Completely Overwhelmed - Got A Min?, Overwhelmed and seeking advice Options

[damon]

I'm completely overwhelmed. I'd love some help.

I'm an ex-DJ (1994-1996) turned tech worker turned wannabe musician. I've been persuing this new life since July last year, and have more or less been reading constantly, learning theory basics, learning about synthesis (I've spend most of my time on synthesis, pretty good now actually) and am now getting ready to build a home project studio of significance.

I have been saving hard, so I've got a good amount of money to spend.

Right now, I'm trying to use Logic. I bought the big box, and have an EMI 2|6 (not 6|2) which is fed by my synths which are plugged into a Mackie 1202 VLZ.

Here's the thing: Yes, the environment makes sense, yes, I can make Logic work, but it just doesn't sit with me. I just don't *like* using it. I've messed with ProTools Free (I love the workflow... audio to the right, midi snips to the left, very fast for me) and DP 3 at a pal's studio, and they both feel so much more natural to me. However, I keep reading how incredible Logic is, how nice the plugins are, how great the sampler is, etc.

So, the big question is: How important is it for me to learn to love Logic? I'm overwhelmed with the options out there, and would like to settle, but I just can't seem to enjoy myself with it.

In building out the project studio, I'm about to invest in a control surface, a big audio interface, etc, and the sequencer I choose affects this. With PT, I'd get a 002 in a second. With Logic it's a HALO or a Firestation or the Hammerfall and the Logic Control. With DP, I have no idea since apparantly the MOTU 828 drivers choke serious goatbutt in OS X atm.

So, please, does anyone have some wisdom/guidence/grand words from a grand poobah to sprinkle down to this wee blind lost scared wounded limping potentially logic-allergic sheep?

Thank you kindly. ;-]

[manexmachina]

I can make Logic work, but it just doesn't sit with me. I just don't *like* using it.

After years and years with ProTools I started learning logic. I had a friend's manual and sat at his system and wanted to love it (because I didn't when I started) and after a day or so I really *got* it. I totally understood why people would love it and think it was the most powerful midi tool out there and I decided right then, I wasn't going to use it. Like you, it wasn't fun. Yeah, you can set it up etc etc and you can learn to love it, but that's just one more thing to learn. I totally understoood what someone once told me... "DP is the tool for those who love the music and Logic is the tool for those who love the tool."

Use what inspires you. That's why I'm on a Mac. It sure isn't its currenly slow processing speed - it's that the workflow works for me.

DP is very pretty, Cubase SX (and Nuendo 2) are not quite as pretty, but they're just as fun to use. I love ProTools, but 1) it's midi capabilities are lacking and 2) I'm just sooooo tired of them being so hardware focused.

Now, on the flip side, the 002 might be the ticket for you. It's an awsome little pacakge if you're wanting a control surface. Lots of instruments are apparently starting to make RTAS plugs. It's definitely a contender and isn't a $10,000 investment which will become $20,000 and then have to be totally upgraded in 2 years. If that's the thing that's speaking to you - figure out what it is really lacking that you would need? Tempo mapping? you need that? does it have it?

I wouldn't tell you what to get... but they all do pretty much same stuff (with some exceptions)... they do it differently. You need to think about what you are doing with it and anything you hear, you want to know what the source of that info does with it. I do scores and pop-type music.

There's no perfect choice, so go with the one that seems to make the workflow the most fun and the simplest. And don't let anyone convince you that any tool is the only must have - look for the little bonuses that will help you be more productive. ProTools, Logic, Cubase/Nuendo, DP - they're all a hell of a lot better than what I was using back in '91 and I did some okay stuff back then.