Thanks for the additional points everyone. I've been over to the User Showcase area and you guys/gals are quite talented!

One additional note as far as my goals - I would obviously play "some" instruments on my songs, like others seem to do. Guitar, bass and mando, mainly. I'm not the type that would overly-saturate with layers of sounds (no Phil Specter for me!). I like my music more 'bare bones', with some 'tasteful' layers. For example, I love the sound of lap steel, and would love to introduce some decent quality lap steel riffs into songs. Same thing with harmonica and other similar instruments...I guess I would need to sing too, but I struggle with vocals; my range is limited and I'm just not fond of it.

With regard to using midi, I have some of that experience, but it is not my forte...I know enough to get by and that's about it. I find it rather painstaking and detailed in Cubase, and from what I've heard Cubase is one of the EASIER programs in which to edit midi files. I know it takes time to develop and produce a high-quality song and recording, so I do understand the time you put in will have a direct bearing on the quality of what comes out, so I'm fine with that....

Well, I continue to be very excited and the wife knows I am wanting to step up to the more robust version. She is now asking what the price is (I haven't disclosed that yet)...

More later - thanks again everyone!

Last edited by Mandolin Mike; 07/10/12 09:32 AM.
Living in The Music City