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Newb Question About Software

I'm sure it's been asked a million and a half times, but after months of sifting through the archives here and coming up somewhat disoriented with all of the information, I have one specific question:

what software do you (you meaning anyone and everyone who wants to participate in this thread and produces their own music) use to produce your music, and why specifically.

I'm looking for details here, not just 'because it's great' or 'it's the best' or 'it works for me', but the specifics.

Sorry if I'm annoying anyone ahead of time, I'd just really like to know.

I'll just tell you this...this question has been asked SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many times that it's just a waste of time to reply back. Everyone uses different programs because it's what suites them best at either their current skill level or just what they feel gets the job done best for them. Just try out the different programs and see which you like most. It'll take time to get great results but just practice practice practice and you'll get something good in no time.

DJ logik is about right. It is quite personal why everybody uses his software. What it comes down to is that the program challenges the user to develop his skills and to push himself to a whole new level of production quality. In my case this is Renoise. This iws a tracker which doesn't work like an everyday sequencer from the looks of it. Of course the overall principle is quite much the same allthough it's much older than sequencers like cubase :P

For me personally the tracker layout works best. As some people say: Real men sequence vertically. It's oldschool, different and 1337

haha, just go buy ableton... it's easy enough to learn but advance enough to be able to grow.


if you want a good sequencer look no further than sonar 5. you need to buy some books before you jump into this though

I find that fruity loops is a good way to grasp the basic of producing, im not saying that you cant use fruity and be pro but it is very very easy to learn how to use.

Re: Newb Question About Software

quote:

Originally posted by DJMiakoda I'm looking for details here, not just 'it works for me', but the specifics.

actually you're on the money with that one. All the software is just the means to the same end, so it really is just what works for YOU.


and btw, theres one of 2 billion 'what software do u use' threads about 10 topics down on this page, have a look at that for some ideas, but it tends to be the same big guns, ie Reason, Cubase, FL, Logic, Live that keep popping up. Sonar 5 for me though

FruityLoops is indeed one of the most easy to learn and use.
I highly recomand it especialy if you just start producing.
For me the only feature which is lacking is a side chain compression, but you still can automate a compressor without any problem.
Everything is so accessible, the display is convenient even if it doesn't really look pretty, it's stable, it sounds clean, it's a professionnal tool.
You will still have to get a good audio editor like "cool edit pro" and some softsynths and that's all you need to make pro songs.

quote:

Originally posted by allcentury18 if you want a good sequencer look no further than sonar 5. you need to buy some books before you jump into this though

I appreciate everyone's advice, seriously.

Funny thing is, I've bought books, magazines, read the tutorials here (yes I've been lurking forever) and at other similiar sites, and I still have no idea what would work for me.

Presently I use a digital multitracker (as in hardware multitracker with 12 tracks, than I bounce down etc etc) to track and sequence all of my music, and I use hardware synth's and groove boxes, very old school.
I can get some decent sounding music going this route but it is extremely tedious and time consuming, although I've learned a great deal about what it takes to produce good sounding music (piecing together the rythm tracks, melodies, effects, EQ'ing, mastering, etc) I feel my present set up has a tendancy to really 'bog' down the creative process.

I've been wanting to go the software route for about a year now, but I don't want to get involved with any programs that are limited to a small amount of sounds and samples, my imagination requires a good variety of options.
I know all about MIDI (I live in a MIDI world with my current set up) but I still know very little about what software to buy to get things rolling in the right direction.
I'm just as confused today as I was when I started researching this subject.

Hope this makes some sense, thank you again and again, sorry for the annoying question.

Pretty much if you're looking for a standalone host program(no VST's) then check out Reason and you won't have to dish out money on 4 different VST's or something. Otherwise check out fruity or cubase. Cubase should be a little easier for you than most because you understand more about MIDI but getting used to the layout might take some time. It's all about time in the production world. Never tried Logic or Sonar but I hear they are extremely powerful also. Same goes for Ableton Live although I would like to try out that program sometime. If you have the money then go the VST way. You can create some amazing sounds with these new softsynths. I prefer z3ta+ over most just because of it's power, potential and the amounts of features built into it. Otherwise go the hardware way they always make the best sounds anyways and just hook up your equipment to the host program like fruity, cubase or something. Good luck

You guys have to understand this isn't a bad question, you are just lacking tolerance because you've answered the question too many times. There for you think it's a pointless question, but to someone new the reasons why you use a particular software is very important to them finding something that does what they want it to do, because they don't know what all the software does. Yes you are all sick of the question but don't bash it, it's a valid question, and he isn't the one who asked it all the times before. (of course thanx to the people who just took the time to answer the question anyway)

quote:

Originally posted by djlogik Pretty much if you're looking for a standalone host program(no VST's) then check out Reason and you won't have to dish out money on 4 different VST's or something. Otherwise check out fruity or cubase. Cubase should be a little easier for you than most because you understand more about MIDI but getting used to the layout might take some time. It's all about time in the production world. Never tried Logic or Sonar but I hear they are extremely powerful also. Same goes for Ableton Live although I would like to try out that program sometime. If you have the money then go the VST way. You can create some amazing sounds with these new softsynths. I prefer z3ta+ over most just because of it's power, potential and the amounts of features built into it. Otherwise go the hardware way they always make the best sounds anyways and just hook up your equipment to the host program like fruity, cubase or something. Good luck

Cubase (or more specifically Cubase SX) is the one I've really been thinking about getting, from what I understand (and I may be wrong here, please correct me if I am) you can use hardware and virtual synths with this software.

Some of the questions I have are....

does it have a good sequencing package? (this is the most important tool I need at this point because sequencing with hardware is a bit of a nightmare at times), I'd like to visually see what I'm doing as well as hearing it, thats the biggest reason I'm considering software recording.
At first I was looking at FL Studio but after reading alot of the posts and threads about Fruity, I get the feeling it's kind of limited.
I have alot of ideas rolling around in my head and on disc but sequencing has been my biggest pitfall.
I would also like to start exploring the world of software synths, hardware is great and I love my equipment but thats no reason not to expand my options.
It appears that Cubase SX sounds like an ideal way to go, but is it the best option?

quote:

Originally posted by Airyck Sterrett You guys have to understand this isn't a bad question, you are just lacking tolerance because you've answered the question too many times. There for you think it's a pointless question, but to someone new the reasons why you use a particular software is very important to them finding something that does what they want it to do, because they don't know what all the software does. Yes you are all sick of the question but don't bash it, it's a valid question, and he isn't the one who asked it all the times before. (of course thanx to the people who just took the time to answer the question anyway)

Thanks A.S., I appreciate your support, actually though, everyone so far has been very helpful.

I wish there was a detailed review on all of the different software options available on the market today, written in a way that beginners like myself could understand and feel confident about making decisions on what to get.

Since you said you have a collection of hardware, i would suggest Sonar or Cubase (or Logic if you have a mac). All are 'traditional' sequencers, that is the left to right looking interface with different channels for audio or midi. Sonar 5 (producer edition) and Cubase SX 3 are both excellent pieces of software, and you can use hardware or vst synths in them. Same applies for Logic, except you have to use the mac format of software synth, although Logic comes with basically anything you'd need, and basically most plugins come in AU format for mac too.

You can just call up a midi channel, and patch it to your hardware, and edit the midi note, CC, nRPN data etc all on the screen. Works exactly the same if you load up a vst, just with no external synth or midi cable. Just make sure you have a good soundcard with midi output and a good audio quality for recording the hardware sounds.

The other option is to go with Reason. People coming from an old-skool hardware setup are perfectly suited to Reason's style. All the virutal hardware boxes patch together with virual cables at the back, and apart from being able to record audio, or use your hardware synths, Reason can do basically everything you'd need.

you should first try some demos and then consider what other ppl say.

id say FLoops cause its so easy to do what you have in mind instandly. it has a step sequenser so you can program your drums without using stupid drum machines or w/e. the best piano roll ive ever used. its pattern based so when ideas strike you just jump to another pattern and go crazy withour fucking up the rest of the song.

its not limited its just not like cubase..ppl that bash it do it just to look cool anyway lol. get the demo.

reason would be a pain in the ass for you. there are no audio tracks like in other sequensers, no midi output/audio in so forget your h/w and there are only 2 synths so its kinda limited. its a good addition to any sequenser tho.

id say fuck cubase but then again thats just me(never liked anything in it).

ive used sonar a couple of times and it seems to me to be the best and easyer in the daw category (cubase logic etc).

logic has a tough learning curve but i like it, ive heard good things about it and it seems really powerful. (tho i havent used it much. learning curve you know lol).

thats what i think/know about software studios... hope this helps

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