Best Music Production Software buying guide: Find extensive reviews of the top Digital Audio Workstations (DAW/MIDI Sequencer) recording software on the market. This is where you do all the recording and editing of your sound tracks. Once you have got your computer sorted out, you will need a recording software to start working. This is basically a software program for managing your tracks, editing them, applying effects, and it is from here that you create your final mix.
Music Production Software DAW: Highlights
Depending on the product, you can expect to get few or all of the following (various aspects of music creation) in a DAW:
- Multi-track recording
- Song writing
- Composing or transcribing
- Beat programming
- Sound design
- Sequencer
- Audio / MIDI Editing
- Automation
- Built-in processors and effects
- Video support
- Built-in Mixer – for Mixing, Re-mixing
- Mastering
- Film Scoring
A Recording Studio Software gives you all the controls/tools you need to create music from scratch. There are lots of software programs out there, each having its pros and cons, so choose one that is best suited to your situation.
Best Music Recording Software Packs
Want to record audio, create a new song, mix tracks, you need a good DAW, besides a good laptop or desktop, monitor speakers, and studio headphones. Here we take a look at the best music production /Midi Sequencer/DAW sequencing & recording software available for your studio, for music recording and producing.
Propellerhead Reason 10 Music Production Software
One incredibly powerful music recording and producing software application, Propellerhead’s Reason is a fast, lean and rock solid production environment that lets you stay focused on your music. This full-on music production software suite is packed with synths, samplers, effects and all the music production tools you need while paying added attention to adding vocal and guitar parts to your tracks. Several instruments, VST support, powerful MIDI/audio recording and a mixer modeled on an SSL console. read more
Steinberg Cubase Pro 9.5 Recording Software (Macintosh and Windows)
Absolute cutting edge in digital audio workstations! Featuring fully integrated tools for working with loops, beats and vocals, Cubase combines new composition features and tools to take musical creativity to new heights. Cubase Pro 9.5 is an advanced music production system With stunning innovations and additional enhancements that boost productivity and performance. read more
Buy on zZounds
Ableton Live Music Production Software (Macintosh and Windows)
Version 9 enhances the Ableton vision of creative, real-time digital music with a wealth of new techniques, effects and most-wanted workflow improvements in this midi sequencer software.
Buy on zZounds
Version 10 will be out soon, will keep you updated.
Avid Pro Tools Recording Software
The Avid Pro Tools 12 Recording studio Software is the serious music production choice for power, compatibility, options and ease of use without spending serious money. read more
Read more
Cakewalk SONAR Producer Recording Software (Windows)
Sonar gives you what you need for recording, composing, editing, mixing, and mastering. Get innovations that matter, from exclusive features to ignite creativity and perfect your tracks, to groundbreaking technologies that always keep you in control. Sonar Platinum delivers the go to production tools you want with the best collection of virtual instruments, mixing, and mastering effects found in any DAW.
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00TFTVXEE” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Cakewalk SONAR Platinum on amazon[/easyazon_link] | Buy Cakewalk SONAR Platinum on musiciansfriend
Also Read: FL Studio
Music Software | Skill Level | Platform | Pros & Cons | Price Range |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apple Logic Pro |
Medium/ Expert | Mac | Pros: Stable, Nice plugins Cons: Some plugins are a bit difficult to use |
$$ [easyazon_link identifier=”B06XFBK5NS” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″]Check Price[/easyazon_link] |
FL Studio |
Beginner and Intermediate | Windows / Mac | Pros: easy to Use Cons: Lack some pro features |
$$ [easyazon_link identifier=”B00WARLG8G” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″](Check Price)[/easyazon_link] |
Propellerhead Reason |
Advanced beginners/ Expert | Windows / Mac | Pros: Loads of features Cons: Can be overwhelming for beginners |
$$$ [easyazon_link identifier=”B01GTDTJA8″ locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″](Check Price)[/easyazon_link] |
Avid Pro Tools |
Expert | Windows / Mac | Pros: Amazing performance, Powerful Cons: Bit Pricey |
$$$ [easyazon_link identifier=”B01CPVEBPQ” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″](Check Price)[/easyazon_link] |
Steinberg Cubase |
Medium/ Expert | Windows / Mac | Pros: Versatile, Powerful Cons: Resource- heavy |
$$$ [easyazon_link identifier=”B01NAGPPFI” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″](Check Price)[/easyazon_link] |
Ableton Live |
Medium/ Expert | Windows / Mac | Pros: Solid, Nice interface, Good for live performances Cons: Pricey |
$$$ [easyazon_link identifier=”B00AZ98VWK” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″](Check Price)[/easyazon_link] |
More Music Production Software
Native Instruments’ Komplete 11
Native Instruments’ Komplete 11 is a complete music-making software bundle, and one of the popular ones out there. Its plug-in collection covers everything you need to create and produce professional-quality music in any genre. Once you get your hands on the instruments, effects, and mastering-grade processors, there’s no stopping you.
Highlights
- More instruments, effects, and sounds than ever before
- Amazing tools for post production, sound design, and mastering
Komplete 11: Review
Long before digital instruments became popular, the amount of variations that musicians/bands could come up with were limited. But with software, you can come up wtih endless possibilities Quality Hardware and real instruments are still very expensive today and if you compared the costs of real instruments, Komplete Ultimate is almost a steal.
Website: NI Komplete
Its’ a versatile audio software bundle, can comes with a wide selection of plugins (which can be sort of intimidating to some).
Here’s a video that explains how to use the synths from Komplete (aptly-named Massive). Massive is truly an awesome synth and has been a mainstay of EDM production for many years Learn about the various sections and features, learn how to create huge basses, searing leads, fat pads, spiky textures, and more.
Buying Links
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B01J1CDWSO” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Buy on Amazon[/easyazon_link] | Buy on zZounds
Akai iMPC Pro Music Production App for iPad
Akai’s iMPC Pro, available for iPad, is billed as “the most powerful way to create music” on Apple’s tablet. Its designed as an end to end music production solution. You can work with up to 64 tracks, and there are plenty of composing, editing and mixing features.
Features/Specs:
- Compose, edit and mix professional-grade audio productions on your iPad
- 64 tracks of multi-track music creation, mixing and automation
- All-new multi-touch interface for the editing, slicing and auditioning of samples
- Inter-App Audio support provides flexible sampling, effects and audio routing
- Sample from your iTunes library, Inter-App Audio, the iPad mic and more
- Timeline View provides powerful gesture control of sequences and events
- Intuitive Precision Knobs and Faders deliver exacting command of mix controls
- Flux Mode for real-time or automated manipulation of tracks
- Classic MPC Swing, Note Repeat, 16 Levels and pad workflow
- Extensive sound library featuring 1,400+ samples from Richard Devine
- Works seamlessly with MPC Element pad controller via iPad Camera Connection kit
- 3D-performance mode for tweaking effects, Note Repeat and more
- Directly upload your tracks to SoundCloud, Twitter, your computer and more
- All-new effects suite including Turbo Duck side-chain compressor and Boom Room reverb
iMPC Pro can be purchased from the Apple App Store…
Intua BeatMaker 3 (iOS music production software)
Intua BeatMaker 3 is a MPC-style mobile digital audio workstation (DAW) for music production, its now available for iPhone & iPad.
Highlights
- Play, Perform, Record
- Craft your own instruments
- Precise Sequencing
- Inspirational library
- Full fledged mixer
- Export and share
Intua BeatMaker 3: Pros & Cons
- Pros: Streamlined workflow helps you shape ideas quickly. Performance tools boosts creativity.
- Cons:
BeatMaker 3 is a DAW designed for both mobile production and for complex MIDI/audio studio setups. The latest version promises to take things “to the next level”.
- Performance tools such as repeat, roll, swing, key scales & chords and macro controls
- Features eight banks of 128 pads. Each pad is now a full-fledged instrument, running a multi-layered sampler engine, with additional IAA/Audio Unit V3 hosting.
- Audio tracks can now be added to the mix, for recording and playback of audio clips.
- Up to eight aux tracks can be added for even more complex routing.
- Versatile integration with MIDI hardware
- Scene mode allows you to play live, remix or sketch out ideas.
Key Features/specs:
- High quality instruments & loops, powerful and streamlined DAW
- Design your own instruments using a state of the art sampling engine
- Powerful integration of MIDI hardware to control the app and its instruments
- Arrange songs with instruments & audio tracks
- Play live, remix or sketch ideas with a powerful scene mode
- Export, share, and expand your library with soundpacks
- Pricing and Availability
Korg Gadget App: Complete Music Production Studio
Korg Gadget App is a a self-contained Music Production Studio for the iPad, with provision for expansion.
There’s no doubt that musicians have taken to the iPad in a big way for their music production and performance needs. The quality of synthesizers and samplers available for Apple’s tablet these days is truly amazing & stunning.
However, apps that allow you to compose whole songs were yet not up to the mark, until Korg released the ‘Gadget’ app for musicians.
What is Korgs’ Gadget App?
‘Gadget’ is a self-contained music production studio with a range of built-in instruments. It can easily sync with external MIDI gear, and offers the ability to expand its capabilities with extra plugin instruments.
The Gadget feels perfectly at home on the tablet, the instruments are easy to play with your fingers, and composing beats and melodies on the touchscreen is very-simple.
More features of the Korg ‘Gadget’:
Impressive sounds with lots of variety (but mostly electronic territory) However, you can buy separate Module app (designed as a performance instrument to be used with an external keyboard) with excellent piano and organ sounds that will become available in the Gadget.
There are two in-app purchases in Gadget that allow you to add sample playback and manipulation capability, significantly expanding the scope of what you can accomplish with this versatile instrument.
Finished tunes can be exported to Dropbox or your iTunes app, they can also be pasted into other compatable iOS app via AudioCopy or straight into Ableton Live, if you use that desktop digital audio workstation. You can even share your tune with the lively community of Gadget users via GadgetCloud, helping you build a following right inside the app. GadgetCloud is a lightweight social network built on top of SoundCloud that allows you to explore recent uploads and follow other composers.
For those who intend to buy it, remember there’s a slight learning curve, if you want to make the most of Gadget (that shouldn’t be a problem as most users are not newbie in this area). If you’re passionate about making electronic music, iPad music production apps, and Gadget will allow you to create rough drafts or even whole tracks, on the go. Its definitely worth trying out.
It costs around 40 bucks for the app, plus around 10 bucks for each in-app purchase. The Module app mentioned above costs an extra $39.99. Its not at all pricey, considering that its a serious app with serious potential, that allows you to make music on the go.
Inputs from thenextweb.com
Apple Logic Pro
Logic Pro is Apple’s flagship software for computer music production. It is a digital audio workstation (DAW) and MIDI sequencer software application for the Mac OS X platform (Mac computers).
Since the release of Logic Pro X, Apple has been providing users with several free updates about the software. Several users, who’re used to working with Apple Logic Pro also opt to buy a Apple computer.
In this version, Apple has given its DAW several useful features (mainly around workflow). Logic Pro X is now 64-bit, which means you get precise mixing results (at least theoretically). The software is much faster, and you can quickly changes the various audio settings.
Logic Pro X Power! The Comprehensive Guide
FL Studio vs Reason
Propellerhead Reason and FL studio (used to be called Fruity Loops in those days) have come a long way from their earlier versions.
A Lot of enthusiasts will argue that Cubase is better than Logic, Reason is better than FL Studio, and so on.
Well, if you are new to music production, then FL Studio may seem easy to use and the Reason interface may seem incomprehensible to the novice.
Having said that, you really have to spend a lot of time to learn to use the features available on these software programs.
I still remember the day when I laid my hands on Fruity loops (now FL Studio) and Reason.
Fruity-loops was easy to use right from the word “go” and an hour into the software, I already started getting a hang of it (it also helped because my friend had used it before).
Reason, on the other hand, looked daunting, but a few weeks later I could appreciate what it was providing. It was a true virtual studio with some amazing synth and bass sounds, and a lot of automation capabilities.
Both have now transformed into complete virtual music production studios, but Propellerhead Reason is now seen as a tool for pure professional music production work, whereas the use of FL Studio is varied – ranging from professionals to amateurs. FL Studio started off as a beat-making software but today it has all the tools you need to produce great music.
If you are interested in hip hop, funk, dance, and house music, and want something that lets you get started easily, then FL Studio is the preferred software. It can be used to create other kinds of music as well, but those are the genres where FL Studio is mostly used.
Lot of hardcore music programmers complain about the lack of professional sounds in FL Studio but then their sound library has definitely improved a lot over the years.
Propellerhead Reason, on the other hand, has tools and sounds that make it suitable to create music for any genre of music, and not necessarily dance-based. Propellerhead Reason is a great product if you, as a music producer or songwriters, want to do a wide range of musical projects.
Cubase vs Logic
I started working on Cubase initially but over the years have spent time on both the software, Cubase as well as Logic. There’s already so much written about this comparison that I really don’t want to add to it.
Whether Cubase or Logic, is more of a personal choice. I personally don’t see much difference except that I find the plug-ins in Logic to be a bit better.
Cubase has some advantages such as:
- Allows faster editing of patterns, working with the Parts and Lanes is comparatively faster
- The editor has a simple layout and is easier to use
- Has flexible metering and monitoring options
Logic’s advantages are:
- Easier navigation of presets, you can create folders to access the presets or use the Library
- Like most other Apple products, even Logic makes you say ‘wow’ at first look. Basically, it feels like an OSX program
Simply put, I would just say that go for Logic if you have been working on a Mac. If you want a toned down version of Logic, then you can even consider Garage Band, some features have been cut down but has the same audio engine.
If you want to check out Cubase then please note that Cubase LE comes bundled with many audio gear purchases. So keep an eye on that.
Useful Read:
Detailed review of Steinberg Cubase
Top Free Consumer-Grade DAWs
There are several Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) available out there, but most of them are not free (although most of them do have a trial version which is free to use but have limited features).
However, there are some free alternatives out there that offer some good learning experience (in recording, editing and music production).
MU.Lab
MuLab from MuTools provides an easy interface to record, create and edit multi-track music. Its surprisingly efficient and has decent amount of features.
- MuLab supports MIDI and audio recording
- Features sample player, drum set, synth, EQ and more
MuLab is available for Windows and Mac OSX for free from: http://www.mutools.com/mulab-downloads.html
Also Read: Apple Garageband (free) review
Advance Music Production Suite
The Advance Music Production Suite from Air Music Technology is a premier software collection that’s useful for creating, mixing, and mastering your music.
You get a comprehensive selection of virtual instruments, effects & mastering plugins and loop/sample content designed to advance your music to the next level. Even more, the Advance Music Production Suite provides hardware discounts on studio-standard equipment from Akai Professional and M-Audio.
More features/highlights:
- Over 70 cutting-edge titles
- Virtual instruments, FX, samples & more
- 20,000+ instrument, patch and sample sounds
- Tutorials, training and collaboration tools
- Features 25+ virtual instruments, 15+ effect plugin processors, and 15+ sample packs.
Musicians can use the Advance Music Production Suite with their DAW of choice – Pro Tools, Ableton, Logic, Cubase, and more — to compose, produce, mix, and master music.
Don’t have access to a DAW? In that case, you may use the MPC Essentials software from Akai Professional (comes as part of the suite) that lets you host plugins and produce music without needing a DAW.
The Advance Music Production Suite also includes subscriptions to Sonic Academy, and Gobbler so you can hone your craft and collaborate with talent across the globe.
Advance Music Production Suite includes titles from:
- AIR Music Technology
- Akai Professional
- Camel Audio
- D16
- Fab Filter
- FXpansion
- Gobbler
- iZotope
- PSP
- Prime Loops
- Sonic Academy
- Sonic Charge
- SONiVOX
- Waves
- Way Out Ware
- Wave Arts
More music production suites here…
DAW Recording Software: Buying Guide
Why Use Audio Production Software?
Music/Audio production software helps sound engineers, producers, and musicians to record and edit music, as well as to remix and re-master finished tracks. And almost all the work happens on a computer.
Also known as digital audio workstations (DAWs), audio production software products perform well on PCs as well as Macs.
Though the high-end ones can be out of reach of most enthusiasts, you do get lower-priced entry-level music production software for beginners as well. And the best thing about these products is that you can upgrade to the pro-version later on if you need more features.
The capabilities of consumer-level products are not drastically different from the complete professional versions.
Most audio recording products are usually comparable in terms of features (at least most of them). Most of these, initially started as a beat-making software and didn’t let you record audio. However, they have now become much more advanced (with audio recording capability), and are now complete recording studios available at your fingertips.
DAW Recording Software: The Heart of Your Recording Studio
Also known as a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), the MIDI Sequencer is where you create tracks from scratch, do all the recording and editing of your soundtracks, manipulate, modify, remove, refine and replace track elements and audio file attributes, mix all your tracks and make the final output which can then be exported to a CD or saved as mp3/wav files. You can also import and export a variety of file types.
From creating synthesized lines, sequencing percussion lines and drum beats to modifying arrangement and structure, recording studio software programs give users the creative control necessary to take raw tracks and transform them into professional-quality songs.
With additional support for hardware and MIDI controllers, recording studio software programs can operate as a hub, letting users make use of the software through line-out controls and implement, supplement and even combine sounds to make your tracks sound unique.
Sound Libraries
Besides the sequencing software, you will also need various sounds and effects to create music. You will need different kinds of sounds such as synths, pianos, guitars, band instruments, orchestral and other sound effects. The more sounds you have, the more creative you can get and the more unique you can make your music to sound.
The basic recording software program that you choose does come with a basic set of sounds and effects, but then if you need more, you can buy additional software libraries and plugins.
Hardware or Software?
A sequencer can be a piece of software or it can be a feature provided within your music keyboard itself. A workstation usually comes with a full-fledged sequencing ability, giving you all the tools to do your recording/editing work. On the other hand, if you would like to use your computer to do your recording work, you will need midi sequencer software (DAW).
Also Read: Hardware vs Software sounds for Music Production.
In the music recording world, software has become powerful and has replaced several hardware equipments that once used to be a regular feature in most recording studios. Be it for editing sound tracks, patch pieces together, enhancing musical tracks or to record musical tracks, these software programs can do everything.
Need a computer with powerful configurations
Recording requires a great deal of computing power so you need a really powerful computer if you want the recording software to work smoothly. The software product will specify what specs are recommended but go for as high RAM memory, processor power that you can afford.
Important Features in a Recording Software
Let us have a look at some important features of any sequencing tool.
- Audio Production Features
What tools are available to modify, edit and record tracks, and more importantly how easy are they to use. Though performance of the software is dependent on your computer (configurations) to some extent, you also need to find how it performs when working with many tracks, if the latency is low, and if it saves all the data in event of crash, and so on. - Tracks: Almost all the sequencing software lets you add more than hundred tracks. You can add both audio as well as Midi tracks. You can even import audio files into your MIDI sequencing software and incorporate them in your recordings.
- Editor: An easy to use editor is an important feature to have as you will be making a lot of changes to your recording before you produce your final mix. Sequencers lets you edit audio/midi tracks and come with a lot of features to make the editing an easier task.
- Mixer: Mixer lets you create the right balance between the various tracks in any musical arrangement. You can adjust the volumes of each track using the sliders provided.
- Effects/VST Instruments : Effects like reverb, chorus, flanger, vocoder, etc. makes your recording sound more interesting and realistic. All the sequencing software come with a decent set of built-in effects which can be used in your recording but if you want the best effects available, you will need to buy them!
- Input/Output
Can it work with most popular hardware devices and MIDI controllers? Is it compatible with most popular audio file formats? Can it publish in various file formats? - Audio Processing: After mixing your tracks you need to use audio processors like equalizer and compressors to make your recording sound better and punchier. The sequencing software comes with built-in equalizers and compressors which can be used in your recording but the best equalizers/compressors do not come free. They are available as VST instruments which need to be bought.
- How easy to learn
Besides, you also need to find out what learning resources are available (user-guides, help tabs, FAQs pages and user forums) so that you can get the maximum out of the Recording Studio Software.
More features
- Freeze tracks to avoid accidental changes
- Clean up your vocal tracks using features like pitch correction, dynamics, and vibrato
- High quality time stretching
- Automate your tracks/plug-ins during record and playback
- Import video and add your score to the video as a thumbnail track
Built-in Mixer
Most DAWs have a full-featured built-in mixer that can record and edit audio, provide visuals of wave-forms and control equalization functions.
Mixers usually have controls that let you:
- Adjust the volume
- Add panning and effects plugins
- Add them to multiple related tracks that you can route to submix busses
- Mixer pan controls allow you to position sounds in various locations within the stereo soundscape
- Use it to compensate for any delay introduced into a track during recording
These are good to start with, though later on, you may consider getting a separate hardware-based mixer for ease-of-use and faster results.
Here are some of the effects you can expect to get in these Digital audio workstations:
- Guitar amplifier emulators and instrument synthesizers
- Bass, middle and treble frequency controls
- More equalization effects
- Control over mono and stereo processing
- ability to add compression, reverb and other effects.
What you need as a beginner
As a beginner, you want lots of tutorials, and detailed documentation to use the software to the fullest.
Look for:
- Built-in help sections
- How-to guides
- Tutorials
- Training videos
- Online manuals
- FAQs, and see if it has a
- Supportive user forum.
You basically should have various channels for seeking help, and would need it at every stage of music production. Make sure the support staff is responsive and online correspondence with the manufacturer is easier.
Most entry-level music/audio production software are surprisingly good for most production needs. Pick your entry-level product carefully, as you would most likely upgrade to a product from the same brand so that you don’t have to learn a new complicated product from scratch.
Do Read the Manuals
Irrespective of what you choose, spend a lot of time reading the manual. They might be elaborate but its worth reading, well, if not anything, at least thoroughly read the part on using keyboard shortcuts. If you’re going to use this software for several hours every day, reading a few pages of the manual per day is indeed a great investment. Also, watch every tutorial you can get your hands on.
To Conclude
There are various kinds of software out there that help musicians and producers create music, with the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) music production software being the most powerful one. You can checkout the trial versions of some of these to get an idea of their capabilities; the high-end Pro Tools HD system is used commonly by professionals.
Long back, all the functions mentioned above were carried out by dedicated hardware. Most of it has now moved to the software domain, and you can make these a part of your home studio. What you choose will depend on what your needs are, what types of sounds you want, and what type of music you want to create using your Music Production Software.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
musicproducer says
Comments:
David Ostrosser · Collège de l’Outaouais
I will certainly never use a Steinberg product again as long as their ridiculous licensing/registration process is in place…March 24 at 6:24am
Lester Murray
I have an MRS 1608. It spits discs. I have a midi controller (Yamaha S30 keyboard). A Gaudin composite with acoustic, electric and 13 pin output to Roland GR20 guitar synthesizer, laptop and tower computers, Europower mixer p.a., Sennheiser condenser mike and regular mike, an M-Audio FastTrack guitar/mic recording interface. I still don’t understand how I’m supposed to mix this altogether with backing tracks. I’ve downloaded a bootleg of Ableton 7 Live (haven’t tried to activate with the key gen) to see if I could pre-set sounds on the keyboard and/or guitar (I play both live and sing predominantly Beatles with a harmonizer) so I wouldn’t have to switch Live (that it would be pre-programmed to change at the precise moment). If you were doing a solo with two instruments (with oodles of different sounds on both) plus singing with a harmonizer where would you start. I’ve tried manuals, You Tube and various articles to try and get it through my skull but I either don’t know what I’m looking for or it’s sitting right in front of me…March 24 at 9:30pm
Lester Murray
P.S. I’ll read the articles tomorrow and see what I can or can’t see.
Suresh:
I think it is more of a personal choice. I know this sounds cliche but it is. The best sequencer for you will depend on your personal preferences. Like how you need the GUI, what platform you will use – say windows or Mac, whether you want the software to be very easy to use or you want to have more control over what you can do…things like that.
Usually, whatever software you start using, you tend to have a preference towards that later on as well, since you have already done the difficult part of learning to use its nuts and bolts, and you prefer a familiar environment.
So I think you should go through the features of all these software sequencers and go ahead with the one that you feel comfortable with. You also need to realise that music is above technology and all these features may not necessarily help you in creating the music of your dreams. Some of the most amazing MUSIC that were recorded decades ago are still popular, and they were recorded on some plain reel tape recorders. This is IMHO…Dec 02, 2010
Gizmo:
Suresh…valid points. But still, I would like to know which sequencer / DAW (Digital audio workstation) is industry standard? What do professionals or the gurus use?…Dec 02, 2010
Suresh:
I think Pro-Tools is the most widely used among professionals / advanced users followed by Logic. Next would come Cubase and Sonar. I think they are evenly matched, may be a bit tilted towards Cubase. Propellerhead Record / Reason seems to be the dark horse, but I doubt if the professionals take it seriously though. We will have to wait and see. Any professional composer around and would like to comment?
TMZ:
I think, Cubase is the most popular and widely used sequencing software (includes home studio users), though most commercial studios use Pro-Tools and Nuendo. But, it all depends on who is comfortable with what software. Once you work on a particular sequencer, you tend to stick with it. If you take any commercial studio, even if they have multiple sequencing software and engineers, their engineers may have their own preferences and each of them will use a different one.
CoolGuy:
Have heard this question many times before, but should not a musician think more about his music first, and then think about the tool (in this case the sequencer)? Depending on the type of music you like, you will need the core sounds, and that will decide whether you need hard synths, soft synths, acoustic instruments, etc. Is it not?
I think one should try out the demos of the best sequencers, see what type of sounds they are good at, and then pick up what you like.