What program do you use to produce your music ?

serox · Post by **serox** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:08 pm

Jagermeister wrote:Surprisingly, not a lot of you are big on Cubase. Hearing mainly Logic and Reason. I'm running a mac, and I'm gonna pick up some new software soon. Price isn't a major concern. Can anyone offer a quick pro's/con's rundown regarding these three pieces of software?

Cubase works best with hardware thats why.

james fox · Post by **james fox** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:09 pm

if it's intuitive + user-friendly you want, then ableton live 7 is the programme for you

ism · Post by **ism** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:30 pm

im fully in love with logic 8 these days !

used ableton live for a while but couldnt really get into it as a production tool so moved on over and have never looked back !

was using reason/cubase at uni and was well into fl back in the day

chicken · Post by **chicken** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:37 pm

Cakewalk Sonar 8 + Reason (reaktor sumtimes)

ELLFIVEDEE · Post by **ELLFIVEDEE** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:56 pm

The big bad man fruity boots

Ejay dance pro just wasn't working out.

Pallms · Post by **Pallms** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:54 pm

Reason 3 and Cubase LE

AFL · Post by **AFL** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:41 pm

Reason 4 & Ableton Live, Recycle.

jagermeister · Post by **jagermeister** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 5:52 pm

Serox wrote:Cubase works best with hardware thats why.

Alright, cool, but can you elaborate on this? What specific kinds of hardware? You talking samplers and synthesizers or what? I'm a total noob, and at this point, I don't have the kinda coin ya need to put together anything resembling a real studio, so I'm just gonna be using a MIDI keyboard and software for the next few months til some more loot rolls in.

And to be honest, I can figure out any software, so user-friendliness really ain't as important to me its pure functionality. Does cubase offer features that some of the others don't, but at the expense of user-friendliness? Or Logic, for that matter - is there a trade-off when you go from one program to the next? This is the real question I'm getting at. A quick rundown of pros and cons. I realize these beginner questions can try one's patience, but remember that it ain't nothin but good karma when you help out those in need. Hook a brotha up, and it'll come back to ya ten-fold.

How's that for a sales pitch?

Tangka · Post by **Tangka** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:38 pm

Save it for when you have something to sell.

Try demos. FL has a demo, and I think reason has a demo.

Go to a pro audio shop and ask them to show you logic / cubase and anything else and ask what they have to say.

If I had a mac I'd definitely give logic at least a long, hard look-into.

But I don't have a mac so I've never touched it.

Cubase is not very practical, but I think it can be useful for mastering.

I don't like Reason.

I have used FL for years. Solid program, and easy to use, but the drawback being that it can be very hard to get a full deep sound quality out of it.

I've had Ableton 7 sitting around unused for a year now, never touched it.

But now I think I'm gonna transition to Renoise. Downloaded the demo and I'm dumbfounded!

www.renoise.com

slothrop · Post by **slothrop** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:44 pm

Earthling wrote:I have used FL for years. Solid program, and easy to use, but the drawback being that it can be very hard to get a full deep sound quality out of it.

Have you been using the built in plugs, or have you got better ones? Also have you checked that the panning law is the same as on DAWs you get better sound out of?

Because the actual "sound quality" of all the major DAWs has been proved time and again to be exactly the same.

Obviously there's loads of other differences between the different options (features, workflow etc) but the idea that the "summing engine" in cubase magically adds "slightly oaky mids" or whatever is pure placebo effect.

abZ · Post by **abZ** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:49 pm

"slightly oaky mids"

LOL

I agree with you though. Those that think fruity's/reason's sound engine / summing issues is keeping you from getting that deep, warm, wide, whatever sound you are looking for might need to try one of the big boy sequencers so you will realize that it is your technique (or lack there of) that is inadequate not the tool.

Tangka · Post by **Tangka** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:12 am

hmm

right on guys.

Didnt stop to think that my using stock plugins for some of the more crucial functions might be the problem. Been doing this for years and just wrapped up in my methods i guess... but now that you mentioned it, I realized what the problems must be. lol

Still gonna see if Renoise can do it for now, I like the Renoise plugs.

shane · Post by **shane** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:14 am

i got two pigs and one of those springverb tube things.

straight makin bangers all day long son.

Dub_Fiend · Post by **Dub_Fiend** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:38 am

I'm gonna be the first one to stand up and say that I use Cubase SX 3 for all my sequencing, save for Reason 4 for my drums because there isn't a decent drum sampler on Cubase whatsoever...

I was also meaning to ask, Is there a decent VST sampler where you can just load .wav files in quickly and easily? Cause I don't need Reason for anything else, I take off the Mastering Combi and just apply drum compression and EQ to the L+R Mix channel in Cubase... Thanks ^.^

Dub Fiend

setspeed · Post by **setspeed** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:46 am

Jagermeister wrote:
Serox wrote:Cubase works best with hardware thats why.
Alright, cool, but can you elaborate on this? What specific kinds of hardware? You talking samplers and synthesizers or what? I'm a total noob, and at this point, I don't have the kinda coin ya need to put together anything resembling a real studio, so I'm just gonna be using a MIDI keyboard and software for the next few months til some more loot rolls in.

And to be honest, I can figure out any software, so user-friendliness really ain't as important to me its pure functionality. Does cubase offer features that some of the others don't, but at the expense of user-friendliness? Or Logic, for that matter - is there a trade-off when you go from one program to the next? This is the real question I'm getting at. A quick rundown of pros and cons. I realize these beginner questions can try one's patience, but remember that it ain't nothin but good karma when you help out those in need. Hook a brotha up, and it'll come back to ya ten-fold.

How's that for a sales pitch?

it's been a while since i used Cubase, but from a serious perspective there's not a great deal of significant stuff that you can do in Logic but not Cubase, or vice versa. It's just a case of which one you're used to really...

As to Reason, it's good for getting to grips with, it's user friendly, easy to use for beginners etc etc, although it's a little limited and can be subject to mediocre sound quality, because you can't use 3rd party plugins. unless you rewire it into another sequencer.... and i say this as someone who graduated from reason to logic

jagermeister · Post by **jagermeister** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:09 am

Slightly oaky mids? WTF? Are we talking about Chardonney or software?

First of all, I'm not downloading demos. Test drives will not work for me. That might work for people who are well-versed in the things they like, what their preferences are, etc., but I'm gonna have to take some time to figure those things out, and I just don't wanna fuck with any limited functionality demo pieces of shit.

I'm told that Cubase will let you manipulate the waves to produces squares, saws, etc. but that some of the others, such as Fruity Loops, will not do so. These are the kinds of answers I need. Answers such as "I don't like Reason" are fucking stupid and a waste of everybody's time.

I know that a lot of you in this forum are the fucking bomb, I've been listening to your shit for over a year now, and now I'm asking for just the tiniest little advice to get myself going. Hook me up. Pretty please.

Tangka · Post by **Tangka** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:14 am

Jagermeister wrote:Slightly oaky mids? WTF? Are we talking about Chardonney or software?

First of all, I'm not downloading demos. Test drives will not work for me. That might work for people who are well-versed in the things they like, what their preferences are, etc., but I'm gonna have to take some time to figure those things out, and I just don't wanna fuck with any limited functionality demo pieces of shit.

I'm told that Cubase will let you manipulate the waves to produces squares, saws, etc. but that some of the others, such as Fruity Loops, will not do so. These are the kinds of answers I need. Answers such as "I don't like Reason" are fucking stupid and a waste of everybody's time.

I know that a lot of you in this forum are the fucking bomb, I've been listening to your shit for over a year now, and now I'm asking for just the tiniest little advice to get myself going. Hook me up. Pretty please.

hook yourself up

find somebody to tell you what to get and then when you don't like it complain to them

you seem to know a lot about something you just happen to know nothing about and you seem to know the answers you're asking questions about

you seem to be sure that trying something before buying it is a bad idea

you've gotten a lion's share of advice here and you apparently don't appreciate a bit of it

and you're rude

jagermeister · Post by **jagermeister** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:38 pm

Yeah, you're right. After re-reading that message, I sound like a real asshole! That was definitely rude of me to make the "fucking stupid" comment. Sorry. I was kinda drunk when I wrote that. I know you were legitimately trying to help, so I deserve that flame. My bad.

Let me start over...

First of all, I'm going to take your advice and download some demos. Why not. They're free.

Second of all, I will stick to asking only very specific, objective, fact-based questions, since it is very apparent that the overall opinions of these programs can vary quite a bit.

So, for now, my one question that I'd like answered is: I'm told that Cubase will let you manipulate the waves to produces squares, saws, etc. but that some of the others, such as Fruity Loops and Ableton, will not do so. Is this correct?

Again, sorry for dumping my bullshit on you, Earthling.

__________ · Post by **__________** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:49 pm

here's where you can get demos for different programs:

fl 8, not many limitations
http://www.tucows.com/preview/209204

reaper, ''free'' if you like
http://www.cockos.com/reaper/download.php

renoise, NO LIMITATIONS except no asio and no .wav render
http://downloads.renoise.com/download/R ... 1_Demo.exe

ableton live 7, NO LIMITATIONS for 14 days
http://www.ableton.com/free-trial-le

Jagermeister wrote: I'm told that Cubase will let you manipulate the waves to produces squares, saws, etc. but that some of the others, such as Fruity Loops, will not do so. These are the kinds of answers I need. Answers such as "I don't like Reason" are fucking stupid and a waste of everybody's time.

seriously man, whoever told you that you that first bit about manipulating waves is way off the mark.

the different programs: cubase, logic, fl, nuendo, reaper, ableton live, and whatnot are for the most part just HOSTS for synths, drum machines, samplers and FX units (normally VST or VSTi format 'plugins').

you can run these VSTs in any of those programs, and digital mystikz could've make anti war dub in any of those programs, its just down preference.
forget about square waves and sine waves for the minute, any program can make and manipulate sound.

yeah demos can be limiting, but seriously its worth giving them a shot. you'll realize pretty quickly if a program makes sense to you and if you could see yourself making tunes with it long term.

you say you want facts, the fact is that you can make dope tunes in any program, it seriously is down to preference. yes ''all the big studios use pro tools'' but thats best for recording a band. skream, dmz, kode9, pinch, joker, loefah, tes la rok - these people don't all use the same programs and plugins....give those demos a go and start collecting some drum samples!

asking people that make music what DAW to use is like walking into the pub and asking everyone what you should drink

Tangka · Post by **Tangka** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:42 pm

nice!

I agree with the above post 100%

and thanks for being cool jagermeister

What program do you use to produce your music ?

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