Hi,
I'm really keen to get back into some home recording and I also need to buy a new PC. I'd really appreciate it forumites could pass on any advice/experiences they have with audio+ MIDI recording software.
Firstly, I am a PC user but I'm quite open to the idea of purchasing a Mac => my software choice is not platform specific. (My other passion is photography and Macs are pretty good @ photo manipulation too!)
Secondly, I want something that I can use to record guitars and vocals and use MIDI to create backing tracks (drums, bass, synths/pads etc). Ability to manipulate loops a la Acid would be an advantage but not essential. I will record rock music, a bit of dance/electronica and I would like to get into video scoring. I estimate 60% MIDI, 40% Audio.
I have done a lot of reading/research on the net. I have also been to my three local "pro/recording" music stores. Each one recommends/provides best supprot for a different package, namely Pro Tools LE, Logic Pro and Cubase SX/SL. So I figure I'll probably get one of these three.
The Pro Tools LE/MBox bundle appeals to me. It strikes me as very good value (especially given the Reason Adapted/Ableton/plugin package you get with it) and Pro-Tools seems to be industry standard software. HOWEVER - I have often heard that It's MIDI capabilities are severely lacking. Many have also said that musicians, home recorders etc will prefer other packages (Logic, Cubase, Sonar etc)...not too sure the reason for this.
Logic Pro "seems" to be the most powerful/complete, with a great bundle of plug-ins & virtual instruments offered. I had some experience with Logic Audio for the PC years ago and found it an absolute bear to use...it took me a week just to get my head around the environment! Is is still a bastard to use? It's also the most expensive option I'm looking at, especially as I have to purchase hardware separately (although my wife is at university so she could get an academic version...
)
Cubase SL comes in a bundle with an audio/MIDI card called "System 4". It seems easy to use and pretty capable but doesn't come with any decent instruments, which would increase the initial cost. Also the store that recommended it was the "least pro" of the ones I visited and I got the impression Cubase is a more "amateurish" package? (Perhaps I'm being harsh?)
Which package would you recommend? Are there others I should shortlist (bearing in mind the stores in my town will provide limited to no support for the others)?
Thanks for any help!
Cheers,
Simon
I'm really keen to get back into some home recording and I also need to buy a new PC. I'd really appreciate it forumites could pass on any advice/experiences they have with audio+ MIDI recording software.
Firstly, I am a PC user but I'm quite open to the idea of purchasing a Mac => my software choice is not platform specific. (My other passion is photography and Macs are pretty good @ photo manipulation too!)
Secondly, I want something that I can use to record guitars and vocals and use MIDI to create backing tracks (drums, bass, synths/pads etc). Ability to manipulate loops a la Acid would be an advantage but not essential. I will record rock music, a bit of dance/electronica and I would like to get into video scoring. I estimate 60% MIDI, 40% Audio.
I have done a lot of reading/research on the net. I have also been to my three local "pro/recording" music stores. Each one recommends/provides best supprot for a different package, namely Pro Tools LE, Logic Pro and Cubase SX/SL. So I figure I'll probably get one of these three.
The Pro Tools LE/MBox bundle appeals to me. It strikes me as very good value (especially given the Reason Adapted/Ableton/plugin package you get with it) and Pro-Tools seems to be industry standard software. HOWEVER - I have often heard that It's MIDI capabilities are severely lacking. Many have also said that musicians, home recorders etc will prefer other packages (Logic, Cubase, Sonar etc)...not too sure the reason for this.
Logic Pro "seems" to be the most powerful/complete, with a great bundle of plug-ins & virtual instruments offered. I had some experience with Logic Audio for the PC years ago and found it an absolute bear to use...it took me a week just to get my head around the environment! Is is still a bastard to use? It's also the most expensive option I'm looking at, especially as I have to purchase hardware separately (although my wife is at university so she could get an academic version...
Cubase SL comes in a bundle with an audio/MIDI card called "System 4". It seems easy to use and pretty capable but doesn't come with any decent instruments, which would increase the initial cost. Also the store that recommended it was the "least pro" of the ones I visited and I got the impression Cubase is a more "amateurish" package? (Perhaps I'm being harsh?)
Which package would you recommend? Are there others I should shortlist (bearing in mind the stores in my town will provide limited to no support for the others)?
Thanks for any help!
Cheers,
Simon