I'm currently using reason 3.0, and i love it. Yet, what is really the best consumer software you can get? just seems that reason is lacking a couple of things i need. Please help! ty! I've seen screenshots of Cubase, and Sonar ect, what is the best? is there something else?

If you're looking for something that's high-end and considered an industry standard - I'd take a look into ProTools from Digidesign...

Digideign Products

There really isnt any one answer to that question, it really just depends on your needs. What exactly is reason lacking for your purposes?

In my experience, the majority of the DAWs tend to have a lot of interchangeable parts, for most users the choice to use one (or more) over the others usually boils down to compatability and workflow efficiency. Here's a list of some of the major programs you may want to look into

MOTU's Digital Performer (I've been using this for a about 5 years and would highly recommend it)
Apple's Logic
Digidesign's ProTools
Steinberg's Cubase and Nuendo
Cakewalk's Sonar and Project5
Ableton Live
Mackie's Tracktion
Sony's Acid

John Rodriguez
My Soundclick Page

Reason seems to be lacking (sorry im a noob, not entirely sure) but it lacks any good filters besides you doing reverb or delay. Also I cant seem to have only certain parts of instrument playback to have lower volume or decreased bass, without having to make an entirely new instrument device.

Define "best"?

I bought Fruityloops as it fits my needs; cheap, full featured, soundfont support, fairly easy to use out of the box but with many features I'll probably never use.

So FL is the best for me.

If you are looking for more effects automation control and variety then you may want to look into going with one of the more feature rich DAWs like Logic or Digital Performer and think about purchasing some plug-in sets and virtual instruments.

Also, what platform are you currently using?

John Rodriguez
My Soundclick Page

platform as in OS? im using winXp and Reason 3.0

Ugh, don't TOUCH Logic. It's awful. I prefer Pro Tools over Logic any day--Logic is badly designed, has a stupid interface, and it's far too complicated. Pro Tools is comparitively straightforward, and has been around much longer.

And I love Reason for sampling and synthesis. Check out the 2-Channel EQ if you want filters. Also, you can use the filter banks on the Malstrom as insert effects.

why does it seem all of these programs are geared toward mac?

i dissaprove of the layout on Logic, i dony think ill like that one, ProTools seems pretty nice.

sonar 6 seems great.

[Edited by - DarkMortar on January 24, 2007 12:00:31 AM]

Hey,

I completely agree on the Logic part. I have to use it at work. Notice I used the word "have"!! I started off as a Cakewalk user, but have since learned many programs including:

ProTools 6
Acid Pro 4
Reason 3
Finale 2006
Soundforge 8
and of course Logic.

Out of all of these programs, Logic seems to give me the most problems. All kinds of small things that drive me crazy!!! It is clunky, and I've noticed that it has a harder time dealing with VSTs than Sonar does. I use mainly East West samples, and there are times I use a TON of them for my full orchestral pieces. Sonar handles them just fine...but Logic has issues. On top of all of this, Logic Pro is about $1000.00 and yet Sonar 6 can be found for much cheaper. Logic slows down my workflow, and all of the other programs do not. Also recording audio in Logic is a pain. In ProTools or Sonar you can just push record and rock out. Not with Logic. You have to name the track and then set things up and then record. And what happens if you botch it and need to redo it? You have to go through the same process again. FUN FUN FUN!

Also Logic takes about three times longer to boot up than all of my other audio programs. I'm not talking about loading up a song with a large number of samples, just the standard boot up when starting Logic by itself and no VST samples are loaded. A very poor excuse for a DAW and I don't know why some people hype so much about it.

About the PC vs. Mac thing: I use a Mac G5 at work and have a ADK PC at home. Both work well, but have their own quirks. I'd look at how much money you have to spend and what kind of hardware and software you either have or wanna use. That will help you determine which system you should get (if you are looking for a new system ever).

Hope that helps!