didn't read all the thread. subscriptions are a con, you never own it and a company can just lock you out of it like avid did with the russians.
People must have mental health issues or are seriously misguided if they literally subscribe to plugins and sample packs for years throwing money down the drain
And 1.99 a month is still 1.99 more than using LogicX in full for 90 days (as just 1 example). And then it's cheap as hell to buy it outright and get lifetime upgrades after that if you like it after 90days.
Don't fall into the consumers trap
I, by all means, am not really inclined to judge those who choose to stand on their principles. Consumer or otherwise. The decision is obviously up to the individual. If software subscriptions are an egregious problem I'm totally comfortable with that position. I subscribe to Reason+ and am happy I did so because that solution, in part, made the most sense in my scenario. I make ok money on my ques and that income far exceeds the cost of my subscription. If a subscription-based solution fills a need better than an outright purchase I'd have no hesitation to do so. For the record here, Reason+ can be bought in full for about the same price as Pro Tools, Studio One or Ableton. My usual mantra when responding to newbie DAW questions is to leave the cost factor in the hands of the individual. It's hard to know what their financial situation is unless of course part of their original post includes a projected budget. In this case, the OP did not.
With all due respect. I am decidedly not in poor mental health nor a seriously misguided gent. Ginormously difficult to make that assessment via a web forum. Also, I'm by a Titanic margin, on the plus side of income vs expenditures with my recording environment, and in no universe do I feel like I'm throwing money down the drain.
I'm well aware of Logic as I worked for Apple as a consultant while they were porting from Emagic. I'm also Apple certified in Logic. I used Emagic extensively in the early days of Pro Tools' horrendously failed midi environment. Logic is a brilliant package by any measuring yardstick as you mentioned and only Reaper comes in as less an investment. I would submit Logic is the best bang vs cost on the current contemporary DAW stage. Apple has done a fabulous job at re-coding the Emagic insanity, into a fairly streamlined intuitive DAW solution and, I can't think of a single component that it's lacking in, except.....the OP was looking for a Windows solution for a midi-only environment. On its face that would rule out Logic before getting out of the gate. It was also established that the primary role on the OP's wish list was a midi/instrument-centric and less so audio-centric solution. Even if Logic was a viable answer, at $200.00, one would have to spend a bunch more in order to bring Logic into the ballpark of available onboard synths, sequencers, arpeggiators, and chord generators Reason has embryonically. I don't think Reason's midi environment is as deep as Logic, as Logic still has some of the rabbit hole, endlessly deep capabilities from the old Emagic madness, but I do think Reason is noticeably more intuitive and for me, that would make sense for the OP who suggested he or she was overwhelmed as a beginner on even the very most basics.
The world is going to subscription-based environments. The photo application solutions got there far ahead of the DAW market and I'm pretty sure that the tide isn't gonna turn anytime soon, if at all. In so and regarding your post, I totally understand the concept behind dis-liking subscription-based plans but conversely, I'm not quick to reject a viable, powerful piece of software that not only provides some joy in creating music but also provides a nice flow of income by standing on consumer principles. Just my 2 cents.
