what software

[ezrine]

Im a complete new comer to this sort of thing and was wanting to know if ableton live light would be a suitable programme for someone with no previous experience. im just wanting to record gat and bass and vocals. also wanting to make my own electronic music such as dnb and some drum tracks?

 

[FunkDaddy]

Everybody except me seems to love Ableton for electronica type music.

For the music that requires more multi tracking of audio as opposed to beat looping, I'd recommend Reaper. Try it for free, completely uncrippled, then pay for a license when you realize how awesome it is.

 

[kcearl]

i think you already asked this in the Ableton forum...if you got Live Lite i take it that it was free, so give it a go


dont buy anything until you demo it...Live is complicated for some, Reaper isnt, but doesnt have the same or as many features...... which is reflected in its price

 

[CFox]

Im a complete new comer to this sort of thing and was wanting to know if ableton live light would be a suitable programme for someone with no previous experience. im just wanting to record gat and bass and vocals. also wanting to make my own electronic music such as dnb and some drum tracks?

How much money you got bro ?


I am curious as to what is so good about Ableton that you cant achieve similar in Reaper. The midi in Reaper is very fast and intuitive. It may not have all kinds of awesome arpeggiators but you should really be programming your own notes anyway. Its glue function and free item postioning makes layering and merging midi a breeze. The automation features are intuitive ( arming envelope for last tweaked parameter for example ).

Reaper is just the best all around app. Leave the bells and whistles up to you soft synths and the automation.

For midi drums you cant beat Addictive Drums, holy sheeeitt is it good. The producer presets ( which shape the overall sound ) are phenomenal. You can also use NI Battery which comes included in their Komplete 7 bundle discussed below.




Reaper is the intelligent choice of DAW for both experienced and new users alike.

Also.The following is a list of very HQ and very FREE plugins:

Boot EQMkII - channel strip with tube simulator...this rocks on vocals, especially the "sophisticated" preset ( make sure to roll off your low end EQ or rumble ). Be sure to read the accompanying manual

Epic Verb.... The best verb I heard ( until i get my NI reverb that is )..great on vox too. For a modern vocal presence sound simply select the default and switch the reverb to ambience and dial in the wet/dry mix. Be sure to read the accompanying manual

Nasty VCS ...effing fantastic channel strip that requires a bit of tweaking ( just like real life ). It has mic preamps, tube simulator, EQ and compression/limiting. Be sure to read the accompanying manual


All of these are available on the download page.

All of these also work flawlessly with Reaper ( which in itself has some very good plugins. Dont be put off by the resource saving, minimalist GUI's )


If you go the Reaper route, then with the money you save you can get one of the Native Instruments Komplete 7 pack. Either Komplete 7 ( 80 gigs of samples,synths and effects for $550 ) or Komplete 7 Elements ( 16 gig of samples,synths and effects for $120 ). Check out the NI Guitar Rig amp sim ( full version included free in Komplete 7 ). Fantastic.

You may as well download and try Komplete 7 Players with is totally FREE. The included Kore Player is actually a very handy effects plugin in its own right.

So Yeah. Get Reaper on a fully functional 30 day trial and Komplete 7 Players to start out.

 

[kcearl]

How much money you got bro ?


I am curious as to what is so good about Ableton that you cant achieve similar in Reaper. The midi in Reaper is very fast and intuitive. It may not have all kinds of awesome arpeggiators but you should really be programming your own notes anyway. Its glue function and free item postioning makes layering and merging midi a breeze. The automation features are intuitive ( arming envelope for last tweaked parameter for example ).

Reaper is just the best all around app. Leave the bells and whistles up to you soft synths and the automation.

For midi drums you cant beat Addictive Drums, holy sheeeitt is it good. The producer presets ( which shape the overall sound ) are phenomenal. You can also use NI Battery which comes included in their Komplete 7 bundle discussed below.




Reaper is the intelligent choice of DAW for both experienced and new users alike.

Also.The following is a list of very HQ and very FREE plugins:

Boot EQMkII - channel strip with tube simulator...this rocks on vocals, especially the "sophisticated" preset ( make sure to roll off your low end EQ or rumble ). Be sure to read the accompanying manual

Epic Verb.... The best verb I heard ( until i get my NI reverb that is )..great on vox too. For a modern vocal presence sound simply select the default and switch the reverb to ambience and dial in the wet/dry mix. Be sure to read the accompanying manual

Nasty VCS ...effing fantastic channel strip that requires a bit of tweaking ( just like real life ). It has mic preamps, tube simulator, EQ and compression/limiting. Be sure to read the accompanying manual


All of these are available on the download page.

All of these also work flawlessly with Reaper ( which in itself has some very good plugins. Dont be put off by the resource saving, minimalist GUI's )


If you go the Reaper route, then with the money you save you can get one of the Native Instruments Komplete 7 pack. Either Komplete 7 ( 80 gigs of samples,synths and effects for $550 ) or Komplete 7 Elements ( 16 gig of samples,synths and effects for $120 ). Check out the NI Guitar Rig amp sim ( full version included free in Komplete 7 ). Fantastic.

You may as well download and try Komplete 7 Players with is totally FREE. The included Kore Player is actually a very handy effects plugin in its own right.

So Yeah. Get Reaper on a fully functional 30 day trial and Komplete 7 Players to start out.

Im curious too..at what age you are?


There are huge differences in the way Live and Reaper work...way beyond arpegattors (which live has one)

Again to the OP try them both because when it gets into fanboi, and ridiculous statements, like "Reaper is just the best all around app" you really need to find out yourself..

and do not purchase Addictive drums without trying Superior or BFD2 first...both which may be have better sounding libraries...

 

[CFox]

Im curious too..at what age you are?

What's that got to do with anything ? No matter what I say you are going to try and categorize me.

There are huge differences in the way Live and Reaper work...way beyond arpegattors (which live has one)

Great, detail Ableton pls. I didnt like the demo. I can detail how Reaper works if you like.

Again to the OP try them both because when it gets into fanboi, and ridiculous statements, like "Reaper is just the best all around app" you really need to find out yourself..

What's up your arse bro ? Go to the Cave, go directly to the Cave, do not pass GO....do not collect $200.
"Reaper is the all around best app". Of course that is an opinion, what else could it possibly be ? Who is the authority on these matters ?

and do not purchase Addictive drums without trying Superior or BFD2 first...both which may be have better sounding libraries...

I spent weeks researching all drum samplers. I am not saying SD2 is crap. I am saying ADD is fantastic. Research indicated it is low resource hog ( where SD2 is high )..it loads fast, has an interface that people dont complain about being too complicated ( unlike SD2 ) etc etc etc.

Of course - yes, research. Do you think the OP is going to rush out and purchase something because I say so ?

 

[ido1957]

Buy Sonar 8.5 and a Lexicon U42S.

 

[kcearl]

man you really belong on message boards Cfox..

dissecting posts in the newbie forum is just the help folks need making initial purchases


I will describe one feature in Ableton that is enough for most electronic musicians and the reason why you will never hear of Reaper, or most other DAWs mentioned in their arsenals, and thats the scene view.

As Ive already mentioned in another thread here dance music is constructed of 16 bar clips, these have slight variances but generally lead up to a crescendo followed by an 8-16bar breakdown, then the main meat of the piece. Lives scene view allows you to fill its scenes with 16 bar (or how many bar you want) clips and trigger them in any order, essentially live mixing, or auditioning, each part in real time. These can be recorded into the arrangement view if need be and further edited in there. Its workflow for this style of beat based music is unmatched.

Reason 5's new block arrangement view is similar, though sonars matrix view isnt really the same...there is nothing like this in Reaper or any other DAW and the reason that if you read an interview with any electronic music producer 9 times out of 10 they'll be using Live as their main DAW. Its what its designed for.

I liked Reaper for what it is..a brilliant entry level DAW that can still be used by the most experienced musician, with a superb business model too...but for certain things, as Ive mentioned above, other DAWs are simply better at certain genres


Now I think you are a teen or someone in his very early twenties because you seem combative most of the time. Im not challenging your manhood, intelligence, or right to express your opinion just that sometimes you are wrong...it happens to us all

 

[CFox]

man you really belong on message boards Cfox..

Cool thanks

dissecting posts in the newbie forum is just the help folks need making initial purchases

Newbie doest mean idiot. I am sure they would appreciate any detailed info.

I will describe one feature in Ableton that is enough for most electronic musicians and the reason why you will never hear of Reaper, or most other DAWs mentioned in their arsenals, and thats the scene view.

Adobe Audtion/Cool edit has playlist preview. You mark out sections, you control how its played back then commit to it if you choose.

As Ive already mentioned in another thread here dance music is constructed of 16 bar clips, these have slight variances but generally lead up to a crescendo followed by an 8-16bar breakdown, then the main meat of the piece. Lives scene view allows you to fill its scenes with 16 bar (or how many bar you want) clips and trigger them in any order, essentially live mixing, or auditioning, each part in real time. These can be recorded into the arrangement view if need be and further edited in there. Its workflow for this style of beat based music is unmatched.

Reason 5's new block arrangement view is similar, though sonars matrix view isnt really the same...there is nothing like this in Reaper or any other DAW and the reason that if you read an interview with any electronic music producer 9 times out of 10 they'll be using Live as their main DAW. Its what its designed for.

Ok, Reaper, has a jump to marker function. You can hit play and jump from any marked region to another by hitting the numbers 1 - 0. You can also group entire sections and copy paste them with a couple of clicks.

I liked Reaper for what it is..a brilliant entry level DAW that can still be used by the most experienced musician, with a superb business model too...but for certain things, as Ive mentioned above, other DAWs are simply better at certain genres

It appears you are becoming miffed at your authority being challenged. Now Reaper is just entry level ? Gimme a break.

Now I think you are a teen or someone in his very early twenties because you seem combative most of the time. Im not challenging your manhood, intelligence, or right to express your opinion just that sometimes you are wrong...it happens to us all

Sorry if the NOXPLODE is surging my energy levels bro

You are not confrontational ?


"NOXPLODE is clearly the best ALL AROUND nitric oxide supplement "

CFox 2010

 

[kcearl]

very good...you only reinforce what i said...though forget twenties, Im definitely going with teenager

btw loop markers and cut in paste are available on all DAWs, its nothing to do with Lives scene view...even energy XT, Music Creator, and Music Maker, have this most basic of features, all of which are cheaper than Reaper so they must be the best...because I cant think of anything else <shrug>

j/k

 

[CFox]

very good...you only reinforce what i said...though forget twenties, Im definitely going with teenager

btw loop markers and cut in paste are available on all DAWs, its nothing to do with Lives scene view...even energy XT, Music Creator, and Music Maker, have this most basic of features, all of which are cheaper than Reaper so they must be the best...because I cant think of anything else <shrug>

j/k

And you just reinforced what I said.

 

[kcearl]

And you just reinforced what I said.

and that was?



Does Reaper have a freeze VSTi feature? essential when using multi softsynths

In fact can it freeze audio tracks?

Does it have an embedded audio wave editor that can warp and/or slice...essential when getting samples to match beats?

Does it have pitch correcton tools that can be automated on individual audio slices, again essential when getting samples to match beats?

Does it support rewire easily? as many use Reason alongside Live in beat music production

does it have a built in sampler...self explanatory?


Again not knocking Reaper...and I dont think Live is the greatest application out there...but it does beat Reaper in certain departments

 

[kcearl]

Logic 9 does as well...but you need a Mac

 

[CFox]

and that was?

Defending a position even if that means attempting to devalue the other party by calling them fanboi and testosterone laden angry young man.

Does Reaper have a freeze VSTi feature? essential when using multi softsynths

What is this feature ? Is that like track muting also disabling the VSTi or does it mean locking the controls ?

In fact can it freeze audio tracks?

It will soon as it has enough momentum in the suggested features forum. Good news is it will probably be free. Until then. Render to stem doesnt take any longer than a track freeze.

Does it have an embedded audio wave editor that can warp and/or slice...essential when getting samples to match beats?

No but if you know where to look you can find one for free ( CEP being deregistered of course ). Sounds a bit advanced for the OP though. They may want to stick with the free Audacity for while.

Does it have pitch correcton tools that can be automated on individual audio slices, again essential when getting samples to match beats?

Why not commit to the pitch correction as a new sample ? That sounds like a lot of dicking around and resource hogging. But it does automated pitch handling.

Does it support rewire easily? as many use Reason alongside Live in beat music production

If I was using Reason, I would use Record. Here's the wiki anyway, doesnt look like rocket surgery.

does it have a built in sampler...self explanatory?

No, but I would go third party on that anyway.

Again not knocking Reaper...and I dont think Live is the greatest application out there...but it does beat Reaper in certain departments

Calling it entry level is very limiting in your praise, especially considering that what it does, it does very very well. For the price, you could spend the rest on the NI bundle and have a total solution. Even the $130 bundle would keep you discovering sounds for a year.

 

[kcearl]

so no, no, no, yes, no, and no...


OK...thats all you needed to type...


I wont go into drum racks, vocoders, beat repeaters, loopers or any other features in Live that I know Reaper doesnt have..because I already know the answer as its been sitting on my desktop for 277 days or whatever the last reminder said..

It is entry level because of its ease of use and because it is stripped of features many would not need....for the audio based musician this gives them the basic tools for what they need in a very small footprint and some $$ in their pocket to boot

it doesnt need to be complicated, thats its beauty...you are trying to win some argument that doesnt exist

Im finished with this thread because I think there is enough information in here for the OP to make their own mind up...you can do everything you can do in Reaper in Live but not everything in Live can be replicated in Reaper..and the cost of those extra features is money and learning curve


amen

 

[CFox]

so no, no, no, no, no, and no...


OK...thats all you needed to type...


I wont go into drum racks, vocoders, beat repeaters, loopers or any other features in Live that I know Reaper doesnt have..because I already know the answer as its been sitting on my desktop for 277 days or whatever the last reminder said..

It is entry level because of its ease of use and because it is stripped of features many would not need....for the audio based musician this gives them the basic tools for what they need in a very small footprint and some $$ in their pocket to boot

it doesnt need to be complicated, thats its beauty...you are trying to win some argument that doesnt exist

Im finished with this thread because I think there is enough information in here for the OP to make their own mind up...you can do everything you can do in Reaper in Live but not everything in Live can be replicated in Reaper..and the cost of those extra features is money and learning curve


amen

I am not finished with you. You like to have the last word, especially when that involves avoiding serious discussion and attempting to minimise someone else's input with a wave of the hand.

I showed respect in answering your questions with meaningful responses and you just scoff.

To the OP DONT SPEND $700 on Ableton when you can get Reaper for $40 and then decide what other VSTi's and and VST's you want to use. These 3rd party plugins made by dedicated developers are much better than the business model compromised plugs from any other DAW.

 

[kcearl]

yeah good luck buying that 3rd party "scene view" and Ableton is not $700, it starts at $99...with the scene view, audio warping, freezing vsti's etc etc

Im finished with you though CFox...youve got a bit of growing up to do son, and im not in the mood to be schooling broody teenagers at the mo'

 

[CFox]

yeah good luck buying that 3rd party "scene view" and Ableton is not $700, it starts at $99...with the scene view, audio warping, freezing vsti's etc etc

Im finished with you though CFox...youve got a bit of growing up to do son, and im not in the mood to be schooling broody teenagers at the mo'

Hey you. Welcome back

Looks like a lot of money to have all those goodies you talk about.


Or, you could get Reaper and Native Instruments Komplete 7. NI synths are AMAZING. And the dedicated sampler Kontakt ? Wow.

 

[kcearl]

no only sampler and drum racks isnt in the $99 version...every other feature i mentioned is

Sampler is $129..and isnt a sample player like kontakt it is also for making samples..

Now I did want to leave this thread alone but if you continue to mislead, for whatever absurd reason, I will continue to correct you

I make Drum & Bass tracks with limited success, something the OP mentioned they'd also like to, I could do that in Reaper..it would take quite a bit more time and many of the tools Id utilise would be missing...this can be done in the $99 version of Live..the $699 version is a bloated programme filled with loops and items like latin percussion etc, hardly required for the OPs needs


so I know you feel the need to win these imaginary arguments, many do at your age, but i will stand behind my knowledge on making this type of electronic music..

 

[kcearl]

NI synths are good..I have them too from Komplete 5, they would be a worthy addition to Live