That’s interesting. I haven’t used one of the free versions of Pro Tools or any version of ProStudio, but on every DAW I have seen (which isn’t by any means exhaustive) you can configure the input on any track (which would eliminate having to switch inputs). In addition, you can typically add tracks beyond two. My Ableton Lite (that was free with my computer audio interface) is limited to 8 tracks. They are stereo tracks, so getting a little creative, one can sort of have 16 tracks and you can always ping pong them down to free up tracks. Reaper has essentially unlimited tracks and plug ins available. I look forward to giving it a try. My Ableton is limited to 6 plug in effects in use at a time, and once you start EQing things, you have to get creative pretty quick. I’ll make a new thread when I do try it out.
Show us your mandolin
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Also, my wife wasn’t too happy about all the cords, recording gear, mics, mandolin, guitar, banjo, upright bass, 400 watt fender amp, 32 piece drum set & 100 piece orchestra sitting on the desk (it’s a really big desk) when she wanted to balance the checkbook. OK, maybe it was just a mandolin & guitar, but I’m sure there’s a way to work around this.
— End quote
The solution to your problem is obvious, JW - you need a purpose-dedicated room. Very simple to achieve, a large cupboard will actually do. Remove shelves, instal a small desk and your wife will have somewhere to balance the checkbook :mrgreen:
Of course then you may have to buy a doghouse…
Now there’s a thought. I’ve been thinking about this all wrong. Did this advice come from experience?
Anyone have a used dog house for sale, big enough for me & an old Martin?
It’s not a great shot of the instrument, but there it is on the left, at my first ever paying gig. I’m primarily a guitar player, but when we added a 4th member (bass/fiddler got cut out of this shot) it was getting hard to find space for a 3rd guitar, which is why I decided to pick up the mandolin for a little variety. I’m hooked and wish I started on it sooner! It’s a Loar VS220. When I get next years tax refund I’m getting me a Collings MT.
Excellent! I agree with the Collings MT thoughts. That would likely be my next mando as well. I have to say, the Red Valley is treating me real well, so it might be a while before I get the desire for something different.
I go back and forth on the sound of the Loar. It has a K&K internal pickup in it, and electrified it sounds pretty good. Unplugged, my ears are getting better and I’m hearing too much tin in it. I want wood.
Anyhow, nice guitar. Pink! I’m not sure my cojones are big enough to show up at some of the places we play with one of those (often local VFWs). 
But what I’m still trying to figure out is where you are sitting. It almost looks like the cockpit of a small plane.
You are correct, that is a glider cockpit (with my mom in the seat behind me). To make a long story longer… When I first got on the forum, I used to change my avatar picture around from time to time. In the jokes section, there was a spoof magazine posted that had a Hello Kitty guitar on the cover. I posted that I really wanted to get one of those for my wife. Someone else posted that I just claimed it was for my wife, and I in fact wanted it for me. Then Larry (ldpayton) picked up my avatar pic and graphically inserted the lovely pink dreadnought you see. So unfortunately it’s only a virtual guitar that I have in the cockpit of the glider. I have kept the avatar picture ever since. I do wish I had a Hello Kitty dread… my wife would love it. Plus, it would be fun to show up at a picking circle with one. 
I’m working on putting a concertina in your wife’s hands.
Haha! Mom’s hands are pretty ideally positioned for that.
I think it should be a black concertina. With a death metal logo on it. Just for balance.
I’m still poking around these forums, I just noticed they had one just for pilots. Who knew. And a fishing one. Very cool. I’ve fished Rock Creek in Montana. Loved it. I probably need to forget all this though, it’s hard enough getting any work done as it is!
Like I always say, “It’s not really death metal without a concertina in the band.”
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I probably need to forget all this though, it’s hard enough getting any work done as it is!
— End quote
Lot’s of distractions around here, for sure, but just learning how to flatpick takes most of my free time these days.
Rock Creek is a mighty pretty place to fish, though, especially in July.
— Begin quote from "Jim_G"
I think it should be a black concertina. With a death metal logo on it. Just for balance.
— End quote
I like it! It would definitely help balance out the happy-goodness of the HK dreadnought. Maybe we could put an instrument cable running from the concertina to a pint sized Marshall half stack sitting on the wing?
— Begin quote from "ldpayton"
Like I always say, “It’s not really death metal without a concertina in the band.”
— End quote
That’s true… I probably can’t count how many times I have heard you say that.