Sound Design
 

I was just wondering, what programs do you all use for sound?

Im looking specifically at programs that will help with creating music that are somewhat composition-based. Im getting kinda sick of the old frootyloops, do you guys have any suggestions?

Hi Ben, and welcome to DVinfo. I've moved your post to our audio forum where I think you'll get a better response. But first I think you'll need to tell us what kind of computer you're using....

ACID, Sonar, Soundtrack Pro, Logic, CuBase, Musicator, Sound Forge, Peak, Audition, Protools, Voyetra, and so many more are all tools with which you can create sound or juice existing sounds.

CuBase when I need the editing power and 4-channel simultaneous recording, but I really like the simple little SoundStudio applett that came with my Mac.

If you're on a budget you can try Audacity, a free open source recording and editing program for windows. They claim up to 16 tracks can be recorded at a time with proper hardware. A version came with my M-Audio Microtrack 24/96. I have Soundforge and Vegas so I don't need it, but it appears to be quite handy.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

If your budget will allow, the combination of Wavelab and Nuendo, both from Steinberg, are starting to give Protools a run for the money in the broadcast and feature film markets.

sound tools
 

I use (in any order according to the project and/or creative whim of the moment) Steinberg CubaseSX, Nuendo, a collection of VST Plug-Ins (tons), VST Instruments (Halion, Stylus RMX, others), SoundTrack Pro, Garage Band, Bias Peak, and my 3 most useful assets: artistry, creativity, and experience. (when functioning!) :)

Ben,

I use Logic for composition because it has the handy little feature of allowing you to output video to a client monitor via a firewire video output during playback, and timecode built in. It's great for composing, especially because of the really high quality instruments it comes with (the exs24 sampler is amazing, for instance).

Also, for standard audio editing, protools is a good option, and not as expensive as it has been in the past (mbox or m-audio card with protools mpowered are both very affordable complete recording, editing and mixing systems)... pretty much any of the popular daw's will work for you - cubase, sonar and digital performer can be nice and functional programs.

I suggest trying as many as you can and seeing which one you really feel comfortable with, features and operationally.

Vote for Nuendo! Or Pro Tools if you want to spend the money.

yeah, the major benefit of Nuendo over pro tools is that it comes with the ability to edit with timecode out of the box... where as Pro Tools LE requires the "DV Toolkit" to be added (it's almost a grand extra).

on the other hand, if you don't need timecode for anything (again, it's useful to have the timecode in your digital audio workstation match the timecode of your edit reels), Pro Tools might end up being cheaper (mbox is 550 with the factory bundled fx and comes with protools software, where as nuendo is 1999 and pretty much comes with everything).

Steinberg's Cubase software (Nuendo's little brother) is pretty darned capable as well, and can also handle a video track in projects.... and it's only $500.00