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I figure this is THE place to ask advice on this subject. For starters I am a total newbie to computerized recording and mixing of audio but not computer use in other areas. I'm looking for an easy to learn and use recording software for my home computer. It should be affordable as well. I'm thinking about Sony Acid Pro7. I want to record and mix my own music as well as adding loops. I want something that will grow with me as my skills & knowledge improve. Any advice before I spend the $$$$? If there is better software for the price please let me know.

I'm a SONAR user, which is fairly expensive for first timers, although they have some entry level programs with less bells an whistles.I'd check into Reaper.I've never used it, but lots of knowledgeable folks say its quite remarkable for the price.

Reaper's amazing, especially for the money, but probably not the best choice for a newbie. It's not the most intuitive interface. Still, you should download the free trial and give it a whirl. If you're a software techno already you might take a shining to it. There's a very active user forum wiht folks all too happy to answer questions.Reaper dnld: http://reaper.fm/download.phpReaper forum: http://forum.cockos.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20ACID pro is very intutive and handles loops really intuitivelyl. SONAR is also very nice and ships with a great set of plugins. Lots of other options too, Cubase, Logic (Mac only), Pro Tools, etc.) Best thing to do IMO, is jump in with some trials and demos. Get your feet wet find out what you like and don't like. They're all capable of producing amazing results; it's just a matter of fining one that matches your style, workflow and budget, then going out and making great music!Have fun and post up your decision and how you like the products you've tried out.

SONAR Home Studio is not very expensive, and LE ships free with some interfaces (E-MU, etc.) It has most of the features of the full model, and is plenty powerful to start with.

Just starting out, you're going to need some sort of interface (hopefully with a decent mic pre, or a standalone mic pre, and a LDC, and some decent monitors, and a clean amp to drive them, and closed back headphones for tracking without recording the click, and maybe some more memory for the computer, and possibly some sort of room treatment, and...).Ooops. Sorry.If you don't have an interface yet (the analog to digital converter), learn about those too. You might find one you like that does have at least one mic preamp (with phantom power, please) that sounds nice enough...and if it comes with a light version of a software package, you might just go with that to start, in case start up $$ is limited (hmmm...isn't it always?!?).What type of music? Rock & pop? Electronica? Orchestra? The genre may point you to a stronger package for your needs too.PC or Mac?

Ableton Live is also a very good package for loop-based music; you might also look into Fruity Loops.

I second the Ableton Live!B

I think Acid would be a pretty darn good choice, taketwo..i didnt always think so, but i met a producer that remixed oneof my songs using Acid, and i was blown away by what he coulddo with that program..best of luck to you!!!!

Hey taketwo!I've mentioned this on a couple of ocassions, but Acid is probably one of the easiest recording & mixing software packages you could possibly get your hands on. I didn't do a great deal of recording when I was using it, but for mixing, editing, & creating loops, etc... ya' can't go wrong. For someone starting out, I think it would probably be "one" of the best packages available. IMO, "EASY" is usually the best way ta' go in the beginning. Hope that helps.ibanez468

I'm a Pro Tools user myself, but I wouldn't recommend it for a newbie. I actually started out with Cakewalk and Acid 2.0. I think Acid would be a great recording package for you to start out with. As you spend more time recording and mixing, you'll start to get a sense for the type of tools that you'll need for the kinds of music that you do. Then you'll reach a point where you will want to re-evaluate where you're at with your software and what the next step would be. There is no magic timeframe for when you reach that point, but you'll know it when you get there. - Big Blue