I use ableton for working with MIDIs and sampling instruments , it is great for working on (editing) midi files ,and record midi with it , but that s it , I didn't find it that friendly for mixing/mastering , and just IMO it s somehow different , for example if I add an amp sim to a track IMO it sounds different from when I do the same thing in cubase , and even if it is only me and that s my imagination , it s not that handy as sonar or cubase or protools for mixing heavy sessions and mastering , but you can use any vst or vsti with it

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EDIT : also I never record with it

but it is a MUST for my MIDI editing and sampling ...