[Atratr]

Hello,
regarding recording, editing parts, making my own play along(writing chords, bass lines, and so...) what software would you recommend using.
I want to use the software and recording for composing mostly, so i need something that lets me record or write voicings, program a drum part, and so...
I have always being a bit lazy with the whole recording thing but i think it´s time, i need to prove melodies, arrangements and ideas that i compose.
By now i can write and use notation software, like Musescore or Sibelius, but i need to move toward more realistic sounds, and flexible editing options for parts.
I think the whole point is to let my ears hear how my ideas sound when put together.
I can play enough piano and guitar to record those if needed, but if there's a software that would let me insert the voicings or lines for a quick first listen better.

 

[skeller047]

Any DAW software will do what you want. Pro Tools, Cubase, Performer and Logic are the big ones, there are others as well. Also Ableton and Reason for a more loop-based approach (that is, modern hip hop and pop music). Pro Tools is more of a "recording" app, used in studios to record with mics or direct boxes, but it does MIDI (virtual instruments) fairly well. Cubase, Logic and Performer are geared toward composers, and Ableton and Reason are aimed at pop music producers. If you have a Mac, there is also Garage Band which is free (though I find Garage Band somewhat difficult to use).

If you can play a MIDI keyboard accurately enough you can play in the parts one at a time, and listen to them together. My piano chops are not good enough for very accurate fast parts, so I either use the "quantize" function to align notes more accurately, or I play them in at a slower tempo. Most of these DAWs have a view of the music events that is a"piano-roll". This might be hard to get used to, if you only are familiar with standard notation, but has way more information about the performance than notation.

For drums, there are (mostly) standard mappings between certain notes on the keyboard and certain sounds. Rhythmic feel is everything with drums, and there are tons of prepared drum part MIDI fragments (like 4 bars of swing, or 2 bars of hip-hop) available online. I find these very helpful when composing.

Sound quality of sample based instruments (piano, guitar, bass, drums, strings, horns, etc.) is all over the map, with some libraries costing many thousand$, and others free or nominal (< $20) cost. The sounds that come with the DAW software are usually OK, better than MuseScore (don't know about Sibelius).

All of these will also let you record audio, so you can mix your saxophone playing (and piano and guitar too) with MIDI-based virtual instruments.

Best thing to do is choose one (perhaps a free or "lite" version came bundled with your audio interface?) and get started. Once you have the concept down, they are all pretty much the same, and it's really an aesthetic and work-flow choice which DAW to use.

 

[hakukani]

Band In a Box, Ableton, or Logic X. I'm not sure how flexible you need the software to be, so I'm thinking Logic X is best all around for composing.

 

[Atratr]

Thanks Steve!!
Going to look out for something, maybe Cubase. I have a Macbook, but i simply uninstalled Garage Band, as i did not like the format of the software or seemed more oriented to the general public, or simply i did not learn how to use it haha.
A bit worried bout how much space would need cause my laptop is almost full, some free gigas, which maybe are not enough? Let's see.

 

[Atratr]

Programs like Band in a box or Ireal are not an option now. Just i am not thinking of hearing the chords found there, just want to put myself the voicings, and those would be sometimes clusters, or more spread, or just two or three notes and so... so i want to control that. I would take a look to all those you mention, so Cubase, Logic and Performer. Thanks!

 

[Fader]

I've been using ProTools since the late 90's - If I had it all to do over, I'd probably pick something else. ProTools is a huge program with so many features that you can easily get buried in the learning curve. There are schools devoted to teaching the software and graduates still don't know half of what it does. If I get locked into a certain type of project for too long, I end up forgetting important stuff and then have to hit the books mid-session when something unusual comes up. It is also very memory intensive on the operating side. It is a great program if you live it, but I think Reason would probably be a better bet for what you describe.

As a separate issue - .WAV or AIFF files are huge. In a perfect world, your audio files should be stored on a high-speed external drive. Solid state drive have come way down in price, and have the added benefit of being silent. Noisy drives can ruin a recording

You'll also need an interface and mic preamp so add that to the budget.

Finally. Don't forget to back up.

 

[lydian]

I've been using Cakewalk for almost 30 years. It used to cost a couple of hundred bucks, but now it's free and just as good as it ever was. Handles lots of tracks (audio and MIDI) and tons of effects. Printed output isn't as pretty as Sibelius, but it has far greater audio recording capabilities. However, it's made for Windows. You'd need Bootcamp or something like that to run it on Mac.

MIDI is the key to quality sounds as Steve said. Get a MIDI interface and a real synth connected to it for playing in and playing back.

https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk

 

[hakukani]

I've been using Cakewalk for almost 30 years. It used to cost a couple of hundred bucks, but now it's free and just as good as it ever was. Handles lots of tracks (audio and MIDI) and tons of effects. Printed output isn't as pretty as Sibelius, but it has far greater audio recording capabilities. However, it's made for Windows. You'd need Bootcamp or something like that to run it on Mac.

MIDI is the key to quality sounds as Steve said. Get a MIDI interface and a real synth connected to it for playing in and playing back.

https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk

I'd put my software synths against any dedicated synth on the market.

 

[lydian]

I'd put my software synths against any dedicated synth on the market.

I'm sure they've improved since I last looked at them a couple of decades ago. Back then, they were pretty good, but very expensive and required a lot of space and computing power, stuff that's not an issue today. I could just plug in a synth module back then and be done with it. Synth modules were also easier to take to gigs.

 

[NeedsWork]

Programs like Band in a box or Ireal are not an option now. Just i am not thinking of hearing the chords found there, just want to put myself the voicings, and those would be sometimes clusters, or more spread, or just two or three notes and so... so i want to control that. I would take a look to all those you mention, so Cubase, Logic and Performer. Thanks!

I'm using Logic Pro exclusive now and am loving it. I've used ProTools as a hobbyist in the past and find Logic just much better for my needs. If you are already a Mac user, the $199 is simply a steal, IMO - the software is so complete and intuitive. If you are not a Mac user, that would need to be an investment. Best to you!

 

[StuartSax]

+1 for Logic on the Mac. I don't think one needs a synth, just a keyboard controller. The sound library is extensive, something like 60 gigs of sampled sounds will get you going pretty quickly. Great sounding rhythm sections and killer B3 for recording.

Of course, there are tons of super quality after market sounds.

 

[blue boy]

Logic 100% for the price and features. No question.

GarageBand is hugely underrated. It is fantastic as well....just a watered down version of Logic.

If you go Mac, also get "MainStage" it has all the extra MIDI sounds for $30 or so. (You used to have to spend around $500 to get all the "jam packs")

Apple really is the way to go for the serious hobbyist or home studio professional. Very easy to use, intuitive (mostly), and tons of videos on youtube!

 

[Atratr]

I will go for Logic. Also seems that Mainstage is installed in my mac...ummm, i even don't know what it is for!!

 

[Atratr]

Ok, i see that MainStage is like a source of sounds for live playing. Are the sounds shared with Logic?
And also, there are tons of sounds you can download into Logic, what would you consider are essential or necessary?
I think i need just drums, piano, electric keyboard, guitar, and would like to have trumpet or trombone sounds too.
Maybe one day i experiment with big band, orchestral or strings, but now is not the time.

 

[StuartSax]

MainStage, apparently, turns Logic's virtual instruments into a stand-alone. You won't have to keep a Logic document open. It also looks like it will provide fast access to your sounds. You can get around that in Logic by keeping a document open and loading the sounds you want to use into tracks - one track each - and then scrolling to the sound you want. But, if you are going to use it for performance, MS seems the way to go.

As to sounds, no problem. Everything you are going to want is there. Big band and orchestral, unfortunately, does not come up to the level of the high priced pro virtual instruments but that would be comparing to sounds costing thousands for things like Vienna.

 

[Atratr]

Here's what i have at home, a mixer with phantom power, blue yeti microphone and a midi controller.(those on the picture)
Apart from that i have a Zoom H2 recorder which can be used as a mic, and a Beta 98 clip mic.
I heard that the blue yeti is not good for sax recording so i suspect i am going to use the Zoom or the clip mic for that.
A few hours in Logic and i am liking it, it even gives me more ideas to work on.

All the hardware was here almost unused, bought in the past with what i am doing now in mind. Incredible...

 

[HeavyWeather77]

Atratr -- if you already have a Mac, the best answer is Logic, no question. It's the best value in music software on the planet, at the moment. It has virtual instruments inside of it that alone are worth much more than the $200 price tag. It has the best value on the planet of any DAW, by far, and the only reason I wouldn't recommend it is if you're on a Windows or Linux machine, in which case I might recommend Digital Performer or Ableton instead. But if you're already on a Mac and you don't already own a DAW... Logic all the way.

I agree the Garage Band isn't easy to use, and I find that Logic, while much more full-featured, is also much more intuitive and useable. I think you'll enjoy it, and for the price it just smashes all the competition.

Good luck with the quest!

 

[goldenskyhook]

My favorite is Nuendo, which is almost identical to Cubase and also made by Steinberg. If you can lay hands on a program called "Addictive Drums," it's the easiest and most impressively real-sounding drum program.

If money is a problem, you can get almost anything for free. You can get an older, but full-featured DAW called Cakewalk that also includes some robust virtual instruments. Just search for "Free VST" or Free VSTI." There are literally thousands of free effects and instruments available online.

One great thing is that if you learn how to operate one DAW, the others will come very easily if you need to learn them later.

 

[minous]

Presonus Studio One plus Notion. Well integrated, good sounds in Notion, good plugins and samples in Studio One, and I find it easy to use.

 

[Atratr]

I would stay with Logic now. Also had Garritan Big Band 3 sound library installed. I bought it for Sibelius but could not make it to work there. Now all of the sounds are available on Logic.