Hey there. I would consider myself an electronic musician, and have been using GarageBand lately as my music software. However, GarageBand really limits me in these ways:

1) I do not have enough software instruments or samples to work with. GarageBand barely provides anything in that area.

2) GarageBand's mixing tools are also extremely limited.

Can anyone recommend a good piece of software, that will resolve the above two issues? I just want to be able to have my MIDI keyboard plugged into my Mac, and be able to write electronic music with a good library of software instruments and samples, and also a satisfactory set of mixing tools. I also am not willing to spend more than maybe 7 or 8 hundred dollars. In an extreme case I might spend 1k, but I am hoping that this is not necessary.

Nothing with a HUGE learning curve either. I am willing to spend some time getting familiar with the software, but nothing extreme.

I was looking into Propellerhead Software's Reason, but I'm still not sure exactly what it is. Is it what I am looking for?

Any help greatly appreciated.

This post has been edited by dgm: Thu 19 Jul 2007, 00:32

You must have a different GarageBand than I have. There are more than enough software instruments and samples to work with in GarageBand. Often I'm overwhelmed with the amount of material that's there. If you feel limited, I'd like to suggest that limits aren't always bad. Like a 12-tone row, the limits actually open up possibilities you might have never considered before, and suddenly you realized that the limits actually open the window wider.

Reason is a good program, too, but I'm worried that you might feel limited with that, too, if you feel limited by GarageBand. Maybe something didn't get installed right. Try re-installing GarageBand and see if you may have missed something.

HaHaWorld

If you have somewhat deep pockets, you could spring for Logic (I believe it is $1k). I used Garageband only a few times, but I believe the two programs look pretty similar visually, which would help reduce your learning curve. Logic is a superb program, one with myriad abilities, a lot of which I haven't touched yet. The thing I like about it is I can use it for scoring (what I started with) and then gradually learn the entire program. I also have ProTools, and to be honest I like the Logic interface better now that I'm used to it.

I'm not sure what you mean exactly by "electronic musician," but as far as I know Reason is just a souped-up sequencer. So if you do mostly dance beats, techno, etc. I guess that would work.

Reason is easy to use and u can get tons of sounds for it. you can buy 2.5 on ebay for around $100 to 150. and Logic pro 7 ,which is the best , on ebay for around $400/500 .they work great rerwire Reaso/Logic i use that combo ,and love it !!!!!

Also be aware that the Garage Band Instruments are programable you can create your own soundbanks.

S4 has GB expansion packs that add new instruments
http://www.samples4.com/catalog/product_in...990a3338b6a15ac

http://www.samples4.com/catalog/product_in...products_id/596

I'd say demo all the software you can get your hands on. I decided a couple of years back to use Ableton. I make electronic music too and have never felt limited. Whenever I've thought "Hmm, I wonder of I can do that...?", there's always been a way.