[PJTX100]

I'm currently using Cubase LE v4. I don't need all the bells & whistles, just something to record (up to) 16 track audio. Cubase does this fine but I find it a bit awkward to use. Also I can't seem to get the midi clock working properly, though that may be something else in the chain.

Anyway, I fancy looking at something else. Reaper has caught my eye. Not sure I'd need everything Ableton can do but that's also a possibility (though to get it with clock is expensive I think).

What are you people using? What have you found the most straight forward and effective?

[buzlightyear]

Depending on your budget i would go for Cubase Essential 4 or Studio 5,

[pmc]

Reaper is very easy to use, good quality and FREE!

[PJTX100]

Originally Posted by pmc

Reaper is very easy to use, good quality and FREE!

Thanks. I presume it's only earlier versions that are free? The latest version seems to be free for 30 days then 60 dollars for a discounted license?

REAPER | Purchase

[pmc]

I've been using it more than 30 days and its fine, all it does is a brief popup when you start it.

[PJTX100]

Well after fiddling around for nearly an hour trying to do something as straight forward as assigning an audio channel to a track I've given up. Reaper seems not as intuitive as I hoped.

I may have to resort to reading the instruction manual.

[mad_matt]

Hate to say this but Reaper is a nightmare, 400 page manual and I still couldn't work out what the hell was going on!! Unless its me of course..............

[evangelink]

I've always liked Podium by Zynewave. Very cheap, and I've always found the structure really logical. Also the guy who created it is really quick to answer questions on the forums, and is always releasing updates. Worth downloading the demo anyway.

[PJTX100]

I've had a look at a product call Kristal...

KRISTAL Audio Engine

I've only dabbled with it briefly, but blimey. It can probably do only 20% of Cubase / Reaper. But I only ever needed 10% of those anyway. And that 10% just happens seemingly automatically with Kristal. Without reading the manual I was multitrack recording in no time. There are hardly any menus or options to fiddle with, because you don't need them!

It's only an audio recorder by the way, not midi, but if you are looking for a straight forward hard disk multitrack audio recorder then I'd recommend you give try a try. It also does a mixdown to WAV. It's great. And free!

Edit: just noticed where picked up the tip for Kristal, it was on the guitar recording thread.

[evangelink]

Originally Posted by PJTX100

I've had a look at a product call Kristal...

KRISTAL Audio Engine

I've only dabbled with it briefly, but blimey. It can probably do only 20% of Cubase / Reaper. But I only ever needed 10% of those anyway. And that 10% just happens seemingly automatically with Kristal. Without reading the manual I was multitrack recording in no time. There are hardly any menus or options to fiddle with, because you don't need them!

It's only an audio recorder by the way, not midi, but if you are looking for a straight forward hard disk multitrack audio recorder then I'd recommend you give try a try. It also does a mixdown to WAV. It's great. And free!

Edit: just noticed where picked up the tip for Kristal, it was on the guitar recording thread.

bit of a result then! It's nice having all the extra bells and whistles but if you don't need them it's only gonna clutter your workspace.

[PJTX100]

Originally Posted by evangelink

bit of a result then! It's nice having all the extra bells and whistles but if you don't need them it's only gonna clutter your workspace.

The mere presence of all those unwanted bells & whistles can also impact performance. Kristal seems very light touch and runs very quickly.

Though I've portrayed it as very basic, it's actually got some powerful features. Like EQ plugins, and a full mixer where you can mute / solo each track etc.

It can take sound from either the standard ASIO or windows drivers, or it can take direct audio into the computer from another plugin called Live In.

[evangelink]