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What Pro-Level MIDI/Audio Tools Are You Using?
groovemaneuver asks: "Over the years, I've managed to build a small home-studio for composing and recording my music. The one component that has always been the biggest obstacle to my productivity has been the digital audio workstation. I started with a MIDI-only Atari, moved to a PC with Logic Audio, and now have a Mac with Logic Audio. The problem is that I seem to spend more time trying to get the software and hardware working than I do actually making music. I really love Logic Audio, but I can't stand the Mac. Surely some of you out there are having success on the PC making music. What are you using, and how much of your time is spent fiddling with your studio rather than making music? Is there Linux software that can reasonably fill the shoes of Logic, Nuendo, or Sound Forge?"
Your best bet for a Mac is using ProTools. Pick a major studio and they use ProTools. A Perfect Circle used it for Mer de Noms, I know that for damn sure. As far as artists that I'm pretty sure use it goes, the list is pretty long... Zwan, Trent Reznor, D'Angelo, any pop group, any hip-hop group... it's really popular because it's so damn good. Of course, it does cost about as much as the computer itself, but it's totally worth it.
Matthew G P Coe
http://mgpcoe.blogspot.com/
Twenty sound applications for Linux were reviewed, both free and non-free
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Groovemaneuver asked for recommendations about a specific subcategory of music software, the digital audio workstation. A DAW is generally defined as a multitrack audio recorder and editor, usually supporting a nondestructive editing model and some facility for applying audio effects. While MIDI sequencing and notation support may be found in some current DAW packages, they have very little to do with the DAW concept.
As such, ProTools, Nuendo, and Ardour are true DAWs, while Cubase, Logic, and Sonar are hybrid DAW/sequencers. Hybrids inherently have to make compromises between two sets of goals, and their interfaces usually suffer as a result of it. They might be better value for your money if you need both sets of features, but if you find them awkward to use, that might well be why.
An alternative to software DAWs is the standalone hardware variety, such as the Roland VS series. As dedicated hardware gear, they're less flexible, but have a more optimized interface which you might find gets in your way less. You can get used ones for the same cost as the software would be.
Sorry I can't recommend a particular package; I'm in the process of looking as well. I will say that Sonar is stronger in its MIDI sequencing features than its DAW ones.
But my grandest creation, as history will tell,
Was Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell.
I think what it comes down to is that I'm frustrated with the Mac. I never wanted to migrate, but because Logic was bought-out by Apple, I had the choice to either switch to Apple or find another program. At the time, I had the money for a Mac, I really love Logic Audio, and all the wonderful advertising about the great Mac experience got the better of me.
At this point, I feel like a victim of marketting hype, because when I bought the Mac, once a week, it seemed as though something would just decide to stop working right. Granted, after much troubleshooting, I've finally gotten it to a point where it works without complaining. I'm still nowhere near being a convert.
This will probably piss someone off, but my impression of the Mac is like Jack Nicholson's take on women from As Good As It Gets:
Seriously, what I find is that even though I sequence and record on the Mac, I still heavily rely on the PC for audio editing and processing. I own a license to Sound Forge and see no compelling reason not to use it. I honestly don't even know if there is a comparable product on the Mac. But if it comes down to having to buy more software, I think that I would be more likely to buy a PC recording and sequencing package than a high-end sample editor for the Mac. The PC has more horsepower for the buck, and when it comes to real-time effects and sound-editing, it really makes a difference to have that speed boost.
BTW, I feel that it should be mentioned that I'm using OS X. Because I'm still using a PC for audio editing, I need the networking that OS X can provide. I had fewer problems with OS 9, but using it was like being forced to stare at an ugly girl after having seen a beautiful one (...and also the networking incompatibilities...).
In any case, thanks for the reply.