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?"

Comments

Propellerhead

[Apreche]

Propellerhead software makes a lot of really good stuff.

http://www.propellerheads.se/

Especially Reason. It may be expensive and non-free. But it can emulate audio hardware that you'll never be able to afford in your life. Technically it has infinite rack space. It may not be midi, but I know a lot of people who swear by it for making electronic music and remixes. It's cheaper and easier than actually buying the hardware, and it works almost just as well. If you have Rebirth Reason and Recycle you can make some really crazy shite.

For midi I hear Cakewalk is still numero uno. There's not much more to say there.

And for wav editing Cooledit seems to still be the best. My roomate has it and swears by it.

Cubase

[Joel Rowbottom]

For ages I was using Cubase 5.0r3, then I upgraded to Cubase SX. I tried Logic, and a few others, and eventually I went back to Cubase 5.0r3. It comes down to what you feel comfortable with - you seem to have used Logic a bit, does that make you a "Logic" user now? If so, you'll find going to another app is a whole new learning curve.

At risk of making myself unpopular, the Linux apps just aren't there yet.

Of course, a Protools setup with a nice fat Mac would be preferable I'm sure ;)

Stop trying to play catchup.

[torpor]

My only advice to you is to ignore the software market as much as possible, and decide on a *stable* platform that does the job that you need - musically - and then leave it at that.

So many people get into music software and lose all impetus to make music because they're always "trying out" the latest and greatest tools/releases from over-zealous manufacturers who release things at a blinding pace.

It *is* possible to get a basic set of tools working under Linux for music writing. Such things as Ardour, Rosegarden, etc. are all viable solutions - though I wouldn't encourage you to get involved with Linux for Audio right now if you're finding that you're already not making music because of computer issues.

Try taking *Just The Basics* out of a package. For example, maybe you don't *need* all the features of Logic, which is getting in the way of your creativity. There is a *lot* of 'keeping up with the Joneses' facter in the musical instrument business these days.

If you want cheap, easy to use, and more importantly PRODUCTIVE software, try the fringe:

Raw Material Software Tracktion

Cheap, works, is easy to use, and easy to configure.

If you're on the Mac, try:

Intuem

But always remember this: If you're not writing music at a pace with which you are satisfied, your music tools are not working.

Scale them back as much as possible. Just because "Joe DJ" uses "Brand X" does not mean that you need to go through the nightmare/headach configuration that they went through only to end up getting 'endorsed' ...

Check out the latest Linux Journal

[Linux_ho]

Twenty sound applications for Linux were reviewed, both free and non-free

Pay attention to the question

[divbyzero]

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.

Stabilise your existing set-up

[Andy_R]

You haven't explained what your problem with Logic is, or why you moved from Logic on PC to Logic on Mac, but I suspect you are trying to keep up with the latest version and installing every plug-in you can get your hands on (after all, this IS a geek site, right?).

My advice is to simply stop trying to be at the bleeding edge of technology and concentrate on making music.

Any recent computer is capable of things that professional studios could only dream about 10 years ago. Most of the albums you own were made with equipment that geeks like us would now consider hideously obsolete, but that didn't get in the way of the music!

You don't need to be cutting edge. You don't need to have the latest versions. You don't need the latest hot software. What you do need is stability and ease of use, and the easiest way to get this is to strip your current set-up down to basics, and then don't mess with it!

Throw away all your unstable plug-ins, sell off any troublesome hardware, and go back to the most recent completely stable version of Logic that you have. Set yourself very cautious a limit on the number of audio tracks you will use, and only use plug ins when absolutely necessary. Treat your recording set-up as a piece of consumer hardware - it's complete and non-upgradable as of now.

For the record, I own (legitimately) Logic Audio Platinum, but make most of my music (or at least get it to the demo stage) in the highly restricted free version, Logic Fun.

However, if you want to explore new methods of sound scupting, I highly recommend MetaSynth (www.metasynth.com), this is a package that can do incredible things with sound, is stable, has a thriving user community, and is very well supported by it's developers, U&I Software.

Re: CoolEdit

[recursiv]

I use CoolEdit also, but you should be aware that the latest version of Sound Forge does instant deletes anywhere in a file.