Poll: What is your favorite DAW?

[jancivil]

oh come on, wheres SAW

[koolkeys]

oh come on, wheres SAW

SAW users are too busy sounding better than this thread with their 64 bit integer processing.

Either that, or they are just lost in the clipart library.......I mean, SAW Studio interface, and they can't find the button to start their browser.

Brent

[Hink]

Until they tell you your dongle reg is invalid.....ja, das gestapo is alive and vell

AFAICT they have really improved their act in the customer care department.

And it could be worse - certain companies will tell you that your PC computer is suddenly invalid, that your audio hardware is invalid because its made by another company, or that you have used up your limited number of times to unlock the software ... Steinberg seems to me to have a much better approach than some.

You just have to look after your stuff, and if it goes wrong they will replace it - other than that you can use it as much as you like and install the software on as many different computers as you wish, which seems pretty enlightened

I have no idea about the dongle part but the rest of your post has me a tad bit baffled. I have never heard of a person having a sustaining problem with any of those other problems. I'm not anti dongle at all as most know, but really that other stuff sounds more like embellishment than factual. I have never experienced anything like that with any music software I have, the closest was when I upgraded to AA1.5 and had to call to get my serial number for AA1. I remember it quite clearly, it took less than 5 minutes.

Perhaps you misunderstood, so I'll spell out the examples I had in mind:

"certain companies will tell you that your PC computer is suddenly invalid" = Logic (after Apple acquired v.5, no further support to existing customers on PC)

"your audio hardware is invalid because it is made by another company" = Pro Tools if you change soundcard. EVEN if you change from Digidesign to supported M-Audio, because it requires a seperate software purchase to buy the same software!

"you have used up your limited number of times to unlock the software"... I saw a number of complaints about this on the Tracktion forum over the years. Ditto Ableton Live and IIRC Native instruments stuff. Generally these problems get resolved, but are inconvenient for a time at least.

Bottom line is that all these companies are after your/our money, and sometimes they "protect" their sales with policies of software protection, compatibility, etc which are kinda unfair to the (purchasing) end user. Steinberg are probably no worse or better than the others, but their system seems for the most part to work and be fair.

Well 4 out of 5 I can't comment on because I have no experience with them, but with NI I do. Now I had to wipe my HD once recently and tomorrow a replacement drive arrives fro P-cal. About two weeks ago I sent a pm to ew because I was concerned about that very thing. But I have nothing to worry according to Eric so that's that.

I assume (and could be wrong) that the times NI might say something is if they see a red flag. I'm sure the amount of requests to register the software is based on a reasonable number of requests and not like two or three. I'm sure it's in place to catch the abusers.

Again I have nothing against cubase and nothing against dongles, but you have to admit you "it could be worse" is a bit of a weak argument when your examples are probably far less than 5% of all the software in our little digital music world. In hindsight does it help your case to say "well at least it's better than 5 companies?"

Don't get mad because I'm just funning, but I think you could of come up with something better to say about cubase than it's better than 5 companies

[dgkenney]

Pro Tools 8, Live 7, Cubase 5
Looking for a version 6 of something to complete the set

If you read the dots, check out Sibelius 6

I have Sibelius 5 (a NFR) but have never installed. I am afraid of a "Staff" infection.

As a guitarist I don't have much need for notation But my friend Marc Schonbrun ( http://www.marcschonbrun.com ) swears by it and does some pretty amazing real time transcriptions with an Axon, a Godin and Sibelius.

Dan

[bullshark]

Perhaps you misunderstood, so I'll spell out the examples I had in mind:

"certain companies will tell you that your PC computer is suddenly invalid" = Logic (after Apple acquired v.5, no further support to existing customers on PC)

"your audio hardware is invalid because it is made by another company" = Pro Tools if you change soundcard. EVEN if you change from Digidesign to supported M-Audio, because it requires a seperate software purchase to buy the same software!

"you have used up your limited number of times to unlock the software"... I saw a number of complaints about this on the Tracktion forum over the years. Ditto Ableton Live and IIRC Native instruments stuff. Generally these problems get resolved, but are inconvenient for a time at least.

Bottom line is that all these companies are after your/our money, and sometimes they "protect" their sales with policies of software protection, compatibility, etc which are kinda unfair to the (purchasing) end user. Steinberg are probably no worse or better than the others, but their system seems for the most part to work and be fair.

I'm having a taste of this right now, and I don't think I like it, in fact I'm pretty certain I hate it.

Vegas pro 8 refused to authorize, I'm gonna have to make a long distance phone call to Sony, during their business hours, and on my dime.

Then my copy of Office also refused authorize. Not as bad as Vegas, they have 24 hours phone line...and it isn't on my dime. Still irk-full.

Then correction software also refused it's reg key. At least I have 30 days with that one, and the main office is in Montreal, but still...

It's as if computer maintenance wasn't annoying or time consuming enough, they had to pile this junk on top.

Almost made me wish those software were dongled instead, as long as the five fingers discount people don't get near your station, you're pretty safe from that kind of annoyances with those.

[headquest]

I think you could of come up with something better to say about cubase than it's better than 5 companies

Certainly I could, yes: Cubase is the AWESOME!!

I was responding to somebody else's criticism of Steinberg though - somebody who has had a real problem with the company's customer service before, yet STILL uses Cubase because it is such a great choice, I might add

The point is that most companies have customer service that occasionally screws up, and most companies use copy protction systems that can be a PITA. I gave you a few examples of companies leaving their customers high and dry (and maybe NI should not be on that list). Bullshark has mentioned a bunch of other offendors, so this is not just a problem limited to the few I mentioned.

The good thing about a dongle is that provided you look after it there are no problems when you switch computers, etc. I used to hate the idea of having a piece of software with a dongle, but the dongle with Cubase is pretty benign, and I've realised has many advantages. I would almost go so far as to describe it as a selling-point when comparing it with some of the alternatives out there.

[hibidy]

Just use my name, I'm too old and easily confused

[headquest]

Just use my name, I'm too old and easily confused

Tst, I'm too old to even remember names

[hibidy]

Just use my name, I'm too old and easily confused

Tst, I'm too old to even remember names

well, I am utterly forgettable

[jancivil]

oh come on, wheres SAW

SAW users are too busy sounding better than this thread with their 64 bit integer processing.

Either that, or they are just lost in the clipart library.......I mean, SAW Studio interface, and they can't find the button to start their browser.

Brent

ROFL

that's more like it

[spaceman]

oh come on, wheres SAW

SAW users are too busy sounding better than this thread with their 64 bit integer processing.

Either that, or they are just lost in the clipart library.......I mean, SAW Studio interface, and they can't find the button to start their browser.

Brent

Browser? Is that those icons you see when your screen lights up?

[4damind]

Ok, we have now 511 votes. Here the top 3:

1. Cubase/Nuendo (112)
2. Ableton Live (87)
3. Reaper (75)

[Fenderwim]

For me Cubase works the best because it has by far the biggest user base

This means it is easier to get problems resolved.

But basically all DAW's are tools and given the right skill they all can produce good music.

Cheers

Wim

[hseiken]

You forgot to list HARDWARE on the poll... *snickersnicker*

[tadam]

Interesting poll.
Good work.