Making Music Digitally

[Latro]

So, I know that there are a number of you that play in bands and was wondering if you use software to make digital tracks?  If so, is it easy?

I came across this tutorial for garageband on the mac but I've heard from Powdered, I think, that there are some software packages on the PC that work better.

http://www.sclipo.com/video/make-a-beat-using-garageband_1

I know that you have to have musical talent to start with, but if you do, is it as easy as the tutorial depicts to draft parts together digitally?

[Duracell]

My brother produces a few local bands, I know he uses Ableton and I think some MAC programs as well.

[Labyrinthine]

Back when I did the whole music thing, I used Pro Tools and Reason. Then a few other programs for some odds and ends.

[Powdered!]

Garage Band is an extremely simple to use program.  If you're doing simple work, there honestly is no better program to do it with.  It's the perfect program for doing demos and for a band's trying to make some music on the cheap.
The problem with it is that it doesn't have a lot of depth that a more expensive program will. The biggest problem I noticed with it back when I tinkered with it is that it is not very good at editing and individual track.

If you're REALLY serious about recording, and have the money to spend, Pro Tools is the industry standard for a reason.

There are a lot of other programs you can use though, and many of them have demos that you can try out until you find one that works for you:

Cakewalk
Cubase
Garage Band's Big Brother, Logic
Adobe Audition

There are people that swear by each of these programs. I personally use Cubase SX3, because I know what I'm doing with it.

[Jedakiah]

I've had Adobe Audition for years, never bothered to install it though.