Ableton Forum

Hey, I'm thinking of investing in a sequencing application, and was wondeirng if I could please get some advice / opinions? I'm using a powerbook. I previously used pro tools LE, but I found it unnecessarily long winded to work with. Plus i didn't really like being bound to an mbox, and I needed to be using an interface with more ins / outs.
Live's ok at arranging, but I'm not finding it all that accurate, it seems to be pretty much fixed to a grid (please tell me if there's a wa around this!). One thing that I miss about pro tools is being able to do one-off bounces of an effect onto one section of audio.
At the moment, I'm thinking Logic, Cubase, and I'm quite taken in by Sonar 5, it seems to sell itself pretty well. Money wise, I don't think I'd be able to stretch to Logic pro, cubase SX 3, is probably a little out too. Does anyone know how the cut versions compare (Logic Express / Cubase SE)?
Also does anyone know anything or have any experience with Sonar 5? On paper it looks pretty hot, it's pretty reasonably priced too, I could maybe stretch to the pro version.
please let me know your thoughts.
thanks

well, for a start sonar is pc only, so you'd have to buy a new computer

really? dang.
guess it's down to cubase or logic then, altough I'm open to ideas with others.
any suggestions?

i have cubase se 3 for sale if your interested

possibly...
why are you selling it? how have you found using it? how much would you part with it for?
cheers

I bought it a few days ago in haste its unregistered dongle and everything
pm me

what about MOTU's Digital Performer?
I've never used it, but was pondering its acquisition versus Logic Pro update.

how about Ableton Live?

you can turn the grid off in live if you like. also you can bounce down any number of effects or audio in any desired combination. i suggest spending more time with live before jumping on someting else otherwise you may miss alot of its potential in the end

Logic Pro if you can afford it otherwise Digital Performer IMO

I'm on Windows and use Sonar 5 PE, which is indeed fantastic... but to be honest I think Ableton live is excellent in its own right, and I'm not convinced that anyone on Live 5 really doesn't need a seperate programme.

If you are determined to diversify I would consider getting a serious Audio Editor (Bias Peak?). I have Adobe Audition 2 (once again Windows only I'm afraid ) and it is a superb addition for production/post-production work alongside Live.

But if more detailed MIDI sequencing is your thing then Digital Performer definitely looks worth a look. And Pro Tools LE7 or M-Powered is also (depending on your hardware setup) another consideration...?

headquest wrote: If you are determined to diversify I would consider getting a serious Audio Editor (Bias Peak?).

DSP Quattro or Soundtrack Pro IMO, I was using Peak but moved over to Quattro

personally i love the precision of pro tools. it makes a great companion to Live and vice-versa, but the limitations of track count in tools along with the prohibitive nature of RTAS has lead me to rediscover my old friend Cubase.

SX is a little less precise than pro tools, but i think the things you want to achieve will be do-able in it and recommend buying the SE3 from whoever it was that just offered it for sale.

obviously many people use live on it's own and for the most part i do too, but if you really are up for diversifying your tools and you will go with something other than Live, Cubase is highly recommended.

but i'm gonna play devils advocate here and say that if i had a mac, i would be hopping on logic at the blink of an eye as my friend for Live...

Digital Performer, hands down. The best option if you are on mac. You can get a competitive crossgrade for $400. Just send them the front page of you Live manual. It is on par with Logic Pro and Pro Tools. I have owned it before, I sold it to get Live actually. I only used about 5% of what the program does, that's why I bought Live. Check out this forum for more info: www.unicornation.com.

sweetjesus wrote:personally i love the precision of pro tools....

Hi sweetjesus,

Can you explain more about what you mean by "precision"?

Cheers.