Pro Tools, Nuendo, Sonar, or Cubase...?

First, allow me to start from the top end and get that out of the way. In my personal opinion there is no system better that a full-blown Pro Tools HD3 or HD4 with multiple interfaces, with a Solid State Logic (SSL) mixer and a truckload of plug-ins. The reason I thought I should state that first is that if you have this type of setup, or at least have access to one, you'll know what I'm talking about, therefore the subject of this article won't really be an issue for you.

Next, let's make sure we're on the same page. I'm talking about digital audio in this case; NOT sequencing or MIDI capabilities, which is another subject entirely. I will at least mention that I've done a lot of great MIDI arrangements on the old Cakewalk 3.X and Cakewalk Pro Audio Series software. I currently do almost all my arrangements using Propellerhead's Reason, which I absolutely love. That being said, the real focus here is having a program with the best interface(s) and plug-ins that handle actual audio files.

As with most of the topics I write about, this is geared toward the average DIY home studio enthusiast that DOES NOT have $200K to start shooting for an HD system. As a matter of fact, $2K might be a squeeze for some, especially in a not-so-good economy. The point is that you've decided to make a financial sacrifice to put together a home DAW setup and, of course, get the best you can get for your dollar.

OK, I've rambled on enough already, so let's get to the meat of the issue at hand. Let's assume you already have a computer with a lot of processing power, RAM and storage capacity. Now, in the subject line we've meantioned a few programs: Pro Tools 7.X or the new 8.X with either MBOX, 002, 003 or M-Powered (M-Audio sound interface); Sonar 4 (and up), Nuendo or Cubase with a decent sound card/interface that gets up to 24 bit/192k capabilities.

Provided that your computer is up to par, most consumer-based DAW software and hardware interfaces (those mentioned above included) are not terribly different from eachother in overall sonic results. I've taken the time over the past few years to actually learn Pro Tools, Cubase AND Sonar 3 thru 5 Producer Editions. I have been able to get roughly the same range of results with all of them. Most people will usually find a comfort zone with a certain brand and stick with that brand. The different opinions that the users of each of these programs state will have a lot to do with each person's individual needs, ease of use, and familiarity with a particular brand after using it for years throughout numerous upgrades. I've seen guys get HUGE results on each of these programs that rival some Pro Tools HD systems. At the same time, I've known some folks that have gone to very expensive HD studios and gotten horrible results.

So, REALLY, what is the key here? It's simple: A DAW setup is only as good as the person that is running it. A lot of guys go out and spend good money on the hottest this, or the latest that. The fact of the matter is that even the most expensive New York or Nashville based recording studios can sound crappier than a 4-track cassette recorder from the 90's if the person(s) sitting at the helm does'nt really know what the hell they're doing.

Which DAW setup you choose is nowhere near as important as knowing what you are doing. If you're going to spend your hard-earned money to buy this stuff, you may as well educate yourself on the use of it, right? The good news is that this type of education is usually free (in most cases) or nearly free. All software comes with physical books or PDF manuals; READ ALL OF THEM cover to cover. However, keep in mind that in order to really master a program you must go beyond the manufacturer's user guides. If there is another book or download for your particular software (Sonar For Dummies, for example), GET IT! If there is a website for extended information about your software, BOOKMARK IT and visit it often! If there are online forums, and there are plenty, JOIN as many as you can. Forums with allow you to interact with people using the same DAW and other software to share information.

That's all for now. Goodbye, and happy tracking!