Is Project5 v2 Better Than Live 4 or Reason 3 (IYHO)?

[TVD]

I notice that Project5 has a good number of features that reminds me of Live 3 & 4, mix with everything that seem to be more simpler than Sonar, more interesting looking insruments than FL Studio or Orion, and still end up being more affordable than Reason 3!

BTW, it also has no mixer interface (just like Tracktion).

So tell me your honest opinion about Project5 v2. Is it really a better deal than Live 4 or Reason 3. Or is the marketing a little overrated on Cakewalk's part.

Try your best to tell me (a FL Studio-user) why I should consider Project5 v2.

[zai]

I'm wondering about the same too...I think it's a cross between Live and Reason...with some good features it seems.

It might be an alternative if you don't have Reason or Live...but even if you do, I think it would be a good mix...since it Rewire as host/slave.

If the price is right, I might go for me...but wait, I run a MAC...DOH!

Zai

[kuniklo]

Completely misses what makes Live 4 so great. The Groove Matrix is no match for the session view. Some nice ideas but they don't come together the way they should.

Download the demos and try them for yourself.

[Philly]

It's my 'goto' host for the reasons you've outlined pluse I like the workflow, once you have an idea it's easy and quick to a. get it down and b. develope it. I wouldn't says it's better than the other hosts you've mentioned, just different.... it's the Dr Pepper of hosts!!

[der_gary]

Completely misses what makes Live 4 so great.

... So does EVERYTHING else. That's why it stands out.

The Groove Matrix is no match for the session view.

... Is it supposed to be??? As it is a (near) completely different approach. How does it compare to Battery, or DR-008?

(I use Live 4 [session view], everyday - btw)

Some nice ideas but they don't come together the way they should.

... Which can be said of nearly any other software. (except Windows of course, which is reputed to be perfect.)

Download the demos and try them for yourself.

... Now there's a good idea.

P5v2 has it's strengths - which kick ass. Load a vstsynth, or Dimension - then load an arpeg., and smile.

All these apps are 'tools' that have their own way of approaching things.If that 'way' or certain features appeal to you, or facilitate YOUR work-flow, then use it. I would have bought P5v2 JUST for Dimension alone.

best.

[kuniklo]

The Groove Matrix is no match for the session view.

... Is it supposed to be??? As it is a (near) completely different approach. How does it compare to Battery, or DR-008?

The thread asked for a comparison of Live 4 and P5 V2, so I'm comparing them. The Groove Matrix was clearly inspired by the Live session view and is designed to serve largely the same function. Seems pretty fair to discuss how they match up.

[der_gary]

... Fair enough - but I find the methodology/implementation - soooo different. To the degree that they are not 'comparable' - save in a manner with which one might compare ReBirth with ReDrum.

best.

[TVD]

Completely misses what makes Live 4 so great. The Groove Matrix is no match for the session view. Some nice ideas but they don't come together the way they should.

Download the demos and try them for yourself.

The system requirements are a serious asskicker on the CPU:

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Project5/system.asp

[sgx]

All three programs are pretty different. Maybe you should mention what you want to do with the software and what type of music you want to make and what type of sounds you want so we can suggest stuff.

[original flipper]

HI

I Have P5, I sold LiveV4 and also had and sold Reason!

Well, I tried with Live (several times) but it was so arcane - Midi editing was bad news and I lost the will to use it, it can be a frustrating program - but it has many fans - so this is just my experience.

Reason for all its critics is KING when it comes to resources - quite simply this should run well on almost any computer, it is reasonably intuitive and you can be very focused with it - I know people who make a good living from producing D&B with Reason so don't underestimate it - it is no toy.

P5 ... I have been getting into this recently and it has it's foibles but it is the program I would rather be using out of the three - I do not like Cyclone which is the beat looper/chopper but that is no big deal for £20 you can buy another program like Dicer - beyond that it has some awesome tools - Dimension rompler (worth £200 on its own) drumsynths, Psyn and loads of fx ... I could go on!

It is cheaper than the others and imo improves on Reason and is not the uphill struggle that I found Live to be - the Cakewalk forum is a must to join should you buy P5 as there is lots of good support there - this is probably true of Live and Reasons forums as well.

I would demo all 3 programs - spend a week on each and decide - hell, there is nothing to stop you using any 2 of the programs together as they all have ReWire protocol which allows them to sync and work alongside each other.

Personally I think you can make any genre of music in any of the programs listed.

Flipper.

[M-Prod]

*off topic**
My general opinion in software sequencers is: forget those fancy references to real life equipment. Software ui creates the possibility to design a great workflow, based on rational human behaviour, without the limitations of hardware.
Live, in my opinion, is the first program to understand this.
****
So to me, workflow is the key..

Live +: superb clean gui & workflow; audition samples in sync, assignment of shortcuts and midi controllers
Live - (for studio use): cpu, pdc, freeze, working with multiple output VST (no grouping etc.), ghost clips, the way automation curves work could improve (tracktion is a nice example).

Why use Live for (home) studio use? Because I managed to create a song in a day instead of a week..

Reason +: cpu, sound, complete
Reason -: Workflow, interface, sequencer, no VST support (though that could be seen as an advantage..)

Project5 seems to fill in most of my Live 4 wishes... I doubt it has the same superb workflow, but after playing around with it , it seems to come close. Most important is you don't have to switch apps for mixing. With Live you cannot do (serious) mixing/'mastering'(it's not made for that, but it would be nice), mainly because of the lack of pdc. So you would need to switch the production to cubase (or tracktion: works fine for me).

One other advantage of Project5 is that the layout of the pattern sequencer matches that of the arrangement, where live switches between vertical and horizontal.

Project5 seems to do it all to a sufficient level and the price is right.

[tonymead]

So to me, workflow is the key..

Completly agree. I have been using Cubase, tried sonar and FL Studio. For me, using P5 has been a revelation - a workflow that doesn't stem the creative part of writing/constructing a song.

My work is guitar based indie/lo-fi sort of stuff so I record guitar, vocals, bass(keyboard input) and use BFD or midi loops for drums.

HTH

tonymead

[maoinhibitor]

I've had Project5 version 2 for a couple weeks now, and from my estimation, here are some of the advantages it holds over Live:

- Dimension is incredible (and worth the price of Project5 alone)

- Device chain presets - such a timesaver

- Built in arpeggiator

- Track freeze

- Track Layers

- Better support for multi-timbral and/or multi-output synths

- Better MIDI routing capabilities for easier layering of synths or setting up multiple controllers to play multiple instruments

- You can preview audio loops as loops in Project5, in live you only hear them as as one-shots

- When you tweak loops in Project5 you can then export new Acidized clips - you can't do this in Live

And contrary to the opinion of some people here I think the Groovematrix is a great tool. It works well enough for me to perform live, combine that with how much the other host features in project 5 outweigh Live, and I'm at the point that I don't feel the need to use both. Project5 is my choice.

Project 5 vs Reason? ...I gave up on Reason a couple years ago, but I view project 5 as more of a compliment to reason than a competitor

[M-Prod]

How about plugin delay compensation? Does P5 v2 have that?

[diverdee]

No.
it's different, with some similarities.
imo.