learning a new sequencer--advice anyone?

[snod911]

Hi all:

Apologies in advance for my relative newbie-ness. I've finally gotten a bit of a breather at work (had been pulling 60+ hour weeks for the past year or so) and am looking forward to devoting some of my new-found free time to digging in and getting my hands dirty with the manual of one or more of my sequencing programs. I'm just getting started and have the following sequencers installed:

Cubase VST 5 on my Windoze PC and OS 9 G3
Apple Logic Express 7 on my G4
Mackie Tracktion on my G4 and Windoze PC

To this point, I've just fooled around with simple tracks in Tracktion. I feel like I should get serious with a sequencing package and wanna spend the next couple of months really reading the manual and making songs on one or more of these. I know that VST is discontinued but I've picked up some VST "how to" books. Tracktion only has an electronic manual--and the documentation for Logic Express is pretty darned thin!

For me, making music on the computer is something I do for fun. That is to say, I'm not a sound designer in training or a professional (or wannabe professional) musician. I'm a classically-trained (hobbled?) pianist and a worthless guitarist that likes playing and making music with softsynths on the computer. That said, I really get alot of satisfaction out of knowing the tools I'm working with. Any advice on which of the sequencer apps I have I should spend the most of my time learning?

Thanks in advance.

John

[opiadream]

the one you feel most comfortable working in

[snod911]

the one you feel most comforable working in

problem is, I'm just getting started and don't yet have a "feel" for anything other than Tracktion. Obviously both Logic Express and Cubase VST are much less comfortable feeling out of the box than Tracktion is. But I wonder: is there stuff that I can't do with Tracktion that would make the considerable time investment learning Cubase or Logic worthwhile?

Thanks for your help!

[D-Fusion]

the one you feel most comforable working in

2Cond that
Download all the demos you can get and try them out. Some sequencers work for one person & not for another. Find one that suits you.

For me (Propellerhead reason & Tracktion is the true path)

[bluedad]

I loved cubase vst dearly, and would probably still be using it, but succombed to steinbergs technique to scare me into upgrading to sx2.
as a guitarist, I loved the loop recording which you will not find in tracktion until version 2

[AD80]

the one you feel most comforable working in

problem is, I'm just getting started and don't yet have a "feel" for anything other than Tracktion. Obviously both Logic Express and Cubase VST are much less comfortable feeling out of the box than Tracktion is. But I wonder: is there stuff that I can't do with Tracktion that would make the considerable time investment learning Cubase or Logic worthwhile?

Thanks for your help!

My $0.02
Each program has things that make it unique. Cubase and Logic can do things that Tracktion cant, but then Tracktion can do some things that Logic and Cubase cant. So when it comes to sequencers you should use what you're comfortable with. As long as it lets you make music the way you want. Dont let Tracktion's pastel colors and simplifyed interface fool you, it has a lot of great features. I know many (including myself) who have switched from cubase and other platforms to Tracktion. Also keep in mind Tracktion 2.0 is going to be released soon which will add even more features.

It doesnt hurt to get to know other platforms but a lot of the concepts are the same from sequencer to sequencer. So just focus on making music on the sequencer you're comfortable with.

[jackson]

I loved cubase vst dearly, and would probably still be using it, but succombed to steinbergs technique to scare me into upgrading to sx2.

You make it sound like Steinberg copied Dubya's political mantra Then again, what am I saying, Bush would never know what the word "mantra" meant.

Anyway, to the question at hand:

As they all say, stick with the one you know. Look into the features of the other sequencers you have and only bother learning them if you consider those features essential to your work. I'm a Logic user(old version on PC), and I'm still not comfortable moving to another sequencer, so I just haven't bothered. I can do aaeverything I need to do with my two year old sequencer.

later
Mike

[lowkey]

Go with whatever is comfy. People's minds work diffrently which is why there are so many diffrent kinds of music. Most people who listen to your music wont care how you make it.

Learn the key comands and try to use your mouse as little as possible. The quicker you can get whats in your head on to your "canvas" the better.

Mike said he's using Logic on the PC because its comfy for him. Sequencer wars are pointless. Its just like arguing over what colour is the best or whats the best day of the week.

Use the tool that suits you and the way you work.

[jackson]

Mike said he's using Logic on the PC because its comfy for him. Sequencer wars are pointless. Its just like arguing over what colour is the best or whats the best day of the week.

I hope it didn't come across as me trying to convert him or something, I almost feel embarrassed to admit I'm using such an "old"(!) sequencer.

[AD80]

I hope it didn't come across as me trying to convert him or something, I almost feel embarrased to admit I'm using such an "old"(!) sequencer.

Dont be. If it works it works.

[bluedad]

edit

[vtx]

I've got so used to level/pan splines that I find it hard to get on with any sequencers or multitrackers that don't have it.

[Lunch Money]

Sounds like a pretty simple choice-- you already like and feel comfortable in Tracktion. Work with it until you run into features that you need and Tracktion doesn't have. At that point in time, decide whether you want to upgrade to Tracktion 2 and if those features will be available, or switch to a host that more closely fits the features you need and the way you want to work.

I'm willing to bet you stick with Tracktion for a long time.

Greg

[Lunatique]

I think the best way to find out is to do a track in each host, and then compare the workflow. You can do the exact same track if you want to be really fair. Just do a quickie 8 bar track with 4~8 instruments. Explore the free instruments included with the host, add some VSTs, add some hardware synth stuff, do a live audio track with vocal or guitar, do MIDI editing, render to audio, add effects, add automation, mix down..etc.

After you've done a finished quickie track in each host, I'm sure you'll have some kind of preference by then. However, don't be surprised if you still can't make up your mind after that, because there are pros and cons in each host.

[Caleb]

Personally I'd make a quick trip to Traktion-land and stay there for the moment.

If you're a hobbiest, you don't want anything that is going to make you feel compelled to upgrade at some stage and drop a big charge on you for the privilege.

Traktion is without some of the more advanced features of Cubase and Logic perhaps, but quite a few people don't seem to mind that much and you're not going for the title of the most professional composer in the universe so it's probably not a big deal.

The upgrade path in Traktion is likely to be considerably lighter than Cubase. And as you haven't really become familiar with any of the packages at this stage - why not choose to become familiar with the one that happens to be cheaper for you?

I don't personally use any of the ones you mentioned although I have experimented with all three at some point in the past, but this is the suggestion I would offer. Feel free to ignore.

Caleb