Host recommendations for songwriting/production

[buwatcha]

What are you're favorite hosts for songwriting and production?

I'm looking for:

Easy, flexible loop and punch in/out recording. I like how REAPER handles this.

Easy creation of composite tracks from many takes. Cubase does this but I'm guessing others might do it better.

Inline midi editing - haven't found one yet that I really like. I want to just click to add an event and click to remove. simplicity.

Quick and easy media browsing with audition at tempo and drag and drop for loops and samples. Again, REAPER is great here but it's not at tempo yet.

Any other features that are useful for composing and production.

I've tried these:

Cubase SX3: It's very powerful and does just about anything. But, it isn't intuitive and requires alot of extra commands to do things. Also, it uses editor windows which I hate. Sample editors, part editors, midi editors, drum editors, etc. I want to do everything in the main project window. Also, it's media browsing sucks. It all feels outdated to me.

Live 4: It's cool and I like the interface but it's too focused on DJing/remixing. I have no use for the session view. All of that development is wasted for me. I prefer linear when composing and the arrangement view is just not up to par with others. Maybe the new version has more of what I'm looking for or maybe it's going even further down the DJ road.

Pro Tools LE 5: I only used it for a while when I was first starting and I liked it but that was before I knew about media browsers, time stretching and other stuff that newer progs have. Does version 7 have this kind of stuff?

Tracktion: I just downloaded the demo yesterday and opened it up but I didn't really like the feel of it. But, I'd be willing to give it another chance.

REAPER: I really like this one but it isn't fully developed yet and still needs alot of work. It might be the answer down the road if it gets inline midi, at tempo media browsing, etc.

I haven't tried:

ACID
Sonar
Logic
DP

[bluedad]

alright, that's overdoing it,but at least you didn't ask which is best.
I use a number of hosts, but for doing pop/rock stuff
Cubase is my favorite by far.

[insane]

bidule, energyXT, and a good tracker.

[kovacs]

I use Live for songwriting. The session view is perfect for doing several takes without having to rewind and delete. Then you can take the parts you like and drag them into the arranger.

Live 4 is old - Live 5.2 is a different beast and has improved a lot. Live 6 is around the corner and it's becoming less a DJ tool and more a composition host.

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

If you're working on pattern-based music, Orion Platinum is a good way to go. I also use Phrazor inside Tracktion for the same purpose, sometimes one is better than the other depending on how I'm composing it (via mouse or my playing it in with my MIDI keyboard).

YMMV since everyones working style is a bit different. I use energyXT on occasion as well. I can't find one tool that does every job the way I need it done!

[aMUSEd]

I've just switched to Live and I'm not a DJ or interested in that sort of music - I find it very liberating in that you compose in what I'd describe as a non linear, linear fashion - more like Jazz than DJing to me. That is you can work in a linear fashion but you're not confined to a timeline so you can have multiple lines of creation and dip into and take out from each.

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[fandango]

Sonar, imo, has a very nice selection of sounds, effects and features on offer. It covers a wide variety of bases, though as the saying goes "Jack of all trades, master of none". But in terms of a complete songwriting/production package (which I think you were generally asking for) it fits the bill quite well. The VST adapter is an unwanted approach to VST hosting, but it seems to work fine and I haven't had a problem with any of my paid-for VSTs. There's a demo available, so it's certainly worth looking into.

That said, I still prefer energyXT for it's ease-of-use, stability and great MIDI editing/routing. When XT2 appears, I doubt I'll be utilising Sonar as much as before.

[mike@manike]

I own both Cubase SX3 and Logic 6 and I prefer Cubase by far.

The included plugs are brilliant in Logic. But I find Cubase quick and easy to use.

I'm a songwriter for a publishing company in the UK and I need to be able to actually get to down to writing tracks without annoyances getting in the way which Cubase allows me to do.

There are things that need to be improved with Cubase like all Hosts, but I enjoy using it.

Its Dual platform as well which is nice. - And the integration with Yamaha products is cool.

Mike

[beej]

For me, Logic is by far the quickest, most invisible, comfortable yet powerful working environment by far. But then I know it inside out, which helps...

[AllenPOPO]

I really enjoy using energy xt for my creative/composition needs....i have not quite figured out exactly what im gonna make my "mixing" application (perhaps energy xt2 when it comes) or one of the low end samplitudes.....not really sure still workin mixing out since i dont do a whole lot of it anyway...

[M'Snah]

There used to be a time when the tools for songwriting were a piano or guitar and a piece of paper . I just returned from a holiday where all I had was a flute and a piece of paper . All the other stuff is for arranging / production.