I use Reason 4.0 currently. I’ve been using it from middle school (in college now) in my music class. Back then it was Reason 2.0. I’ve evolved with it, and even now, I still don’t know all of what it is capable of. I’ve recorded songs with it, and before I learned of recording software, I used to record my voice using a cheap mic and Sound Recorder in Windows to record wave files, then import them as custom instruments in the NN-19 synth. Haha.

But now I use Sony Acid. So more tuts on Reason and Acid please!

Despite Mackie not really seeming to move forward with it, my Sequencer of choice is still Tracktion.

I jumped into Tracktion when it was in version 1.x (1.6 I believe), and it visually represented the way I pictured the flow of audio and MIDI in my work. It didn’t have (and honestly still doesn’t have) the absolutely best piano roll in the business (though certainly adequate), but for audio it was a little piece of heaven. Even after its acquisition by Loud (Mackie’s parent company) it continued to grow for a while.

In one fell swoop, I saw that a sequencer didn’t need to be like Cubase, Sonar, or the other non-Pro-Tools sequencers available to hobbyist / home studio recordists. Gone were wonky fake hardware mixers, and in its place was everything you needed… right on the track lane itself.

Although I think the choice of the word “filter” to mean “plug-in” was a regrettable one, it was only semantics… the way you could arrange and re-arrange filters was initially very cool and flexibile (a feature later emulated by the bigger boys), and when they added “racks” for more complex and modular routing of effects, it became even more of a hidden gem in the sequencer world.

Mackie seemed to be too happy with its state of being at version 3.1, which is regrettable since it still could use some TLC. Before writing this, I even looked to see if Mackie even still carries/distributes it, and it’s on their site… but it certainly seems to be lacking the love that a corporation should have been able to give it.

But in any event, there you have it. Tracktion 3.

Pro Tools 8 convinced me to switch from using a combination of PT and Logic. I still fly into Logic once in a while for a few things (audio to score is a handy tool for drum replacement if you need to do that, much more flexible than Sound Replacer, and pitch correction if the project needs it which it damn well better not) but I begin and end in Pro Tools. Sorry to be a sellout, its just the best way to stay compatible with everybody else should I need to take something to a commercial studio, and also my ‘chops’ as far as workflow & keyboard shortcuts have really been Pro Tools based and I feel much more flexible and comfortable in PT than any other DAW – especially precise editing stuff – major PITA in Logic in my opinion

ableton live for me, i love its flexibility and its great for performance and studio work.

I use Logic Audio for my work. Mind you, I am a podcaster, so I have different needs than some of your readers. One of those needs, splitting stereo tracks into two separate mono tracks. Amazing that this simple process isn’t available and I have to turn to Audacity. Crazy, eh?

I started making computer based music with Ableton Live 8. Recently I have acquired Logic Express mostly because of the many available video tutorials around the web. Likewise it seems to be the DAW of choise on Audiotuts.

But I still think that Live is much easier and more intuitive to use than Logic and it certainly is one of the best designed user interfaces out there. Well, I guess I’m going to stick with Live as my main DAW.

More Ableton tutorials, please… And more video tuts in general…

Reason hands down! it’s pleasant to the eye with a very neat sequencer. On reason ideas come to life fastest. Synths have distinct and defined analog flavor to them unlike that softness of vst. Every in built piece of gear is tested and proven sound good. You are not carried away by billions of choices of VST effects and instruments. That helps you to stay focused which is so important in music.

The flip side of reason (cv routing) as well as matrix sequencer is probably the best way to get sounds no one has made before… If you should need record functionality or need to use it for live performance just rewire reason to any daw that supports the rewire protocol.

I use Reason 4.0. I would really like to see more music theory posts. They apply to any DAW.

Ableton Live is my DAW of choice. In the past I had worked briefly with FruityLoops/FL Studio and Acid but have dropped them entirely for Live.

What I have loved about Live is its approach to non-linear music composition with the use of the Clip view as well as the excellent built-in instruments (Operator!) and effects. I’m also a huge fan of the minimal, 2D interface.

I’ve been developing an interest in DIY electronics and alternate control methods so I’m also really interested in getting into some Max/MSP projects!

I use Nuendo

I’m using Cubase 5 and Record/Reason 4 as my primary DAW’s. I have Sound Forge 10 as well.

Each tool has it’s own occasion for use. I would use Record/Reason mainly for electronic song composition, I also use Reason for playing my live sets. Cubase is primarily what I’d mix and master tracks in, and also use for score composition and sound design for film. Sound Forge is handy for quick editing and sound sculpting.

cakewalk sonar

simple and realistic

I think CalkWalk ProAudio 8/9 were the best for song writing. I was somehow able to just start writing with that software, no endless routing and setting up tracks. Even with a gaggle of bugs and lacking capabilities I could just go with it right from the beginning of a project.

Acid Pro 3 was like that too but I always use a lot of midi and I never could figure out how to do what I wanted to do midi-wise in Acid. So at that time, having moved on from ProAudio, I bounced all my midi parts in Cubase VST/32 to audio and then arranged and mixed in Acid. I never liked what sony did to Acid after they bought it though. It kinda seemed like they tried to make it more sell-able by adding bells and whistles rather than improving what was already there. I used to really like Cubase VST/32 too, and its one of the programs that I got quite comfortable with but the automation was easier to work with in Acid.

Then I got a demo of Reason 2.5 or 2.0 I can’t remember, but it was all downhill from there. It was really easy to learn and addictive, but using it put me into a 1 loop mentality that took a long time to break out of. I still use reason for it’s sounds but no longer sequence in it.

From Reason I moved back to Cubase but it was SX3 this time. I really fought the new interface for a while because it was quite different from VST/32, but once I got to understand it, I liked it as much as VST/32 if not more. I got to know that software pretty well too and didn’t feel locked into writing a certain way like a did with Reason. But the set up sometimes takes for ever. I remember the first time I wanted to use sidechain compression on a stereo track, it took me 2 hours to figure out how to do it and it’s really not a straight forward process. Sidechaining is supposed to be a snap in versions 4 and 5 but I haven’t tried either.

Recently I switched to mac so I could use Logic Pro 8. I’ve been using it for the last 10 months and its great, very customizable (ie hotkeys and screensets among other things). Sidechaining is the easiest I’ve had it, and it’s alright for arranging. Logic and I have had some awkward moments though. It glitches out sometimes when trying to do too much at once with it and I’ve lost work a couple times. Apple also has an idea of how they think you should write your music which doesn’t go well with me sometimes. And some of the instrument interfaces are too densely packed with tiny knobs and buttons. That being said it’s a step up from Cubase SX3, and all in all is quite good software.

The next time I purchase a DAW, I’ll probably go back to Cubase though, the software is just more inline with my mindset and also there are more options in terms of VSTs than there are AUs.

I’m a Logic nut. I love it, I do almost all my stuff on it and have a very good workflow while using it, keyboard shortcuts etc..

But I’m thinking about investing in a M-box in the near future to be compatible with everything. I’ll probably use Logic a lot as well, but I used to teach recording classes with Pro-Tools so I’m familiar with the program, although for some reason I know Logic better.

I also use Reason for some of it’s synths, piano sounds and samples etc. I have to get more familiar with it though, but it seems that you have every sound at your disposal.

I started out on Cubase on the Atari STe, I’ve worked through the versions and recently upgraded from Cubase4 to Cubase5. I just love it, I’ve tried numerous other DAWs and they just don’t make sense to me after being so used to Cubase, that said, I do recognise some of the great features of other DAWS, I just can’t find a reason why I would want to use them over Cubase. I bought Reason4 about a year ago, I love some of the sounds and I can see the versatility of it, but in practice I find that I only either use it as a sound source rewired into Cubase, or for creating loops. I don’t find it natural to create full songs in it, why would I use Reason when I can use Cubase? but I think it is all just a matter of what you are familiar with.

I switched from Cubase to Reaper. It is extremely feature rich and flexible, plus it is skinnable, so you can make it look and feel like other DAWs.

Reaper: it’s powerful, very customizable, inexpensive, fast, it doesn’t take much RAM, the devs work fast as the wind and they listen to the users wishes, the user base is friendly and helpful and it has great signal routing capabilities.

Ableton is not bad as well …

I use Reason 4

I use Ableton Live 8, but like Technocat, I’d like to see more music theory posts (melody/harmony and rythme). After all, this is not the DAW which makes the music.

I was using Reason 4 and Reaper but now I’m using Record almost exclusively. I still use Reaper for the things that Record doesn’t do (yet, or ever). I also use Live 7 occasionally for stuff. Reaper is great but I like having everything in one place and I didn’t really delve deep into that program anyway.

I’ve always liked the Reason way of doing things because it closely resembles the way I did things when I had a MIDI sequencer, hardware synths and a 4-track. Just feels like an old comfy pair of sneakers.

–JD

I have Logic Pro 9 and FL Studio. Of the two, I prefer FL Studio for “immediate” composition: the charm of FL is that it is essentially set up on a drum-machine-esque paradigm- pattern based and you can sequence samples and drums immediately. In any other DAW when you lay out your drums you either sequence the samples by hand or with a plugin. FL’s piano roll is also probably the best out of any DAW. The only thing that comes close in my opinion to FL’s immediacy is Live.

I’ve used Sonar for the last 7 years, because despite all the bugs, it’s always had the best flexibility… But just recently, I discovered FL Studio and I am in love.

The work flow of FL is a little foreign, but once you ‘get it’ and/then ‘like it’, you realize just how much fluidity, flexibility, and creative potential it has by virtue of having channels/patterns/clips/tracks/groups/layers/links. My favorite part is the infinite flexibility of automation, and the fact that the built in plugins+routing have allowed me to ditch dozens of plugins whose all-too-specific effects are now obsolete.

Plus, FL is SOLID! My projects are always very long, and full of synths, effects, rewire, etc, and FL has NEVER crashed. Meanwhile, Sonar would have crashed dozens of times.

Currently, my workflow has a master FL Studio rewired to Melodyne Studio and additionally rewired to a second and third instance of FL in the projects that require it (whether for specific project needs or because I’ve got a lot of RAM).

1st… you guys need to add Facebook connect to your comments.

I use Ableton live because it chances the way you create and perform music. For traditional DAWs I use Logic. I stopped using Protools years ago because of hardware lock-in and their inability to support updated OS’s in timely fashion.

AGREED…………MORE THEORY PLEASE………….DAWs are DAWS………they all do the same thing, just with slightly different mouseclicks and hotkeys.

For mixing and recording i use Cubase 4, mainly because its the program i learned all my skills in, and im too lazy to learn another program
When i have to get really creative and make electronic music, i use Ableton Live 8, because of all its features and flexibility…

I’m an X-Protools User who converted to Logic 8/9 and never looked back. It’s much more stable and creative for making music versus protools. Both apps have learning curves, but at the end of the day it’s what you use that makes you productive. I use logic and I am never looking back. Reason has some nice synths, but I wouldn’t use it as a serious daw, or Ableton Live.

I think there are some packages good for some things, but Logic 8/9 does the best of everything. At least it’s my two cents, but everyone uses something that can make them productive. A friend of mines DAW (Sonar) crashes horribly, and I even lost stuff in his studio, but hey I prefer stability over tuning a pc for optimization.

I use Ableton Live because it was the only one that worked right out of the box so I stuck with it. But I also keep an (unused) Sonar 8 upgraded because the beautiful VST timesavers they include. I use those in Live. But I agree. It’s not about the DAW. A DAWs a door. It’s about da musik mon.

i use logic pro 9, macbook OS snow leopard, guitar rig 3 (session i/o), guitars, voice, all the soft synths in logic plus tassman, and CMPLAY and other various , usually free soft synths. i used to (and still have but rarely use) sonar 7 and fl studio (which is great, by the way) but i walked away from windows (ugh, say no more) if you are interested in the results:
http://www.reverbnation.com/davewhitepdx
various music from orchestral, rock, avant, ‘jazz’ (i use that term loose-ly) vocal, instrumental, comedy and yad, yada, yada.
music is the best -fz
love
d

i forgot to add, of course as a logic user , i’d like more logic tus please

I started using the Hammerhead Drum Machine and sequencing stuff in Acid – back in 1998/99.

As I really started getting serious I got a Digi 001 to do audio recording.
I used Reason 2.5 and Live 4 for music production and remixing.
I’ve just started looking at Logic with version 8.

Verdict :
Live is the most flexible tool for me – for production and remixing work and of course, live performance. I go to Reason for additional sounds and bring them into Live via Rewire.

Pro Tools is my number 1 go to for audio recording and I still find editing audio is Pro Tools is still the most efficient. Music production tools have traditionally been weak in PT, but with PT8, it’s much better – but way too CPU heavy – need to bounce too many tracks to keep a session going.

Logic is the best all round package – strong in music production and bundled plug in’s – but I’m not totally comfortable with the interface for audio editing – however, Logic 9’s elastic options look very flexible and easy to use.

Summary
Reason/Live (Rewire) – #1 flexibility for production, remixing and live performance
Pro Tools – #1 Audio recording and editing
Logic – #1 Best value for music production and mixing tools (as a single DAW)

Pro Tools HD 7.4, though I will probably upgrade to 8 soon. I wouldn’t think of mixing on anything else. I’ve also started to learn Logic. Many composers I work with have been using Logic and I can’t stand it if they can zip around a DAW faster than me!

I Just bought abelton live 8. I liked it and Now I’m using my Reason 4 and Live 8 side by side. I thing they make a great pair. I would like to see more tutorials on them.
More importantly I like to see more theory related tutorials.

Logic!

Very cool, I’m glad i found this website.. there aren’t many audio tutorial websites around!!

I mainly use FL for more or less everything and Ableton live to get those annoyingly cut loops or awkward accapellas time stretched to perfection! I love FLs workflow not to mention the piano roll (Easily one of the best Piano roll editors in any DAW!). For me, this combination of these 2 DAWs are flawless!

Sometimes i master my tracks in FL but i would mainly use Sony Sound Forge becuase sometimes its just better to see the tracks waveform as you add effects.

So to answer your question, more Tuts on any of these 3 programs would be great!

Im a ProTools guy.. but Logic 9 seems a million times better than ProTools 8.. so i will use them both evemtually !

for me – Logic 8, Reason 4 & Live 7. I love all three for different reasons. Logic is usually my main go-to, but i love rewiring reason into either. Reason 4 really upped the ante; in fact i just finished scoring a short film, & for a good portion of the cues i was rewiring, with no issues. I was a beta tester for Prop heads Record, which is fantastic as well. i’m torn, because i’m finding it hard to justify yet another cool daw.
nothing like an embarrassment of riches

In the beginning I used Cakewalk and learned all my MIDI using that. Then when Sonar came out I switched over and have been there ever since. I really like Sonar but the actual “look” of the software isn’t that aesthetically pleasing to me and now that PT8 and Logic 9 look the way they do.

I’ve always heard great things about Cubase, so that’s an option as well. I’m leaning more towards the PT route because of the announced Windows 7 64-bit compatibility and the fact that it’s the industry standard.

How ’bout this: I use DECK on a 1998 MacBook.

Robust it is not – it’s essentially just an 8-track mixer with zero bells and whistles – but the MacBook’s input jack takes 16bit audio directly from a line from my mixing board. No analog to digital conversion necessary. And the OS8.6 it runs has ZERO latency. ZERO. I attempted to upgrade to a newer, more powerful machine, but latency was an issue.

So I still use DECK and the ‘98 macbook, and it does the job I need it to

Recorded my own folk album on it this summer, in fact.

I am a happy Logic Pro user! Creativity and music power at its best, cool to master and awesome to use… Logic Studio is simply the very best package for the modern musician. Integration with Apogee hardware is a great option and the recent updates make it better than ever.

More tutorials, please

Cubase for years, currently switching to Reaper (on pc).

Logic 9 all the way (almost … some Ableton sometime) I have worked with Cubase, Ableton and now Logic. And the horizontal way of producing in ogic is for me the best way to work.

has anyone tried soundbooth? is it something you could recommend for a beginner?

FL Studio to me is the king of the ring. It’s just soo easy to use. Making beats is a wonderful process. I rewire with Cubase to get my vocals, mix and master.
I have also been using Reason which is also another great DAW especially when it comes to pre-loaded synths n samples. However FL + great vst instruments n samples is unbeatable when it comes to compositions without vocals. Just add rewire and u can’t go wrong.

Ableton 7
Used FL studio for about 8 years but ableton is the business. So streamlined & flexible at the same time. Plus it makes sense to use the same software to write & perform with.

In the studio or on the stage its awesome!

ableton has always been my DAW of choice, but lately, i find myself moving away from it in favor of cockos’ reaper.

while ableton is feature-packed and could easily be used for any function in the studio, i’ve found that reaper consumes far fewer resources and has a much smaller footprint. i stick with ableton for performance and live mixing, but for anything like composition or arrangement, reaper has very much won me over.

Logic Pro 8 – Switched over from my Fruityloops/Cubase combo a couple years ago. Only thing I miss is the ease of use in FL when it comes to grabbing drum samples straight from a folder. It’s time consuming building drum kits in EXS24 but in the end it gets the job done.

I’m a DJ and I use Ableton 8 as a DAW and rewire Reason as a Virtual Instrument to create loops/inst for remixes. I’m planning to get NI Komplete 6 soon and rewire that to get some more sounds. Weird enough I use Serato to mix, not Ableton. What I’d like to see is more Serato tutorials. I’m just interested to see if there’s something I missed.

Ableton Live overall has my preference over logic, reason or FL which I also used in the past.

i’d have to say my best combination right now is PT9 rewired with Reason as my drum sampler. They work great for me, but something is a bit missing. I have a fast creative work flow and I can’t get it out fast enough. Pro Tools just wasn’t made for MIDI.

I’ve used many DAW’s. I started with acid when I was a kid. Upgraded to FL. In highschool I used Cubase. In college I use Pro Tools. And now I think I’m gonna switch to Logic.

I need a workflow similar to FL. I agree it’s great making music with FL. It’s simple and I’m able to get my ideas out faster. I was insipred by a student at school who used Logic to do all the things I use to do with FL. I think switching to Logic is going to be a great stability point for me. I’m tired of having to relearn all the same stuff in a different DAW.

Apple Logic ftw!

FL Studio 9 all day

Very Happy Logic user. Most of the issues re DAW choices to me are familiarity.. I like Logic, know Logic and it does what I want and comes with a lotta cool tools to help in the box.

I would consider Protools but I would in some way have to change my mindset as Logic seems to work the way I think.. Mind you that said Protools v8 has really kicked the standard up a little and so would be more approachable to me.

Logic is probably great for Muso’s other DAWs may suit engineers better because of their thought patterns and also because of their historical training etc.

There is little that I , personally, need to do that Logic cant do for me so as far I as I am concerned Logic is my main man.

For audio and midi film scoring and recording: Pro tools
For making electronic music: Ableton Live
And for some midi sequencing Live.

I’ve tried almost everything (ACID, Samplitude, FL Studio, Sonar, Cubase etc.). For now i kept my hands on Ableton Live 8, Reason 4 and Cockos Reaper 3. Awesome set! Seems to mee that i’ll never leave them

Ive been using Reason 4, I recently got Live 8 but I cant get my head around it and dont really do anything productive and just was time figuring stuff out.

With Reason I have a faster workflow, especially using combinators. I have thought recently however to rewire and maybe use some effects from Live, but rewiring can be so daunting tho.