel better this morning, hopefully that'll last longer than it did yesterday....lol...hopefully the fever will stay away and I'll be able to feel like a functional human in a messed up crazy world, instead of a messed up crazy human in a messed up crazy world. I do appreciate everyone's input...I just gotta get the gusto and time to try to figure out what i'm gonna do about it.

NCnotes - Posted - 01/30/2025:  10:40:06

Hang in there, Peggy!

Hope you kick that Covid to the curb!





BTW (for the future) I got into Presonus Support (as Doug mentioned)...



I went to their website, I did "Sign Up" (because I don't have an existing account) You could probably just use a different email and get a new account, too. Or do a "forgot password" reset.



Then, click on Support. In the left hand menu, choose Open Tickets. Hover over the blue circle plus sign which is "Create New Ticket". Click that, a form appears and you can start entering your info.

Edited by - NCnotes on 01/30/2025 10:57:02

NCnotes - Posted - 01/30/2025:  10:57:34

whoops sorry I posted the pic twice. deleted it.

Edited by - NCnotes on 01/30/2025 10:59:17

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/30/2025:  13:02:45

Thanks for that nice illustration, NC. I hadn't tried a new password because I was afraid it wouldn't mesh with my email and I might have a real fight on my hands trying to prove that my email is the same as what went with the old password, etc. Stuff like that has happened to me before, but maybe it's a newer age with all that kinda stuff. I might go ahead and try it.

I've had a much better day today...YAY! I Have one COVID test left, but don't wanna waste it on another positive...I want to be negative because we need to go to the store...I'd stocked up pretty well before the big storm and bad weather, about a month ago, but we do need stuff now. I'm not sure what you're supposed to do if you can't test negative but you need to get out for supplies...I don't want making some poor person I'll or die or just go through some rough time because they were in the store the same time as I was. I guess I can just put on a mask...but right now breathing is tough enough without the mask...lol. Anyway, I might just put on the mask and head out to get some stuff in the morning, if I still feel this well. Still tired as all get out and pretty stopped up, but just having the energylevel I have must mean it's going away. I've had it for just approx a week now.

Anyway, maybe tomorrow I'll try to put in a new password and hope they can accept my email address with the new password while realizing I have the same studio one account as before, with the old password. Daggone it, it's MY studio one and I want it back!

Also...a new thing has developed for us by accident...it might not turn out to be anything, but we have ...gee whiz I did that thing again where I deleted the whole last paragraph...gosh I feel like such an idiot...but turns out somebody contacted us about 5 acres they want to get rid of...it would be hard to get and a lot of work to be able to live there...but...we are sure gonna look into it and see if there's any way whatsoever. Tired of where we live now...need some peace and tranquility! So I'm hoping, but I do have to keep it tempered, because it won't be easy...just hoping it's doable.

NCnotes - Posted - 01/30/2025:  13:56:13

Yup…when you hit their website, look for that little Human/Person icon in the upper right corner.
click on that, and you will be prompted to sign in.

then enter your email and if you want to, click on the “Forgot Password” (small blue letters underneath) to reset your password. This will create a new password associated with that email.

Well, Good luck! Even if you send them the support query, they might not ever write back…(I always wonder if anybody is on the other end)…fingers crossed, sigh.

Good luck with the five acres, too!
(meanwhile here I am wanting to move into an apartment…hate maintaining an aging home that needs a new roof, and taking care of the yard…LOL)

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/30/2025:  18:17:18

Hey I finally did get into the Presonus site and got a "ticket" and told them I want my studio one back...lol. They sent me an email saying something about my "sales request," which I hope is just their generic jargon for just any inquiry or request for support...cause I sure can't buy anything at the moment.



Yeah I hear ya, NC, on the hassle of taking care of an old house. Ours is over a hundred years old and we've had to do a ton of work...big pain. And IF, big if, we do strike a deal over the 5 acres, there are a couple of tiny houses and other structures that are in really rotten condition on that property...so...plenty of work would be in our future. This is especially hard now with hubby having so many issues...not sure we could afford to hire it all out...that's why it's such a big IF. It sure would be nice if we could just find a place that's not falling apart but reasonably priced...lol...but...around here, doesn't seem to be possible. If you got a half a million, you can find a house that wouldn't require a bunch a work right off the bat.  Good luck to you finding an apartment that you like!

And thanks for the tips for getting into Presonus's awful web site...lol.  I've seen much, much easier sites to access...wow.  Thanks, NC, and everybody else who bothered to add some knowledge, experience, thoughts to my recording problem...makes me so glad that folks at FHO always wanna lend a helping hand. 

Edited by - groundhogpeggy on 01/30/2025 18:20:21

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/31/2025:  05:40:17

Well, I do realize I'm the biggest idiot in the world...for one thing, but Studio One or presonus or whoever they are said to refresh my browser...I don't even know what that means. Do they mean Safari? Unless I'm even more idiotic than I think, as far as I know, I'm not on Safari when I'm using Studio One. Plus, I don't know how to refresh Safari, and afraid my important stuff could get messed up if I tried, like all the zillions of annoying passwords to get into important stuff that always needs to be managed, etc. I don't wanna get into where we lose our house and get the power cut off because I got into some insane password rejection loop from trying to refresh my browser...lol...yeah sounds like an irrational fear, but stuff like that has happened to me...like...no, your email doesn't match up with this password, that password, etc. And then you gotta sit on the automated phone messages for hours trying to get all that back together again...I mean, I don't wanna get into that kind of headache. As far a sI know, when I use Studio One I'm not online at all. Can anybody lower themselves to my level enough to make me understand. For heaven's sake, all I want is to play my music again.

wrench13 - Posted - 01/31/2025:  05:46:43

I am almost as computer illiterate as you, but I think they mean the browser refresh is needed to get into and work successfully with their website. IE to download software updates and stuff. As new programing/features are added to commercial websites, browsers need to be updated to use those new functions. Thats what I think.

DougD - Posted - 01/31/2025:  06:38:32

"Refresh" usually just means to refresh the page by pressing a button that's usually a circle with an arrowhead. That gets rid of the old data from the page and loads the new. Like finding new posts at FHO.
Are you using the latest version of Safari? As Al said, some websites need a current version to operate properly, but in this case you're already on the site and chatting with them, so I think that should be OK. You shouldn't lose anything if you update, but you never know. I use Firefox on the computer where I have Studio One, and it (Firefox) wants to update about every time I turn on the computer (although I never use Studio One).
If your MacBook is connected to some kind of home network and you use it to surf the web, then you're always online, although not always with Safari running. When Studio One starts it goes through a routine of ten or so steps where it checks the license, loads any plug ins it finds, and other things. I don't know if it goes online to do this, but I think it just uses the data on the computer.
I was going to advise you to try and state your problem in a way that tech support would understand instead of your usual oddball ideas, but you got ahead of me. Too late now.
Good luck.

DougD - Posted - 01/31/2025:  07:17:43

Peggy, "Refresh" usually refers to just one page, and normally the current one. What did they want you to refresh?

NCnotes - Posted - 01/31/2025:  07:28:34

Yay that you got a support ticket opened!! :-D

One step at a time...



OK so you have a MacBook so you probably have a dock (a place where it displays the icons of your programs)? Looking in the dock, the programs that are running have dots under them. Safari is a blue circle, and Chrome (most popular browser) has a red/yellow/green circle. My guess is that you're using the default browser Safari, that comes installed on Macs? 



To refresh a webpage in Safari (keys will differ for Chrome):

1. Go to the webpage

2. Hold down "Command" and "R" simultaneously.

3. While continuing to hold those two keys down, click the page reload arrow (the clockwise arrow that reloads a webpage)

And, that did it!

See if that fixed anything...



And if not, just tell them that didn't work!

Some Tech Support people are not very knowledgeable and just give you "kneejerk" responses. Refreshing webpage is like, the first automatic thing they try...



Keep us posted :-)









 

Edited by - NCnotes on 01/31/2025 07:29:58

ChickenMan - Posted - 01/31/2025:  11:16:55

Yeah, like my work IT guys telling me to restart my computer or clear my cookies. As if I don't do that and more before I contact them. Nowadays, I tell them I did all that to just get on with it, lol





Also, we use a bunch of Microsoft software and me and a couple IT people have had great times slagging them

Edited by - ChickenMan on 01/31/2025 11:17:21

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/31/2025:  13:03:07

I got it back....whew! After the entire month of January. The weird thing is I kept following the directions on their site and it would not work. Then, suddenly...I really don't know how...it just said your studio one has been activated. It's there...it's there just like I left it before! I haven't had the chance to try to use it yet...so I hope it REALLY is there...I'll have to try to eke out some time to myself and give it a try...hoping it will work!

DougD - Posted - 01/31/2025:  13:19:12

NCnotes - I wouldn't say its a "kneejerk" response. I'd guess that most "gateway" tech support people, like other service technicians, have a list of common problems or a troubleshooting tree they're trained to work from. Refreshing a page would make sense for a website, but this is not a webpage - its a program (or "app" in Todayspeak) that won't load or start for some reason.
Billy - You might know to restart your computer and clear cookies, but not everyone does. You have to start at "ground zero" to troubleshoot a problem. I'll bet most trees for electrical appliances begin with "Is the device plugged in?"
Sometimes you just have to be persistent. I don't care much for cellphones, but I was forced to get a new one last year due to network changes. It just wouldn't activate, and I spent six weeks working my way up customer support till I reached a systems engineer who fixed the problem in about 15 minutes. Turned out to be a problem on the local Verizon cell tower, nothing to do with my phone at all. The "gatekeeper" support people never would have solved it.

DougD - Posted - 01/31/2025:  13:23:12

Peggy - That's good news. It probably wasn't activated because of anything you did, but because somebody at Presonus found the problem.