What's more important... Your soundcard or software?

Cmc29

I would imagine your soundcard it. If so, why is there so much fuss about software. I am specifically referring to Reaper. I think it is a fantastic piece of software. So my question is, if software does a fantastic job, as Reaper, and others do, why fork out for overly priced software? Or am I being naive?

MilanPan!c

Cmc29 wrote: »

I would imagine your soundcard it. If so, why is there so much fuss about software. I am specifically referring to Reaper. I think it is a fantastic piece of software. So my question is, if software does a fantastic job, as Reaper, and others do, why fork out for overly priced software? Or am I being naive?

He answer isn't easy.

For basic recording, they pretty much all do the same thing, so a badass soundcard would be more important, but DAWs aren't really just big tape machines, they're full featured production enviroments, and as such if you can't be creative, because you're DAW of choice is lacking functionality, then the best soundcard in the world won't help.

Neurojazz

I've used loads of DAWs and have ended up on Ableton - forking out a decent wedge of cash... worth every penny, most optimal thing i've ever come across, fun also.

They spent so much money on development that there are touches that are unreal when you come across them (and i used to think Ableton was rubbish)

I've used cubase, fruity loops, tracker, reason, octomed, logic and probably others i can't remember.

For a writer, Abletons been liberating, but not everyones thang.

I'd be happy to use it with a crap soundcard to get idea together (as with Reason)

You can really *twist* things and get jobs done quickly in there... something you'd only be able to compare by experiencing directly (like via a demo) - i wish i'd only youtubed ableton a few more years back!

splitrmx

Fruity Loops Studio Fruity Edition: 78 Euro
Reaper: 177 Euro
Pro Tools M-Powered 8: 185 Euro (but needs one of the M-Audio interfaces too)
Ableton Live: 349 Euro
Logic Studio: 419 Euro
Cubase 5: 549
Pro Tools HD 8 (with PCIe HD card): 3799 Euro

Not too much of a price difference, except for Pro Tools HD.

MilanPan!c

splitrmx wrote: »

Fruity Loops Studio Fruity Edition: 78 Euro
Reaper: 177 Euro
Pro Tools M-Powered 8: 185 Euro (but needs one of the M-Audio interfaces too)
Ableton Live: 349 Euro
Logic Studio: 419 Euro
Cubase 5: 549
Pro Tools HD 8 (with PCIe HD card): 3799 Euro

Not too much of a price difference, except for Pro Tools HD.

Sonar is about 300 as well, for the record.

PaulBrewer

I think Soundcard - a stereo recording with no FX should (theoretically at least!) sound the same on every Daw.

The soundcard will be the 'sound' of the system, changing that can have a huge impact on the flavour/quality.

However I believe there are contrary opinions to that. I recall hearing that the mix bus in Logic sounds different than Pro Tools.

TelePaul

By soundcard, are we including Pres and ADA converters? If so, then yes, soundcard all the way. Actually, I think your sequencer of choice is largely determined by initial exposure - I use Cubase because my first ever 'DAW' featured Cubasis (shudder).

Also, ProTools' popularity seems to be down to the fact that it is pitched at noobs as 'the industry standard' - which is lame - and, more significantly, works extremely well as an integrated software/hardware platform at the pricier end of the spectrum.

TelePaul

PaulBrewer wrote: »

However I believe there are contrary opinions to that. I recall hearing that the mix bus in Logic sounds different than Pro Tools.

This is true AFAIK - I have read that the different software algorithms employed by various sequencers do flavour the sound, though I've no idea how.

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

This is true AFAIK - I have read that the different software algorithms employed by various sequencers do flavour the sound, though I've no idea how.

I think some of that has to do with the default panning laws?

No?

So many PTers hardware sum these days so I don't know how many even notice to be honest...

studiorat

The music going in the pointy end is what makes the difference.

PaulBrewer

studiorat wrote: »

The music going in the pointy end is what makes the difference.

Yea Cheers for that Gramps ....

PaulBrewer

TelePaul wrote: »

Also, ProTools' popularity seems to be down to the fact that it is pitched at noobs as 'the industry standard' - which is lame - and, more significantly, works extremely well as an integrated software/hardware platform at the pricier end of the spectrum.

True ...

seannash

you have to look at what comes with the DAW.

logic has a fantastic reverb and decent compressors and synths that come with it straight out of the box.

im not sure if reaper comes loaded with the same effects and synths as logic but if it doesnt have the same quality plugins bundled then youll have t spend money to get them wich will probably amount to more than the cost of logic(or other similar daws)

studiorat

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Yea Cheers for that Gramps ....

But it really does.

There's so many variables.

When the OP asks which is more important are we talking about sonic differences, or are we talking about workflow? Sonic differences between sound cards at similar prices are all pretty neglible. People will have their favorites but it's much of a muchness. As are sonic differences between processing algorithms between different software, even plugins imo.

So which is more important the sonic character of the device or the workflow method that the equipment demands the user to work by?

For me it's the work method which is more important because it is more closely related to the performance.

PMI

What's more important... Your soundcard or software?

Talent

MilanPan!c

seannash wrote: »

you have to look at what comes with the DAW.

logic has a fantastic reverb and decent compressors and synths that come with it straight out of the box.

im not sure if reaper comes loaded with the same effects and synths as logic but if it doesnt have the same quality plugins bundled then youll have t spend money to get them wich will probably amount to more than the cost of logic(or other similar daws)

Same with Sonar... I like Reaper and you CANNOT beat it at the price... in fact it really has no competition, but...

Sonar is JAM PACKED with FX, and VSTi-s.

So even if I switched to Reaper I still would have to spend SIGNIFICANT amount of dough for plugins... so I use what I know ... it helps that it's also pretty damn good.

There's no really cheap way to do pro-stuff... and you certainly can't do it with el cheapo sound cards...

seannash

oh meant to ask is reaper still free.i recommended it on another forum and got told its not free.


someone from here out me onto this one thats free(so i guess reaper has some competition)
http://ardour.org/


not sure what its like

MilanPan!c

seannash wrote: »

oh meant to ask is reaper still free.i recommended it on another forum and got told its not free.


someone from here out me onto this one thats free(so i guess reaper has some competition)
http://ardour.org/


not sure what its like

It's essentially free... You have to wait 10secs and click a button, but then it's totally free...

So yeah, no limitations except a VERY short wait when you boot it up.