Pro tools vs Ableton Live vs Logic vs Studio One

My Opinions:

• Sonar is as capable of quality production as anything and will give you more features for your money and the support is better and cheaper than ProTools.
• ProTools was designed (originally) as a replacement for a tape machine.  Today, it has everything you need as well, but, as stated above, at a higher cost for the functionality.  The plus for ProTools is that if you want to take your work from home to a large studio, ProTools files are likely to be compatible since it is more popular in large studios because of its heritage as a 24-track tape machine replacement.  (This could start to change.  The newest ProTools release will require studio owners to stay on the old version or ditch their old, expensive hardware, so some may take the opporunity to look around.)
• I have not used Studio One, but it has many faithful users and its last release was well-reviewed in trade magazine as moving it into a very competitive position.
• Ableton Live is optimized for loop and groove creation, electronica, trance, live DJ/dance-mixing, etc.  Sonar can do this, but not as well or easily.  Ableton can do traditional records, songs, and scores, but not as well as the other DAWs.  I could not do what I do on Ableton Live without a lot of frustration, but your mileage may vary.

I chose Sonar for three reasons: 1-bang for the buck 2-integration with V-Studio 700 which made it even bigger bang for the buck and 3-my history and familiarity with Roland and Cakewalk.  You would probably not regret buying Sonar, ProTools, Studio One, Logic, or Cubase.  Abletone is kind of a different category. 

My advice would be to give great thought to the hardware options.  If you are happy doing everything with a mouse, this is not a big deal.  If you like to mix with a console, however, this matters.  ProTools + Nucleus is a great choice, but more expensive than V-Studio 700 (which comes bundled with a free copy of Sonar X1).

Secondly, if you do mostly recordings of live musicians, then all the tools will work.  If you do a lot of virtual instruments and MIDI programming, Sonar and Cubase have more of a history there.

Third, think about support.  ProTools support can be expensive.  Cakewalk/Sonar is awesome.  I do not know about the other tools in this respect.  (Note: Some companies like Sweetwater provide their own lifetime support.)

Finally, look at the included plug-ins and virtual instruments.  Sonar is very strong in the plug-in effects department and has a decent starter set of VIs. 
 
Best of luck.
 
PS You will see a lot of complaining about various bugs on this forum.  That is the nature of forums.  You will see just as much or more on other DAW forums.

Flywheel, I may not be understanding completely, but if you are looking for compatibility with other studios, ProTools is probably what you want.  For plug-in compatibility, I would expect VSTs to work in all the major DAWs.  Maybe others here know more on that topic.

Tools are just tools. It's what you have the ability and creativity to build with the tool that is important.

I make a living as a producer.  I'm going into my 10th year as full-time producer.  I've been using Sonar from the beginning.  There is absolutely NOTHING that can stop you from making a living, a great record, or whatever is your motivation- except your belief that you can- or cannot- do it.  The tools are secondary my brother.

To me the platform wars are a bit like arguing about which brand of cutlery you used, when the real question is how the beef bourguignon tastes. BRILLIANT

depends how comfortable you are with the DAW of choice

Flywheel


depends how comfortable you are with the DAW of choice

SOANR is the most comfortable DAW in the world.

I really, really like Live, but it crashes so often when I load big samples due to it being only available in the 32-bit version.

arachnaut


I really, really like Live, but it crashes so often when I load big samples due to it being only available in the 32-bit version.

This just proves how different users, different systems, have different results.


I've been using Sonar (in various versions) for over 8 years now I think, and it's crashed many times over the years (all versions).


I've been using LIVE for about 2 1/2 years (thought not as often as I use Sonar) and it's literally never crashed on me yet.


Go figure.

Protools gained it's reputation as a replacement for the tape system. I have it and found that it's  best uses are for mixing with third party plugins. Clearly outlined mixer and arrange page. Not for making music out of the box (beats). Sonar has the edge there. I have also Logic Pro 9. Very good for mixing. Again clearly outlined mixer. Just about OK for making music. Some OK synths but need more third party ones and external synths. Sonar has better soft synths all the way. I have difficulty in mixing in Sonar. The console view is not compatible with me. Too clustered. What I believe is really happening is the ease of use of each product. I tried a LE version of Cubase but gave up early. I have never used DP.
I crossed from Sonar 7 to PT and now back to Sonar X1. Having a tough time with Session Drummer 3. Auto starting when I am trying to lay down individual pads. I never had that issue with version 7.

MAn so far I have greatly enjoyed all the DAWS I have used (Cubase back in the day, SOnar and Logic now) they all something special that inspire creativity, I have been looking a STUDIO ONE, and it has some neat features, and very reasonable price.
but when it comes to plugins included ... Sonar....just the Z3ta+2 alone would be enough..but then there is Rapture and Pentagon and Dim PRo..my goodness.. Electronic Heaven...! :)

yeah 64 bit ableton would be great, agreed ;)

another reason me love me sonar!

Lance

Let me present a scenario ....


ENTER musician

Musician - Hi, I create music. I express myself through air vibrations and I rely on the reactions of others to spread the word that I am a musician.

::So, tell me exactly ... how do you create music?::

Musician - Well I take something that I feel .. not in a tangible way though, more like an implied expression ...

::Do you write music for yourself, or for everyone::

Musician - If no one heard me, then how would I know I am a musician?

::Do you have tools? Say a way of making your internal creativity tangible to others?::

Musician - I have a trade ... of course I have tools. Not everyone born can look at a DAW and know what to do with it immediately. But, I think that if you look beyond the tools, look beyond the craft ... you see what music is truly all about

::And what is it all about ... Musician??::

Musician - Beyond a listener of music



P.S - Sometime I browse the Cakewalk Forums a bit ... well ... weathered under a maelstrom of hydrated foliage smoke 

ba_midi

arachnaut


I really, really like Live, but it crashes so often when I load big samples due to it being only available in the 32-bit version.

This just proves how different users, different systems, have different results.


I've been using Sonar (in various versions) for over 8 years now I think, and it's crashed many times over the years (all versions).


I've been using LIVE for about 2 1/2 years (thought not as often as I use Sonar) and it's literally never crashed on me yet.


Go figure.

I have figure it out.


I've used Live since 2006 and it never crashed until I started using large sample libraries. When Sampler was introduced, I could get it to crash loading a large number of samples or some very large samples.


When I load very large samples in Kontakt, it will crash.


Investigating the reason - it is always memory - I see the memory usage grow on my project: 1.5 GB OK, 1.6GB OK, ....,  1.9 GB start to worry, do some small change - crash.... Probably I could minimize this by purging samples and babying it, but it should warn me, and not crash. I guess a lot of memory allocations are not trapped for exceptions, or whatever...


Nothing can be done about this except go to a 64-bit model. I'm sure Live x64, if it ever comes out, will probably be superb.


Having said that, it never crashes or hiccups on me for any other reason, no matter how weird I make my racks. And I really do like it a lot.


This has happened to me on a Windows XP system, an Apple MacBookPro, and on Windows 7 64-bit, it is not a particular system, it is systemic to any 32-bit application.

none of the Daws help a musician play better.  Daws just help workflow - in some ways.

The best music I've ever heard in my life was recorded live. Sung live. 

If you can't do live........It don't matter what Daw you pick.