Samplitude
Sonar 8.5
Studio One
Reaper ( not sure if its win 7 ready) but its excellent

Mastering is more than just software.

Reaper has a x64 version that is definitely Win7 compatible.

+1 on Mastering having nothing to do with DAW software or some sort of "mastering plugin."

Thanks for the suggestions I will have to try Reaper.

On the mastering I realize it is more than software but was under impression some packages have aids for mastering like Sonar Producer (?). I don't know a thing about what it is but just thought the software has some easy features that make mix down easier. I really don't know about that area.

Mixing and Mastering are two different stages of production. Mixing is what you do after you have recorded all your tracks. A mixdown is going to be the best sounding mixture of those tracks bounced to a 2-bus .wav or .aiff file. If the bounced file doesn't sound good enough you go back and adjust the mix and or automation and bounce it down again. If you have mixed your tracks well then it sure makes the Mastering Engineer's job easier. Again, never destructively edit your original tracks.

I'm running W7 x64 with 4 gb RAM, and a quad-core processor. For production, my DAW of choice is Cubase. It's a great investment, and is quite versatile.

Just my opinion, but without buying a dedicated Pro-Tools rig, it's as good as it gets.

A few weeks ago we have set up a new Studio PC with Steinberg Nuendo 5 64-bit:
Intel i7, 8 GB RAM, Win 7 64-bit, UAD-2 quads, TC PowerCore, Melodyne (soon 64-bit), lots of VSTi software ....
Without much tweaking it works stabil and is extremely powerful and for music better than Protools ( says I ..).

Many of us think there are better options out there than the restrictive PT hardware. I really am liking Win7 myself.

@ Big K

OK, I am unequivocably JEALOUS!! Sounds like a great rig.

Bad Fader, post: 354113 wrote: @ Big K

OK, I am unequivocably JEALOUS!! Sounds like a great rig.

For sure! Our new rig should be comparable, but a little lighter on the software.

To vdrummer: Like the others have said, anything by Magix, Steinberg, and Cakewalk should be 64bit compatible and stable, assuming your computer can handle the required processing.
I too, have issues w/ PT's proprietary hardware. I like my RME and no PT rig will convince me otherwise.

In the end, DAW choice really comes down to needs v features, and familiarity.
Some have better midi capability, some better built-in plugs. Others have different workflows that are better for different applications.
My partners and I have had the chance to play around w/ Sonar, Cubase, Samplitude, Logic, and Nuendo.
IMHO there's not a one of them that's soft.
I prefer Nuendo/Cubase, one prefers Sonar/Samplitude, and the other Logic/Nuendo.
Go figure. We're all pretty happy w. Nuendo though, so we'll be running that dual-boot w/ Logic for my Mac-inclined partner.
Even we couldn't pick just one. :wink:

LOL...
Although I said that a few years ago, already, and was wrong, I dare stating it again:
with that kind of processing power for audio work I should be fine for some years to come.
We change the studio PCs about every 2 to 3 years, average... they get handed down the line... Studio to offices, offices to assistants, assistants to our kids...lol...
So, we keep the systems fairly uptodate and I wonder where we are in 10 years, from now. I would be a fan of "Brain to DAW" systems, a comfy chaise longue, 3-D goggles and IOSONO sound system..

I kept an eye on Protools since the very beginning of it, when it was still called sound tool* and the company was still developing drum computer software...lol..
It always were either hardware and / or software problems or shortcommings, as well as the enourmes costs of the constant hardware upgrades that made us going native.
And we never regreted that... Meanwhile, there are a number of native DAWs which can stand up to Alsihad w/o problems and some are even better, yet, not as
widespread and introduced into industry. Knowing that, together with the fact that Pootools plugins cost considerably more the the native ones, it is a miracle to me
why still so many go the AVID way and shell out bags of cash. It is loosing the status of a "de facto industry standart" quickly.. (in selling numbers it might have been...)

Weekend, now!! ..I go hiking into the Bavarian Alps...Faaaar away from any DAWs and the cell phone is off... no women.. ( sorry..)
Dark Beer, fresh farmhouse bread and butter, some smoked bacon... yummy.....
Life IS great... und auf der Alm, da gibt's koa Sünd... yodle...

CYA...

* Sound Tool was an expensive 12 bit 2 track hardware/program for editing on Mega Atary and Mac in 1990.
They never got it to work in our studio and after many attempts by shop and manufacturer to get it going it was finally placed on the shelf...