I know this is an old thread so to speak but
I use Cubase VST/32 5.x and im BEYOND happy with it
i dont need to use any other program with it to get results i do all my sequencing and recording inside the program and the fact that i get all this for under 400 bucks is a blessing
I love how pro tools operates but i am not going to be pimped by some company that really wants me to help out its homeboys by buying their hardware.
I hate the concept of buying cards to use pro tools after spending two years to find a great sound card only to find out i need to drop an additional 500 bucks just to satisfy some dickhead engineers preference because he only uses p tools.
Thank god thats no longer true and there is such a thing as a sonar based and cubase based facility.
The results are professional and so far the only thing pro tools has is media coverage and rappers mentioning it in songs.
i got digidesigns latest newsletter and they actually made it a point to big up the sample reverse function in the program as if cool edit or any other wave editor cant flip a sample backwards.
Save yourself the money.
If you pc is configured right and you have a pro level or even mid level or home studio level card you can get great results with Cubase i havent tried sx but im very pleased with vst and plan to produce my entire labels roster with it
im gonna spend my pro tools money on getting my computer as close to P4 3 ghz as possible which is like the scene from Reloaded when Neo meets the architecht.
Current gear list
Pc
AMD Duron 1.2 ghz
256 mb of pc 133 sdram
ECS 64 mb sdram gfx card
chaintech mboard
Seagate 80 gb 7200 rpm ata 100 hdrive
M-audio Midisport 2x2 interface
jv 1010 module
misc yamaha kboard psr series from 91 used for controller
Akai S2000 Digital sampler
Iomega 250 mb zipdisk
Rode Nt1a microphone running on console preamp
Behringer eurorack mixer smaller one with 8 or 12 channels
Cubase VST for recording audio and for midi sequencing
Mastering...T racks
Editing Cool Edit pro 2
N track in recycle bin
Sound card
M- Audio Revolution Card 24/96 card
currently recording at 16 bit 44.1 khz
Monitored on Logitech z 340 self powered monitors
Peace