I use RealBand a lot, and i own Reaper, Sonar X-1, Multitrackstudio, and Studio one v2.

Realband is very capable of completing a project. There are a few features that some of these other programs have that RB does not, but the basic stuff is there. as far as effects there are some great ones in RB, but there are a ton out there that will work with it as well.

I did a project last year, and the track bed came from BiaB, and i moved it over to Sonar, Reaper, and RB, then i added several tracks to it vocals, guitar parts that i wanted to play, and mixed the song. the end results were very telling to me, not only was the RB version just as good, but in my opinion was the best of the three.

What you will find is that people work where their workflow is familiar. If they started in a cakewalk product they will be more comfortable there.

Lastly the features that are maybe not in RB, or are not quite as polished are few anymore, and RB has things that none of these others can even touch.

A few things RB needs, one is better VSTi capability, there are a few VSTis that it does not handle well. These are the ones that require a tempo lock to fully function, like drum modules that have creation or brain function.

Also RB does not have a rich comping to take system, like say a sonar, cubase, or presonus studio one does. But you can do several takes with looping and mix and match them. you can use the new node based volume automation to turn one the parts of takes you want then bounce down.

While volume automation got a big upgrade this year, i hope they add FX and panning automation next time.

Honestly if they fix the VSTi timing lock issue, add some type of comping feature that resembles the one in Presonus studio one, and add more to the automation, i would most likely never crack those other programs open again.

Here is my advice, you are new to this, and it will take you a while to even tap the features that are in RB, let alone hit up against any thing lacking in it. It plays very nice with BiaB, and will give you a great finsihed product. Use it, you own it, if and when you ever feel like it is not doing what you want buy another DAW to handle that need. No one builds a house with only a hammer and a saw.

Last edited by Robh; 12/17/13 08:57 AM.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.