(no subject)
I am living in a world of darkness.
So, I've got my days and nights turned around. Not exactly sure how that happened. It's been years and years since I used to stay up until 6am on a regular basis and sleep til noon or 1pm. In fact, the last time I was doing that - was the last time I was writing music, which I am not doing yet, only pre-writing music.
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I get my keyboard in a few days, and I've been trying out various software. The keyboard comes with a "lite" version of Ableton Live. But since the UI (User Interface for the non-geek) directly impacts the process of creating compositions, that choice is very important for me, so I've been doing a lot of research on DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software.
Sony's Acid Pro, FL (Fruity Loops) Studio, Propellerhead Reason, Cubase Sonar, Pro Tools, etc. and a few others were the main programs I investigated. Ultimately, Ableton Live, which I tried last (of all the demos), had the cleanest and most intuitive UI (see above), and the only one I was actually able to create some (albeit very simple/rudimentary) music tracks within a couple of hours.
The Ableton Live software is somewhat limited in this free version that comes with the keyboard, but it is enough to get me started, learn the program, inspire some creation. And when I out-grow it (hopefully I'll out-grow it), then I get to upgrade at a reduced price.
All of the software I looked at was pretty much similarly priced, and some of them had better features than others. For example, Propellerhead Reason has ridiculously realistic sounding instruments, with built in dynamics. So drums sound drummier. Pianos sound pianoier, and orchestras sound fucking huge. The have an add-on package called Abbey Road - where they have meticulously sampled all the instruments from the famous studio. You get authentic Beatles sound. How sick is that? The problem with that software suite, is the fact that it lacks external recording capabilities. So while it's great for composing instrumental songs, you can't add record real instrument or vocal tracks within that program. Maybe some day I could get that suite just for the sounds. For now, Ablelton has the best overall package.
Wow, that was practically a software review. I should get paid for this shit.
So, I've got my days and nights turned around. Not exactly sure how that happened. It's been years and years since I used to stay up until 6am on a regular basis and sleep til noon or 1pm. In fact, the last time I was doing that - was the last time I was writing music, which I am not doing yet, only pre-writing music.
---
I get my keyboard in a few days, and I've been trying out various software. The keyboard comes with a "lite" version of Ableton Live. But since the UI (User Interface for the non-geek) directly impacts the process of creating compositions, that choice is very important for me, so I've been doing a lot of research on DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software.
Sony's Acid Pro, FL (Fruity Loops) Studio, Propellerhead Reason, Cubase Sonar, Pro Tools, etc. and a few others were the main programs I investigated. Ultimately, Ableton Live, which I tried last (of all the demos), had the cleanest and most intuitive UI (see above), and the only one I was actually able to create some (albeit very simple/rudimentary) music tracks within a couple of hours.
The Ableton Live software is somewhat limited in this free version that comes with the keyboard, but it is enough to get me started, learn the program, inspire some creation. And when I out-grow it (hopefully I'll out-grow it), then I get to upgrade at a reduced price.
All of the software I looked at was pretty much similarly priced, and some of them had better features than others. For example, Propellerhead Reason has ridiculously realistic sounding instruments, with built in dynamics. So drums sound drummier. Pianos sound pianoier, and orchestras sound fucking huge. The have an add-on package called Abbey Road - where they have meticulously sampled all the instruments from the famous studio. You get authentic Beatles sound. How sick is that? The problem with that software suite, is the fact that it lacks external recording capabilities. So while it's great for composing instrumental songs, you can't add record real instrument or vocal tracks within that program. Maybe some day I could get that suite just for the sounds. For now, Ablelton has the best overall package.
Wow, that was practically a software review. I should get paid for this shit.