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Summary of Programs
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| Fatboy |
There have been tons of threads asking about which program is good for what and so on. In this post I will try to give my view on the most popular production programs. I have tried to be somewhat objective, but if I offend anyone please don�t flame. I�m only trying to help. I have divided it into a section for the �traditional� sequencers and a section for the software studios. Please keep in mind that money is not a part of the consideration:whip:.
THE SEQUENCERS:
The dying breed among home musicians:p. More and more people have stopped using these programs and have gone over to the �studio� programs. For people with hardware, the sequencer is still useful. And it�s no secret that they have more features than the one in all programs. The question is if you need them. What does these programs have that the �smaller� ones don�t? As I mentioned people with hardware and a high-end soundcard would benefit from these programs. Using multiple outputs and recording several tracks at the same time is a big plus. Automation is more complex. You can plot manual graphs, tempo controlled sinus curves, parables and more. And the best, they�re all available for every parameter thinkable. Midi is also a bit more in depth along with scoring possibilities if you�re into that:toothless:. They also feature very good wave editors. Time stretching, normalizing and all those other useful stuff can be applied to tracks inside the program. If all of this sounds like useless stuff, then a sequencer might be overkill, and of no use. I will write about the three biggest sequencers around.
Cubase SX
Made by Steinberg, the creators of vst technology, this sequencer is one of the most popular out there. This latest version replaced the sound technology to that of Nuendo, which resulted in better sound quality and making it on par with the Logic engine. Sx version also introduced the A1 synthesizer. Created by Waldorf, this synth has excellent filters and great sound. The interface has also been tweaked and is also open for custom shortcuts and such. Support for VST instruments, VST effect plugins and Direct X plugins. The included effects are of very high quality. They received an overhaul after the Sx upgrade, and several new ones were included as well. This is my sequencer of choice, so I know a bit more about it that the others. Some find the user interface un-intuitive compared to other sequencers, so the only option is to try, as equally as many people find the interface great (like me).
Logic Audio Platinum
This sequencer is feature wise similar to Cubase SX. VST instruments, VST effects and Direct X effects are all supported. At least as popular as Cubase, these two has for long been the two main sequencers. The included plugins are of a very high quality and the ES2, an included softsynth, is definitely one of the best out there. Logic has had a reputation of being too complicated. Personally I find it pretty straightforward, at least for the basic tasks. I guess if you have problems using audio/midi programs, Logic (and many other with it) would, at any rate initially, seem quite complicated. So, to conclude, an excellent program that is loved by many. I had a hard time deciding between this and Cubase, but eventually settled with Cubase because I preferred its interface. Again, this is very subjective, so trying it out is very important. Pc users should know that future updates for the Pc will not happen, so that might set someone back. As most people know Apple bought them and Logics future is on the Macintosh platform. It is an excellent program as it is though, so if it falls into taste there�s no reason not to use it as long as you enjoy making music with it.
Cakewalk Sonar XL
A program I have only tried for two minutes, so it�s difficult for me to say anything about it. Many people praise it though and it�s being rated just as high as the two other �big� sequencers. Maybe someone from the forum could enlighten us. I know that some people here use it. Cakewalk is known for quality products, so feature wise it should comparable to the other two.
THE SOFTWARE STUDIOS:
These products have become very popular during the last year or two. Basically, they offer a package, which includes synths, samplers, effects and sequencer. Everything you need to make music. Some people tend to slag them off as less professional then the sequencers. They get proven wrong more and more as time go by. The advantage of the studios is that since everything is so compact and easily available many people just find it easier to work with. The most important aspect of making music is to get your music down on �paper�, and many people prefer this way of doing it. I�m sure there are more programs available, but I will write about those I�ve tried.
Reason
One of the most popular production programs these days, and that for a reason. (Extremely bad pun not intended:nervous: ) This program does not support external plugins. You can make Reasons synths and samplers have its output in Cubase and Logic with a technology called Rewire, but since that also involves another program that people might like or hate I won�t comment much on this. In Rewire mode it becomes more like a sub-studio/softsynth (an excellent one as well) or something, while I will talk about the standalone mode here. It comes with two different softsynths, two samplers, one loop sampler, one drum machine, a mixer and a place to sequence all of this. The only limit of how many instances you can include of the different parts is the horsepower your computer has. I noticed that Reason was very cpu friendly. I could include more than enough synths and samplers in my projects. Another cool feature that Reason offers is the possibility to see the backside of this �rack� and mess around with the wires. This can give some very interesting and unique results.
For some people Reason might seem a bit �closed�, and personally I think the users are missing out on some of the excellent instruments and unique effect plugins out there. They again could say that we are missing out on Reason (those of us who do not use Rewire), so it all boils down to personal preference. I think the effect part could have been improved upon since these are the only one you can use. What makes or breaks Reason is if you like the included synths or not. Though, you can also work with samples alone. Many people do this with excellent results. Again, trying the program is the only way to find out what�s the best option.
Fruityloops
Feature wise this could go in the sequencer section. It supports VST instruments and effects, Direct X instruments and effects and Buzz machines as well. In the newer versions you can use Fruity itself as a VST instrument. I haven�t used Fruity much myself. I couldn�t figure out a fast and pleasant way to use the interface. And people say it�s a good beginners program:toothless:. On a serious note though, lots of people love the Fruity interface, and if that�s the case then there is no point in changing. With that feature list it�s obvious that it�s possible to do as good stuff in Fruity as in any other program, something people on the forums have shown us several times.
Orion
This program is somewhat similar to Fruityloops. It supports VST instruments and effects and Direct X instruments and effects. I remember trying this program a long time ago. I got very impressed with its included effects and synths. With the included support of the other formats the potential is very present. Those who use it has only good words to say about it, so another one to try out.
Buzz
This tracker/sequencer/studio hybrid is one of the most interesting and unusual programs out there. It�s difficult to explain exactly how it works without writing a whole lot. It gives you lots of routing possibilities � la the back of Reasons rack. There�s also a load of free generators (softsynths) and effects available. One thing that might speak in its disadvantage is that unlike the other programs you don�t press install and then everything is done for you. There are some nasty bugs and such that you will have to sort out from time to time. Usually it�s due to badly programmed machines or effects. It�s free, and can be downloaded at www.buzzmachines.com. Definitely worth checking out, as the site explains the program in depth. Oh, and James Holden uses it:D
Phewww.. Yes, I�m bored:D Well, I just tried to pinpoint the most important features of the different programs. To people that are starting out I would recommend to just try out the programs that match what you need. What is good for one is bad for another, so it�s impossible to say what somebody else would like the best. Just because your favourite producer uses a certain program doesn�t mean that you should use it. I can assure you that badass tracks have been released with every program on that list, which confirms that it�s the man and not the gear that makes the music.
Peace |
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| brash |
Excellent thread!
Just want to point out a few things...
- The difference between software studios and sequencers is rapidly diminishing. I recently downloaded the demo of Cubase SX, and it contained (as far as I could tell -- it is pretty complicated) everything I needed to start writing a piece of music, just like FL, Reason, Buzz, etc. do.
- Concerning Buzz, I'm not sure if you meant the "can't just press install" literally or not, but in case you did... :) The latest package of Buzz (released a few days ago) installs beautifully, and works as soon as you install it. The bugs are also a lot fewer, and easier to fix when they happen, than they were in previous version. There is an excellent Buzz Fixkit, which allows you to change settings, reset stuff back to the way it was, etc., all outside of Buzz, in case you run into trouble. But yes, bugs are, unfortunately, one of Buzz's main drawbacks...
Also about Buzz, there are some problems with VSTs, though they may be fixed by now (I don't use VSTs, though I may try out Synth1 soon). Polac has released a VST driver, I believe, which may eliminate the problems people had. (I believe, though, that the worst -- or at least most common -- problem was not being able to load presets on VST2s.)
- There are also a few more sequencers/studios I figured I'd mention:
Renoise
http://www.renoise.com
This is a tracker sequencer which supports VSTs, ASIO, MIDI, and various other goodies that trackers didn't used to support. I believe this is one of the most, if not THE most, popular tracker.
I tried out the demo briefly. It runs at 1024x768, and is the ONLY thing that you can use while it is running (i.e. there is the Renoise screen, and that's it -- no start bar or icons or anything). The main drawback here is that you can't switch, say, to AIM and chat with someone while you work on a song. I've never used a real tracker before, so I didn't figure out the sequencing completely, but it doesn't look too hard. Like Buzz, it offers a lot of quick, easy input via the keyboard.
Its tracker sequencing lets you see a LOT of what is going on when you play a song. It needs a lot of room for stuff, though, so if you want to edit an instrument, or some various other tasks, you sacrifice seeing something else (e.g. if you want to edit an instrument, you can't see the sequencer). Because it is a fixed 1024x768, there is no hope to expand the size, or even (like Buzz or other programs allow you to do) use two monitors or something. All in all, though, the limitations don't look too bad. Worth checking out, if only to know what a good tracker is like, so you can figure out if you want to use a tracker or not.
Psycle
http://psycle.pastnotecut.org/
Opensource software studio that originally started as a clone of Buzz, though it ended up with more of a true tracker sequencer. I used it briefly. To be honest, unless you are an opensourcehead, or love Buzz but want a true tracker interface, you probably want to wait until more work has been done on it. Or wait for PsycleII (if that ever comes out), because that looks very cool. Buzz has it beat in pretty much all areas except it being opensource, and having a tracker sequencer. Might be worth checking out, though.
Ejay
URL: Dunno, don't care
Don't use this. It is a basic sequencer, and that's it (as far as I can remember).
Other software I know about but haven't used (so I can't write up anything about it): Skale, ModTracker, Jazz++, Pro Tools, Acid (actually used this shortly several years ago, but don't remember much about it), Nuendo, and a fair number of other trackers out there.
If anyone else has used other software, write a short description of what it is like! Hopefully people will find this thread useful... |
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| quddha |
also another freeware project, from one of the machine devs of buzz,
aodix
http://www.smartelectronix.com/~arguru/
its a tracker pattern style (similar to renoise/psycle/impulse tracker/fast tracker etc.) vsti/vst sequencer. |
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| Vizay |
| quote: |
Ejay
URL: Dunno, don't care
Don't use this. It is a basic sequencer, and that's it (as far as I can remember).
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ejay might be good for a 3 year old little kid that don't know a jack about what a sequencer is :p
but in the other side...they don't read this forums eather so...never mind :P |
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| arctic |
| ejay is a load of crap, the funny thing is the fact that people think that it is actually good :stongue: |
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| Mr.Mystery |
eJay has been buying a lot of "real" music programs under their name lately - Cubasis for example.
If you buy eJay Studio you're going to get Cubasis (no VST) repackaged as eJay product.
They also bought the rights to that one virtual turntable program, but I cannot remember it's name right now (it wasn't Traktor).
Oh, and someone make this thread a sticky... |
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| Enfuse Dub |
| There is a new one called "Tracktion" as well. Supports VSTi and ASIO |
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