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So I've been doing my mixing and mastering for some years with logic pro but was wondering is there any better programs to do it on.

I saw some fruity loops studio clips and the features look really nice

I also am thinking of getting Pro Tools but what do you think the best program is to do vocal editing like eq, and compression

Thanks guys!

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RScott Wed, 03/28/2012 - 07:01

The DAW software isn't where you will get your sound from. Most of the time it will be from the plugin. Some DAWs are packaged with usable compression and EQ. Most will do editing fine.

GUIs aren't going to be heard on your end product. Don't just pick your tool by how they look sitting in your studio.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you're really itching for a change, the trial of Reaper is a low cost way to get that out of your system so that you can start refocussing on your tracks.

sharkfistsound Wed, 07/04/2012 - 19:58

My studio uses Sonar X! and I absolutely love the way it operates, the views are convenient, each track has a "pro channel" that has Compression, EQ, SofTube Saturation and a few more that have been added in the newer version. I used to use alot of 3rd party stuff but now I pretty much just use my mics (Shure SM7b, Sterling Audio ST55) and pre amps (Art Pro Channel and Presonus Studio Channel), Sonar X1's Pro Channel, then Antares and Soundtoys 3rd party plugins. I would strongly encourage you to check into a pre amp in the consumer range such as the Studio Channel or the Pro Channel. Working with those and really experimenting and tweaking with it can yield amazing results. I'll post the most recent work I've done with them when it releases later this month :)

OtherExacerbater Wed, 07/10/2013 - 21:17

I agree with the above "if it ain't broke don't fix it" Logic is a great program. If you were determined to try something else most DAW's offer a 30 day demo so try some out. As for mixing and mastering I use pro tools only if I have to by client demand since it seems to be stuck as an industry standard. I personally am not a huge fan though of pro tools. I have really come to love Samplitude ProX, from the spectral editing, to harmonic waveforms, the metering is great for all meters involved. I also use a lot of 3rd party vst's but essentialFX and analog plugs included are great. I've tried just about every DAW and In my opinion nothing touches it. But again that's just one mans opinion

audiokid Wed, 07/10/2013 - 21:41

HA! where did you come from! My same thoughts. Except I cannot even use Pro Tools anymore. It is such a joke compared to Samplitude. I installed PT 10 last year and tried it for a week. I wanted to like it but couldn't and dumped it with pleasure. FWIW, I am, was... very versed with Pro Tools from 1999 to 2005, so much so I could have trained people. Then, I refused to upgrade or even promote it here. I have an entire TDM system in the closet. reminds me of Walmart lol.

Okay, I'll stop. There are good people here that have invested in it and I'm not making any friends ranting and kicking up dirt.
I use Sequoia 12 which has just a few more goodies than ProX. Isn't it awesome software. Its hard not talking about it and wanting people you care about know there is actually better stuff out there that will save them thousands in the long run.
There is a Mac version coming soon.

Cheers

audiokid Wed, 07/10/2013 - 21:47

beershara, post: 394813 wrote: I use adobe audition works fine for me so far. Its not what you use its how you use what you have.

Not even close. Thats a nice concept but code and how it translates, turns on, deactivates, digitally routes effects, aux, bus's, phase, latency etc etc etc... how it handles third party software into its code has everything to do with it. This theory is all BS to me now. I mean, yes a DAW is a DAW, or should we say digital is digital, equal up until the math happens and then its a whole new thing subject to processing and all that goes with that.

I'm not saying adobe audition isn't cool but "Its not what you use its how you use what you have" can be very misleading.

That being said, some guys will mix and do it all better because they are just better at music. I mean, i may have the best system but that doesn't mean I'm going to mix a track better than CLA using Garage Band.

But, if two men are equal and one is using crap gear, shitty code, the guy using better gear, better code is going to win.

So, best program for whom, what OS and style of music.

OtherExacerbater Wed, 07/10/2013 - 21:49

Haha ya my feelings exactly. I haven't tried Sequoia yet. I know it's samplitudes big brother but always was told I just had some more post production features like for writing tags, or syncing with videos and such but would be interested to hear from a user like you what audio mixing or mastering or routing features or whatever it has that is better than in samplitude. But yes Magix has their shit together and are way ahead of the game

audiokid Wed, 07/10/2013 - 22:13

I've only used ProX demo to check out the new version before Sequoia 12 was done. I installed it simply out of curiosity for a few days, saw it looked the same and then uninstalled it while I waited for Sequoia 12. I already had Sequoia 11 running and didn't want to mess up any files with it installed too.

Being said, Sequoia 12 has Independance ( a massive sample library and the full Mastering package. What more I have than you, not sure. I don't need video but the rest is perfect. I should look to see what the differences are but I do know that ProX is smoking.

Once Samplitude Mac is available, it will be a game changer for many.

audiokid Wed, 07/10/2013 - 22:24

I was watching a few guys the other day, going on about automation. How they ride the faders and do a few things and I'm thinking, Man, I stopped doing that after I dumped Pro Tools and found Magix. Object Based Editing is the best thing going. I'm not sure what each Samplitude users does but the less I touch faders, even with brilliant code like Samplitude, the happier I feel about things.

Surgical editing is so easy too. The other day I removed about 20 bright ess's out of a mix where you can barely tell. It took a bit of time but it sure beats using plug-in de-essers or graphing an entire vocal track just to get those sss at the start, middle or end of a word.

And like you pointed out, the restoration package in Sequoia and ProX is awesome.

Nice to see you here.

OtherExacerbater Wed, 07/10/2013 - 22:27

That is true interesting to hear. Samplitude does have a mastering template that puts all phase correlation, spectrums, histograms, and more right up front. For mastering though I am a big fan of Ozone. I do have to say that my version of samplitude comes with independence although I typically stick with Kontakt out of familiarity. I do hope word spreads as I know how you feel wanting to share the love of Magix. Had a decent run with Sonar X1 a while back but wasn't a fan of their menus or the "skybox" setup( or whatever they call it)

Hint hint, all if you should give samplitude a shot and whatch some quick Kraznet vids on YouTube to get the hang right off the bat! You'll never turn back!

audiokid Wed, 07/10/2013 - 22:38

To be honest, I thought I would like Independance more than I do. I actually removed it from the package because it seemed a bit dated and too tiny a CP to work with. I bought a Kronos X and a the new MPC Renaissance and prefer working OTB more with hardware these days. I go back to the 80's and having racks of synths and samplers that you can touch. Analog sounds pretty nice too. However, I plan on buying Kontakt. I think its the best choice.

audiokid Wed, 07/10/2013 - 22:39

OtherExacerbater, post: 406280 wrote: Object based editing is where it's at! I'm used to clips in ableton but separate vst's per object and the save in CPU load only goin through active objects is awesome. And the editing features per object are much more intensive than any other clip based program. Sorry ya'll for our Samplitude rant, I'll let it go for now haha

hehe. indeed . But, man can we help it lol. I have Ableton Live 8.5 and really like it. Those two DAWs sure complete the package eh. But I'm not very proficient with it yet.

OtherExacerbater Wed, 07/10/2013 - 23:49

No I use Maschine and a Novation SL mkII. I like that software Maschine runs seemlessly in ableton and the hardware controller integration for Maschine software is amazing and push 1button I have a fully custom mapped ableton controller at the same time. And the Novation serves my keys/faders and transport controls and I like the automap feature tht adapts to whichever vst, or vsti I click on. Between the two there's a lot of versatility and custom mapping is quite simple for both controllers. The pads on the Maschine are nice and the velocity sensitivity(adjustable!) keeps a more lively feeling in anything I'm hammering out. Fun to map Maschine to Kontakt with multiple velocity layers of sounds

anonymous Thu, 07/11/2013 - 06:42

As you've probably noticed, there are many different DAW platforms and depending on whom you ask, they will all come up with their own reasons as to why they like what they use.

It could be because of the layout, the ease of certain functions over others, or simply what you have become used to over time. I was a long time Sonar user and could do almost any action on it with my eyes closed. Then, several months ago, I switched to Samplitude, and it sounded better to me. I'm not saying it is better, I'm saying it sounded better to me. Recently, I picked up The Harrison Mix Bus program, and I love it as well, because it's a throwback to what I learned on, which was an analog desk, so in that regard, I like the way it works (and sounds).

Different programs handle plug ins differently, too. I found, after switching to Samplitude, that when using the exact same plug ins as I had in Sonar, that the effects sounded less "smeary" in Samplitude. There seemed to be, for lack of a better word, more "accuracy", more "integrity" than that which seemed to be occurring in Sonar.

But there are other forces at play as well, beyond the DAW... The quality of the audio I/O you use, the quality of the pre amps, the converters, as well as the mic(s) you are using, the room you are recording in, the room you are mixing in, the monitors you are using, will all absolutely play a part in the final quality of your product.

You could have the best gear available, and if you are using a cheap Chinese condenser through a cheap audio device, or, if your room is one big acoustic "lie", it won't matter what you are using.

fwiw
-d.

audiokid Thu, 07/11/2013 - 16:11

That is so cool Donny! You have joined forces!

Samplitude is the next top DAW for pro's. Its just too cool to avoid. ME's love it and nothing touches it for hybrid integration. Object based editing saves tons of CPU strain and is brilliant coding. Their stock plug-ins work and the mastering section is killer. They have all the bases covered.
And does it get any better, a Mac version is due to be out this fall.

So it works awesome on Windows and will soon be on Apple.
I have two licenses ( one for tracking and mixing and one for mastering) I need nothing more. When they update things its seems to always be better not buggier.

Through the grapevine, Its also owned by one of the richest tech companies in Europe, very smart people with deep pockets. They have been slow and steady in North America. But to me they are very focused on sound quality, performance and stability. All the things pros need. And their Midi coding is more than enough. And, you don't need Avid hardware to make it work.

Okay, I've filled the forum with a ton of my opinions. Time to stop.

anonymous Fri, 07/12/2013 - 11:43

I find myself using Samplitude and Harrison Mix Bus much more these days than I do Sonar.

I know Sonar inside and out because I've used it for so long, that I can pretty much do any command by second nature without even thinking about it BUT...

I absolutely do notice a difference in the way the programs respond and handle the same exact sound files. Samplitude simply sounds better to me.

Now, to be fair, I'm using Sonar 6.5 PE, and there have been a multitude of new versions released since; so perhaps Sonar has gotten better. I don't know, I'd have to trust others' opinions regarding the later versions.

And, while its midi implementation is, well, non existent, I'm really digging the Harrison Mix Bus as a throw back to the old analog style of mixing, I really dig the built in dynamics and tape emulation. For someone who cut his teeth on consoles and tape, this is the best that I've heard so far in terms of emulation of the analog 'sound", short of digging out my 1" deck, spooling a reel of 499 and pounding the meters to +6. ;)

fwiw
-d.

audiokid Sat, 07/20/2013 - 23:03

hueseph, post: 406493 wrote: Samplitude's stock plugins sound awesome. The mastering tools and noise reduction are better than some paid plugins IMHO. I still love Sonar but I also love Samplitude. Some things, I can't do in Sonar. Samplitude fills those holes nicely.

cool you like Sonar so much Hue, I've been thinking about upgrading from 8.5 . What is it that you like about it so much?

hueseph Sat, 07/20/2013 - 23:28

Pro channel. The stock eq, compression and console emulation are nice. Not to mention breverb. Having those base plugs built in makes mixing a lot easier. Im not fond of the look though. I wish the workflow was a bit more like PT to be honest. Just easier to navigate. I can work around my issues with it though.

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