How to select the best audio software for Windows

tarrenp · Post by **tarrenp** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 12:00 am

Hi
i am about to purchase an audio application software to use with my MOTU 2408 mk3. I have a pc with athlon 2.8gigHz processor.

What to buy.. Cubase 4.0 looks good but I wondered if there was something else which might be better value for the bucks!

cheers

Peter

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:54 am

Well, what is it you wish to do with it?

tarrenp · Post by **tarrenp** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:13 pm

the aim is to be able to produce professional standard audio recordings to pre-mastering level. ( I have SoundForge and feel comfortable with using it)
My 'studio' includes a Tascam M series 32 ch console, Tannoy DM12'd, NS10's, Neumann, + other good mikes, pre-amp yet to buy, new Athlon computer w 1 gig ram and 250gig hard disk, outboard compressors and effects. instruments fender jaguar guitar and 60's p bass + keyboards U220, MC50.
I did analogue recording but stopped 10years ago and now am coming into the digital age ( a bit late - but nonetheless here now).

So what I want to do is convert and finish some albums I started 10 years ago and use the application to fix bed tracks, overdubs and replace some live mult-track recorded drum kit tracks digitally.
This was a fusion style of afroCelticLatin music and has some great rythmn and original vocal material.

New projects will include recording of a band I work with which uses keyboards a fair bit.

I hope this is what you needed to know.

regards

Peter

andrewj · Post by **andrewj** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 3:38 am

from the audio quality standpoint the answer is: SAMPLITUDE! Sounds way better than cubase, soundforge, live, ... Actually I have not heard a better engine so far! Perhaps there is one, but Samplitudes engine beats Cubase, Logic, DP, Live... and a lot more I have heard including ProTools.

robstudio · Post by **robstudio** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 5:03 am

andrewj wrote:from the audio quality standpoint the answer is: SAMPLITUDE! Sounds way better than cubase, soundforge, live, ... Actually I have not heard a better engine so far! Perhaps there is one, but Samplitudes engine beats Cubase, Logic, DP, Live... and a lot more I have heard including ProTools.

Yes but how much better ? 20 - 40 % ??? uggg ... sorry old joke from an old forum. Really you shouldn't hear any quality difference between software programs. I'd seriously recommend taking a look at Sonar, to me it was the closest I could get to performer on Pc. Good luck and sort through the hype with your own brain/ears.
Regards, Rob

resolectric · Post by **resolectric** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 6:08 am

Quality wise: Reaper (64 bit audio engine, multiprocessor capable, direct multi-track recording to many formats including WAV/BWF/W64, AIFF, WavPack, FLAC, OGG, and MIDI, tool-less editing, supports VST, VSTi, DX, DXi effects, ReaPlugs are 64bit as well, install is 2.2MB wich allows the program to rum from a USB key... etc.)

Price wise: Reaper (US$39.95, besides, you can use it with no limitation without purchasing. The only annoyance is a window that opens everytime you start Reaper inviting you to buy it. Other than that, it works 100% free).

Yes, it's that good.

No, i don't work for them. I use Nuendo.

andrewj · Post by **andrewj** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:08 am

robstudio wrote:Yes but how much better ? 20 - 40 % ??? uggg ... sorry old joke from an old forum. Really you shouldn't hear any quality difference between software programs.

So every DAW sounds the same and ITB sounds like OTB? Sorry Rob this was disproved in various forums and various threads! Plus I had listening sessions in some studios comparing different DAWs and different analog summing boxes!

However Rob is right that you should try as many DAWs as you can and let your ears decide.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:40 am

From the hearsay department, since we're mostly Mac people here, self included: Most of the magazine shootouts I read consistently put Cakewalk Sonar at the top of the list. It's the most DP-like Windows DAW, according to them. Maybe you can find the articles on line at Electronic Musician, Keyboard, EQ, Mix, etc.

DP and Logic usually get the top honors for Mac DAW. You can run ProTools on Windows, but you asked for "a better value." Many people feel roped into buying PT because of its ubiquity in the marketplace, and not necessarily because of its virtues. But, you can't run PT with your MOTU hardware anyway.

Which DAW is best for you will be determined by how you intend to use it. If you use it like a tape recorder, you my not need beat detection, loop stretching, MIDI, etc.

chrispick · Post by **chrispick** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:06 pm

andrewj wrote:So every DAW sounds the same and ITB sounds like OTB? Sorry Rob this was disproved in various forums and various threads! Plus I had listening sessions in some studios comparing different DAWs and different analog summing boxes.

Well, I, for one, think you're purporting a myth. I've seen numerous posts in threads and forums (to use your sources) showing that most DAW shoot-outs often don't take into account technical discrepancies like pan law and, in the end, all assessments were highly subjective.

I use DP. I collaborate with people who use Logic, Pro Tools and Sonar. I've never been able to discern any appreciable difference in summing. Same goes for ITB vs. OTB. It's a contentious issue, yeah, but certainly no definitive conclusions have been drawn.

Back to topic: I have experience with Sonar and think it's a good Windows PC DAW comparable to DP.

robstudio · Post by **robstudio** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 3:40 pm

So every DAW sounds the same and ITB sounds like OTB? Sorry Rob this was disproved in various forums and various threads! Plus I had listening sessions in some studios comparing different DAWs and different analog summing boxes!

Did I say that??? .... please, I won't get into this debate with you.

SAMPLITUDE! Sounds way better than cubase, soundforge, live,

ok I'll call you on that then... your statement is bullsh•• and advised the poster to not go by your advice. Care to back up your statement with fact / specs / anything applicable to the real world other than your misguided hype??
Regards, Rob

Edited to add... I have not used samplitude nor do I care enough to research it, as I've moved my studio to Mac, but I have used pc for 10 years FWIW... I'm not knocking the program itself, it may indeed be a fine program ... the sounds way better part is where the bullsh•• lays IMO.

gregwhartley · Post by **gregwhartley** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 7:38 pm

Here we go again... I find that potatoes offer better high-mids...

andrewj · Post by **andrewj** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:26 am

so if you think you know better, you also have to prove your statements or am I wrong?

robstudio · Post by **robstudio** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:19 am

Ok then....

I'd seriously recommend taking a look at Sonar, to me it was the closest I could get to performer on Pc. Good luck and sort through the hype with your own brain/ears.

www.motu.com

www.cakewalk.com

the info there will back up what I've stated, (see above...) that Sonar is comparable to Performer and perhaps may be an alternative for the posters needs. Or at least something else to compare against cubase. Isn't that what this should be about??? Anyone wishing to claim that one DAW sounds better than another ought to have something to back it up, no??? Anyone that knows how to use the tools should be able to craft good sounding material no matter what daw they choose to use.
I've backed up what I've stated, I'll be leaving this thread now to do something more productive. Good luck.
Regards, Rob

andrewj · Post by **andrewj** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:38 am

robstudio wrote:Ok then....
Anyone that knows how to use the tools should be able to craft good sounding material no matter what daw they choose to use.

True!!!

splatterbass · Post by **splatterbass** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:05 pm

i myself use sonar for tracking and mixing.
ease of use.
wave editing ( slip editing as they call it )
vst plugins.
i could go on a rant about all the things i like about it.
my fav thing is being inspired in the production and mix phase when i want to throw in some other sounds, soft synths scored in MIDI from scratch. freeze track ( makes a wave file ) drag to another track and mix and effect it as a wave.
my buddy runs cubase, he hasnt been able to figure out how to score a MIDI track without importing a preexisting file.