Switching to a new audio production software.

[IMMACULATUS]

I started out recording music in Logic Pro 8 last year. I never used live instruments, since I didn't have an interface, and I never used a MIDI keyboard since I didn't own one. I just opened up the piano roll, chose which MIDI preset I wanted to use, and penciled in notes for everything, including drums. I did really well using that method, and it was incredibly easy. I eventually started recording with a guitar through my friend's interface and learned how to do that very quickly.

The problem is, I was only able to use Logic on a friend's computer that I borrowed. He moved away, and I do not own a Mac, nor do I believe I should have to buy one just to record music when I have a perfectly good new PC desktop. This same friend let me have his copy of Ableton Live 8, and pardon my French, but I cannot ******** understand it. I just want to record music the way I used to, and record live instruments and vocals over what I lay out in MIDI.

I've looked through other software options, and NOTHING seems to have anything similar to the way I learned. I've tried watching tutorial videos for Ableton and it doesn't help. I just can't figure out how to make music the way I used to, and it's really distressing, considering I've sunk money into a PreSonus Audiobox USB interface and I was doing so well when I had access to Logic.

Can anyone help me? Can anyone tell me if there's any software that has features similar to what I'm used to? Conversely, can anyone tell me what I'm not doing right in Ableton that is making things impossible for me? I see all over the Internet that people find Ableton to have a "gentle learning curve", but I've read FAQs, watched tutorials, read other help forums, and I just cannot even get started with Ableton. I'm beginning to feel like an idiot and it's beginning to seem like I have no options except for getting a Mac and going back to Logic.

[skumskull]

Avid logic user here.
Logic is the absolute best program on the planet for someone like you.
Yes, it sucks that you have to live in mac world, but once you get used to it, you'll never go back.
The problem is that cross-platform programming SUCKS and the main producers of quality recording software have sided with apple because the machines are more efficient, and have a plug-in interface thats quicker than USB 2.0.

You'll either have to settle, or just save up.

[IMMACULATUS]

skumskull

Avid logic user here.
Logic is the absolute best program on the planet for someone like you.
Yes, it sucks that you have to live in mac world, but once you get used to it, you'll never go back.
The problem is that cross-platform programming SUCKS and the main producers of quality recording software have sided with apple because the machines are more efficient, and have a plug-in interface thats quicker than USB 2.0.

You'll either have to settle, or just save up.

well, the issue i take with that is that the only apple-exclusive recording software is garageband and logic, and logic didn't "side" with apple, apple bought the company that makes logic

and quicker than usb 2.0? that's why they have usb 2.0 ports on them, right? because they have a plug-in interface quicker than usb 2.0? you know, pc's have usb 3.0 too, it's not just apple...

[Nilla]

I have Logic 8 and Cakewalk's Sonar. Recently I've been putting more focus into Logic than I have with Sonar. Being the dullard I am in certain software, I can't believe I even learned most of the techniques in Sonar. It is complex and confusing especially to someone that sees it the first time. Logic is easy and not too hard to understand it. It just works without much of any hassle. xD

It's funny that for my PC I need about 16gigs (which I have) to run samples, and vst sufficiently and from my Macbook I use 8gig. I haven't upgraded to either Logic 9 or Sonar XL. I have been considering to upgrade Logic but I don't really have a reason to yet. The price is tempting though so that's why I'm considering on maybe upgrading. Sonar XL. >..< forget it. I don't wanna earn another PhD to figure out the new stuff.
Neither have crashed yet except once in Sonar. Kontakt didn't seem to agree with something, so it went poof taking Sonar with it.

I don't know too much about the other sequencers. I have tried them. I just never got the feel for them compared to those 2 I listed.

[skumskull]

IMMACULATUS

well, the issue i take with that is that the only apple-exclusive recording software is garageband and logic, and logic didn't "side" with apple, apple bought the company that makes logic

Protools (real protools, not that LE bullshit) is also an apple exclusive.
So you mean to tell me that the leading two production prgams are exclusive and you don't see a pattern?
The apple platform is easier to build auido production software for, and it is more effeciant at it, too.

Which brings me to:

IMMACULATUS

and quicker than usb 2.0? that's why they have usb 2.0 ports on them, right? because they have a plug-in interface quicker than usb 2.0? you know, pc's have usb 3.0 too, it's not just apple...

******** USB anything.
You rarely, if ever, see PC's with firewire or lightpipe.
And apple owns the rights to thunderbolt.

I am by no means an apple fanboy. I still have my PC to play games on, ect. There just simply isn't any denying that apple is a better platform for audio productionand even visual arts.
Game, set and match.

[IMMACULATUS]

skumskull

IMMACULATUS

well, the issue i take with that is that the only apple-exclusive recording software is garageband and logic, and logic didn't "side" with apple, apple bought the company that makes logic

Protools (real protools, not that LE bullshit) is also an apple exclusive.
So you mean to tell me that the leading two production prgams are exclusive and you don't see a pattern?
The apple platform is easier to build auido production software for, and it is more effeciant at it, too.

Which brings me to:

IMMACULATUS

and quicker than usb 2.0? that's why they have usb 2.0 ports on them, right? because they have a plug-in interface quicker than usb 2.0? you know, pc's have usb 3.0 too, it's not just apple...

******** USB anything.
You rarely, if ever, see PC's with firewire or lightpipe.
And apple owns the rights to thunderbolt.

I am by no means an apple fanboy. I still have my PC to play games on, ect. There just simply isn't any denying that apple is a better platform for audio productionand even visual arts.
Game, set and match.

i did months of research on which software to go with and i see protools losing out to programs like reaper, reason and cakewalk constantly

and just because a program is popular doesn't mean it's best for its purpose. garage band comes for free now with mac os for a good reason.

i'm not here to have a ******** argument over mac vs. pc. i'm here to figure out why i should have to shell out 2 grand for a computer and then another 500 just to be able to record music.

neutral

[skumskull]

Nilla

It's funny that for my PC I need about 16gigs (which I have) to run samples, and vst sufficiently and from my Macbook I use 8gig. I haven't upgraded to either Logic 9 or Sonar XL. I have been considering to upgrade Logic but I don't really have a reason to yet.

Thank you so much for this. Case and point that apple is a more efficient machine.

ALSO: The upgrade is INTENSELY worth it. DO IT!

[skumskull]

IMMACULATUS

i did months of research on which software to go with and i see protools losing out to programs like reaper, reason and cakewalk constantly

Protools LE, yes. But thats because LE is a crippled program. They basically strip down protools to it's most basic form. Protools LE is nothing but an audio editing tool, that you happen to be able to use as a production tool.
If you want to tell me that Protools HD is going to lose out to bullshit like that, you are basically retarded.
Protools HD (especially with the next set of upgrades) is bridging the gap between digital and analog. Top-tier recording studios will NEVER use anything else, as it would be bad business for any other company to hemmorage out the money required to make a competing program PLUS the fact that you have 10 generations of Protools HARDWARE floating around.
Creating a competitor would require new hardware, and nobody is going to go out and spend another $75,000 on an untested software and the hardware it requires.

I listened to your music. I don't care how much "research" you've done, you have a rudimentary understanding of audio production at best, and there's no way you could understand what makes a good production software.

IMMACULATUS

and just because a program is popular doesn't mean it's best for its purpose. garage band comes for free now with mac os for a good reason.

Garageband is garbage.
When i say "popular" I don't really mean it sells more in general, I mean it is used to make more professional-level material.

IMMACULATUS

i'm not here to have a ******** argument over mac vs. pc. i'm here to figure out why i should have to shell out 2 grand for a computer and then another 500 just to be able to record music.

Because it's worth it.
Get a mini mac, if a macbook is too expensive.

[IMMACULATUS]

skumskull

IMMACULATUS

i did months of research on which software to go with and i see protools losing out to programs like reaper, reason and cakewalk constantly

Protools LE, yes. But thats because LE is a crippled program. They basically strip down protools to it's most basic form. Protools LE is nothing but an audio editing tool, that you happen to be able to use as a production tool.
If you want to tell me that Protools HD is going to lose out to bullshit like that, you are basically retarded.
Protools HD (especially with the next set of upgrades) is bridging the gap between digital and analog. Top-tier recording studios will NEVER use anything else, as it would be bad business for any other company to hemmorage out the money required to make a competing program PLUS the fact that you have 10 generations of Protools HARDWARE floating around.
Creating a competitor would require new hardware, and nobody is going to go out and spend another $75,000 on an untested software and the hardware it requires.

I listened to your music. I don't care how much "research" you've done, you have a rudimentary understanding of audio production at best, and there's no way you could understand what makes a good production software.

IMMACULATUS

and just because a program is popular doesn't mean it's best for its purpose. garage band comes for free now with mac os for a good reason.

Garageband is garbage.
When i say "popular" I don't really mean it sells more in general, I mean it is used to make more professional-level material.

IMMACULATUS

i'm not here to have a ******** argument over mac vs. pc. i'm here to figure out why i should have to shell out 2 grand for a computer and then another 500 just to be able to record music.

Because it's worth it.
Get a mini mac, if a macbook is too expensive.

yeah, i just started making music in august. don't be such an a*****e. the "research" i mean is just consumer research. as in, looking at my options with products, and looking at reviews from professionals and casual consumers. i'm sorry that my music doesn't lead you to believe that i have any idea what i'm talking about, but excuse me--i was just making this thread to ask about other music production software.

why are you such a douche? why did you have to insult my music? i'm still learning, okay? not everyone can just start out and be a ******** expert.

[skumskull]

IMMACULATUS

skumskull

IMMACULATUS

i did months of research on which software to go with and i see protools losing out to programs like reaper, reason and cakewalk constantly

Protools LE, yes. But thats because LE is a crippled program. They basically strip down protools to it's most basic form. Protools LE is nothing but an audio editing tool, that you happen to be able to use as a production tool.
If you want to tell me that Protools HD is going to lose out to bullshit like that, you are basically retarded.
Protools HD (especially with the next set of upgrades) is bridging the gap between digital and analog. Top-tier recording studios will NEVER use anything else, as it would be bad business for any other company to hemmorage out the money required to make a competing program PLUS the fact that you have 10 generations of Protools HARDWARE floating around.
Creating a competitor would require new hardware, and nobody is going to go out and spend another $75,000 on an untested software and the hardware it requires.

I listened to your music. I don't care how much "research" you've done, you have a rudimentary understanding of audio production at best, and there's no way you could understand what makes a good production software.

IMMACULATUS

and just because a program is popular doesn't mean it's best for its purpose. garage band comes for free now with mac os for a good reason.

Garageband is garbage.
When i say "popular" I don't really mean it sells more in general, I mean it is used to make more professional-level material.

IMMACULATUS

i'm not here to have a ******** argument over mac vs. pc. i'm here to figure out why i should have to shell out 2 grand for a computer and then another 500 just to be able to record music.

Because it's worth it.
Get a mini mac, if a macbook is too expensive.

yeah, i just started making music in august. don't be such an a*****e. the "research" i mean is just consumer research. as in, looking at my options with products, and looking at reviews from professionals and casual consumers. i'm sorry that my music doesn't lead you to believe that i have any idea what i'm talking about, but excuse me--i was just making this thread to ask about other music production software.

why are you such a douche? why did you have to insult my music? i'm still learning, okay? not everyone can just start out and be a ******** expert.

I am consistently be amazed that people can say "of course I suck, I haven't been doing this very long" and then call me an a*****e for mentioning that they suck in the same breath.

Also, I am consistently amazed that I can shell out all the good advice, industry knowledge, and real-world experience you can shake a stick at, and all people see is the part where I mention that you don't seem to have the slightest clue what you are talking about.

If you realize that you're clueless, EMBRACE IT! That way, when someone who can actually teach you something comes along, THEY don't have to point it out to you.

[IMMACULATUS]

skumskull

IMMACULATUS

skumskull

IMMACULATUS

i did months of research on which software to go with and i see protools losing out to programs like reaper, reason and cakewalk constantly

Protools LE, yes. But thats because LE is a crippled program. They basically strip down protools to it's most basic form. Protools LE is nothing but an audio editing tool, that you happen to be able to use as a production tool.
If you want to tell me that Protools HD is going to lose out to bullshit like that, you are basically retarded.
Protools HD (especially with the next set of upgrades) is bridging the gap between digital and analog. Top-tier recording studios will NEVER use anything else, as it would be bad business for any other company to hemmorage out the money required to make a competing program PLUS the fact that you have 10 generations of Protools HARDWARE floating around.
Creating a competitor would require new hardware, and nobody is going to go out and spend another $75,000 on an untested software and the hardware it requires.

I listened to your music. I don't care how much "research" you've done, you have a rudimentary understanding of audio production at best, and there's no way you could understand what makes a good production software.

IMMACULATUS

and just because a program is popular doesn't mean it's best for its purpose. garage band comes for free now with mac os for a good reason.

Garageband is garbage.
When i say "popular" I don't really mean it sells more in general, I mean it is used to make more professional-level material.

IMMACULATUS

i'm not here to have a ******** argument over mac vs. pc. i'm here to figure out why i should have to shell out 2 grand for a computer and then another 500 just to be able to record music.

Because it's worth it.
Get a mini mac, if a macbook is too expensive.

yeah, i just started making music in august. don't be such an a*****e. the "research" i mean is just consumer research. as in, looking at my options with products, and looking at reviews from professionals and casual consumers. i'm sorry that my music doesn't lead you to believe that i have any idea what i'm talking about, but excuse me--i was just making this thread to ask about other music production software.

why are you such a douche? why did you have to insult my music? i'm still learning, okay? not everyone can just start out and be a ******** expert.

I am consistently be amazed that people can say "of course I suck, I haven't been doing this very long" and then call me an a*****e for mentioning that they suck in the same breath.

Also, I am consistently amazed that I can shell out all the good advice, industry knowledge, and real-world experience you can shake a stick at, and all people see is the part where I mention that you don't seem to have the slightest clue what you are talking about.

If you realize that you're clueless, EMBRACE IT! That way, when someone who can actually teach you something comes along, THEY don't have to point it out to you.

It's not you telling me I suck that bothers me, it's the fact that you felt it necessary to point out that bothers me. What was the point? Yes, I embrace that I'm not the best god-damn musician in the world. When did I ever try to make any contrary statement to that? So yeah, be amazed at how you're an a*****e for bringing up a point that didn't need to be made--its lack of necessity makes it look like you're trying to just insult me.

Industry knowledge? All you've done is plug Mac products and Pro Tools, two things I can't afford, after I told you I can't afford them. Any hipster a*****e with rich parents could plug Mac products just as well as you have. I'm focusing on the part where you had to bring up my musical talent because it's just surprising that you thought it was necessary to do so. I'm focusing on that part because it's the only part of this conversation that isn't you just telling me "what's expensive is good because professionals use it" without any description of why the software would be easy to use, why I would want to use it over Ableton or any other software, etc.

So I think you've read my post wrong. I'm not shocked that you're saying I'm not great. I'm shocked that you're trying to convince me that what's most expensive is best and filled the rest of this conversation with irrelevant jabs at my music, which was nowhere near the topic of discussion.

[skumskull]

IMMACULATUS

It's not you telling me I suck that bothers me, it's the fact that you felt it necessary to point out that bothers me. What was the point? Yes, I embrace that I'm not the best god-damn musician in the world. When did I ever try to make any contrary statement to that? So yeah, be amazed at how you're an a*****e for bringing up a point that didn't need to be made--its lack of necessity makes it look like you're trying to just insult me.

You didn't say that you were any good, but you damn sure tried to seem like you knew what you were talking about, and the hard fact is that you just don't.

IMMACULATUS

Industry knowledge? All you've done is plug Mac products and Pro Tools, two things I can't afford, after I told you I can't afford them. Any hipster a*****e with rich parents could plug Mac products just as well as you have. I'm focusing on the part where you had to bring up my musical ability for no reason because that's the only part of your post that has any

I worked my a** of to get the home studio setup I have. You think I could afford this s**t on damn near minimum wage with bills to pay? But i ******** made it happen.
I don't give two shits if apple makes a buck, but they make the best product, and you asked what the best product was, so you're damn skippy I'm going say Logic.

IMMACULATUS

So I think you've read my post wrong. I'm not shocked that you're saying I'm not great. I'm shocked that you're trying to convince me that what's most expensive is best and filled the rest of this conversation with irrelevant jabs at my music, which was nowhere near the topic of discussion.

FILLED? I didn't even say your music sucked, lass. I said "I don't care how much 'research' you've done, you have a rudimentary understanding of audio production at best, and there's no way you could understand what makes a good production software."
The quality of your music was not mentioned, the quality of your production aesthetic was.

I'm done here. You asked a question, and I answered it.
If you want to be a little b***h just because I'm not going to let someone who doesn't know a oscillator from an exciter try and school me on the ins and outs of the very thing shes asking about, you go right on ahead.

[Nathan-A-Plosion]

WOAH! THAT CHICKS A DUDE!

[IMMACULATUS]

skumskull

IMMACULATUS

It's not you telling me I suck that bothers me, it's the fact that you felt it necessary to point out that bothers me. What was the point? Yes, I embrace that I'm not the best god-damn musician in the world. When did I ever try to make any contrary statement to that? So yeah, be amazed at how you're an a*****e for bringing up a point that didn't need to be made--its lack of necessity makes it look like you're trying to just insult me.

You didn't say that you were any good, but you damn sure tried to seem like you knew what you were talking about, and the hard fact is that you just don't.

IMMACULATUS

Industry knowledge? All you've done is plug Mac products and Pro Tools, two things I can't afford, after I told you I can't afford them. Any hipster a*****e with rich parents could plug Mac products just as well as you have. I'm focusing on the part where you had to bring up my musical ability for no reason because that's the only part of your post that has any

I worked my a** of to get the home studio setup I have. You think I could afford this s**t on damn near minimum wage with bills to pay? But i ******** made it happen.
I don't give two shits if apple makes a buck, but they make the best product, and you asked what the best product was, so you're damn skippy I'm going say Logic.

IMMACULATUS

So I think you've read my post wrong. I'm not shocked that you're saying I'm not great. I'm shocked that you're trying to convince me that what's most expensive is best and filled the rest of this conversation with irrelevant jabs at my music, which was nowhere near the topic of discussion.

FILLED? I didn't even say your music sucked, lass. I said "I don't care how much 'research' you've done, you have a rudimentary understanding of audio production at best, and there's no way you could understand what makes a good production software."
The quality of your music was not mentioned, the quality of your production aesthetic was.

I'm done here. You asked a question, and I answered it.
If you want to be a little b***h just because I'm not going to let someone who doesn't know a oscillator from an exciter try and school me on the ins and outs of the very thing shes asking about, you go right on ahead.

you came in here all charged-up in the first place with a stick up your a** and when i didn't accept your empty apple rhetoric you started getting pissy.

and your "home studio" still doesn't tell me you have any "industry knowledge". how are you involved in the industry? whose music do you produce?

maybe if you tried to talk to me like an equal instead of constantly talking down to me, i'd be more accepting of your answers, but all you've done is talk down to me.

and you did say my music sucked, btw. you didn't say it in the first comment about my music but you said it twice after that. i wouldn't be using the word "sucks" if it weren't for you using it--because i don't suck, i do have talent, i'm just not a professional, which you seem to expect me to be right out of the box.

as a matter of fact, as high-and-mighty as you're being about "the industry" and "rudimentary knowledge", i've just got to hear what music from a real ~industry insider~ sounds like. where's yours?

EDIT: also, nowhere on the ProTools website or anywhere else for that matter does it say that ProTools HD is Mac-only. furthermore, they don't even make ProTools LE anymore.

[IMMACULATUS]

Nathan-A-Plosion

WOAH! THAT CHICKS A DUDE!

what is the point of bringing that up?