I think a more appropriate question would be, "Why go software vs. hardware." Reason is only one program in a sea of many. There are many other software suites out there ("Sequencers"). For example:

Reason
FL Studio
Logic Pro
Cakewalk
Ableton Live
Cubase

etc. etc.



Pros of software:
- Usually cheaper to get started with, esp. if you already have a decent PC.
- Ease of use (IMO).
- Can "try before you buy" with demos, etc.
- Plugin technology makes it easy to save, edit, share sounds, banks, etc.

Pros of hardware:
- Some people like the sound better. Most can't tell.
- There's something nice about the tactile sensation... being able to change actual knobs/sliders, etc. MIDI controller helps with this.

P.S.- Most people who use hardware use it WITH software... so you're gonna need to learn some kind of sequencing software regardless.

Why drink cider instead of beer?
Why get an Audi instead of a Mercedes?
Why live in the middle of nowhere instead of a big city?
Just choose whatever the hell you want and don't listen to anyone else. And stop making a separate thread about every single question you might have.

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read my reply in your other thread you posted like 20 minutes ago...it applies well here too...kthxbye

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quote:

Originally posted by BOOsTER read my reply in your other thread you posted like 20 minutes ago...it applies well here too...kthxbye

If you're referring to the one with the image, you n00bed on yourself with the hotlinking.

there is a search function in this forum and this question has been asked and answered a 1000 times, you will find it more useful if you search because there is a mountainof info on here and you will start to learn something about music production and the associated equipment, or at least thats the way i did it, dont expect the people on here to hand it to you on a silver platter it takes time and effort to learn this kind of stuff.

THANK YOU! FINALLY A REPLY WITH SOME USEFUL INFORMATION ON WHAT TO GET! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

quote:

Originally posted by david.michael I think a more appropriate question would be, "Why go software vs. hardware." Reason is only one program in a sea of many. There are many other software suites out there ("Sequencers"). For example: Reason FL Studio Logic Pro Cakewalk Ableton Live Cubase etc. etc. Pros of software: - Usually cheaper to get started with, esp. if you already have a decent PC. - Ease of use (IMO). - Can "try before you buy" with demos, etc. - Plugin technology makes it easy to save, edit, share sounds, banks, etc. Pros of hardware: - Some people like the sound better. Most can't tell. - There's something nice about the tactile sensation... being able to change actual knobs/sliders, etc. MIDI controller helps with this. P.S.- Most people who use hardware use it WITH software... so you're gonna need to learn some kind of sequencing software regardless.

You forgot to mention the most important thing

In 5 years time or less, most software will be unusable, since we will be using new operating systems, most software companies will drop updates for certain producs, if you need to upgrade, it's eaven more money. Software is overpriced at the moment. Hardware ussualy lasts for a very long time, It has a resale value, and unlike software you buy it you own it. When you read the agrements about owning the software.. you accually don't own it. You cant lend software to a friend, it's a breach of the user agrement. Hardware - I can swap synths with my friends.. Can you say I like hardarwe hehehe, Anyways, in the long run software is very expensive, it's a diefferent story if you used cracked software.. Than it means everything is free, so if you use that than by all means software is the way to go..... Cause you can't downlaod hardware hehe. I got nothing against only software composers, for me it dosn't metter, you use what you can get and if it sounds great that's cool. If you only getting software just make sure to invest in a good audio card. Or you can get a card with spdif with low latency and just add a hight quality digital to analog converter, that will by pass your card DAC, this way you will have very high quality monitoring - assuming you get a set of high quality monitors with that. So simply getting top notch monitors and DAC + cables, you're set for the software world

quote:

Originally posted by DJDIRTY If you only getting software just make sure to invest in a good audio card. Or you can get a card with spdif with low latency and just add a hight quality digital to analog converter, that will by pass your card DAC, this way you will have very high quality monitoring - assuming you get a set of high quality monitors with that. So simply getting top notch monitors and DAC + cables, you're set for the software world

Uhh, good converters is way more important when you use hardware.
The soundcard will actually affect the sound of the track. While in a software only studio, the sound card is only used for monitoring.

I tried to write a research paper on the topic last semester for Comp&Research as an argumentative paper. I handed the logic baton over to software.

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Audio-s

quote:

Originally posted by Eldritch Uhh, good converters is way more important when you use hardware. The soundcard will actually affect the sound of the track. While in a software only studio, the sound card is only used for monitoring.

Well good converters are very important when using software ony as well. And I ment good DAC <- that is the converter that changes digital audio from your soundcard into analog sound that goes to your speakers - some speakers have AES, or digital inn. If you don't record any hardware or vocals, or anything from the outside, I still recommend a high quality DAC. Sure you can skip the ADC becasue you're not using it. I can tell you eaven a cheap M-audio Audiophile 192 as an interface with the added ADC by, apogee, mytek, lavry, banchmark connected using spdif, gives resoults that You will not go back to your sound card's converters. That's why I highly reccomend that. It's something you have to hear for yourself. If some of you did, than you know exactly what I am talking about. When matched to higher quality monitors this sort of system makes your life way easier when it comes to mixing. You are able to hear better, clearer, every little move of eq, wghatever plugin you are using is accually audiable. It's the dieferance that once tried, you will not go back. When someone who works all software asks me what should I get to make better mixes? I tell them, get a decent audio interface with spdif, or AES, and than add a high quality Digital to Analog convertor + good monitors, and you're set. Well ask yourself this. How can you mix properly when you aren't hearing everything.

And like Eldrich said, good ADC - analog to Digital converter is important when recording hardware synths, vocal or guitars using preamps and other sources..

But you can buy seperate ADC, DAC, or both in one Depending on one's need and funds at the moment..
I personally use RME Multiface soundcard as an interface, but do all conversion using an Apogee rosetta 200 convertor. The apogee is way ahead of rme in conversion department. Like i Said it's something you have to hear for yourself. I know I would never go back.

quote:

Originally posted by D.Edge you MUST use hardware. what anyone tells you otherwise is a LIE. they pretend to use software, but it's a conspiracy. EVERY one of us uses hardware. without hardware, you are NOTHING. you will NEED, at minimum, the Roland V-Synth and the Minimoog. only then you can begin to contemplate creating any form of electronic music.

Yes, you MUST have hardware--at minimum you'll need a computer, which is hardware. But NEEDING a V-Synth and a Minimoog?! This certainly must be being said tongue-in-cheek. Or maybe D.Edge is simply expressing his extreme admiration for these 2 synths. But saying that, if taken literally, is like saying you HAVE to use an airbrush if you want to be a serious artist.

Tonytovar... there's a lot to sort through out there to figure out what you should buy. But what you should buy is unfortunately all on your shoulders to decide. It took me 3 months (that was for me, not saying that's what it will take for you) before I decided what I was going to buy. It probably makes some sense to find out what producers are using that make music that you like, but even having exactly what they have in no guarantee that you'll make music as good as theirs. At least not from the start. I've got a Virus TI, but I assure you I'm not making anything yet as good as the pros. I wish I could say it was easier to know what to buy starting out, but you just need to put the research time in (which you're doing by asking questions here), and make the best decisions you can.