Which Software Program is the Best?

[the_webninja]

Hey,
I'm just getting started into the Recording Thing, I played Guitar for a few years, now learning Keyboards, I have been Studying all kinds of Stuff with Computers, now I am working with Sampling and using Computer Synth Software. I Purchased Magix Music Maker7 Deluxe my first time out, with the Computer Recording Software, but I ran into a lot of things I really didn't like about it. The Program is kind of a pain to use, and it crashes a lot when you try to use the BPM finder or Loop finder using Original Samples. Another thing that kind of Bothered me, was the Company's kind of aloof attitude about replying to important things like using their Synth Samples for Commercial Recordings.

I also didn't like the fact that I Purchased the Program as a Recording Tool, then found out later they wanted me to purchase another Program to Convert Wav. files to Mp3 files. That seemed kind of strange to me. But it does have all the Bells and whistles, a couple different kinds of Synths, and Sample Creators, and Lots of Sound effects, and Effects Racks and Mixers, and all kinds of Recording Studio style stuff, but I question the Professional Quality of the Program.

Now I am ready to drop some bucks on a New Program, they have Music Maker 10 Deluxe out now,(Which is 24 Bit) but I am not so sure it is any better than Music Maker 7 was.
I hear a lot of people talking about Cakewalk, but in the Specs Cake Walk doesn't really sound like it has a whole lot of Sound Effects and Sample Manipulators built in it, I don't really know- Does it?

Sony has a Really Awesome Program, (I forgot the name) but when I downloaded the Sample Version of it, it crashed like crazy and it seemed very difficult to understand how to use without a Manual.

I am Interested in Doing Sample Mixing Mostly, Dance, Trance and Euro-Pop Style stuff, so I need a Program that is going to have all the really wild Synths and sound effects makers and manipulators and all the crazy stuff. But I want something that is going to be Professional Quality, and 24 Bit or Better, and be able to Convert wav. files to Mp3 files with all the Codecs and stuff without having to buy additional software to do it all. Also I am presently using my Software to Record Wav. Files of my Keyboard Samples then Mixing them down. Would it be a better Idea for me to take the Time to Record my stuff MIDI first then play with it until it is perfect? Or should I just wing it with the Wav. files like I am doing now? Is it easier to manipulate the BPM rate and stuff like that with MIDI? I never did MIDI Recording yet. But from what I have learned about it, it seems like a lot of work for just a little more accuracy in timing and sequence.

You people do this stuff all the time, so I would expect you to be able to point me in the right Direction.
Now I know there is Software I can rent out there for $40 bucks a month that is Professional Quality, but is there any Software that is Reasonably Priced that can still deliver the Quality and Performance I am looking for?

Any advice at all will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sua

[richiebee]

1. Forget Magix anything.
2. Buy a VST host, or one that has a VST wrapper to allow you to use VST instruments and effects. This page should help you find one - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Studio_Technology
3. Get millions of free effects and synth plugins from www.kvraudio.com.
4. If you want professional results, you MIGHT just have to read the manual.

From the tone of your post, I'd recommend Fruity Loops. It started out as a humble piece of software much with the same kind of reputation as Magix, but by all accounts its matured into something really good.

Personally, I'd never use anything but Cubase for MIDI/audio sequencing. But then again, I've been using it since 1994ish and I feel somewhat attached to it.

Rich

[brandondrury]

ALL recording programs are a pain in the ass to learn. In fact, I'd say that any program that does anything worthwhile is a pain to learn. Go ahead and jump in face first, but do it with good stuff.

As for free wav to mp3 conversion:
http://www.recordingreview.com/free_...ools/index.php

Your needs are much different than mine, so I do not want to really recommend anything. However, don't be afraid to spend a few bucks on the software. This is only to save you the agony of learning a different program down the road. It seams that many of us stick with whatever program we started with. I'm still using Sonic Foundry Vegas (later bought out by Sony). For my needs, I never saw a need to change.

If you are on a mega budget, I did run into some Open Source (GPL) recording software that looked pretty decent.

Brandon

[the_webninja]

Thanks for the info, I checked out those Links and it was very helpful. I also went shopping around a few Software Stores in my Area and on the Back of the Box of Sony's Acid Studio Software, there is a Comparasion chart that shows how much more Sony's Acid Studio will do more than either Magix or Cakewalk. I think I am going to just spend some time to research all of the different VST applications and other Software to get a better idea of all the possiblities out there.

Thanks again for you Guys input on this stuff, it helped me out a lot.

Sua*

[the_webninja]

I have been Searching the Web trying to better figure out the answers to my own Questions, but I just wanted to post what I have learned here, just in case anyone else is interested. I know many people get used to working with one Program then it becomes hard to think about the Possiblities of other Software. So that's why I am posting what I have found out here now.

From what I have gathered, for Sound effects, Synth Sampling, and creating Computer Sounds, the easiest Program I have found is Magix Music Maker 10 Deluxe. It's only $59.00 and the only limitations the program has is it is only 24 Bit/ 92khz and it can not Convert File Formats very easily, but then many other Programs can't convert Files at all.

The Closest Compareable Program I could Find to Magix Music Maker 10 was Groove Lab, which didn't have as many features as Music Marker 10.

For Totally Pro Master Recording, the Best Program at the Cheapest Price seems to be M-Audio Izotope Ozone 3 which offers 64 Bit Mastering at a Price of only $249.00 which isn't bad. But it doesn't have any of the Sound effects offered in Magix Music Maker 10.

The Next in Line for Mastering is Sound Forge 8.0 by Sony, which also offers 64 Bit mastering at a Price of around $300.00 and the Program is really easy to use.

Magix offers a Mastering Program but the Price is Outrageous around $1000.00 and it only offers 32 Bit Mastering. But they let you rent it for $40 a month. And it is pretty easy to use.

Pro Tools Software is really Good, but outrageously priced, but it is more designed for people who are rich or have an inheritence they don't know what to do with.

Sony's ACID Studio and ACID Pro are pretty Basic Programs, but if you are not doing anything serious they are okay. The ACID Pro can create Files ready for Mastering with other Programs. But it doesn't have a whole lot of Computer effects. ACID Studio is basically trying to run in Competition with Magix Music Maker 10 by offering More File Conversion and Export capability, but is has a lot less Sound Effects and Synth applications. But the Quality is about the same. But actually I like the Colors that Magix uses in their Software, it looks better.

I Bought Magix Music Maker 10 Deluxe because it has more Features for Creating Dance Music, which is what I do. I plan to Master my Stuff using M-Audio's Izotope Ozone 3, because it has the Highest Quality Mastering at a Price I can Afford and I like the way it Looks, it Looks Cool, and easy to use.

Well, I hope this helped someone else out there who might want to know this stuff.

Sua*

[brandondrury]

A few tips:

1)Don't get hung up on the bit depth of the "mastering". To be honest, I'm not even sure how "mastering" applies to these recording programs. When I do my own mastering (which I call "pretend mastering"), I toss a compressor, a limiter, and maybe whatever else I feel is necessary on the 2 bus. I'm not sure what these programs do differently.

I know the Ozone plugin is designed to have all the tools necessary to master in one plugin, but I'm sure how that is advantageous really. I tried it out and didn't feel that Ozone was worth the price for me. I just keep using my Waves plugins.

2)Pro Tools LE is used by all sorts of serious musicians. You don't need inheritance to buy it. You just have to quit going to the movies.

3) You mention number of effects quite often, but this is really quite meaningless because there are a ton of free plugins out there. I'm not sure how many effects a person NEEDS. I mean that I have the Waves Platinum, Autotune, and a few others and that basically covers everything. Sure, I'd love to have more and I'd like the fidelity to be higher, but as far as quantity is concerned, I'm covered.

4) I would be careful just rating features. I'd do my research by actually asking a person what they use and why. Everyone has different needs obviously, so you need to take this into account. Find out what people are actually cranking out and how they are doing it.

Let us know if we can be of any more help!

Brandon