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. ;-]

[rickenbacker]

I can understand you saying Logic doesn't really sit well with you - I felt the same. It's similar to why I prefer Macromedia design tools to Adobe - Freehand rather than Illustrator. I just like the interface better, the way it works.

You might like to consider Cubase SX or the cheaper SL, which I find much more straightforward in use than Logic but still powerful enough for pro results. VST compatible, too, so a lot of soft synths around.

However, I've now come back to Logic with version 6. The supplied plug-ins are superior, IMHO, and the capabilities now with 6 are unmatched. There is also a VST wrapper available (fxpansion.com?) that converts VST plugs into Audio Units for use in Logic. Haven't tried it yet, but they promise extremely low latency.

I'd say having come this far, stick with Logic - unless you REALLY don't get on with it. In that case, there are plenty of alternatives that all do more or less the same thing.