What is the best production software???

[CampO]

Ya Afriques Beats Are Cold 2 I use Reason Also Im aight on The Keys IM just more into the Sampled Beats but Cant seem 2 get em 2 work for me in F.L , I tried Listen 2 Hoppaz beats but Couldint get his Page workin , Truth I never heard So if u Figure Out How 2 Post 1 of your Flp Files Damn U duno how much that wud help mE dOgg cuz My Popz Got Basically a Basment Full oF Records He been Djin SInce the late 70's If i could figure out how 2 get the samples 2 match up and Fit in fruity Loops I got a Infinite Supply of Samples .

PeaCe

 

[classic]

BUT i FoRGoT HoW To CoPY THE FULL SCREEN So SomEBoDY LET ME KNoW HoW THAT HAPPENS AND iLL PoST A FiLE.
CiTY

Alt & printscreen

class....

 

[Frictionbeats]

Reason 2.5

Reason 2.5 Re-Wired into Pro tools. Thats how I roll. I make my basic Platter in Reason, then add all the bass, guitar, synths, vocals to audio tracks in pro tools. everything sync's up perfect. The thing alot of people dont know, is you dont have to track out everthing into pro tools from reason to bounce a song. just get a good mix from reason and your good to go. I love it!! I also enjoy FL4 which I also use sometimes with Pro tools via Re-wire.

But It all comes down to preference..........nuff said.

Peace Out!

-Friction

 

[Jig Dagod]

I'll have to go with FL Studio 4.52, with Adobe Audition, that's all you need, unless your trying to get all professional with it, then I guess nothing else but Pro Tools. Getting around FL is easier than Reason from what I've seen.

 

[Ash Holmz]

is hardware really easier to use than software? pleez someone tell the truth cuz im thinkin about converting my studio to all hardware

 

[Cold Truth]

.................................................

ok, i feel i am qualified to answer this since i have worked about equal tiem with both.

personally, i feel that you will make the same music with either. the methods change, of course.

its all abuot what sets you up to do your best work. give an mpc and a sound module or cubase and some vst's..... it doesnt really matter, because my knowledge and style is the same.

now when we are talking fruity loops or reason, some things are different, because they dont quite operate the way cubase does since cubase/pro tools/logic etc are all audio and midi sequencers as opposed to the midi environments of reason and fl.

you can have an mpc... but then to mix yuo wll need either 8 outs or LOTS of time. and you will still need the software application to record into. thing is cubase and logic do the same things an mpc does.... exactly. certain things are different- you would program a drum roll in step a little differently, and yes there are slight timing differences. in my view, vst's now make more sense than a major synth or rack module over all, however there are STILL roland/yamaha/korg "sounds" that are unique to themselves.

personally the only hardware gear that i would recommend if you are using software and hardware, are the following-

-mpc 1000, simply because it is designed for software integration.
-hardware synth/sound module- the inboard effects are invaluable, because you can max them out with each track if you wanted to. also, modules all have sounds unique to themsleves and while they ALL have weaknesses- glaring, i might add- these can all be more than adequately fixed through vst's synths and samplers.

for instance, a motif rack is a great starting point- and then add good orchestral vst, and perhaps a good world library. also, you would get a good synth to make up for the motifs lack of pads and ambient textures.

with a roland product, those are strengths, but they are lacking in keyboards- rhodes and organs, specifically- and Lounge Lizard and NI B4 or Charlie Retro Organ would do the trick.

drums... well there a re million solutions there, no need to elaborate. everything you buy is almost guaranteed to be cross-compatable (especially if you get them in .wav files) and there is always sampling them.

-outboard effects gear! you can get good boxes for relatively cheap if you keep up with the various magazines (electonic musician, keybaord, etc.)

personally cubase sx, onc ei got past the curve, is far easier for me than my mpc/synth combo ever was- because now i am in a full mixing environment (if you add waves or tr racks or something similar, especially) to actually produce on the engineering side of things.

i hope this somewhat answers your questions, holmzini. there really is no "easier" or "better"... there is only the most efficient rig for what you are trying to accomplish PERSONALLY. niether option will make you better, because you will still make the same music yuo would make otherwise. i personally suggest maximizing your software steup with cubase or pro tools and THEN add hardware.

 

[Formant024]

some setups I use;

FL as multi vsti ( asio ) through SX + VST/i's
FL as multi vsti ( asio ) through Logic + VST/i's
FL rewiring Reason + VST/i's
FL + VST/i's
FL + VST/i's + MIDI
FL + VST/i's + MPC2KXL
FL + VSTi/'s + MPC2KXL + MIDI

Or simply just FL

Reason rewired to FL
Reason rewired to SX
Reason rewired to Logic

Simply just Reason

Logic + VST/i's rewiring reason and FL as multi vsti.
Logic + VST/i's rewiring reason and FL as multi vsti + MIDI
Logic + VST/i's rewiring reason and FL as multi vsti + MPC2kXL
Logic + VST/i's rewiring reason and FL as multi vsti + MPC2KXL + MIDI
Logic + VST/i's rewiring reason and FL as multi vsti + 2xMPC2KXL + MIDI
Logic + Hardware/Instruments

Or simply just Logic

Fasttracker or Renoise
Fasttracker or Renoise + MIDI

Akai os 1.14

Anything with MIDI means no internal routing, both software and hardware is been sent to the console via patchbays. In this setup I'll exclude the use of vst fx to prevent blending emulated algorhytmns with analogue dynamics. It's a personal preference but those prefer plugins can send this to the auxileries on the console when having the proper protocol/farmcard. Also, the smaller the setup involving midi, the smaller the console ( A 01v is very practical thing and easyly intergrates with Cubase or Logic and comes with some good dynamics ).

What does this all mean ? Programs kids buy are crap, look at what major studio's use and you should have the sense to understand that what they use is something you can build and rely on, giving you the features to your ideas to work. What you'll find is ( AND I MEAN SOFTWARE, NOT THE RIGGS THAT GO ALONG ) PT and Logic to be in most major studios. This is due their adaptive capabilities and mostly rock solid pc's required to runn on. Anything besides these programs arent less capable or unprofessional, they are not allround dedicated or lack "someting" that would make a studio/setup less flexible to work with. I wont say which program would be "inadequate" because that really not the issue untill you runn a 300K studio and have a diversity on clientel demanding huge flexibility.

Reason is like a plugin, this due the fact it only receives midi input. I cant rely or really build on this, just pre-production and rewiring it to a platform can be fun/give it some more ptoential, but there plenty of other methods being more intuitive and delivering somewhat better quality, which is naturaly far more appealing. If you're starting out it's a great/cheap thing to learn the basics of simple patchwork of hardware, score editing and the rules of synthesis. The learningcurve is longer since hands on handling of real hardware is for more obvious handling for a noob then staring flabbergasted at a screen with tonns of buttons, knobs, sliders, displays and all the numerous function together in one program. I also find it's soundengine a little thin, making it sound a little plastic. Best feature is the Redrum, no doubt.

FL encorperates all functions, has an extended instrument/voice editor, Midi I/O + sync, very good rendering engine, warm characteristics , export to flp,zip,wav,mp3 up to 320K. LC options, multitrack recording, rewire host&client, multi vsti, vsti/dx support, a dope speech engine, slicer, sample editor, pianoroll and stepeditor ( 786 ppq ). Any oldskool bedroom techie loves this if worked with trackers in the past and it fits in any environment except mac ( at least not that I know of ). It's a different approach then the logic/cubase environemt which are basicly the " same ", but I use to fix a track with a tracker in 15 minutes ez, fl with the right experience is exactly the same gameplay.

Logic is the ideal platform for a hardware/software environment which is less biased at use for VST ( although that's not really a problem except that Logic 6.0 is mac only meaning no vst support ). Logic lets you taylor your use of midi gear and audio signals to the appearance that suits your ideal environment. And I mean softwarematicly, to program how the environment should work your handling. It takes sometime to get the insights together on Logic, but when you do it's really ...logic.
It looks ugly, not as nice as sx, but then again this saves my a lot of cosmetic cpu draining. The rendering engine is to be doubted since lots people compare with PT. I can only say it's relative, hardware mostly decides in situations where you can draw a conclusion on what is better, however, most people wont relate to these conditions. PT relies on Digidesign hardware, Logic depends on nothing but the program itself ( not talking cpu's ).

SX/Nuendo I find nice with vstI only producing, I consider it the vst biased versions of the o-so succesfull cubasis platform but now simply interfaces with anything emulated. I do find the interface tiresome to work with at times, the fx giving a lot of latency but if you keep the approach to producing with sx simple it very efficient. I've been using 1.0 though, since I dont work with it that much.

I have no comment on PT, not into it, same for Cakewalk Sonar, but I bet i can walk away with it in 30 minutes. It's all basics eventualy.

 

[Formant024]

Hardware is better but expensive.
Software is convenience on budget.

Hardware is intuitive, you're handling is compulsivly and hands on. For what monitoring concerns it's much directer in applying and hearing changes, altering sound is dynamic like addicting gameplay. I also like the idea of visualy seeing all gear active around me and to correspond to idea's directly by hand than to use mouse. This also implies to such an example as to handling a hardware synth when modeling sound, the use of your hands brings far more creative motivation than a VSTi on a midicontroller. It's good tool none the less, but to be fair I only know a few VSTi's that could even come close to a real synth but they still suck when you're having latency issues ( and lets behonest here, most setups do and will ). A hardware synth only has latency issues ( especialy roland ) when using it in multimode and triggering thousands of notes over its 16chnls.

So, Like mentioned before, it's like gameplay, hardware is soulcalibur, software is mortal kombat. Im really into Mitsurugi, kilik, Cervantes, Sophitia or Nightmare, they battle any MK character like its a bullittime frenzy. The less you depend on software the better, to me software only does 2 things;

1. playback/record
2. sequence/sync

Just that simple, not even beginning on quality what's best, quality has a price you must be willing to pay. Whatever's exspenive is good, not really fear but what really is hehehe...

 

[classic]

is hardware really easier to use than software? pleez someone tell the truth cuz im thinkin about converting my studio to all hardware

Man u dont need to do shit but keep makin them hot ass beats playa.
That software seems to be workin fine for ya.

I dont think its any easier either way. Right now ive only worked with hardware. But from talkin wit other people (truth) im gonna intergrate software in the mix and (cubase VST's etc) and be on some R.kelly ish(best of both worlds for the lames). But hardware is still gonna be my main prestudio set up


Be easy

class...

 

[joeburnem]

Y'all know I'm gonna say ACID! But SONAR 3 works well to if you can get past that thick ass manual!

 

[mr mello]

Its what you are comfortable with, for real. I used to mess with fruity loops when I started out, but now I use Acid Pro 4, cool edit pro and my crates for everything.

 

[The Bastard]

I Converted From Software (fl Studio,reason) To Hardware (mpc,turntable,,sound Module) What I Noticed Isss, Its Easier To Make Transitions Bridges Intro Outro Beat Changes And All That On Software Cuz The Whole Songs Right In Yur Grille,its Harder For Me To Program The Drums By Mouse Cause I Can Never Get The Right Swing I Want,its Easier To Scroll Thru Samples In Fl Studio They Are All In A Menu To The Left, And On The Hardware Side, The Beats Ive Made WIT MY HARDWARE Sound More Authentic ,THEY ARE funner To Make Cuz Yur Usin Yur Hands ,everyone Knows Using Yur Hands Is Fun ,simple Things On Software Kinda Become A Pain In The Ass ON HARDWARE ,or They Seem Like A Pain In The Ass Cuz Yur Use To Not Takin That Long like Trimming and Remembering What Sequences Go Where In A Song,its Mostly Numbers U Have To Punch In Unless U Have Sumthin With A Color Lcd Screen , I Have To Use Track Sheets Now And Al Lthat,things Arent Always At Your Fingertips Anymore ,you Have To Load Samples Into Your Machine,you Can Only Load As Much Space U Have On Yur Machine Opposed To The Hard Drives Packed Wit Gigabites On Yur Computer ,i Def Made More Beats Wit Software But The Beats I Make Now (on Hardware) Are Exactly How I Want Them To Sound And I Dont Mind Goin The Extra Mile To Make Em,that Dont Mean Its A Better Way It Just Means Im More Comfortable Like That You Really Have To Experience Both Worlds To Make A Choice Of Whuts BETTER For You And If Yur Already Happy Wit Wut U Gut Then U Gotta Ask Yurself Why Switch If Im Doin Whut I Want Theres No Point Youll Just Be Wastin Loot Unless U Phat Paid And U Got Dough To Burn Like That Or If You Just Wanna Be More Versatile And Know More About Production

 

[Da IllFellaz]

FL Producer Edition, i need my daily dose of fruity loops

 

[FTdub]

Acid and Soundforge work for me. I have Reason and FL4, but I work best with ACID. Between reason and Fruity i go with Reason.

 

[Kevin Kind]

Yo:

After trying a few programs I personally think FL Studio 4 offers more flexibility than the others. I'm also using Acid, but FL is King! (Reason just confuses the shit outta me!)

Peace,

KK

 

[SupaStar]

FL Producer Edition, i need my daily dose of fruity loops

I Second This Nomics:
The only difference I see with FL against Reason and others is complexity and price, Fruity is cheap so its labeled differently. I use Reason too, but it takes four times the amount of time to program a beat with FL as with Reason when in every case I get the same result.
Basically, I trick out FL with SampleTank 2 XL and some professional samples, mix that with my keyboard and a bunch of CakeWalk, Sony fx's and I am good. And instead of exporting to wav. I record it live to a .wav editor and there you go a brand new track.

My thoughts

 

[Equality 7-2521]

why doesnt anyone use protools? is it because of the price?

 

[Formant024]

Not only expensive, but also not for the likes of us who mostly do production and record a single track for what acoustics concern ( mic ). PT is nice to record a whole band with and if you're only interest is making hiphop music than you're better of with a G5 and a MOTU running the new Logic 7.
And even comparing a PT HD set with Logic 7 and MOTU isnt enough unless you know enough about both of them but I definitly know that anything PT does, Logic does and more. I mean, I find PT pretty much a grown out recording utility from the days that when there was need for a GUI for you recorders, alike Otari stuff. They simply adapted to the recorder ( reel -> HD recording ) and when pc wennt domestic instead of professional the option were there to embed more features and also add midi and audio editing capabilities. The point in this is that it's nothing unusual anymore since every pc with a good farmcard is a HD recorder and developers of steinberg and emagic have been far more advanced and experienced in the midi/audio field than PT, which is our cases far more importent. I do mean, FAR MORE IMPORTANT, because HD recording is a cake these days on any computing device and quality isnt an issue anymore. Look at the PT HD192 and a MOTU 192 ? see what I mean. Emu 1820M comes with the same converters as the PT 192 so why would you bother with PT ? You get a nice pc and you're in the same situation. Another issue you can wonder about is why the big players alway have a SSL console with PT ? It because the SSL brings the difference and as far as Im concerned any good 192 converter with multi I/O interface would work nicely if you add such a console to it. The only reason these big players have PT is because part of the industry thinks it's required to get customers, up to industry spec so to say. I think it's none sense and overrated, I know PT is everywhere to be found but that also because of the marketing plan they use. I mean, you go to full sail and there's PT, a dedicated class to a product, not a principle you'd learn and it's only good you learn it but I get the idea you dont get to work on other platforms unless the OEM made a nice and cheap offer to implement it in their courses. I consider those places like a shoroom of pro audio gear and ware. In all, Logic 7 just wooped all platforms, it's by far the best one at the moment for HD recording/midi/audio/video sequencing simultaniously. Fruity is to me the most versatile production tool, quality and rendering is better than Reason and there's tonnes of possibilities lacking in Reason, plus reason is like a plugin when situated in big setup because there's nothing more you can do with it, just midi in (WTF). Yeah you can rewire the crap, but what for, I dont like using more software then necessary, now i need a platform to record invidual channels, FL itself extracts all channels to individual wav's. I dont like the synths, the fx are mediocre, the compressors are flat for what their algorhymns are concerned and oke, there's a sampler but so has every audio platform these days. You can route I/O, great, but not really intuitive, I mean, I mostly make a template setup in Reason and leave it at that. And as far as creating beats in a minute ( so to speak ), anyone can do that if you the software, flippin beats like burgers is nothing special if you do nothing else day in day out. I can do that with cubase, logic fl and reason and that because I've been using them since day 1 they been released or "available " ( well pretty much, cubase 1.0 I've never seen, Logic audio 3 Platinum and FL since 2.54, and reason since 1.0 ). It is important to judge a program by it's gui, intuitive gui's give you flexibility and my personal top 4 would be 1 Logic, 2 FL, 3 Reason and 4 Cubase. This isnt rated by how ez it is after the first week you installed and played with it like most people judge the programs, but how much it means to you after you wennt through the scale of options. Talk 6 months ahead and you know what you're talking about.

 

[juzblazwun]

I've used FL and Reason 2.5. I like reason 2.5 better. Reason is better fro me beacuse it's moee studio like. Getting into PC recording was a big switch. I used to putting my hands on everything. To me Reason 2.5 is the closest thing to it.

 

[Louie Lou]

The most slept on tracker....Adobe Audition. Try it. Its easy and has lots of features and options. BTW...this was formerly called "Cool Edit".