[Kanthos]

My background is someone with a little composing experience, a lot of experience arranging using Finale and Noteworthy Composer, a strong theory background, and a lot of years experience as a pianist, percussionist, and wind player. I don't have the budget now for a midi controller or keyboard as well as a sequencer, and am wanting to get the sequencer. I'll likely do some remixes while learning the sequencer, but I'm mainly looking for tools to create high-quality orchestral music mainly in a classical style for an RPG I'm involved with.

Many of you have a lot of experience working with sequencers, so I'd appreciate any help you can give in light of who I am and what I'm trying to do. Some of the questions here are in lieu of being able to find a Cubase demo to get.

1) Is there anywhere to get a Cubase demo? I've downloaded demos already for the other sequencers mentioned in various threads here, but can't find one on the Cubase site or elsewhere.

2) How do FLStudio and Cubase compare? Is it worth the extra money to get Cubase, or save the cash for a decent set of orchestral samples?

3) Is it worthwhile to get Cubase SX over SL?

4) As someone used to reading music notation, does that affect the choice of FLStudio vs. Cubase?

Thanks for your help!

[sgx]

I wouldn't begin with Cubase. It's complicated and probably has a lot more features than you will need for a long time. I don't think they provide demos of them either.

FL is good, but I'd also consider Reason and Cakewalk Project5 because they both come with a bunch of pretty nice orchestral samples.

[Compyfox]

Originally Posted by FFLeviathan

1) Is there anywhere to get a Cubase demo? I've downloaded demos already for the other sequencers mentioned in various threads here, but can't find one on the Cubase site or elsewhere.

Go to www.steinberg.net (or com) and browse on their FTP. If you can't find a demo there, then write them an email or call the customer support and ask for a demo. I know there are demos,cause I have one with Halion 2, Halion 3 and the Waldorf Edition.

2) How do FLStudio and Cubase compare? Is it worth the extra money to get Cubase, or save the cash for a decent set of orchestral samples?

Cubase is way longer in business than FLStudio. Both tools are completely different in terms of approach. While FL has built in samplers like tracker (for example for drum pattern) and was first aimed at a 808 and 303 emulation (FL2 and FL3) it grew into a full fledged studio with VST/VSTi support later.

It depends... what are your preferences. I for example use Cubase since v1.4 on the IBM PC while it was still aimed at "hardware only" and grew up with it. It can be a multitracker only, a pure software synth engine, I can use hardware/software/wav tracks, I do engineerings with it, etc. The possibilities are endless.

Others might tell you the same about FL but still you have limitations. The WAV multitrack engine for example is fairly new and still a bit limited, you have no surround support (if you want to use it sometime), etc. Cubase is also shipped fairly blank (well it has 2 awesome synths by Waldorf, and SX4 is on the front door, too), while FL comes with a bunch of stuff "bundled".

It's really up to you. But I prefer Cubase over everything else due to the possibilities I have - I'm not limited in any way.

3) Is it worthwhile to get Cubase SX over SL?

SX has a couple of more features than SL. For example: Surround, more VSTi slots, a couple of plugins that're exclusive to SX are not available, etc. There's a datasheet over at the Steinberg page that you can read for yourself.

The worthwhile difference for you might be the price however. SL is only 399,- if I'm not mistaken, while SX is 799,-.

4) As someone used to reading music notation, does that affect the choice of FLStudio vs. Cubase?

It can. FL has no notation editor, Cubase has.


In the end it's up to you. Hope I could help.

[ubernym]

When I started writing computer music I was using Cakewalk 7 and soundfonts. All I ever did was load Cakewalk, load my soundfonts, and write all my music with their (very limited) notation editor. It was the only thing I was comfortable working with. In fact, I was so uncomfortable with pian roll that I eventually bought Finale 2004 and started using that instead. I could write some really cool stuff, but couldn't really get it to sound good without a real orchestra playing it. I'm a wiz at notation, but it wasn't getting me anywhere with computer production. People kept trying to convince me that piano roll was the better way and I didn't believe them. I just couldn't figure it out.

Recently I started using Fruity Loops, which doesn't have a notation editor. I was forced to use the piano roll. But I must say, I'm never going back. Now that I've actually learned how to use it, I LOVE the piano roll. It's so versatile, so flexible. I highly recommend it.

If you can stand to learn just using the piano roll, go with Fruity Loops; it's cheaper and quite powerful.

Of course if you're dead set on using a notation editor, get a program like Cubase or Sonar. And if you do get one of those programs and do most of your editing in notation, I still recommend tweaking your edits in piano roll, especially for velocities. Velocities will make or break your mix.

[zircon]

Ah, another convert ;) FLStudio users unite!

[Arcana]

Originally Posted by zircon

Ah, another convert ;) FLStudio users unite!

FLStudio users are the majority. Frankly, I'd be interested to see more than one person start using Project5.

[realpolitik]

Originally Posted by sgx

I wouldn't begin with Cubase. It's complicated and probably has a lot more features than you will need for a long time. I don't think they provide demos of them either.

FL is good, but I'd also consider Reason and Cakewalk Project5 because they both come with a bunch of pretty nice orchestral samples.

omg teh sgx project5 plug ohnoes

FL is a great starting point, but you'll need to get better samples and pick up some VSTs or soundfonts if you want to make some decent sounds.

[The Vagrance]

FL is a great program but to be completely honest I feel that Reason and Ableton have a much better workflow and I always get better sounding stuff out of them a lot easier too, but in the end it just depends on the person.

[Compyfox]

Why not simply call OCR the "inofficial Fruity Loops tutorial and support" board?!


THERE IS MORE IN OUT THERE IN THE WORLD THAN FRIGGIN FRUITY LOOPS AND REASON!
Not to mention that all questions were answered - so stop it already to "convert him/her".
*geez!*

[Arcana]

Originally Posted by Compyfox

Why not simply call OCR the "inofficial Fruity Loops tutorial and support" board?!


THERE IS MORE IN OUT THERE IN THE WORLD THAN FRIGGIN FRUITY LOOPS AND REASON!
Not to mention that all questions were answered - so stop it already to "convert him/her".
*geez!*

Well Compy, there are a bunch of us who use Reason, and despite what anyone says, a decent handful of extremely talented people use Cubase, Ableton, and Cakewalk products.

The unfortunate reality is that Image Line has price-cut the competition while providing a competent product, which has attracted people from this community (which consists of people mostly of ages 13-19 who don't have big incomes).

It's funny from my perspective to see you spaz out like this, but a lot of other people get offended. I can get annoyed a bit at the FL evangelizing that goes on around here too but just keep up the discussion and talking about the other alternatives and some people will listen.

Cakewalk Project5 will break through yet. If it ran on Mac, I'd try it.