If you bought the programs, than usually there`s an option for an automatic update. Granted that perhaps updating may require you to buy the newest versions of both of these software. Though I recon that if you have legit programs, than you can download stuff from their website (you know, compressors, plug, etc), regardless of your version.

To be honest, I dunno much about Reason and Acid, but its logical.
However. If you downloaded a cracked version of those, than that`s a different story entirely. If that`s the case than you may have to do that again.

Greetings from Brighton UK! Noobie to your forum... I get song ideas middle of the night and want to leap up and bang them down as sketches to play to band later. what i need is a windows 7 prog where I can record drums either from my alesis hr16 machine or use a metronome loop (either imported into prog or built in) then same with my bass or use same looping technique (like 303) then chuck a guitar and keys on then couple vocals. Need simplicity cos I've lost the song idea by the time I've waded thru some progs. I've been recommended using ESI Maya to plug instruments in via USB. BASICALLY I NEED AN 8 TRACK PORTASTUDIO ON MY LAPTOP!! Please help. My dilemma is i just want to throw songs at the band and let them mess around with them before we rehearse. no fuss, just basic. thanx in advance for any advice you got for me. cheers!

Here is a list of the relatively easy to use programs that I know of which may suit your needs:

Recording software:

1. Nuendo
2. Cubase
3. Cakewalk sonar
4. N-track Studio
5. MixCraft
6. Logic
7. FL Studio

Granted there are others, but those are very user friendly (in my opinion). All of which work just fine on Windows 7

Gotta question here. Does anybody have any advice on how to program custom drum tracks in Drumkit From Hell or transfer drum tracks from Ableton 8 to DFH? I've managed to get the files from Ableton to my MIDI files in DFH, but they won't play. And yeah, I've tried running as an administrator. What am I missing?

Logic Pro 9 if you have a mac.
Reason or Pro Tools if you have a PC.

Set up a project in cubase.
configure all your inputs for your drum machine, guitar, keyboard and vocal.
save the project


wake up in the middle of the night
open up project
record enable

BOOM rough demo

Ok I have used every major DAW out there, and with out a doubt the most powerful and user friendly (IMO of course) is Pre-Sonus studio 1 pro 2, there are tons of features that other programs just do not have, one of which is hoping from your master file to the mix, if you hear something in your master you need to bring up or down you literally click a toggle in the top left and it goes to your mix, also it has some amazing stock plugins, this is the first software I have ever used, that didn't make me think of something I wish it did or did better or easier, and best of all it is cheap, even free depending on your moral out look, I got a free copy when I bought my interface.

My favorite features are,

1.The mastering software allows you to arrange your album master, the whole thing in one view and has powerful features that detect volume differences between tracks.

2.The layout reminds me a lot of logic, my 2nd favorite DAW, and is super user friendly, it seems like the programer was inside my brain, making things easy to figure out because they are how you would of put them.

3.Stock plugins and presets are all you really need for a great mix.

4.You can personalize the home screen to have your album art and artist info, so that when you export, its already tagged correctly for the project.

5. they used colors that were designed to be easy on the eyes, so you do not get fatigued during long sessions.

6. It is a standalone software, you do not have to have your interface to open tracks, and edit tracks. making mixing on your laptop very easy and if you route your files to an online drive you can mix the same song from multiple places.

For the longest time pro-tools was what people swore by, mainly because it had way more plugins than anything else. but now there is a competitive market,
I very highly recommend this over every other software.

Any CSound users in the house?

I'd like to compose a waltz or Balkan melody, but have only found either composing programs where you merely produce sheets, or music making programs which are made for band music. Any good references?

Amateur Production Software
 

For anyone looking for amateur music production software try out Dr.drum, its cheap and v. user friendly and great for beginners.