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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
And possible a new Daw
1)Protools 10 http://www.avid.com/US/products/pro-tools-software
How many here use these products and if do are you satisfied with them? Thanks Leonard
Don't want to start any flame wars, but skip this. Replace it with Reaper and you will be happier in the long run. 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Really high end VSTi's there Leonard. Far beyond what I need and use (see my sig below). You'll need a really fast computer and lots of RAM to handle all of that.
Although, I now use Sonar, I did look at ProTools at one time But if I remember correctly, doesn't using ProTools lock you into using only certain hardware? That was an issue for me.
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2026, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I Love Logic Pro 9, has 5 DVDs of loops(MIDI and Audio)and very easy to use too. It's presets for Instruments and Mastering really help those who are just starting out! Virtual Instruments and FX Plug-ins galore! Way easier than Protools and updates have been free so far for me! Here is a song I made with some of the Loops and the Drum Kit and Sax are from Biab. http://soundcloud.com/tommy_cole/nu-jazz
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Yea, I'm using Reaper right now and love it.Pretty easy to use and sounds better than what I was using before. I'm just trying to use the best there is for what i want.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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TommyC
Awesome sounding track you made there. I'm really 90% sure I will get a Mac next year and get logic.It was on 99 dollars last time I check to download. This will have to last a few years so I want to get the biggest bang for the buck I can.Every time I listen to other peoples work on here I feel so inferior because most sound so professional and if you wrote the song yourself then really I'm jealous.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Yes there are high end for sure but,Chris Heins horns are awesome sounding and the other as well. I will probably just get the Horns out of all them just because of the expense.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Quote:
Yea, I'm using Reaper right now and love it.Pretty easy to use and sounds better than what I was using before. I'm just trying to use the best there is for what i want.
Sounds to me Leanord that maybe you have more money then knowledge. The DAW has nothing at all to do with the sound.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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In my experience, there's very little which can't be done in RealBand, which you'll have already bundled with BiaB and as John said, DAWS are just number-crunchers.
Once you scratch the surface, even some of the top end DAWS struggle to keep up with RB. You've got 48 stereo channels immediately available, 8 auxiliaries (x4) which you can route and 16 sub-groups, plus there are 4 inserts on every channel and sub-group. Add in a few decent third-party plug-ins and you've got a world class system which integrates perfectly with BiaB.
My advice would be to learn how to utilize all the features of RB and to spend the money you save on VSTi.
ROG.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I would stay away from Pro Tools as it is midi limited, has proprietary peripherals and is only 32 bit. 32 bit is the big one because with the software you are thinking about buying you will need a lot of ram and 32 bit only gives you up to 3 gigs. That is not enough. I would go 64 bit with a minimum of 8 gigs with 16 gigs of ram or higher being better.
I personally use Sonar 1XD but like John has said a DAW has nothing to do with sound quality. I would try all of the 64 bit DAW demos and pick the one that works best for you.
Why Mac? Again there is no difference in sound quality between computer systems. You can get a killer PC music computer for less than half of what you will pay for a Mac. Plus the software is a lot cheaper. Go to a local computer dealer and they can make you one without all of the unnecessary crap that on the shelf brands put on. Keep it off line and you will not even have to deal with anti-virus/spyware etc programs. Just my thoughts – that is what I do.
OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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These "what's the best" threads always remind me of the guy who buys a new guitar every 2 months and a new amp twice a year. And the issue is that he doesn't know how to play. Or this Pete Barbutti bit about the "chordine". http://youtu.be/uzkixTbOchEWhat makes Reaper good and Protools suck, because YOU use one or the other? Ease of use? I installed Reaper and looked at it for about 2 hours and found the interface confusing and clunky. Why? Because I am used to Real Band and Sonar. They are really ALL the same. You record track 1, then track 2, then track 3.... all the way up to 48. The different with Real Band, as we all know, is that it generates music so you don't have to, but once they are in the DAW (and I still wonder why we have to use some oh-so-techie-sounding 2000s term for what we called "Sequencer" with the original Cakewalk product) what is really the difference if you plug in a vst reverb product into Protools or Sonar or Reaper? So I am not being a wise guy here. I am actually interested in knowing why your "Chevy" is better than his Dodge or her Ford? (Notice I put Ford last...) Don't just give the guy your preference, Tell us why and what your experiences were when you were comparing them (and if you have that strong of an opinion, I assume that you have tried more than one and have compared them) side by side.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I've used them all. What do I use? RealBand. End of story.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I look at it in the same way I would say "Look, I found the best woman ever and I am still with her. Why would I change?"
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Propellerhead Reason is a great complement to Band-In-A-Box IF you work in MIDI, and IF you need a kickass softsynth, and if you DON'T need MIDI out from Reason. (We're still trying to figure out whether that's a bug or a feature.) Note that as of version 6 Reason is a complete DAW unto itself. There are a handful of us here and on the Propellerhead forums who use both BIAB and Reason.
If I read your list above correctly, though, that would give you at least three DAWs (including Real Band). Each has unique features and there is a justifiable use for each, but that's a LOT of firepower, even for an experienced user. Also note that Reaper and Reason each have Rewire and so would work together directly. If you don't know what that means, you need to do a lot more research.
Good luck, friend.
Richard
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Re: "DAW" Quote:
(and I still wonder why we have to use some oh-so-techie-sounding 2000s term [DAW] for what we called "Sequencer" with the original Cakewalk product)
I'm with you on this one. I believe that DAW should refer to the physical hardware and sequencer to the software. Otherwise it's pretty confusing, in the same way that using "CPU" or "hard drive" to refer to your PC's case and contents totally loses beginners when you are trying to have a conversation.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I agree that the sound has nothing to do with the DAW or sequencer, whatever we want to call it. It mostly depends on the material you start to work with, whether is loops, midi and or recording your own music, in that case, plug ins and or VST instruments and the ability to use them is what is going to make the difference IMHO. I'm not an expert in these matters like many others in this forum from what we all learn, but yes, I guess you should use whatever you are comfortable with; for instance, I have gotten used to use Acid Pro, which is never mentioned here, some people have the opinion that is mainly for loop work, that was the case many years ago, but now it can handle and process midi files with most VST's out there, at least that has been my experience. However I have to also agree that RB have just about everything and more than any sequencer out-there, specially when working with RT's and everything related to BB. And yes just about anything from Soundsonline is very expensive and requires a high level of skills using this kind of software; sounds terrific though.
later
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Of course, we cannot forget about the final mix on whatever software, that definitively makes a huge difference!
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