I'm composing MIDI sequences for ambient and new-age kinds of music and using VST instruments (mostly free) just for my own fun and sharing with some close friends.
I don't care much about audio recording, samples, time stretching, crazy (in good sense - I know people can create amazing weird sounds) synth configurations. I want to put more accent on melody and general feeling and not trying to be "cool and modern" with complex electronic sounds.
Chord helping tools would be fine for composing. I'm a everlasting beginner at music theory but keep refreshing my knowledge from time to time. I can also use toneSpace VST or something like that to get some "chordial inspirations"
but having something built into DAW might be a big bonus for me.I would like intuitive workflow, drag&drop, clean user interface. I don't like software where I open context menu and see like 20 items and I don't need most of them but still I have to visually scan and mentally analyse all of them to find the one that is more appropriate for current task. Reaper, although being great and powerful tool, suffers from this issue. If you are professional and use it daily then you learn it all and can find things fast. But if you open your DAW a few times in a month, you might forget things and then it slows down to read through all those menus and refresh your memory.
I took a look at some options.
I really like Studio One workflow. But their Artist edition doesn't have VST support and it has to be bought additionally ... for almost the same price as the DAW itself! That's insane price for such a basic function as general VST host.
Cubase Elements seems to offer more for this price. As I understand, Elements has Chord pads and no external VST limitations? At least, I couldn't find any mention of requiring something special for third party VST in Cubase editions comparison page. I just hope I'm not wrong here. Third party VST is a must. And I'm not sure about the Cubase workflow; will try that out soon. I've heard they are changing things and their UI is coming closer to Presonus. Is it true? Does new Cubase workflow really benefit from these changes or does it feel artificial, foreign to the entire Cubase philosophy?
So, what would you recommend? Should I go for Cubase Elements? Is there anything better for the same price?
But remember - there is no way I would ever upgrade to the next level and pay more than 100$ for the DAW itself. So, I'll have to live with what I buy now.
Some rant follows.
I don't like artificial limitations. I agree that more than 2 channel support, advanced mixing consoles, Melodyne, audio stretching and beat matching should be left for professionals for appropriate price. But to heavily limit track count, available inserts/sends, removing third party VST support to me feels the same as intentionally breaking a screen of an iPhone just to sell it for a lower price.
Upgrade policy and pricing is also important. If a DAW adds new workflows that make my work easier, I would want that unless I have to pay like 50% of my initial investment just for the upgrade. That just kills my sense of loyalty. DAW is a long term investment and I feel like putting lots of trust and my working hours, but then if a new version comes out and an upgrade costs are high, I feel like being cheated: "Hey, if you hadn't bought our product a year ago and waited a year instead then you would get so much more for the same 100$." At least, on Cubase page I see that their upgrade from previous editions are priced at 20$, so it's somewhat acceptable to spend once a year or so, if I find new edition to have something worthy.
