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iKwak
New member
Which music software is the de facto industry standard for artists/recorders?
Which software is the de facto industry standard for artists/recorders?
Hard2Hear
New member
Massive Master
www.massivemastering.com
Now, ask which one is actually the best...
B
boyceman
New member
well??
Um, ok,
Which one is best??
Does Pro Tools even run on XP? Seems to me I thought studios used Mac's and Pro Tools. And why is it so damn expensive, is it the plugins that are expensive?
Why is it used so much professionally if it's not the best??
Inquiring minds!!
boyceman
Um, ok,
Which one is best??
Does Pro Tools even run on XP? Seems to me I thought studios used Mac's and Pro Tools. And why is it so damn expensive, is it the plugins that are expensive?
Why is it used so much professionally if it's not the best??
Inquiring minds!!
boyceman
Hard2Hear
New member
Pro Tools runs on XP.
Better than a Mac is the general consensus.
It's not that expensive when you compare apples to apples.
First we'll look at PTHD. The overall system is very comparable to other recording options on its level, like 2"tape, RADAR, or other software with really good hardware like Apogee attached.
As for Pro Tools LE, I've always thought it was a pretty good deal. Let's look at the Digi002 rack. You get a firewire unit that has 8 analog in and out plus lots of additional digital i/o with pretty decent converters and usable pres. ALSO you get top notch software with it, all for around 1200. Lets compare a similar non Pro Tools setup..mine at the house. I have a MOTU 828 (around $750) and run Sonar3 producer (around $500). So the MOTU/Sonar setup was 1250, about the same as the PTLE setup, a little more...a little less, depending on where you get it.
The biggest reason for its professional use is compatibility. If you're a band on a label more than likely you'll be doing tracking one place, have somebody else somewhere else do the mix on it, and then send it to someone else for mastering or post. It's just plain ALOT easier if the formats are the same between studios. Especially when youre paying thousands per hour and you dont want that money to go to waste on converting formats at each step of the way.
H2H
Better than a Mac is the general consensus.
It's not that expensive when you compare apples to apples.
First we'll look at PTHD. The overall system is very comparable to other recording options on its level, like 2"tape, RADAR, or other software with really good hardware like Apogee attached.
As for Pro Tools LE, I've always thought it was a pretty good deal. Let's look at the Digi002 rack. You get a firewire unit that has 8 analog in and out plus lots of additional digital i/o with pretty decent converters and usable pres. ALSO you get top notch software with it, all for around 1200. Lets compare a similar non Pro Tools setup..mine at the house. I have a MOTU 828 (around $750) and run Sonar3 producer (around $500). So the MOTU/Sonar setup was 1250, about the same as the PTLE setup, a little more...a little less, depending on where you get it.
The biggest reason for its professional use is compatibility. If you're a band on a label more than likely you'll be doing tracking one place, have somebody else somewhere else do the mix on it, and then send it to someone else for mastering or post. It's just plain ALOT easier if the formats are the same between studios. Especially when youre paying thousands per hour and you dont want that money to go to waste on converting formats at each step of the way.
H2H
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mpthreer
New member
my question is, which software is the most user friendly for the musician trying to write songs, while keeping the musicians audio quiality high 
DAFFYDRUNK
New member
Guess it depends on if you're recording live drums or not. I use Acid pro doing one man band stuff, and I still haven't found an app that works better for drum programming and multitracking. Main thing is it's possible to actually program drums using one shots and get exactly what you want.... that also don't sound totally fake. Also super easy to edit with it, and supports vts plugins. I guess the midi is kinda weak, but it works for what I do which is some light duty vst synths...
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manning1
Banned
alsihad was and is a great package. but times change . many new musician friendly multitrackers have entered the market which are huge values under 100 bucks. just try the demoes of traktion, n track, multitrackstudio,
magix audio studio, and powertracks. now there is the ardour package for linux and many others coming along. they will all do a great job providing
you have a good sound card mpthreer. just try the demoes and talk to user forums if you think i'm lying.
magix audio studio, and powertracks. now there is the ardour package for linux and many others coming along. they will all do a great job providing
you have a good sound card mpthreer. just try the demoes and talk to user forums if you think i'm lying.
Hard2Hear
New member
I don't think the question in this thread was to what is out there. There is enough software for any need for any level of $ and of skill so that everyone has a choice. I think that's pretty cool.
BUT In the last say 2 years I've done work in at least 10 studios that all produce records for any label you can think of. INDUSTRY. That was the question, I think. Let me tell you something. They ALL use Pro Tools now. Maybe not every day, as alot of people still like tape (it IS better) but they know where to get a hold of a Pro Tools rig fast. And if it wasn't tracked in Pro Tools, chances are it will be edited or mixed with Pro Tools.
As far as easy..well like I said above, I like Sonar. It's an easy program to put ideas together quickly in, has a great sequencer, and works well with Acid. And the audio quality itself is just dependant on the soundcard being used. If I choose to hook up an Apogee AD16 to it, I'm going to have top notch audio.
BUT If I take that idea into the real studio to actually track, I know it's pretty much start over. It's too time consuming to try and convert all the audio and mess with it. But I have my home setup so I can get up at 3 in the morning, or take it with me when I travel, and never again lose a musical thought I get going.
"aslihad"? So now you're "mixerman"?
All the software will sound good. It's all about the converters in your soundcard and how good your front end is.
H2H
BUT In the last say 2 years I've done work in at least 10 studios that all produce records for any label you can think of. INDUSTRY. That was the question, I think. Let me tell you something. They ALL use Pro Tools now. Maybe not every day, as alot of people still like tape (it IS better) but they know where to get a hold of a Pro Tools rig fast. And if it wasn't tracked in Pro Tools, chances are it will be edited or mixed with Pro Tools.
As far as easy..well like I said above, I like Sonar. It's an easy program to put ideas together quickly in, has a great sequencer, and works well with Acid. And the audio quality itself is just dependant on the soundcard being used. If I choose to hook up an Apogee AD16 to it, I'm going to have top notch audio.
BUT
If I take that idea into the real studio to actually track, I know it's pretty much start over. It's too time consuming to try and convert all the audio and mess with it. But I have my home setup so I can get up at 3 in the morning, or take it with me when I travel, and never again lose a musical thought I get going."aslihad"? So now you're "mixerman"?
All the software will sound good. It's all about the converters in your soundcard and how good your front end is.
H2H
Hard2Hear
New member
Oh, I need to answer a question some people must think, too.
"so H2H, if you're going to end up with Pro Tools anyways...why don't you use it in your home setup?"
Good question.
I'm not too concerned with the quality of my recordings at home. They need to be good enough for me or anyone I'm bouncing ideas off of, but it will never be commercial. The studios have better gear, mics, amps, guitars, than I have at home anyways, so even if I did make a project at home and open it up in the studio, I would want to retrack the whole thing anyways. Plus, when you're working with other writers, producers and such, alot of things get changed in the process...and it's always good to get ideas from lots of people, at least for me.
When I bought my new home setup, I almost bought the 002. But I actually decided I'd rather FORCE myself to retrack with better gear than use the garbage I actually own. Plus, I like doing MIDI better in Sonar than in Pro Tools. AND I already owned the waves platinum bundle and a few other plugins in dx and didnt want to buy them for PT all over again, its not cheap.
H2H
"so H2H, if you're going to end up with Pro Tools anyways...why don't you use it in your home setup?"
Good question.
I'm not too concerned with the quality of my recordings at home. They need to be good enough for me or anyone I'm bouncing ideas off of, but it will never be commercial. The studios have better gear, mics, amps, guitars, than I have at home anyways, so even if I did make a project at home and open it up in the studio, I would want to retrack the whole thing anyways. Plus, when you're working with other writers, producers and such, alot of things get changed in the process...and it's always good to get ideas from lots of people, at least for me.
When I bought my new home setup, I almost bought the 002. But I actually decided I'd rather FORCE myself to retrack with better gear than use the garbage I actually own. Plus, I like doing MIDI better in Sonar than in Pro Tools. AND I already owned the waves platinum bundle and a few other plugins in dx and didnt want to buy them for PT all over again, its not cheap.
H2H
apl
Stand Up Comity
Look, I've been around for a bit. I'm over 40 which is old for messin' with music.
The quality of your final product depends only on two things:
1. The quality of your hardware.
2. Your talent.
That really bites. I can record myself today and realize that I absolutely suck. The reason I know that I suck is because I can make a really good recording that reveals truth.
Your software does trivial mathematical processing. I know because I do noise and vibration testing in a lab environment. Honestly, I could write Matlab code that would do everything your software does. The math is absolutely trivial.
I apologize for being so harsh; I'm in a bit of a funk...
Conclusion: Find software you like. Learn it. Live it. Figure out what you want to do then figure out how to do it.
Bottom line: Software won't limit you, even if you don't have the best.
The quality of your final product depends only on two things:
1. The quality of your hardware.
2. Your talent.
That really bites. I can record myself today and realize that I absolutely suck. The reason I know that I suck is because I can make a really good recording that reveals truth.
Your software does trivial mathematical processing. I know because I do noise and vibration testing in a lab environment. Honestly, I could write Matlab code that would do everything your software does. The math is absolutely trivial.
I apologize for being so harsh; I'm in a bit of a funk...
Conclusion: Find software you like. Learn it. Live it. Figure out what you want to do then figure out how to do it.
Bottom line: Software won't limit you, even if you don't have the best.
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Ed Dixon
New member
As said by APL, the answer is mostly not relevant. Most professional artists probably neither know what is used, or care. Their focus is to get their sound on media and in stores, and most probably use a professional studio for that purpose.
Home recording for amateur, semi-pro, and hobbyists is another story, but the answer is still mostly the same. While software features may vary, all do basically the same thing. They get recorded music mixed into a final result. Where the real differences lie are in the people doing the performing, the environment in which they record, the mics and placement used, and other factors that affect the actual recording of tracks. Once recorded, there are dozens of good software packages that can mix the result.
What each person needs is that set of gear and software that best meets their needs, whatever they may be. That answer varies considerably based on what they really want to do and how they plan to do it.
Ed
Home recording for amateur, semi-pro, and hobbyists is another story, but the answer is still mostly the same. While software features may vary, all do basically the same thing. They get recorded music mixed into a final result. Where the real differences lie are in the people doing the performing, the environment in which they record, the mics and placement used, and other factors that affect the actual recording of tracks. Once recorded, there are dozens of good software packages that can mix the result.
What each person needs is that set of gear and software that best meets their needs, whatever they may be. That answer varies considerably based on what they really want to do and how they plan to do it.
Ed
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
Besides myself, there are 3 studios here in town. One pro digital studio, $M facility, 2 semi-pro DAW (one PC, one Mac). The semi-pros use Pro Tools and get mediocre results. The pro outfit uses ADAT decks and recorded Willie Nelson's next album.
Me, I use Adobe Audition...and had a singer tell me my recording of her sounded ever so much more natural than what the Mac/Pro Tools/Neuman U87 guy could do. I don't know if that means I'm good, but it for sure tells me the machinery is not the defining limit.
Me, I use Adobe Audition...and had a singer tell me my recording of her sounded ever so much more natural than what the Mac/Pro Tools/Neuman U87 guy could do. I don't know if that means I'm good, but it for sure tells me the machinery is not the defining limit.
James Argo
Fancy Rock N' Roll
Which "industry standard" ? Which artist? I don't think the word "Standard" means ONE certain software. You know... like Visa and Mastercard. Aples and Oranges in the basket... And by endorsing artists, every manufacturer may claim theirself as standard... IMHO.iKwak said:
Jaymz
S
sdelsolray
Active member
Hard2Hear said:
Point...counterpoint. Such is not the "general" consensus. It is, perhaps, your opinion.
Hard2Hear
New member
Not my opinion, I like it on a mac better. On the DUC it seems that the xp people have fewer issues and better success with PT6.
H2H
H2H
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tallman
New member
boyceman said:
Because it's the defacto standard.
Digidesign software is tied to digidesign hardware, and they have no reason to make it work with anything else They are the defacto standard. If you want the standard, pay the money.
My money is on Cubase/Nuendo (depending on your exact needs)
Hard2Hear
New member
A good Nuendo setup costs alot more than an 002 or mbox setup. Come on and compare apples to apples. The RME cards for Nuendo aren't cheap either. I mean Nuendo SOFTWARE ALONE is $1300!!! For that with Pro Tools, you get a really good firewire interface and you can start recording.
H2H
H2H
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EleKtriKaz
Home (w)Rec'r
apl said it right...find a software that you like, that's intuitive to you, and go with it. The software debate is a whole different thing than the hardware debate. It kind of annoys me when people always respond to a hardware question with: "It's not the hardware that counts..." That is true to some extent, but there are absolute chasms when it comes to hardware. If you're choosing between Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, Sonar, etc...it's a matter of inches.
I currently use Cubase and love it. I've used Samplitude and liked it. Didn't really care too much for Logic, but in my experience there aren't huge differences in these products.
That being said, if you're planning on working in other people's studios, then learn Pro Tools...it's the closest thing to "industry standard".
I currently use Cubase and love it. I've used Samplitude and liked it. Didn't really care too much for Logic, but in my experience there aren't huge differences in these products.
That being said, if you're planning on working in other people's studios, then learn Pro Tools...it's the closest thing to "industry standard".
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tallman
New member
Hard2Hear, for $1300 you can also get an RME 9652, A Behringer ADA-8000, cubase, and have enough spare change left over for a cheapie microphone. That's a full professional 8 input system, 8 pre's, and an input device for $1300. For another $400, you can turn it into a 24 input system with 24 pre's.
Apples to apples -- pro-tools is an order of magnitude more expensive.
For $1000 extra, you can throw in a TC-Powercore unit and have dedicated DSP's.
$2700 buys you an aweful lot of non-ProTools gear.
ProTools *is* expensive. An M-Box is an entry level system designed to be affordable and tie you to pro-tools gear. I am not bashing it -- it's an excellent piece of hardware and software.
Apples to apples -- pro-tools is an order of magnitude more expensive.
For $1000 extra, you can throw in a TC-Powercore unit and have dedicated DSP's.
$2700 buys you an aweful lot of non-ProTools gear.
ProTools *is* expensive. An M-Box is an entry level system designed to be affordable and tie you to pro-tools gear. I am not bashing it -- it's an excellent piece of hardware and software.