Recording Software

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cageofmind
  • Start date Start date

What Recording Software do you use?

  • Pro-Tools

    Votes: 75 11.9%

  • Cubase VST/32

    Votes: 107 17.0%

  • Cool Edit Pro

    Votes: 83 13.2%

  • Nuendo

    Votes: 29 4.6%

  • Acid

    Votes: 27 4.3%

  • Cakewalk Pro-Audio

    Votes: 34 5.4%

  • Vegas Audio

    Votes: 16 2.5%

  • N-Track

    Votes: 19 3.0%

  • Sonar 1.0

    Votes: 34 5.4%

  • Logic Audio

    Votes: 41 6.5%

  • Samplitude 24/96

    Votes: 17 2.7%

  • Other

    Votes: 148 23.5%
  • Total voters
    630
C

Cageofmind

New member
Hey Guys,
I reciently purchased a Presonus Firepod along with a few other goodies and I am unsure as to which software to run with it. I have read several things in here that say they are all pretty much the same, that it is a personal taste thing, but there honestly has to be one that is better than the other. Any ideas? Thanks...
 
Cageofmind said:
I have read several things in here that say they are all pretty much the same, that it is a personal taste thing, but there honestly has to be one that is better than the other.
Click to expand...

That would be "other".

Nice troll.
 
Software?

fraserhutch said:
That would be "other".

Nice troll.
Click to expand...

What software do you use then? You obveously like it moreso than all the other brands of software, could I ask why??
 
There are Fords, Chevrolets, Volvos, BMWs, Chryslers, etc.
They are all cars with 4 wheels and will get you from one place to the other.

Is one of them neccesarily "better" than the others? No..... they have different features and "feels" but when you get right down to it they ALL get you from point A to point B.

By the same logic, there's no reason you couldn't do a million-selling album on Cubase, Sonar, Logic, N-Track, ProTools or any other sequencer. It all depends on what works best for YOU.

You could have what someone else says is the "best" sequencer in the world but if it doesn't feel comfortable for YOU, you'll just never get anything done.
 
If you want to drive yourself nuts, you can try to listen for perceived differences in DAW software:

http://www.mercenary.com/3dauawdawsum.html

This comparison CD has samples from several software packages including
CoolEdit Pro, Cubase, Digital Performer, Logic, Nuendo, ProTools, Samplitude, and Sonar. It also compares the sound quality of DAW based systems with mixing in the analog realm.

If you don't want to take it to that level, I would start by downloading some software demos and find a program that makes sense to you. In other words, something that you can record with and not end up pulling your hair out. I've said it before but it's worth repeating: most good software programs for recording are challenging. You really have to pick one and dive in. You can also go with a limited edition or basic version of the software and work your way up. Check out Logic Express, Cubase LE, ProTools LE, etc.

Personally, I would suggest Digital Performer. But, hey, I'm a Mac guy!
 
This is how all the most highly regarded professionals choose. Even George Martin is rumored to have used this method before the Sgt. Pepper sessions. Please keep these fiercely guarded trade secrets to yourself.

On posted notes hang your choices in various places on the walls of a small room. Put on a pair of high end headphones but DON'T plug them in. Leave the cord dangling by your side. Have a copy of Bette Midler's "Wind beneath my Wings" playing loudly in the background. Blindfold yourself. Have a friend or a colleague place their finger tip on the top of your head. While keeping your hands to your sides have the colleague spin you around in circles three times while you chant..."I pick thee, I pick thee, I pick thee. Stop. Take off the blindfold and headphones and look at the posted note on the wall directly in front of you. Loudly chant "SOFTWARE I HAVE 'FOUND" YOU and.......bingo.....there's your own best personal choice.


However here come the most difficult part. The day you purchase your software, rest, take a day to clear your head as it will most likely be an emotional experience.

The day after you get your software get busy, work hard, get good, listen, learn, be creative and make wonderful sounding audio...The future of great audio recordings is in your hands....I'm counting on you.

Now......stop the Bette Midler song.

JH
 
Joseph Hanna said:
This is how all the most highly regarded professionals choose. Even George Martin is rumored to have used this method before the Sgt. Pepper sessions. Please keep these fiercely guarded trade secrets to yourself.

On posted notes hang your choices in various places on the walls of a small room. Put on a pair of high end headphones but DON'T plug them in. Leave the cord dangling by your side. Have a copy of Bette Midler's "Wind beneath my Wings" playing loudly in the background. Blindfold yourself. Have a friend or a colleague place their finger tip on the top of your head. While keeping your hands to your sides have the colleague spin you around in circles three times while you chant..."I pick thee, I pick thee, I pick thee. Stop. Take off the blindfold and headphones and look at the posted note on the wall directly in front of you. Loudly chant "SOFTWARE I HAVE 'FOUND" YOU and.......bingo.....there's your own best personal choice.


However here come the most difficult part. The day you purchase your software, rest, take a day to clear your head as it will most likely be an emotional experience.

The day after you get your software get busy, work hard, get good, listen, learn, be creative and make wonderful sounding audio...The future of great audio recordings is in your hands....I'm counting on you.

Now......stop the Bette Midler song.

JH
Click to expand...

OK, that was pretty funny. :D
 
scrubs said:
OK, that was pretty funny. :D
Click to expand...

Yeah, but as a parent and concerned citizen, I think he needs to take any suggestions involving blindfolds and Bette Midler down to the Dragon Cave!
 
"other" = Tracktion
http://www.mackie.com/products/tracktion2/ Demo available.

If you are just starting out it's an excellent program to discover the cools and uncools of digital recording. The interface is easy-to-use but very efficient. The new version comes with bunch of nice plugins (full list on the website).
 
"other X 2"

Kristal Audio Engine
Mixcraft

Cheap and work.
Ya get better, ya buy higher
 
Cageofmind said:
What software do you use then? You obveously like it moreso than all the other brands of software, could I ask why??
Click to expand...
I use Sonar and Cubase, but only because that is what I am used to. I will not use Pro Tools on principle, but it is certainly cap[able.

Most of the others around here will do you just as well, and it is purely a matter of taste, aesthetic and workflow.

So, enough with the troll now?
 
Cageofmind said:
What software do you use then? You obveously like it moreso than all the other brands of software, could I ask why??
Click to expand...

I went with Protools LE because I'd used Protools before, I liked the idea of direct transfering of sessions to "Pro" studios running PT (which I never ended up doing after graduating and lossing my studio lab priviledges :mad: ), and admittedly I got caught up in the "industry standard" thing.
I'm happy with my choice and the I know the program well enough that operating it doesn't detract from my workflow, it would be very hard to switch now and have no reason to. If I were to go back, I might choose something different, and what is right for me might not be for you.
 
There are tons of programs, you just have to mess with them all. I first learned Sound Designer on the Mac, way back about 15 years ago. Then I bought Deck II, becausee I was broke and it was cheap. It worked fine, I was able to do perfectly acceptable recordings (though it was limited to 16 bit.) Then I discovered Cubase, and found the plug-ins to be very useful, and that I like the way the eq worked much better. Of course, along came OS X, so I tried the Deck version for that. Recorded ok, but had a fatal flaw with punch-ins. Basically, you couldn't do them! You could record to another track, then move the recorded audio, but that was a pain.

So I went back to Cubase, as soon as the OS X version was out. I'm happy with Cubase, I've tried Tracktion (though I couldn't get a handle on the sample editing), it seems ok. The VST plug-in interface is wacky, though.

So, my point is, just try a couple. Start out with the entry-level version and learn it. They all work on similar principles, I like the ones like Cubase with an interface that resembles a board, just because I understand that. If you've never used a mixing board, you may like Tracktion better.

Good luck, there is no "winner," anymore than there is a best camera, best guitar, best airplane, etc.
 
I use Acoustica Mixcraft and it works excellent, they even give you a free trial and it is just so easy to use especially for the price.
 
OTHER....

Cubase SX (which is NOT the same as Cubase VST/32 at all...)
 
Blue Bear Sound said:
OTHER....

Cubase SX (which is NOT the same as Cubase VST/32 at all...)
Click to expand...

I agree, I used VST on OS 9, and it was fine, but SX (which I use nowadays) is much better, in so many ways...
 
I don't know if I missed the part where you had Firepod, or if it was edited in later (probably the former), but Protools will not work with non-digidesign hardware, so that's out of the question.
 
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