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I also have Studio One (Which I bought when I thought Sonar was going under) but prefer Cakewalk.
Anyone working professionally in audio needs to be able to open a Pro Tools session and export, even if they use another DAW.
If I didn't have it then I'd get a lot less work.
PT still has some features that you don't get in other DAW's and it almost completely owns audio post.
Try doing ATMOS in Reaper.
I don't particularly like it- I much prefer Logic, Live and Sequoia but I rarely get given Logic and Live sessions and I've never had anyone deliver me a Sequoia session.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
In the US it is the only game in town for mixing.
In Europe you get a few more people using Logic, Nuendo, Cubase but it is still pretty all consuming.
Show me a better way to do multitrack drum edits than with Beat Detective?
I agree that the lack of a drum editor is an irritant, but it isn't the only DAW to lack one.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Most place use 3rd part anyway, so why does pro tools need one?
(Honestly, I might be missing what you mean)
But if you started in Cubase it is a feature that you get used to and when you switch to a different DAW you will notice it missing.
Logic doesn't have a drum editor either, fwiw.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Uni standard for music production is based around Mac, which again used to be 'industry standard' and it started to bug me a few years back when Apple ramped up prices of Macbook pros and removed the ability to upgrade.
I then had the realisation that to be able to be working, I couldn't rely on one machine, platform or DAW, they all have their own limitations and bugs, ever wanted to get something done and had to wait for a windows update ?, or been nagged by Apple to perform an OS update--well before all your software is compatible? ( PT is STILL not fully comp with latest Apple OS, at least if you consider your DAW includes ALL your plugins-SLATE etc.)
Before I started my final year I decided to try Reaper, as it is cross platform, and unlimited in its demo form, and by the end of the same day had paid my license fee, it simple does everything I want in a DAW, admittedly, I'm not working on any Hollywood scores, or mixing for a top 10 act, at the moment, but I challenge anyone to try opening a PT session, and time it, then compare that to opening a Reaper session, or even try doing a PT update, including Ilok manager, usually a couple of Gigs, Vs Reapers 17 MEG DL, and 65 MEG install.
if time is money--PT is EXPENSIVE, Logic is cheap, Reaper is FREE, and then when you hit a problem with PT, or Logic, try and find the answer quickly, with Reaper, just watch Kenny's vids, if he hasn't already answered it-there is always the public forum.
Cakewalk is another one Itried, as it is free, but again, it is no longer supported, so I doubt it will work on Mac, nothing to lose by trying it-for free, but the biggest investment at the end of the day, is TIME, I wouldn't waste my time, these days, trying to become a Pro-tools Ninja, unless I was being paid to use it.
To be fair when it comes to editing real drums I would use Protools over anything. I've kind of got used to the midi in PT as well and I'm pretty quick at looping regions and such.
Previous bits of hardware and older versions of PT are considered obsolete now and as far as working professionally with others go they may well be. But if you only need to work on your own then there are insane bargains out there. My current rig is a 2007 iMac and an Mbox Pro that came with PT LE 8 . Total cost less than £100 .....
Sonar/Cakewalk for Mac was a free prototype a couple of years ago. I have an i5 Mac Mini and installed it, and it works a treat. Perfectly good enough as a backup.
Never really got on with the Mac OS though, so not into Logic. As someone who's used PCs since 92, and is therefore v familiar with tinkering, rebuilding, mods, and the windows OS, I find the Apple closed system both expensive and a pain.
Never used Pro Tools - all I have heard is that its ingrained deep into the music business, almost irremovably, but that it is far from cutting edge, and is outgunned on many fronts by plenty of other DAWs.
They are the dominant professional DAW by some way.
What is true to say is in the hobbiest areas you do get more for your money with other DAW's.
You can buy 6 copies of Logic for what it costs for Pro Tools Ultimate.
Once you get into HDX you will have spent £10k minimum and if you want to get into the S6 control surface you will have spent $60-100k.
It is expensive on a level that used to be preserved only for analogue consoles and tape machines.
It is still cutting edge in some areas- surround sound, audio post, hardware integration is on another level compared to most DAW's.
The thing is most people posting on forums don't have a need for, or do not understand the need for, these ways of working.
I was working in an audio post facility last week.
We used nothing other than Pro Tools & Media Composer, with an S6 console.
It works and is really slick.
Yeah, you might not have the best midi functionality, and you don't get loads of free plugins and presets.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Logic is great as a creative source, Drummer track is fun, I appreciate the fact that fixed studios, with integrated desks use PT, and post work-uses PT, they all use PT, but the original question was what would you recommend?
If you work in a big studio-or have to work with the film TV industry, you have to work with what they use.
If you work for yourself--whatever you use, you will have to generate PT compatible stems, simple as that, you don't have to use PT, and I simply cant get on that outdated bandwagon.
Logic is great, but these days, HMMM
its the 21st century, and those guys are dinosours really, any DAW has limitations--whether it is MIDI, hardware compatibility or financial.
I wanted to record my band at rehearsal, I tried a Zoom R16-8 mic inputs, into a 4g ram PC running W10, with Reaper, It worked.
All the tracks can then be put in PT, which I did, but then I realised--why??
What i wanted to do, I did in Reaper.
Its all about what you need--if I wanted to do the same thing in PT, I would need a PT compatible interface, with a PT system, with an Ilok, just to record.
Jesus, Reaper runs off a USB,
If I was building a studio--to work on sessions, I would have to have PT i guess, but I wouldn't use it by choice.
If i was recommending a general use DAW, I would recommend Reaper.
I would work with anything, from any DAW, all I would ask for is --stems,
then I would work in Reaper, seriously, then I would create stems, which are PT comp,
'industry standard' is a bit like saying--you have to have a Ferrari to use the road.
Sure, some people can afford to drive Ferrari's, but a Ford escort will do the same journey-might be more economical too.
YMMV,
I always thought it was THE software to use, until I had to actually work with it. As a student, it was at least cheaper to try it out-with an £8 monthly subscription IF you sign up for a year.. without student discount, it is around £25 a month, if you add on a Slate subscription--which IS good value, you are looking at £40 a month to maintain a working DAW, which isn't a small amount. At least they now provide a version to try out, although heavily restricted.
If on the other hand, you have a fixed studio, built around a desk that you are lucky enough to have working with PT, and have built it up over time-i can understand your reluctance to try anything else--if it works, don't try and fix it.
The OP was asking for recommendations for alternatives, and maybe he thinks, like I did, that PT was the ONE, I'm not sure it is these days.
Like I said, horses for courses.
I've tried them all... Reaper hands down, best community, YouTube tutorials for EVERYTHING, easy to use. Not technically free but $60 isn't breaking the bank after 60 days trial (which doesn't actually end) I started with reaper thought "I'll try the more PRO stuff" always ended up going back to Reaper.
Also there are no ridiculous limitations on Reaper, everything works, forever.
Throwing money at the issue wont make your mixes any better, some big ticket productions have been done with Reaper, yea they probably splashed out on plugins but still. Reaper is big in the game industry and at least one Hollywood producer uses Reaper and thought it was good enough for him to start making YouTube tutorials on the subject.
There are other ways to sell a good peice of software these days, Reaper is one, TDR is another, and Slate has got it just about right-good value, good product, Avid and Waves are locked together-and trying to keep up.