having recieved mc6 as a present, i purchasted roland quad captutre ,there was also software for sonar x1 le.Is there much advantage in installing x1le as have limited space for now

There is no advantage to using the X1/LE version over a fully functional MC6. 

I would install and run MC6.  

The X1 LE version is a "function restricted" version which has only the basics working and maybe a few other things. Whereas the MC6 version is a fully functional version complete with loops and many instruments and synths. 

I used MC4 for about 3 years exclusively and recorded and produced many fine songs with it. I have MC4,5,6 and earlier this year picked up X1 essentials.  I use X1e now mainly because I bought it, and it came with more "stuff".....  

X1LE may allow you to record more then 2 tracks live assuming the interface is also capable of more than 2 tracks. That would be the only advantage to the LE version. Sonar X1 does permit multiple inputs at the same time where MC only allows 2, so if you work with live bands and need more than 2 inputs...X1 will get you there. 

In a one man studio like so many of us have...MC is very effective and useful. 

Install them both.   There isn't anything that prevents them from working on the same machine and it would give you access to the features of each.

thanks for the reply,guitarhacker.you have some great stuff using your set up,sounds great.Have you been tempted to buy or use the more expensive sonar systems? I just want to stick with the one,for now mc6 has plenty for me to learn.After talking to the local music shop guy he only added new drum program/s are these easy to use and can you reccomend any

Be sure to register Amplitube, if you haven't already. Otherwise, you will start hearing a periodic hiss in your projects in a week or two.
As for drums, I like Session Drummer 2. It's easy to use, and the price is right ($10US).
EZ Drummer is also a popular choice. Watch for sales on this one, as it is routinely offered at half price.

as far as sonar goes, most of us here who have been here a while helping MC guys have upgraded to some version of Sonar.  I think Greg uses SHS6 which is no longer available, Herb uses X1 Studio, I think and I have X1 Producer Expanded.  whether you upgrade or not really depends on your needs.  MC is a very capable program depending on what you want to do with it.

MC is limited to using only 2 inputs simultaneously.  It has other limitations, but that's the major one IMO.  after the limiations are removed in other versions like X1 Essentials and Studio, most of the rest of the upgrade is just "icing" - better synths and plugins.

X1 comes with a drum.  the drum synth it comes with depends on the version you get.  Essentials comes with Studio Instruments Drums.  Studio and Producer come with Session Drummer 3 (I believe that's correct).

however, even tho I have both of those drum synths I've never used them in a project.  I have used EZ Drummer for years and I really love it.  you can get EZD for about $70 now at www.audiodeluxe.com but you have to sign up and be a "member" to see that price in the cart.

EZD also has a lot of add on expansion packages for purchase as well and I have most of them myself as well as the upgrade to Superior Drummer.

It's really all a matter of what you need to produce YOUR music what you buy.  only you can really decide that!

kmchiodo@optusnet.com.au


thanks for the reply,guitarhacker.you have some great stuff using your set up,sounds great.Have you been tempted to buy or use the more expensive sonar systems? I just want to stick with the one,for now mc6 has plenty for me to learn.After talking to the local music shop guy he only added new drum program/s are these easy to use and can you reccomend any

Thanks for listening. 


Most of my music until some time earlier this year was recorded on MC4.  I did an upgrade to X1 essentials at that time.  Cake was offering a crossgrade price that was pretty sweet and I got some new "toys" and sounds in the deal. 


I have really not seen the need, for what I do and how I do it here, to make the big jump to the producer version of X1. Like I said, MC4 has been very good to me and I've been able to do everything I need as a singer/songwriter simply demoing songs here. 


As far as what programs you might want to add on to make the experience of writing and composing better or easier? 


Certainly, assess the genre and style of music and then knowing the instrumentation needed, you can determine what you might need. Many of the folks here do use some sort of drum synth. One of the first I picked up was Jamstix. It did all the heavy lifting for me when it came to creating drum tracks. Quite a few use drummers that have loops and drag and drop the loops as needed.  Visit the software forum here and ask about virtual drummers.  

Jamstix>>>>   www.rayzoon.com   = amazing piece of software


Band in a Box will also create drum tracks effortlessly but the cost of BB can be quite steep depending on the version/level you want. It uses real sampled drums in the better versions. And it does so much more.....


There is not a problem with having several Cakewalk DAW's on your computer. I have 4 different ones on my studio DAW and they all work fine together. It is possible to share VST's and other things and start a project in one and finish it in another..... 


The main thing with any Cakewalk DAW is to have a good sound card/interface to let it work like it was intended to work.