I need to upgrade from Garage Band

[Stumplegriltskin]

What do you suggest?

Here's the extent of what I do

Couple guitar tracks, bass, superior drummer 2.0. I have just about all of the waves plugins, so I'll need to figure out how to get those into the new program.

The main reason for wanting to upgrade is the drum programming interface. It sucks on Garage band. I've been watching some videos online and seen a few drum programming interfaces that look a little more user friendly. The one in garage band doesn't even tell you what is what, as far as snare, kick, etc....
Have to click on it to hear what it is. Tired of it. I do a lot of editing of the existing grooves and want something that makes the process a little bit easier.

So what do you suggest? Something that's easy, not $500? I do Oracle database shit by day. So I don't want to have to do endless complex stuff when I'm writing music. I just figure it's time to upgrade from the dark ages of garage band for my mac.

 

[155]

logic x and be done its awesome and easy to adapt to , and cheap

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

I have Logic now, but not X. It's got a lot of shit in it, kind of intimidating. Was good at it once, then converted to using GB and lost all my skills. Dumb move.
Anything else?

 

[the recluse]

Echoing the Logic X remarks, only $200 downloaded from itunes. I just bought some $100 itunes cards for $80 each off ebay (it's a paypal digital gifts special) so I got it for $160.

The tiny little bit I played the new Drummer plugin seemed to be very useful.

 

[glassjaw7]

Logic seems like the logical choice for you, owning a Mac and coming from Garageband. They have a similar workflow and you don't have to go in depth if you don't want to. I've been messing around in Ableton live lite and that's pretty cool too.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

Is the drum programming interface better than what is in GB?

 

[flash6969]

The midi programming is totally pro - get Logic

Yes it will take a few weeks to learn & adapt but it will offer endless possibilities & is the best value for money for any DAW

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

Is the drum programming interface better than what is in GB?

yes for gods sake. call me if you need a tutorial.

I don't know how I put up with this for so long. See what I mean, you can't even tell what's what as far as the drums.
Damn, can't upgrade from my existing logic either. Well what's another $200 to Apple?

 

[PBGas]

If you are used to Garage band then the next step for you is Logic. For the price it has so much to offer in the box. I use Presonus Studio One 3 as well and it is a fantastic program.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

Hmm.... Some of the videos I'm watching, the drum names are at the left side and the editing is a little easier. I mean I know how to do it in GB, but it's not really efficient.

 

[Bob Savage]

Somebody slap that boy.

Really, you should take a look at all the available packages and decide for yourself based upon your requirements.

I echo the same as those in this thread though, get Logic X.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

Basically, it depends if you want to really do some work here. Like get shit right and make it sound great and all the trimmings.
If your using Superior. There is an editor window in that can see all the names.
If you use Logic and bring all the separate drum pieces onto their own tracks and mix like a real studio, then your cooking with gas.
Logic has a piano roll editor that you can resize etc.

if you can't tell which is your bass drum, or your snare from your patterns, then its not going to be easier in logic.

i haven't seen anyone name the KEYS of their piano roll in logic, if anyone knows how to do that. Post it here.

I can tell what's what. I was just watching this today and it just looks like a much better interface for drum programming. Cool you can resize the editor in logic. Good to know.

 

[guitarobert]

I can tell what's what. I was just watching this today and it just looks like a much better interface for drum programming. Cool you can resize the editor in logic. Good to know.

In that video he is using Cubase as the DAW. And I'll be the voice of dissent and recommend getting Cubase. This video is actually one that turned me onto Cubase in the first place. Its drum editor is great! I'm pretty dumb when it comes to DAWs and have been through Logic, Ableton, Reaper, and maybe even tried some others. But Cubase is the one that ended up making sense.

Here's a recommendation. Cubase comes in 3 levels. Get the cheapest version, Cubase Elements. $99 and it includes the same drum editor that is in the most expensive version. If you later want things that are in the more expensive versions you can upgrade for just the difference in price. But also buy the book Power Tools for Cubase 7. The manual that comes with Cubase is pretty bad as far as a tutorial goes, but this book is excellent. It's worth the $30 or so. So for around $130 you can have a DAW with a great drum editor and a book to get you up and running. There's my sales pitch.

There's also a good community. Someone posted drum maps for Cubase for Toontrack products here. This will show the actual drum names for the EZD and Superior kits in the Cubase drum editor.
http://www.toontrack.com/forum/studio-corner-1/where-can-i-download-the-cubase-drum-maps/#p151636

 

[IHateRap]

I second Cubase for drum programming. Creating drum maps/velocity control/humanize functions....all very intuitive in Cubase. I set up a huge drum map for Toontrack's Metal Machine library. I refuse to look at piano keys while trying to program drums.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

I second Cubase for drum programming. Creating drum maps/velocity control/humanize functions....all very intuitive in Cubase. I set up a huge drum map for Toontrack's Metal Machine library. I refuse to look at piano keys while trying to program drums.

See, that's what I'm saying. It's fucking 2015. I'm not a fucking piano player.

 

[ibenhad]

Screw Apple and their bs money grubbing ways. Get Reaper and be done with it. Tons of tutorials and you can skin it to look and function a bit like PT if that's your thing.

 

[sixstringking713]

I like cubase..