pro tools or somthing else

nabil_kh2 · Post by **nabil_kh2** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 12:51 pm

Hi guys

Ive had my pa800 for a couple of months and now i have some time (schools finished) now and i wanna
start creating my own styles, im an afghan musician so ill be making afghan and indian styles mostly.
But my question is what program is most easy to use since im only a begginner i need something thats easy to use and cheap but still
i want quality so im willing to spend.

Any ideas, suggestions will be appeciatted

thanks guys

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:31 pm

Pro Tools...sure isn't cheap and it is complex. It's a PRO level sequencer program and superb. If I remember correctly only runs on MAC?

I use Sonar, it's pretty good and easy to learn...and ir is also PRO level which means you can do about anything you need long term.

If I were you I would look at Cakewalk's home edition of Sonar...I think it's called Home studio version 7 or even Sonar LE.

I bet there is some other less expensive or free ones that would work too.

I hear a lot about Cubase, but I don't have it.

Lee

Sam CA · Post by **Sam CA** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:04 pm

Pro Tools runs on Mac and PC, but it's an overkill for what you want to do. Any midi sequencers can handle what you want to do pretty much. Cakewalk sounds good. There are many under $100 that are more than enough for making styles.

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:12 pm

Sam,
Thanks for the update...last I looked at it (it's been a couple years ago) Pro Tools only was Mac.
I agree on the < $100 Cakewalk sequencer...I bought Sonar 6 a few years ago...if I was to do it now I would only get the Cakewalk Home Studio.
It would do all I need.

Lee

Sam CA · Post by **Sam CA** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:20 pm

Lee wrote:Sam,
Thanks for the update...last I looked at it (it's been a couple years ago) Pro Tools only was Mac.
I agree on the < $100 Cakewalk sequencer...I bought Sonar 6 a few years ago...if I was to do it now I would only get the Cakewalk Home Studio.
It would do all I need.

Lee

yeah, it was only a mac program at the beginning. That changed from version 5.4 i think.

nabil_kh2 · Post by **nabil_kh2** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:49 pm

hi guyss

just wanna say thanks for all the help and quik response
im leaning more towards SONAR LE i think its got everything i need
and sounds pretty simple.

thanks guys

BasariStudios · Post by **BasariStudios** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 12:21 am

A good Pro Tools system can cost from 15 000$ to 50 000$ and more, if we
are talking about REAL Pro Tools...forget Pro Tools, get Cubase or Sonar.

nabil_kh2 · Post by **nabil_kh2** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:32 am

hi mr basari studioss

thanks for the info
i think ill go for sonarr
maybe cubase whichever is easier to use.

thanks

Sanjai · Post by **Sanjai** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:50 am

Nabil,

Why not on the pa800 itself?
Use the drumkit of shaheed/nedim (melodytracks).

PS: Why are we not joining with forum other members to make a (indian/pak/afg) set with dolak/table and harmonium/santuur etc...???

Gr,
Sanjai

Sam CA · Post by **Sam CA** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:31 pm

BasariStudios wrote:A good Pro Tools system can cost from 15 000$ to 50 000$ and more, if we
are talking about REAL Pro Tools...forget Pro Tools, get Cubase or Sonar.

what's up with 'Real/Unreal' versions of pro tools? Lots of commercial audio tracks that you hear in TV and Radio were recorded and mix entirely in a modest M-Box pro tools system in a square bedroom apartment!!! I spend about 10 hours a day if not more doing audio work with all kinds of pro tools systems. Even major studios in LA have some mixing/mastering rooms with digi 002 or even M-Box machines aside from high-end pro tools systems like Icon..etc. Some people who know what they're doing bring their project for mastering and some times nobody can believe how they possibly achieved that pro quality in a bedroom. You can mix a project on Icon, and then open it in M-box "with special care"!!! Of course, highest sampling rate, surround mix, high track counts... are not available in cheaper systems. And also "Unreal versions" live on computer's cpu. Just so you know, lots of commercial music that you hear every day hasn't even been touched by an HD machine at all, because if machines are busy all they in the studio, and track has to be ready, they all go to Digi 002 or M-Box room! It happens all the time.

BasariStudios · Post by **BasariStudios** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:04 am

I dont wanna get into details now and go on with this i'll just say that my
Pro Tools system costed me over 30 grant and yesterday i had a Kid coming
to me with MBOX telling me YO I HAVE PRO TOOLS...it was funny.
My Microphone Cable costs a lot more then His PRO TOOLS...i felt betrayed.
Now you calculate whats real and whats unreal.

nabil_kh2 · Post by **nabil_kh2** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:18 am

.......lol

A.K. · Post by **A.K.** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 6:35 pm

Salaam Nabil Jaan,

While both of these guys are right about protools solutions, Im afraid you don't need either one of those.

Here is what you have to ask your self first.

How many Ins and Outs to do you want?
How many total tracks do you want (difference between Mbox Protools and HD protools.
Are you using sequencer strictly for sequencing midi, audio, video?
What kind of computer do you have?
What kind of sound card do you have. (with protools not all sound card will work).
What kind of digital converts do you need for your project?
Do you need mic pres?
Do you already have a lot of VSTI's available to you?
Will you be using many vsti's?
Will you be using a digital mixer or controller with your DAW?
How strong of a computer do you have? Do you have single processor or dual? Is it 32 bit or 64bit?

These are just few of the questions that you really need to know the answer to before you go out and put your home studio together.

I hope I don't confuse you Nabil Jan. Answer some of these questions and I will help you with best setup. You said money is not an issue but to be honest it always does become an issue. If money is not an issue go for a HD3 Protool system and that only comes on Mac.

Anyone that tells me there is no difference between quality and production in all these different DAW's is clearly not an engineer nor a pro musician. Protools 8 vs Protools 7 has difference in sound engine even though the look on front looks more like logic yet better sound engine and better GUI interface. You have choices to spend money on hardware or software both will give you different results but at the end if you put the right hardware with right software you can get decent home studio. At least one that will do everything for you. The only thing it does not do is make you a pro audio engineer. You can have 3 million dollar studio but if you don't have the ear or technical background its useless to you. So concentrate on something that you can achieve in the short term. Most people get into home studios they end up stop making music and end up learning about their equipment for years. Don't fall into this trap you are not an engineer or nor do you want to be you are a musician and make sure your creativity is not taken away. As much as Engima does not want to be slave to machines we are always pulled in there once it stops talking to us.

Now getting back to solutions for you Nabil Jaan. How much do you want to spend total and I assure you I will be able to spend every single penny you have lol.

I know what Afghan music requires so I will try my best to guide you through this.

Please don't buy anything yet until you first know what you have and dont have especially computer.

It so happens that I have a Digidesign Rep works for me so I can even help you on the high end stuff but I assure you, if your making styles you won't need any of that lol.

A.K.

karen · Post by **karen** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 6:42 pm

A.K. wrote:Salaam Nabil Jaan,

While both of these guys are right about protools solutions, Im afraid you don't need either one of those.

Here is what you have to ask your self first.

How many Ins and Outs to do you want?
How many total tracks do you want (difference between Mbox Protools and HD protools.
Are you using sequencer strictly for sequencing midi, audio, video?
What kind of computer do you have?
What kind of sound card do you have. (with protools not all sound card will work).
What kind of digital converts do you need for your project?
Do you need mic pres?
Do you already have a lot of VSTI's available to you?
Will you be using many vsti's?
Will you be using a digital mixer or controller with your DAW?
How strong of a computer do you have? Do you have single processor or dual? Is it 32 bit or 64bit?

These are just few of the questions that you really need to know the answer to before you go out and put your home studio together.

I hope I don't confuse you Nabil Jan. Answer some of these questions and I will help you with best setup. You said money is not an issue but to be honest it always does become an issue. If money is not an issue go for a HD3 Protool system and that only comes on Mac.

Anyone that tells me there is no difference between quality and production in all these different DAW's is clearly not an engineer nor a pro in music. Protools 8 vs Protools 7 even has difference in sound engine even though the look on front looks more like logic. The quality is definately better in the different versions as prices go higher as they are all bits and rates comparisions.

Now getting back to solutions for you Nabil Jaan. How much do you want to spend total and I assure you I will be able to spend every single penny you have lol.

I know what Afghan music requires so I will try my best to guide you through this.

Please don't buy anything yet until you first know what you have and dont have especially computer.

A.K.

He said:
1) he's a beginner
2) looking for something easy to use
3) he wants to make styles

I'm no expert in this; Nonetheless, it sounds like an "under $100" software to me, knowing that he's only 12 years old!

A.K. · Post by **A.K.** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:10 pm

Thats because he probably does not realize how much more he is going to want once he gets out of the begining stage. Most of us don't plan and its probably best to plan especially in music. Even beginners can use the best of the best if they are going to spend certaine amount of money.