Need help making ANOTHER recording software decision?

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keithpurtell

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Last time I posed this question, it was when I was trying to decide between Reaper and Ableton Live. I didn't much like Reaper's interface, but I wanted to collect more objective info. I chose Live because someone said it was easier to get some tracks down quickly. But, the past month has been a waste of time. I'm tired of digging though the 500-page Live manual (not exaggerating) trying to find out how to do some simple function that I could figure out in 30 seconds back when I started all this with Audacity.

Again I'm looking for home recording software (Windows XP) that is pro or semi-pro and (this time!) has a good intuitive interface. I need to be able to record individual instruments, do the same editing/tweaking of a track I can do easily in Audacity, then add other tracks, a few being loops that set up a rhythm, then mix down for quality stereo output.

With Reaper and Live off the table, what's left??
 
Sorry. There isn't any options that I know of. With a more powerful DAW comes a learning curve. Why don't you come to us first instead of flipping through a book. :D
 
What Crowsoffritz says ^^^.

You should stick with Audacity if you want simple.

If you want "pro or semi pro", you need to realise that this means complexity and requires learning and practice.

It's like learning a musical instrument. Most people are capable of mastering three-chord songs on a guitar . . . . but going beyond that requires a preparation to extend yourself.
 
As a user who in the past went from Audacity from to a "major" DAW. I can say that jumping to Cubase was the easiest for me.
Arcadeko and Jimmy helped make the transition smoother though... they answered all my questions :D

Then from Cubase now it's easier for me to use other DAWs if needed as I use a few different ones. Ableton, Reaper, Maschine's sequencer, etc.
 
I've been doing this (computer recording) for a while (SAW, 4 track, might have been my first official DAW, certainly the first recording app I thought of as a 'DAW') so can easily understand how a specific user interface can make a huge difference in how an individual adapts to application. For what ever reason (and I'm not actually criticizing the app) Ableton is also one the apps to which I was never able to adapt. When it first showed up I want to like it but simply found it too awkward, with regard to how I worked, to ever use.

That said, unfortunately for OP, I have found Reaper to be both powerful and easy to use. Other then glancing at it years ago I don't have enough experience with Audacity to compare it with Reaper. But in my experience to achieve things for which OP is seeking it would be hard for me to imagine an app with better cost/benefit then Reaper. Plus Reaper's own forums have always seemed incredibly responsive to specific question & issues.
 
I started right in on Reaper - after reading the basic chapters of the manual first.
 
What ever you get you have to take time to lern how it works and you do this by reading the manual. Sorry no "instant work for me now software" available.

Not picking on you, but is it really only your 11th post since joining in 2004? Where you been?

Alan
 
In my own defense (hopefully) I was bouncing between the manual and the interface and questions to the Ableton Live forum. Still ended up exasperated. I've learned a lot of different kinds of software over the years, several of them not "easy" (Cold Fusion, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, etc.), so I think I gave Live a fair shot. The comment about the interface having an influence on how well you work with software was right on the money. I don't think Live is bad. I think it's been like going out on a date with a beautiful woman and discovering we have nothing in common.

So, I'm going to try Reaper again. And peek at Cubase. Thanks, all!!!
 
I always found Cubase really intuitive. I don't think I've ever looked in the manual or asked a forum question, although Google helps from time to time (lots of Youtube videos available too). As long as you're not afraid of poking around and pressing buttons to see what happens, you can easily get up to a productive speed. You can download a trial version of Cubase Elements without needing an e-licenser dongle to give it a try.

I did give Reaper a try before buying Cubase 6 recently (after a several year hiatus from basic producing with Cubase SX 5, I think it was). I could immediately see its quality, but didn't find it so intuitive and the builtin plugins didn't have any presets (I know one shouldn't use presets, but they're a good place to start from when you don't have any idea what the controls do). For some reason, I do actually expect to move to Reaper once I'm more adept.
 
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Downloaded Reaper no problem, but Steinberg wants $28 for the 30-day trial version of Cubase 6. What's up with that?
 
I used Cubase for years. Then I moved to Reaper. I haven't even opened up Cubase since I started using Reaper and will likely never use anything else.

So my vote is for Reaper. (obviously)
 
keithpurtell said:
Last time I posed this question, it was when I was trying to decide between Reaper and Ableton Live. I didn't much like Reaper's interface, but I wanted to collect more objective info. I chose Live because someone said it was easier to get some tracks down quickly. But, the past month has been a waste of time. I'm tired of digging though the 500-page Live manual (not exaggerating) trying to find out how to do some simple function that I could figure out in 30 seconds back when I started all this with Audacity.

Again I'm looking for home recording software (Windows XP) that is pro or semi-pro and (this time!) has a good intuitive interface. I need to be able to record individual instruments, do the same editing/tweaking of a track I can do easily in Audacity, then add other tracks, a few being loops that set up a rhythm, then mix down for quality stereo output.

With Reaper and Live off the table, what's left??
Click to expand...

Youtube tutorials can save lives :)
 
keithpurtell said:
Downloaded Reaper no problem, but Steinberg wants $28 for the 30-day trial version of Cubase 6. What's up with that?
Click to expand...

I think that's to trial the full version of Cubase 6, which requires the eLicenser USB dongle, which is what the charge is for. You can trial Cubase 6 Elements completely free, as I did before buying the full version.
 
Oh, and the Cubase Elements trial be downloaded and used right away.
 
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