I'm wanting to move away from Apple, but really like garageband. I need a new computer and was looking at Macs but you get much more in the PC world. Garageband on the ipad has most things I need but I dislike the fact it saves everything you do, so just need a similar package but with laptop functionality.
I had my heart set on GB/Logic but when speccing up an Apple Macbook pro it get's sily money for an older spec machine (compared to Dell, Lenovo etc)
So just wondering if there are any similar products for Windows machines, with good drums, keys (rhodes, piano, organ etc)
I have an older copy of cubase and some old VST's but want to move away from messing with settings and things not working, so an all under one roof solution is appealing.
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I was intending/hoping to follow the same path from GB/iPad through GB/MacBook to Logic/MacMini, but - for a whole load of "why Apple is bad" reasons - am going down the PC route instead.
In fact, Amazon have just delivered the 480Gb SSD (£130!!) that I'm going to use as my new boot/applications drive in a reborn PC.
My concern for the DAW choice that I need to make is finding something equivalent to all the instruments/samples/loops that come for free with GB and Logic.
My mate, who had a big falling out with the Apple /Logic way but is locked in too deep, keeps trying to persuade me to get a Mac just for the instruments, and it looks tempting from here. Bad idea?
Apple have always come at a premium, but the gap has got too big, reviews whilst still good have fallen below the competition, unless you spend several thousands of pounds.
Glad it's not just me then! Mixcraft 8 seems to have some stuff included, but not had chance to try it yet.
The only problem is the price, seems quite an expensive product aimed at pro studios, and the cut down version is too cut down.
Another bonus of Windows is the amount of good yet free VSTs available for it is greater than that for Mac.
https://groovemonkee.com/products/drum-freebie-pak-gm
...and this plugin/sample pack is free for Reaper users:
https://smmdrums.wordpress.com/for-reaper/
You might need to do a bit of tweaking to get it set up right, but it strikes me that "free" always involves a little extra work. The benefit, of course, is that figuring it out is a valuable learning experience.
Cubase also has advanced features like a the Chord Track - you can pick chords/keys and build a basic backing in minutes.
Groove Agent
Chord track and instruments
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
Probably drums, Rhodes, a B4, Synths. Possibly a bit of brass, acoustic piano.
I have a copy of Ez drummer one and also the Funkmasters pack, so could potentially re register that to a new PC, if it is still supported. I could probably get by with free VST's, tbh, I just don't want to open a can-of-worms pissing around too much with loads of separate downloads if I can help it.
I'll check this out, seems to have quite a few VST's included
You can try Cubase for FREE with no limitations. Don't like it run the uninstaller and it's all gone.
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
I've used this http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=Euthymia_Electronic_Organ&id=1346
but sometimes it crashes so I now use
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=S30&id=1440
U-he for synths : Zebralette and Tyrell N6 - both free - crazy good monophonics.
Piano VSTs need to be commercial products I think.
Yup it's a pain having to find everything separately.
As is the free DB-33 organ
And of course you get XPand which is chock full of great stuff
Run OSX in a VM on a PC.
The cunning plan to be tested tomorrow to see if it actually works, but as I've just spoken to someone who's done precisely that, and demonstrated that the OSX VM can exercise full control over all the components in the host PC, I think it should work ...