Choosing the right Sequencer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Razien
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Razien said:
I know there'll be threads about the general "best" program available and all that so im not going down that route. I am wondering though if some are more tailored to certain situations than others.

I have friends that use FL studio 9, so i was thinking of getting that. But from reading around it appears as though people use it largely for making beats/hip hop/dance. Then sometimes export what they have into pro tools or something to mix it. Im more into rock/acoustic/pop. I would personally be looking to record vocals, acoustic & perhaps electric. Then using software/synths for drums or maybe violins if i wanted those.

Ive read that SONAR, Cubase, LOGIC & Pro tools are good. Though i only have a pc so that rules out Logic. Again though they seem to have different qualitys. Many saying that Pro tools is very good for recording audio, or editing it but not so much for actually creating using software. Where as logic/sonar do that side of it & so they switch between programmes for each task.

So what would best suit my situation? To use Sonar/cubase or even fl studio to make beats/music parts & then pro tools to record myself or my instruments ?

Thankyou for any help. :D
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For features, ease of use and cost, Reaper rules IMO. http://www.reaper.fm/

(I don't make beats or use midi, so cant speak to that)
 
I'm wondering if I should try Reaper. Just quickly, (I'm being lazy) can anyone say how it's licence works? It's $60 - so what do you get before you pay? A time expiring trial?

I'd be willing to pay that. EDIT: Holy shit! The licence is voluntary! I've done some bad things in my life but their generosity tugs on my heart strings!. Yeah, I would pay it.

Dr. V
 
Dr. Varney said:
I'm wondering if I should try Reaper. Just quickly, (I'm being lazy) can anyone say how it's licence works? It's $60 - so what do you get before you pay? A time expiring trial?

I'd be willing to pay that.

Dr. V
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The trial version is fully operational. After 30 days you buy a license or stop using it... but the program never goes "un-operational", after 30 days you just get a nag screen when you start it up (which I think is why so many think its free). Also, there is only 1 version of Reaper- its just the licenses that are different. TOTALLY worth the $60. I bought it back in version 1 and I'm out of upgrades... so, I have to buy version 3, which I plan to do after I see how xmas $ pans out).
 
Thanks Jeff. I'm a sucker for screenshots, actually. There is a pile of drool collecting on my desk as we speak...

Dr. V
 
Dr. Varney said:
Thanks Jeff. I'm a sucker for screenshots, actually. There is a pile of drool collecting on my desk as we speak...

Dr. V
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Rofl, there was a thread similar to this a couple weeks ago where the guy was trying to pick a software and he decided that Reaper didn't look good enough. I lol'ed.
The early versions of Reaper started off very functional, but lacking in the graphics department. Thats been a steady improvement and I think v3 looks eff'n great. (like I said, I'm still on v2.x)
 
Jeff_D said:
Rofl, there was a thread similar to this a couple weeks ago where the guy was trying to pick a software and he decided that Reaper didn't look good enough. I lol'ed.
The early versions of Reaper started off very functional, but lacking in the graphics department. Thats been a steady improvement and I think v3 looks eff'n great. (like I said, I'm still on v2.x)
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It looks better than Cubase LOL! I'm trained in digital artwork, so it's kinda my job to get really, really stoopid about looks. Five weeks into Fruity Loops and I'm feckin' with the Dashboard, for no good reason. :D

But, as the old adage goes: "Sex sells"...

Dr. V
 
The software is largely irelevant once you get into the realm of Real DAWs ie Cubase, Sonar, Logic, Pro Tools, Sony etc etc etc.

Everyone has their preference for their own reasons that are well justified and work for them

Don't get hung up on it, try a few, make a decision and go with it. Your music won't be any better or worse because you picked cubase instead protools instead of Saonar instead of FL instead of ACID and so on.

The software is simply a tool that allows you to manipulate the audio you have recorded but none of them in the real DAW realm will make the difference between a pristine hit record and a hissy, badly produced piece of garbage. Your musicianship/production/arrangement skills, Recording/micing skills and mixing skills are what makes the difference

Pick some software, learn it and then forget about it until you get to apoint where it no longer does everything you need.
 
So, I ideally you want something which facilitates lots of knob tweaking. In which case, you need to look for something which resembles a woman's torso.

Dr. V
 
Dr. Varney said:
'Nuff said. I track my intruments one at a time, so it's ideal for me. But it's worth knowing, if you were hoping to multitrack.

Yes, the industry has standards and the question is merely "Does the software you're using address those standards?". Some pro. web designers use Notepad. For example, Dreamweaver touts itself as I.S. when in fact it writes very unprofessional code. On top of that, there is always the debate on what constitutes 'professionalism'.

Dr. V
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Was just checking this and turns out some of the more expensive fl studio 9 versions do have it now ! So even thats not holding it back. Might get it, between that and Sonar i think.
 
No offence but why is it down to those two?

I think ableton does a better job of beats and/or electronica than FL...and Cubase, Samplitube etc do a better job than Sonar (crappy GUI and envelopes)..unless you are going to buy their flagship then all the added instruments may tip the balance

thats without mentioning Reaper and XT Energy that will do everything you need for $60

I dont see how they would come to the top of your list...Im sure you'll be happy with them but others do what they do better, if not by much by enough, or for far cheaper
 
In the new year, I'm gonna clean up ma 'pooter and get tha Reaper!

Dr. V
 
I thought you used Sonar ?

Well not having any idea what GUI or envelopes are probably helps :D

Just from reading around really, ive heard quite a bit of music from people who've used Sonar and liked the sound they were able to get. Probably able to do that on any of them but made it stick out more in my mind & im just more familiar with FL studio than others & liked the layout. Its mainly from comparing them to pro tools tbh and seeing opinions, the same daw's kept coming up so was checking out those.

Ive not gone deeply into it yet, been looking up audio interfaces and mics at the same time so going gradually over each thing.

Wanted Logic originally but its only for macs now, friend was saying Cubase is very good as you suggest. Havent heard much about samplitube/XT energy anywhere ? Reaper/Ableton are ones ill have to learn about to.

Maybe Cubase would be a good place to start then
 
you can get "the sound" on any of them...


yup I use Sonar, but I also use Ableton...unless you use two screens for Sonar the GUI is very crowded, even when you remove most of the toolbars its still very crowded...its also very grey, there are other templates but they arent much better

with other DAWs, say samplitube, ableton, or studio one when you want to paint an effect envelope on top of your tracks you can either use a pencil to draw it on, pretty inaccurate (sonar does this as well) or just grab the effects line and bend it to the shape you want or enter nodes by right clicking on it (sonar makes you bring up a separate toolbar to add nodes to the send)..

Its not much...but say youve got one screen..I have...and you like to use a lot of automated effects in your tracks..I do...then it all adds up

do spend as much time researching this as possible..I didnt and Im stuck with sonar, even though in every other aspect it is great..download demos, they nearly all have fully functioning demos, try them out...sonar may even be the one you are happiest using:)
 
FL offers dual methods of setting up automation (same with most tasks). You have the pencil/paintbrush affair in the piano roll, then precise envelope control with the lines and points. Because the patterns appear transparent, I can superimpose them over parts of my song, for lining them up with the music, though I think it would be a lot better if the envelope editing featured a proper grid. Doing it by sight alone, You can easily end up with a slopes you don't want.

There are a few things I don't like about FL. The mixer is fairly basic, though for someone just starting out it's a bonus. I sometimes find the GUI (Graphic User Interface) too dark and with the mixer strips, it's easy to lose a track because the labels are so damned small. Also, the knobs & sliders are quite small and can be a bit fiddly.

I'm using 8 (Prod. Edition). 9 has been around for a while and it looks like it has some improvements. I get by very well with this software.

I've used dual-head graphics cards for years, with Photoshop, etc. I notice most sound studios use the twin monitor set up. You wonder how you could ever live without two screens.

Dr. V
 
Dr. Varney said:
FL offers dual methods of setting up automation (same with most tasks). You have the pencil/paintbrush affair in the piano roll, then precise envelope control with the lines and points. Because the patterns appear transparent, I can superimpose them over parts of my song, for lining them up with the music, though I think it would be a lot better if the envelope editing featured a proper grid. Doing it by sight alone, You can easily end up with a slopes you don't want.

There are a few things I don't like about FL. The mixer is fairly basic, though for someone just starting out it's a bonus. I sometimes find the GUI (Graphic User Interface) too dark and with the mixer strips, it's easy to lose a track because the labels are so damned small. Also, the knobs & sliders are quite small and can be a bit fiddly.

I'm using 8 (Prod. Edition). 9 has been around for a while and it looks like it has some improvements. I get by very well with this software.

I've used dual-head graphics cards for years, with Photoshop, etc. I notice most sound studios use the twin monitor set up. You wonder how you could ever live without two screens.

Dr. V
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yup Ive got another screen but Im in a one bedroom apartment at the moment and ive taken up more space than I should as such..

two screens definitely help..Sonars envelopes are still a hassle though
 
Razien said:
Just from reading around really, ive heard quite a bit of music from people who've used Sonar and liked the sound they were able to get.
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Sound quality does not depend on the DAW but on the soundcard you buy and, ultimately, the other hardware you run to and from, in your studio. This is why I said, unless you intend to go Pro Tools, choose from a range of interfaces first and use a selection of free apps which come bundled. (As I said, I have certain limited use of Ableton, Sonar, Cubase & Wavelab - which came with my E=MU 0404). With hands-on use you will discover what it is you want most in an application, then decide which to buy a full licence for, to use all of it's features. Chances are, you'll warm to one straight off and stick with it. It's like trying to decide which flavour ice cream you like best, out of a range you have never before sampled.

The DAW is not quite like the lens is to a camera - or like a brand of speakers are to an amp. It is simply the application you use to arrange your sounds. VSTs, using a standard, independant, semi cross-platform protocol in their own right, are more than often interchangeable, between different applications. For instance, I can use Cakewalk effects - and stuff which came specifically with Cubase, in Fruity Loops and vice versa.

It's not enough just to take our advice though. I'm very new to all this myself. You need to try things out. I think what is most important, is finding the best bang for your buck. VFM for me, is often the deciding factor in a software purchase, but not always.

Dr. V
 
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The Emu 0404 is one of the two ive narrowed it down to actually, everyone loves it...have you been pleased with that purchase yourself ? Another plus point for it really if it can come with a bundle of software to try out, good stuff.
 
Razien said:
The Emu 0404 is one of the two ive narrowed it down to actually, everyone loves it...have you been pleased with that purchase yourself ? Another plus point for it really if it can come with a bundle of software to try out, good stuff.
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Yeah, very pleased, although I have not compared other sound cards in this bracket. I went straight from Realtek onboard sound, to this. I should add, a friend was selling it off cheap, so my choice was narrowed right down. I was in a hurry to get started, so I just went for it. I've not had any problems with it.

However, one thng I've never felt quite at home with is it's native driver, called DSP Patchmix. Despite the fact I didn't know what I was doing with it at first, a sound engineer friend commented that some of it was 'back to front', though he finished by saying:
"That's probably to be expected, as it's not trying to emulate a real-world mixer.'"

So I have the DSP (Digital Sound Processor) set up with the absolute minimum it requires to get sound in and out; prefering to use my DAW's mixer to control the sound. It comes with a ton of ready-made effects and routing presets but I have them all disabled. DSP Patchmix is hailed as one of the most flexible digital routing solutions on the market but I use virtually none of it's features, unless I'm just listening to music through Microsoft WAVE. That's not to say you won't benefit from them. You might find a use for all that, as I might in time. Who knows?

Perhaps if I ever came to recording out to tape, or using the computer in a live situation, it might prove very useful?

Also, by most 'recommended standards', the computer I'm running should hardly work. I'm using a standard, single core, Athlon-64 2GHz processor, with no more than 1GB of RAM yet I've never (touch wood!) had any latency or memory problems. I find I can even run other applications while I'm composing music. I don't know if that is down to the card or not.

Hope this helps.

Dr. V
 
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