Pro Tools or cake walk
 

Building a home studio and would love some input...

I would get Sonar Producer Edition. Basically the normal Cakewalk with MUCH more editing tools. It blows protools out of the water. Plus its free if you know where to look ;)

I would get the Mbox 2, then you have a recording interface + the industry standard in software with many available plugins.

Mbox 2 Mini is fairly inexpensive and it's great for starting out- comes with a few plugins too.

The new Samplitude is supposed to be incredible. That's what some close friends of mine are using and they have nothing but good things to say about it.

I went with pro tools after some research. The M-box mini at first but decided that i would rather have to m-box 2 and swapped out the mini. First I have to say that the M-box 2 and pro tools is awesome esspecially since i am a guitarist as well. I love being able to have all the tools nesessary to make a great sound. Yes by the work i have done you can tell that it will take some time but i learn something new every day. They have great support and i dont think i could ask for more just yet. Pro tools I have decided is the way for me thanks all!!

I haven't used ProTools, But I own CW's Sonar 7 Producer Edition, and I wouldn't dream of switching to anything else.
I can't make any comparisons to ProTools, but I can say that Sonar is more than capable of providing the recording and production tools you need and at a professional level.

The best thing for you to do is research both programs and decide which is best for you.

Pro tools is what the pros use. Does sonar have an interface?? Im honestly asking cause i dont know. I know that there are many stand alone products like reason, ableton live, ect but these are all able to be used as plug ins for pro tools. I have never used sonar so I cant compare either but I love pt. I just need to get an ilok key. I mean I love pt its awesome.

Sonar doesn't come with an audio interface, no. But personally, I'd rather choose my own interface regardless.
I currently have an Echo Audiofire 12, which has 12 balanced inputs and 12 balanced outs. It's necessary because I record drums and other instruments through a 16 channel Mackie board and I don't like sub mixing and ending up without control of all my elements.
If I'd gone with the Mbox stuff, I'd be assed out.
So really the peripherals are a matter of situational requirement.

As far as going with PT because it's an industry standard, well, I can assure you that professional studios don't JUST use PT. PT simply serves as a tracking program for a lot of those guys because it's simple and it does the job. But when you get into production in the box, mastering, extensive editing and other stuff, I know they rely on a host of other software.

Because of that fact, I chose Sonar because it offered the majority of all those things in one package. The audio engine is just as good as PT, which can operate at 64bit floating. The limitations in Sonar are dictated by your computer's performance. That's it.

I like Sonar because it offers a complete recording solution, and at the same time, a complete production solution that allows me to produce from scratch, all the way down to the finished product.
And it comes with amazing plugins.

Again, it's really situational requirements. Sonar works for me. PT works for you. But if you find yourself needing to buy additional things to iron out your recordings, then that's when you have to begin evaluating whether or not your software is really providing your needs or just serving as a nice hype hook.

Protools is definitely the industry standard. I hear a lot of people say it can be an adjustment from timeline based programs. But, depending on what you want to do with your music, its worth it. Hey, if you can get the job done with a less expensive/advanced program then go for it! Best wishes