Want to make music again. What (mac) host should I go for these days?

[Karbon L. Forms]

^^^ have you seen the Protoculture vs FL Studio video, one the funniest ones of this year https://www.sonicacademy.com/courses/to ... autoplay=1

[xbitz]

I haven't used Cubase since SX2, and haven't kept a license (or anything else). I can probably dig up some old VST licenses in my email archives . I think I'll start with testing s1 and logic. Thanks for all the excellent tips!

routing is the weakest point of them S1/Logic/Cubase, especially PITA in Logic

- https://www.admiralbumblebee.com/DAW-Chart.html I can confirm the numbers

ps. just finished watching the learning videos of Reaper on https://www.reaper.fm/videos.php phew , so can show an example of why it has higher points in the routing category

all the DAWs above with 10points know this just differently

[worldshaker]

If I knew nothing about production and had a Mac as my first OS, I would definitely buy logic pro and never look at anything else. That would cause, what-if-isms. Logic pro is very good for the price. As a major daw, every question you have is most likely already answered somewhere on the internet. $200 for usable stock sounds and plugins and Apple makes the darn daw.

[Passing Bye]

Logic is truly amazing DAW!

[revvy]

I hate GarageBand and love Logic so would not recommend GB in any shape or form as some kind of gateway into Logic.

Logic FTW. And after that, if you fancy being a bit more lighthearted, Live.

(Cannot recommend a host on Mac that doesn't accept AU, seems somehow non-serious about the platform)

[stefancrs]

If I knew nothing about production and had a Mac as my first OS, I would definitely buy logic pro and never look at anything else. That would cause, what-if-isms. Logic pro is very good for the price. As a major daw, every question you have is most likely already answered somewhere on the internet. $200 for usable stock sounds and plugins and Apple makes the darn daw.

Will definitely look at Logic. But I'm not new at this. Was actively making music on computers from around 1992 to maybe 2006. Also coded my own softsynths and tracker software. Wrote music software reviews for a then popular magazine. Etc. But then I lost interest and now I want to get back into it

Been tinkering a bit with S1, and dig it so far!

[antic604]

Will definitely look at Logic. But I'm not new at this. Was actively making music on computers from around 1992 to maybe 2006. Also coded my own softsynths and tracker software. Wrote music software reviews for a then popular magazine. Etc. But then I lost interest and now I want to get back into it

Been tinkering a bit with S1, and dig it so far!

Then you definitely want to try Bitwig & Reason, too!

I mean S1 is pretty awesome, but it's not that different from Logic (that's why people recommend it to you based on your OP), but you might do good trying something that's different - both are very modular, have great tools for creative sound design, generative / procedural music; Bitwig's also very strong for live performance if that's how you want to create music, whereas Reason might be appealing to someone that's nostalgic about hardware.

[_leras]

If I knew nothing about production and had a Mac as my first OS, I would definitely buy logic pro and never look at anything else. That would cause, what-if-isms. Logic pro is very good for the price. As a major daw, every question you have is most likely already answered somewhere on the internet. $200 for usable stock sounds and plugins and Apple makes the darn daw.

Will definitely look at Logic. But I'm not new at this. Was actively making music on computers from around 1992 to maybe 2006. Also coded my own softsynths and tracker software. Wrote music software reviews for a then popular magazine. Etc. But then I lost interest and now I want to get back into it

Been tinkering a bit with S1, and dig it so far!

Logic would likely be best value, with all the included things. don't be scared that 15 years ago you thought it was hard to learn. It was just a bit different that Cubase, that's all. (from another Cubase user). You'd pick it up no problem.

I would recommend cubase, but you've already sunk that extra £300 into your iMac.

Bitwig is a really fun music making environment. Definitely a great way to make music. Another Bitwig fan here.

[Passing Bye]

Logic got trial btw
https://www.apple.com/logic-pro/trial/

[Reefius]

Have you tried Reaper?

[stefancrs]

Have you tried Reaper?

Way back when, yes. Did not prefer it over for instance EnergyXT and Podium. But sure, it was ugly, so it had that going for it I guess.

[fmr]

(Cannot recommend a host on Mac that doesn't accept AU, seems somehow non-serious about the platform)

Damn... Pro Tools is "non-serious about the platform"

[pdxindy]

If I knew nothing about production and had a Mac as my first OS, I would definitely buy logic pro and never look at anything else. That would cause, what-if-isms. Logic pro is very good for the price. As a major daw, every question you have is most likely already answered somewhere on the internet. $200 for usable stock sounds and plugins and Apple makes the darn daw.

And Logic has so much capability. $200 is incredible for what you get... the FX are great! Plus over the past 5 years, Logic has been updated over and over again with lots of useful and improved functionality. The new Sampler and Sequencer are great. Drum Designer is too. Logic includes Alchemy. And all those updates have been for free. During that period one would have had to pay something like $500-700 to keep another DAW updated.

If like me you like to play freeform without a metronome, Logic is also great for that the way it can tempo map ones playing. And use the track as a groove template to conform the other tracks to. Nearly anything you want to do Logic is at least competent at it, if not excellent. Surround sound? no problem. Now it also has Ableton Live style clip launching.

[jonljacobi]

You didn’t say what type of music you make, or how you do it. That makes a large difference.

[revvy]

(Cannot recommend a host on Mac that doesn't accept AU, seems somehow non-serious about the platform)

Damn... Pro Tools is "non-serious about the platform"

Pro tools has its own format right?

I'll rephrase it then: Avoid hosts on Mac that only support VST, like Bitwig. I was being a bit sly about BW, couldn't care less about PT, but you missed it, must be a language thing.

Fernando, you find everything so funny? After COVID I hope you come to my next standup gig, I could do with folks like you in the audience

Also: calm down mate, you have NOTHING to school me on, oddly Mac-obsessvive that you are. I never waste my time in Windows threads, hopefully one day you'll be at peace enough to leave Mac threads alone after your multi-year long goodbye to the platform.