Hello everyone,

I'm in the market for my first ever full, or higher end DAW.

I've been working with Garageband, got the demo for Live and Record.

I'll be running it on my Macbook 2.26Ghz, 4Gb Ram laptop.

My needs are as follows. I want to record my 4 piece band, I also want to further my productions in Reason to incorporate live instrumentation, or do audio recordings etc. I also intend to use my laptop live as a softsynth using Reason, but any live usage of the DAW would be a massive bonus.

Now, I've narrowed it down to the following:

Logic - seems to be well respected, like that live application to it too.
Record - I'm familiar with Propellerhead software, and like the idea of how player friendly it seems
Live - not looked into the recording use for it too much, but I appreciate it's live usage is fairly immense.

Not really interested in Cakewalk, Cubase or any of those.

What are your thoughts on the above then please?

Thanks
Jamie

I've not used Record, and am not particularly interested in it.

Logic and Live are both great tools, but in different ways. Live, you either "get" or you don't. If you get it, and it works for you, it's a great tool.

However, for conventional band recording, I'm not sure the Live environment is the best - for this, and detailed editing and mixing, I'd choose Logic out of your short list - with the advantage you get a whole load of extra instruments and sample content, and retain song compatibility with your existing songs done in GB.

Logic is the no brainer choice for me here, if you know garageband pretty well the transition shouldn't be too much..

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Squarehead Jam Jar Facebook Jam Jar

Hey

You'll need an interface to record a band, and depending on which you get, or have, you could use Pro Tools.. The M audio version is great, but you do need compatible hardware..

I do use logic too, and it is great..

...and if you're undecided, you can download the Mac version of REAPER and try it at no cost.

Sounds like the step from GB to Logic will be the easiest, although I do find Logic a bit slow for audio-intensive stuff.

>

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planet nine
lincoln, uk.

Mate live is superb for doing live stuff. But for mixing down its weak by comparison.

Thats not to say its poor, just not its strength. FOr a live or writers creative tool its the best there is, but for recording/mixing down, nah. To be fair thats not what its about.

Im interested in record myself but until they impose a basic sequencer that will work with external hardware synths, its just no use to me. Why should I have to rewire and buy two packages?

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the inputs.

I thought Logic would get a bit of a rep here. I'm quite tempted by it I must admit. Although Record is still very very much in the running as I really seem to click with the way Propellerhead software works.

I'm by no means really comfortable with Garageband, but I can work it more or less.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Jamie

I have Logic and Reaper. I prefer Reaper for audio recording and mixing, but I do use MainStage (part of Logic) for live use (piano, electric piano and Hammond organ keyboard parts) and have found it very reliable so far.

Reaper is only £40 if you're not using it commercially and you can download a full demo which doesn't expire, though you're only supposed to use it for 30 days. Well worth a look...

Greg.

BassJam

You can download a great demo of ReCord.

I quite like it. Just started with it this afternoon. Great thing about the demo is it isnt time limited but you cant open files. Still gives you time to try everything out.

Thing I like about record and reason for that matte is there limited. IE you cant go on forever looking at a trillion VSTs. What you have is what you get so you get on with making music more

Logic Audio here too but only you can make that choice as we all want and look for different things in a DAW... I know Logic ticks all my boxes though
Personally I find Live so backwards for writing it's unreal.

I find Live so 'forwards' its unreal.

Quote kolakube:

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I find Live so 'forwards' its unreal.

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indeed.... really good product BUT too specialised for many people. I use it here for "appropriate" work.

OP - Go for Reaper. Cheap, great value and a good system.

Ableton Live workflow =

1 - Write a MIDI sequence or add some audio
2 - Create a clip (done automatically)
3 - Repeate step 1 three or four times so you have the guts of a tune.
4 - See what works with what as you play diffrent clips together or apart.
5 - Record this live clip fireing and it will be come an arangment.

Want to add effects?? Just click the channel say Bass and drag and drop your plug into the space bellow runing from left to right. All so easy to see and at as glance. You dont have to go searching.

Live Pros

1 - Super easy to write with
2 - Super easy at a glance FX
3 - Pure inspiration compared to other DAWs like cubase (IMO) that is just hard to use and get in the way of the creative writing process.
4 - Can DJ on it or make a tune on it.
5 - Fantastic support from Ableton. I get the impression they really care

Live Cons

1 - Poor for arranging on compared to cubase.
2 - No dual screen support.


I have never tried reaper before. Ill have to give it a go. Everyone here seems to agree. Mind I recently tried ReCord but and straight back to ableton. Just wish the arrangement window was better. Its still workable but fidly and small.