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Hi colly,
I was responding to jazzmandan's original question. I'm sorry I wasn't specific enough in my post.
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I guess to each his own--in everything. I LOVE Sonar because it seems intuitive and has some great onboard effects (though I have about 200 + Xtra VSTs.) I just really like the workflow of it and the layout. For composing, I would never think to edit in staff view, I would do that in Finale or even Guitar Pro and then reimport the midi. Oddly enough, I find Guitar Pro much easier to edit in than Finale (because it is, I guess), the only drawback being you need Finale to run the Garritan Libaries, or a DAW like Sonar that handles it. At the end of the day I think we all build systems that suit us. I guess I have said a million times I still record in Real Band because it so easy, and reliable. My old workhorse. And it generates those real track and midi tracks. What a Bargain!! 
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No probs if you look at page two.
That's were it all began.
I was answering a post .
Bob said,
Take Care
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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LOL!!! I love it, Matt. Took a class this summer and got to know it and now I am learning more as I go on my own. Bought the program AND a new rocket sauce PC to run it so I am now in neck deep as far as expenses go, so I am going to keep running with it. And again, my application is not like anybody else's. I may do another CD, I may not. I just want to know how to use Pro Tools and the only way to learn how to swim is to jump in the deep end. So $2000 later... LOL!!!
So, boom as in mic drop.
I actually bought TWO computers for Pro Tools. The first was a used HP with an i5 but the mobo only went to 16gb or RAM. The brand new one is an i7 with 32gb of RAM and it runs so fast the commands complete before I finish the mouse click!
As usual, this is just me.
Last edited by eddie1261; 11/25/16 04:01 PM.
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oooh what the .... cross wires sorry Eddie ,,David,,,Noel ,,.,
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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What you are going to get here is little more than a vote for what each poster uses. If this guy uses that DAW and knows it well, of course it is easy to use. FOR HIM. Usually what you get is "This is what I could get for free (or very little money) and I don't want to spend a lot of money because I am not a professional full time musician." I have read these kinds of posts for years here. This guy says Reaper is the best ever. That guy says Sonar. Yet another says Samplitude.
Remember what BIAB/RB is supposed to be. It is a composition tool. It HAS a DAW in it, but it is not meant to be a major league studio DAW for producers who rent out their studio for money.
The best analogy I can use is that you CAN drive nails with the back of your electric drill, but is that what your electric drill is made for?
My perspective is based only on this. If I go to 50 basketball games, and every gym uses Spalding as their house basketball, there must be a reason for that, and that reason could possibly be that Spalding is the best basketball. If most major studios use, and have been using, Pro Tools, draw your own conclusion. Then you get the crew that still records analog on 2 inch tape, making that cliche claim about how analog recording makes the best sound. Well, I disagree. I suspect that for that subset of recording people the issue is more likely that they are not computer strong and don't want to invest the time to learn Pro Tools.
I leave you with this. When has more knowledge, about ANY topic, ever been a bad thing? Aren't we supposed to keep growing and expanding as we go through life? Learn something new. If it's in music, learn a new instrument. Learn new software. If it's outside of music, take up cooking if you can't cook. Take up woodworking if you can't cut a straight line or drive a nail. Study the physics of how an airplane flies. (Everybody kinda sorta knows about high pressure under the wing and lower pressure over the wing, but there's more. Ailerons, flaps, slats, rudders, elevators, pitot tubes....) Make some waves in your life. A boat that doesn't rock at all is also probably dead in the water.
But, yeah. Pro Tools. LOL!
Last edited by eddie1261; 11/25/16 03:59 PM.
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All these DAWs are great in knowledgeable hands. Some don't handle MIDI at all, so they are out of consideration here. My experience in pro studios has been that they use Pro Tools and it crashes more than they like.
You will notice I primarily use one DAW and yet I cited only the area that is considered a weakness.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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eddie1261
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I don't have much experience with Pro Tools yet but the "crashes" I see are usually the result of the computer being "under-rammed". The plugins eat ram like I used to eat wings (in competition).
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You may be right about both!
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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After many years of Reaper I am seeing some cracks in its armor and this may be a good time to look elsewhere.
Since I am on a PC I am considering Cakewalks Sonar Artist.
I need:
1) a "professional" package
2) Solid performance - meaning bug free
3) Must handle midi as well as the best
4) must have a good user forum for help as needed
5) must be compatible with my collection of VSTs
Any thoughts? Dan, I would suggest having a look at the Cakewalk lineup. Before you jump in, I would suggest either downloading the demo version of Sonar, or to enter for a lesser sum of money, get the Music Creator 7 DAW. While the MC7 DAW is considered to be a "beginner's DAW" I would beg to differ. It is a full featured DAW and will run 99.9% of the professionally written VST's, synths, and FX plugs on the market. The only things I found that would NOT run on Music Creator were in fact, not the VST itself, but the sound sample set for some third party written things. And that was a sound font set supposedly written for SFZ. In addition, when you buy MC7, you get a bunch of synths and plugs that, if sold by themselves, would be worth the cost of the entire package. I really love the Cakewalk Sound Center Synth. Sampled sounds and a bunch of inexpensive add-on packs are available depending on what you need. I ran the MC line on my DAW for many years and never exceeded it's capabilities. MC7 has actually broken through some of the limitations that MC, 4,5 & 6 had. I haven't kept up with the specs but I think it now allows more than 2 inputs at a time and the synth limit of 8 is now 24 IIRC. Sonar and MC both have a very active and knowledgeable forum membership. I was quite active in the MC forums for a time and still pop in over there to assist with questions and problems. I have never regretted buying the Cakewalk line. The only question you need to ask yourself regarding cakewalk is which product will do the job you need? Look at the specs and make that decision for yourself. I have used the MC line with great results and satisfaction for years and only cross graded to Sonar X1 essentials because CW offered a "no-brainer" cross-grade deal to get X1e at a killer price. It does everything I need. Here>>> http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Music-Creator
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Dan, Although I mentioned MultiTrack Studio in an earlier post it is not the DAW I use; I mentioned that DAW because I admire the feature of having a relatively complete set of general midi instrument patches built-in. My DAW of choice is Music Creator. I started with version 2 and have advanced up to version 6. The current version is version 7. I'm not sure if you know it but PG Music sells Music Creator. PG Music's page is ++ HERE ++. As Herb stated you get some good accessories with Music Creator. For me the biggies are the TTS-1 multi timbrel soft synth and Studio Instruments which includes electric bass, electric piano, acoustic drums and strings virtual instruments. Groove 3 has a comprehensive set of Music Creator 6 tutorial videos. You can find out more about them ++ HERE ++ . I have the video set and can attest they are like having a knowledgeable good friend spend a day advising you. I use the videos as a reference much more than the manual. With version 7 of Music Creator you have the choice of downloading 32 bit, 64 bit or both. I suggest getting the 32 bit version. Then the accessories (like TTS-1 and Studio Instruments) will also be 32 bit and will work with BiaB and RB without having to use a bit bridge.
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Hey, Guitarhacker, what are the cracks you experience in Reapers armor? It's probably moving from version 5.xx up to 6.xx soon. My assumption only since 5.xx has been around a while and 6.xx would mean more sales for them. But, what are the weaknesses you are finding? Maybe there's a solution without moving to a completely new DAW.
Does the noise in your head bother me ?
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Hey, Guitarhacker, what are the cracks you experience in Reapers armor? It's probably moving from version 5.xx up to 6.xx soon. My assumption only since 5.xx has been around a while and 6.xx would mean more sales for them. But, what are the weaknesses you are finding? Maybe there's a solution without moving to a completely new DAW. Best to put this thread to rest. I opened it in the midst of extreme frustration with inserting Kontakt into Reaper. I was just amazed that it was such a convoluted mess to set up a multi channel synth in the software. I went through the exact same experience two years ago working with ST3 in Reaper. So when Kontakt came along I couldn't believe how I had forgotten all the routing. Was it me? or was it Reaper? I was quick to blame the latter. Fact is, I have now calmed down, Kontakt is running fine on my machine in Reaper. I had downloaded Sonar-Artist during my meltdown and could not even figure out how to create a midi track in 20 minutes of messing around. So I am sticken with the Reap. Sorry if I stressed anyone out - my initial post was genuine and I do appreciate all the feedback, but cooler heads have prevailed. 
BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.
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Hey, Guitarhacker, what are the cracks you experience in Reapers armor? It's probably moving from version 5.xx up to 6.xx soon. My assumption only since 5.xx has been around a while and 6.xx would mean more sales for them. But, what are the weaknesses you are finding? Maybe there's a solution without moving to a completely new DAW. I use Sonar so I have no clue about Reaper. Don't have Reaper and never will. Must have been that noise in your head again.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Hey, Guitarhacker, what are the cracks you experience in Reapers armor? It's probably moving from version 5.xx up to 6.xx soon. My assumption only since 5.xx has been around a while and 6.xx would mean more sales for them. But, what are the weaknesses you are finding? Maybe there's a solution without moving to a completely new DAW. I use Sonar so I have no clue about Reaper. Don't have Reaper and never will. Must have been that noise in your head again. Huh! Whaah? What was that? Did somebody say something?
Does the noise in your head bother me ?
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Dan - I'm glad you have come to terms with Reaper, but if you are interested in something else, you might want to take a look at Groove3 videos. Groove3 has some excellent Sonar tutorials that show you how to do just about everything. Eli Krantzberg is excellent in his presentations and covers a lot of material to get you up and running pretty quickly. They had a sale not too long ago and I got a one year subscription to everything Groove3 has for not much money (they have an all-access pass sale going right now for $75). They also have videos for Abelton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, ProTools, Reason, Reaper, Sonar, Studio One, and Tracktion.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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