Scarlett 2i2 has Albeton and VSTs...
Complete Studio 6 has Cubase LE, Komplete sounds 8 AND Traktor demo or something...
Roland Tri-Capture has SonarX1...
Fast Track has ProTools LE...

What should I choose?? I don't think the Tri-Cap or the Fast Track has MIDI in so that narrows it..
But the added VSTs (which I never buy) + Ableton Live LE on the 2i2 really make me want to get it!
But the extra sounds (which i never buy) + Cubase LE +something I might play thing make me want to get IT!!
Plz help lol. Here's some info that u can use to help me pick:
I will make Hiphop
I don't do much Mic recording
I need MIDI in
I won't buy sounds for a while cuz of parents (why CS6 is appealing)
I won't buy VSTs for a while cuz of parents (why 2i2 is appealing)
I definetly won't buy DJ stuff for a while...but I might want to practice/try some day (why CS6 is appealing)


BTW are the LE versions of the DAW basically trial versions? I hear once in a review that "after 30 days you must register with Steinberg"...and that's the same on Cubase Trial...so is it basically DAW trial on hardcopy?
BTW2 I'm new as u can tell :)
 

LE versions are usually (note I haven't used them) full versions that are stunted (not crippled) in some ways.  Usually less tracks, not able to rec ord at 96 kB, basic effects.  That is how Cake works.

The registering thing (again, for Cakewalk) is a way for them to cut down on stealing.  You may download the demo, get a serial number, but during registration Cake can find those facts out and not enable your product.  It will time out after 30 days.

@

ersions

Thnx. What times out after 30 days? The whole product or just the unregistered version?

...Im prety sure u mean the unregistered, but, you know, making sure :)

  Another option to consider in that price range is the new Steinberg UR22. I was just about to purchase a focusrite 816 and saw this. It's onoy $149 and offers 24-bit/192 khz plus midi and decent pre-amps. Like most interfaces it offers a stripped down version of software. In this case Cubase AI. I plugged it in and it worked with Sonar and all my other audio software with no hiccups whatsoever thus far. The steinberg software tastic is silly. It's not a trial but you have to go through the whole anti-piracy thing which requires an account and installing extra software. Once registered it is fully functioning (although mp3 encoding is limited to trial status of 300 encodes/30 days). Bottom line is the software with most of these interfaces is likely to disappoint but serve as a foot in the door for upgrade discounts. The money you save by such a high quality interface being so affordable leaves you extra money to buy a better version of your software of choice.

btw, he meant the software times out. the hardware will work just fine. The annoying thing about those type of anti-piracy measures is that they tend to inconvenience the customer more than pirates. In the time it takes to go through steinberg's drawn out process to get a crap version of their software working, one could have the pirated version downloaded and running without the headache.

Hi, 
Just to clarify, the scarlett 2i2 doesn't have midi i/o, the 2i4 has midi.

A few years back a bought the presonus firestudio project and it came with cubase le4, it worked very very good for me that I ended buying the full version of cubase.

My Tascam came with Cubase LE. It is a 100% working version but yes, with lot's of fancy stuff missing. But you know what, Nothing that is missing is anything I needed anyway. And most of my VST collection from Sonar and wave lab shows in the  Cubase list.  
Cubase does have a PITA registration system and you have to do it to even post on the user forum. But once you have an account your good for life. You can even purchase a Dongle to allow using multiple computers. 
So there is very good value for some in getting a basic version of DAW software with the interface. It might be all you ever need. And most allow a pathway to upgrades for a reasonable amount. 

The more I look at what you are using this for, the more I think the UR22 is worth a look for you. For what you are paying for the 212 you are getting the midi i/o you said you need. There are tons of free resources for sounds and lots of great freebie plugins that are on par with bundled vsts. The other reason I think the UR22 is worth a look is because the bundled software can be upgraded for 39.99 to the next level cubase called elements. Elements comes with a very useful MPC style vst instrument for hip-hop called groove agent one. It also has a good pitch correction vst as well. Pick up a copy of compuuter music magazine and you will have a decent supply of instruments and effects to get you going.