What Recording Software Do You Use and Why?

[brandondrury]

I decided to create a sticky thread for all of us to post what recording software we use and why.? I remember years ago when I didn't know which program was "best" for my money.? It's very difficult buying software because you have no idea what you are really going to be getting.? In fact, most people don't even know if they are going to stick with recording.

Please Answer The Following Questions In Your Post
1)Which recording software do you use?

2)What sort of work are you doing?? ?Live rock bands?? Video game music?? Samples? Midi? etc

3) What do you love about the program you currently use?

4) What do you hate about the program you currently use?

I do not want this particular thread to be a discussion. I simply want people to list why they use their current program. Feel free to create a spinoff thread to discuss each program. If necessary.
Brandon

[brandondrury]

Software: Steinberg Cubase SX#

What sort of work are you doing?
Mostly producing music with solo artists or occassionally bands.

What do you love about the program you currently use?
I love the fact that I can do just about anything I ever need to. Powerful midi sequencing has opened up all kinds of opportunities that weren't available to me in the past when I used Vegas. I love the routing which lets me do just about anything under the sun. I mean anything. Editing works extremely well in Cubase SX3. When I use it, it's clear that it's an extremely well thought piece of software that I couldn't recommend any higher to anyone remotely serious about creating music. I love being able to give my singers compression in their headphones. I love being able to assign shortcuts to anything. I have a shortcut to open autotune. I have a shortcut for "gain" which allows me to highlight a loud "essss" and knock it down 2dB in a fraction of a second.

What do you hate about the program you currently use?
Off hand, there is nothing that jumps out at me. I'm sure I have my gripes, but at the moment, none come to mine.


Overall
I give Cubase SX3 a 10 to just about anyone. Cubase SX3 is just as solid for creating rap beats as it is recording metal bands. I love having a sequencer built in. I love being able to make orchestra scores one day and mix a rock project the next.

I couldn't be happier with Cubase SX3

Brandon

[DogpitStudios]

1)Which recording software do you use?

I use Logic Express 7

2)What sort of work are you doing? Live rock bands? Video game music? Samples? Midi? etc

I have only been doing full rock, metal, hardcore, or funk bands so far, though I hope to branch out to anyone soon enough. Sometimes I track the whole band live, sometimes one by one... it really depends.

3) What do you love about the program you currently use?

I started out before I though I was going to be doing recording using garageband (yes I am a mac only guy). I loved how easy it was to use, how great the samples were, and how reliable the program was. When I got into recording full acts I needed an upgrade for more options and flexibility of a real VST host and Logic was essentially the step up version of garageband. I love how I know the software like the back of my hand, I love its flexibility, I love its free plug-ins, I love its compatibility with almost everything.

4) What do you hate about the program you currently use?

Unfortunately I have the express version, so I can not record more than 12 tracks at a time right now, and everything else in my chain allows for 18 tracks. The Pro version of Logic 7 allows for unlimited tracks but an other thing I hate is the price, even though I qualify for the educational discount.

Ben

[PhilB]

Software: Cubase LE

What sort of work are you doing?
Now...just myself (singer-songwriter and some rock stuff).

What do you love about the program you currently use?
It includes many things I really need, like 2 inserts,, VST & VSTi's (haven't used these yet but will), 4 sends, markers, etc. 24 bit, yeah! and, it's free. I actually have a cracked version of cubse SX but don't use it (not even installed) - would rather stay honest about this business.

What do you hate about the program you currently use?
2 things.
1) I REALLy wish I had more inserts.
2) Wish it had ADC for parallel compression. Have tried a work around, am not sure I've got it quite right.

Overall
I'd give it a 7-8.

[richiebee]

Which recording software do you use?

Work - ProTools 6.9 (HD1)
Home -? Cubase SX 3

What sort of work are you doing?? ?Live rock bands?? Video game music?? Samples? Midi? etc

ProTools - mostly recording classical chamber music, some solo work in all kinds of genres, but tends to be on the classical side. Usually capture all instruments simultaneously (live) though occasionally track.? ?
Cubase - anything I can...? this is my composition machine - I write funk, electronic, classical, movie (that doesn't mean I've sold music to a movie company!)

What do you love/hate about the program you currently use?

Cubase - it rocks.? I've been using it for well over ten years (started on Atari ST).? It is stable, has fantastic midi implementation and does everything I ever require in terms of writing, recording and mixing. I've never tried recording live instruments on multiple (as in more than 2) inputs simultaneously, but in terms of what I do with it, it never lets me down, and allows me to get on with being very creative.? It's very intuitive. VSTi implentation is amazing, and the plugins available are just amazing too. I have no negatives about it. I NEVER wish I didn't own and use it.

ProTools - it's very reliable in a multi-track situation. I'm never worried about performance.? Once you get to know it, it's very good. Negatives...? takes a while to get used to it, real time only bounce down is a huge time waster, cost of ownership (upgrades, plugins). Never used MIDI with it... I understand its implementation is better in v7. Curse on it frequently, but it does get the job done, mostly in a good way!

Rich

[dach]

This is almost exactly like Richiebee

1)Which recording software do you use?
Nuendo for PC (My Pro Tools for Mac never gets turned on unless I need a ton of I/O's or it's required for Post so it won't be discussed here... also WAY too much cash for full blown when compared to Nuendo).

2)What sort of work are you doing? Live rock bands? Video game music? Samples? Midi? etc
No bands here anymore. I do a ton of midi writing but also track whatever is needed.

3) What do you love about the program you currently use?
Bulletproof. Great when working with midi. Almost all plugs and sample engines have ZERO issues. Mixing is less cumbersome than PT. Midi for PT SUCKS!

4) What do you hate about the program you currently use?
The bussing scheme could improve, some midi functionality could be better implemented, stereo vs mono tracks implementation is not as functional as PT

[TimRP]

1)Which recording software do you use?

Used audacity for a month+ and released how limited I was so I went to Cubase, and then I was throwings darts at the wall and which one to get, I have tried free demos of Abelton Live and Macikies Traction, and well I am sticking to what I know well enough which is cubase.

2)What sort of work are you doing? Live rock bands? Video game music? Samples? Midi? etc

Solo Christian singers singing to CD tracks. Want them to start bringing in keyboards and acoustic guitars, and then go up from there

3) What do you love about the program you currently use?

Its what I know, after trying those demos, I just felt out of place, and wanted to get back to a safe place which was Cubase.

4) What do you hate about the program you currently use?

Don't hate it...but there are little bugs that get to me, like there is no easy drag and drop way to rearange your inserts. So you have to save your settings go to another insert position then apply the plugin and then apply the settings you just saved. Or you just have to remember your settings and hope you match what you had, or you make darn sure that you really want that EQ plug in before compression on that channel. There are other bugs that get to me, but thats the top of my list.

[junkhead]

1)Which recording software do you use?
Sonar
Fruity Loops
Reason
Sibelius

2)What sort of work are you doing?
Live bands
Electronic - Ambience/Sample based
Soundtrack type stuff with strings, synths, percussion, ect..
And broke down old raw guitar, mic, and rough vocal songwriter music

3) What do you love about the program you currently use?
Sonar is the main hub of my recording rig I usually do the final mixes with it.
Fruity Loops because its so easy to set-up samples and construct a beat and automate everything. It's a deeper program than most people think. And I love Reason for its interface, looking at it like a physical rack and being able to flip it around and rewire everything is awesome.

4) What do you hate about the program you currently use?

There's always features that I'd like to see included, but I don't hate any of it. I think we're all pretty lucky to have these kinds of tools available now a days.

[TAlderson]

1)Which recording software do you use?
Garageband

2)What sort of work are you doing?
Acoustic stuff, basic midi/keyboard stuff

3) What do you love about the program you currently use?
Easy to use, I got started literally when I opened it up

4) What do you hate about the program you currently use?
When you copy a piece of a keyboard/midi track, the sustain does not show up on any of the copies

[MrProducer7]

;D? Hey Brandon!
1. Which Recording software do you use?
I primarily use CoolEditPro 2.0 for mixing down, but I do sometimes
record & multitrack with it. Previously I used the Tascam 488 Porta
studio for all my tracks, but I have long since upgraded to digital, the Boss BR1180, which is sweet. However, when I transfer my tracks to computer, I do not use a soundcard. I run everything thru Edirol UA 3FX audio capture via USB, which gives a much cleaner sound, and then I use an optical cable interface, which eliminates "buffer pops" and clicks due to insufficient processor power during conversion.

2. What sort of work are you doing?
I am now almost entirely recording myself & my projects.
I perform spiritually based Power Rock and instrumentals.

3. What do you love about the program you currently use?
I think #1 says it all.

4. What do you hate about the program?
That it does not work miracles yet! However, I am not well versed
on midi, and some other finer technical items, I try to keep it simple
and I do use a lot of effects, but not overly so. I like all kinds of cool
sounds and try to incorporate that which has a "hook".

I have a simple setup in my house, and I have wooden floors. I have to do vocals upstairs in my bedroom however. I use a MXL studio mic. It's sweet and it gets the job done well. I have also learned thru
trial & error that if the songs sucks, then technology can help it some, but not always a true fix. AND it's better to get it right at first, then to try to "fix it in the mix".? 8)