Software choice?

  • Thread starter Thread starter noisedude
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noisedude

noisedude

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Ok, this is the 'what software should I get' thread to end them all.

I've been used to working with Cubase VST 5.0, however, this was not my copy and the owner has reclaimed it. I can crack it, however, I am anti-piracy and when I used to run cracked software found it way too flakey anyway.

Bearing this in mind, what do I go for now. I need to have enough audio tracks to play with (24+), some good FX with it, more FX plugins (I dunno how they work other than VST ones for VST software) readily available and a decent mixer with grouping etc.

Do I need to save up for SX? I don't feel like I ever used a fraction of the features of VST 5 but there are some I would be loathe to give up.

Let me know my options - if you can help me by checking out UK pricing, the website to run a quick search on is www.dv247.com

Thanks! :)
 
ND. before spending a lot of money i would suggest respectfully you check out what i use. get a demo of powertracks from pgmusic.com.
49 bucks for 48 tracks. the new version 9 has some features not found in other software. there is nothing like it around for the price with the feature set. youll have to spend a TON of money to beat its value.
but when you demo it. REALLY REALLY delve deep. because of the extensive features. the reason us users are so loyal is the fair upgrade policy of 29 bucks. go ahead - stack it up against other packages i like for example saw studio(as a computer engr i have the highest respect for saw. great technical achievement imho. ), in fact try them all. then look at pricing. and i think youll be impressed with my suggestion.
note...runs on pc only. also try band in a box sometime. very addictive
for songwriters .
also list your pc confign and i'll give you some feedback.
 
i agree traktion is a fine product. however with respect if you get heavily into some midi features....youll find that what i use shines in this regard.
particularly in midi editing, taking a midi stream and rechanneling,
and many other carefully implemented midi notation features
as well it includes the ability to rapidly make midi drum tracks using
different styles when one wants to lay down tracks quickly to figure out
if a song idea is working in rough.
i would try both noisedude and see which floats your boat.
 
Sorry - my PC spec is:
AMD Athlon XP 2500+ Barton
512mb DDR400
GF FX5200
Various HDDs, about to upgrade from 40gb to 80gb dedicated recording drive
M-Audio Delta 44

I'm aiming high quality-wise and don't mind saving up - I've bought some Behr***er in my time and have learned now to save up when necessary!!
 
whats the pc got to do with it ND ?
the sound quality is all in the sound card convertors irrespective of which software you use. the pc is just a storage medium and processor.
if you think otherwise i'm sorry - but with respect you should do research on convertors. all the software i use does is take the incoming record stream from the soundcard A to D.
the only way to prove i'm right is try different software from cheap to expensive, record some tracks using the same convertors.
if you want good convertors i'm personally saving up for rme or lynx.
 
You asked me my PC config!! I thought that's what you meant!

If it helps I'm running a combo of 98SE and XP Pro ... :)

I'm happy with the Delta 44 converters, thanks, want more but the 1010 is a long reach!

Come on people, I wanted to hear cases for Cakewalk, Cubase, Reason or whatever!
 
i have sonar, i like it. traction does the same stuff though. traction is prett cool and the final mix plug that comes with it is quite useful for mastering. if you going to spend in the sonar price range i would recomend it. i like it over cubase but that is just my preference. i like it more than pro tools as well but i don' thave a lot of experience with pro tools. nuendo is way too much money for my needs. audition i like a lot but does not have much power with midi as far as i can remember. reason isn't quite the same as the others as it is more geared towards softsynths and whatnot, it is mroe of a program to add to your arsenal and use via rewire with sonar or other host.
 
jeesh. apologies ND. yes i DID ask for pc confign.
need some more detail. what do you have in your pci slots ie....
do you have any fancy cards like tv tuner cards or gaming cards or network cards that would interrupt the delta in operation.
otherwise your set up looks good.
would suggest hardware wise you overspec the power supply.
(many people forget then get stability probs), and - do you have any 8mb drives in your collection.
once again. apologies. i misunderstood. ive had other people many times say to me but i have a pc. thinking the pc was responsible for the sound quality.
on the software side - if you feel more comfortable spending money i would suggest you at least demo samplitude as well as saw i mentione. then stack the recordings up against what i use. but they are lighter on the midi features.
 
ps - i forgot to mention. if you can - i would use an nvidea chip set.
but others should work as well. i personally use sis, and people warned me about it...but ive never a prob.
also to see which one of your many drives has the best transfer rate // track count try diskbench from prorec.com.
if you have trouble interpreting the results just post and i'll try and help. quite a usefull utility.
also if you COULD have scrounged up some extra bucks to go with an amd 64 system i would have considered it. the plug in counts alone are impressive. but maybe too much bucks. anyway after xmas i expect
next year we might (hopefully !) see some 64 price drops.
also as i said - please tell me what you have in your pci slots.
very important aspect.
 
noisedude said:
Come on people, I wanted to hear cases for Cakewalk, Cubase, Reason or whatever!
Click to expand...

'dude, do you want to spend money or do you want to make music? Just because Tracktion is low in price doesn't mean it's low in functionality.

Do us both a favor and download the demo!

For the record, I've tried all of the major software packages on assorted projects that I've worked on over the last three years and settled on Tracktion for my own studio because it has the most immediate and transparent workflow of any audio+midi package I've found.
 
It's all good ... thanks. Will certainly look at Traktion.

Manning - I've got very little else in the PC and, yes, the next HDD will be an 8mb cache 7200 one! Sadly lumbered with a VIA chipset, just built an Athlon 64 machine with GF NF3 250 for my brother and it flies!!
 
I can't speak for any of the other products, but I'm very happy with Cakewalk Guitar Tracks.

It's got the Sonar audio engine and all the fiddly audio editing features, plugins etc, but doesn't have midi or piano roll or the other stuff I wouldn't use anyway and it's only a fraction of the price
 
ND. well you should be fine.
if your smart enough to realise the power of a 64, you dont need my advice !
then just use your brothers !
seriously......maybe we should all have an open discussion , if money wasnt in the equation, and we could have any multitrack software.....ie...
unlimited budget, what would we get. then no biases get in the way.
for me, due to my eyesight i found traktion difficult for me.
saw - as i said is a brilliant technical achievement. it impresses me due to
its use of assembler coding, and its smooth way of running. however
once again the graphics got in the way as well i found the editing just didnt sit well. i'm up for an open discussion. anyone else ?
for me - money no object i would still use powertracks that i have due to the midi, and easy workflow - but the tekkie in me would get samplitude as well over anything else thats expensive. it took me a while to get into samps way of doing things , but it really impressed me i have to say.
it just felt so solid. the same as what i'm using. also i purposely as a computer engineer tried to stymie it and it kept on truckin' just like powertracks. its a bit of a steep learning curve, but i liked some of the clever touches in it. so - if money was no object - for me - samp plus what i use now. fire away people.
 
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