Acid or Live and where to buy?

[Velvet Elvis]

Hey Gang...

Its my birthday today And I'm rewarding myself with some new studio software.

I'd like to buy a loop sequencing program for PC to help me assemble drum/effect loops for the purpose of songwriting etc.

I've looked at both ACID and LIVE (ableton)... and I like Acid a little better at this point because it seems more oriented around what I want to do and less oriented around real time manipulation.

What do you all think...

Next... where is a good and cheap place to get these packages from? I've seen them range from the $300 to $400 range.

Thanks,
Velvet Elvis

 

[ssscientist]

If it's not too late, you might get lucky and find a Sonic Foundry copy of Acid Pro 4.0 - I know Musicians Fiend were blowing them out for $100 - the new Sony packages are almost surely the same software in a new box...

 

[P Hallin]

You can´t go wrong with Acid if you ask me. But I am a bit odd because I prefer the old 2.0 version over 4.0. The 4.0 is too packed with finesses so, at least for me, it works less good. I´m using Acid 2.0 as a simpe form of multitrack software that makes cutting and pasting very easy, witch is great when you work with sampled drums. Of course now i´m hardly using MIDI at all so...
And the user interface is much clearer and comfortable too work with in the old versions then the new if you ask me...

 

[manning1]

velvet - demo powertracks some time. pgmusic.com 29 bucks.
i do loops in it all the time for myself and friends. midi loops, audio loops.
but dig deep - this package is loaded with features including midi styles.
also check out the free hotstepper sometime. an amazing free package.

 

[ds21]

velvet - demo powertracks some time. pgmusic.com 29 bucks.
i do loops in it all the time for myself and friends. midi loops, audio loops.
but dig deep - this package is loaded with features including midi styles.
also check out the free hotstepper sometime. an amazing free package.

Though it's a great program at the price (or even 4 times the price) it can't compete with Acid for looping audio, but it is only $29. Last I upgraded was to ver. 8, if someone wants a multitracker for under $100 it would be the first I would recomend, if fact I'll probably upgrade to it just to get the plug-ins, especially the TC-Helicon harmonizer, will worth the $19 upgrade!

 

[Velvet Elvis]

Thanks for the quick replies guys... I appreciate it.

I was told by a salesman that LIVE was far superior in sound quality and usability, so I downloaded the full demos of both LIVE and Acid Pro 4.0.

I can tell you without a doubt that Acid sounded WAYYYY better than LIVE for the loops I want to use... far less artifacts and much easier to work with, IMO.

So... I ordered Acid Pro 4.0 yesterday... looks like most internet sites ranged from $315 to $400... I found one I trust right in the middle.

ssscientist... great idea trying to find the older version. It is indeed the same program, as Sony/Screenblast just bought them out. I chose to get the full Sony version though just in case there is something screwy with upgrades etc in the future.

Looking forward to putting this stuff to use.

Velvet Elvis