which program is the best?

[Genophonics]

I'm very new to producing so am trying to wrap my head around all I can at the moment. I only understand stuff in laymens terms but I'm learning somewhat fast. I've thrown together a few things here n there in a months time. Right now I'm using Reason 5 but I wanna know how to archive that professional sound?
Is it all done with hardware? or can it be done with just software? Like a program and VST plug ins.

I've heard fruity loops get's you pretty cheesy sounds but I'm not close minded and don't really believe that. Which one would be the best? I know most have there ins and outs but it would be good to get some advice and hear what people personally like. Because I want to get really familier with one program and since i'm just starting out this would be the best time to decide what program I'm going to use. It was a throw up between.

Reason
Logic
Fruity Loops
Ableton

There is probably many more that I don't even know of haha.

[Basic A]

You can make professional sounds on any DAW, Massive isnt a DAW its a synthesizer dude lmfao. And you can make any sound on any synths dont lie to yourself.

Its not what you use, its how you use it.

I never got on with rReason because I like audio clips, but alot people use it to great result, all about finding what easiest to let YOUR ideas out for YOU, and sticking with it. But daw doesnt effect sound, and theres NOTHING WRONG WITH FL.

[upstateface]

Ableton Live

[Genophonics]

Is a lot of stuff just made from the DAW's though? I know external stuff like midi keyboards can be used and are helpful but I'm mainly wondering if outboard compressors or equalizers are used with DAW's a lot of the time to make the over all sound better? I know outboard gear isn't cheap that's why I ask and neither are plug ins.

Right now I'm liking Reason but the whole audio clips thing is kind of a bummer, I'm having to chop my audio in pro-tools then import them as small samples. I've heard lots of good things about Ableton and Logic. not so much Reason.

[Nessie]

http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=169709

[ninjadog]

The best program is the one that suites the way you work. We can't tell you what that is. Every piece of software is different and has some advantages and disadvantages over everything else.
All of them will have a learning curve so it would be difficult for a beginner to try like 5 or 6 different ones in a week and decide which is best for you, so I can see why you'd think you could get an answer on which is the best and then spend your time and energy learning that one.
I would say Reason, Logic or Live.
I learned on Reason and I love it, the way it emulates hardware with cables and all is one of it's strong points but also can be seen as it's weakness. It takes a little more work to fatten up your sound in Reason, but if you also want to dabble in audio engineering it might be a good choice. If you've already got your feet wet with Reason may as well jump in.
Logic is my new weapon of choice but I am still dicking around trying to figure it out. It is definetly more powerful than Reason and inherently more complicated. The insturments and effects included with Logic are really good and sound awesome right out the gate.
I have fucked around a bit with Reaper and Live but I have found they don't suite the way I work. I might give Live another chance someday tho because it is so dj friendly.

My best advice is to shell out and buy a program because that way you WILL force your self to learn it.

[DZA]

Ableton Live

[qwaycee_]

renoise.

very simple

http://renoise.com

try it out. watch the introduction and it will all make perfect sense.

[Basic A]

Is a lot of stuff just made from the DAW's though? I know external stuff like midi keyboards can be used and are helpful but I'm mainly wondering if outboard compressors or equalizers are used with DAW's a lot of the time to make the over all sound better? I know outboard gear isn't cheap that's why I ask and neither are plug ins.

Right now I'm liking Reason but the whole audio clips thing is kind of a bummer, I'm having to chop my audio in pro-tools then import them as small samples. I've heard lots of good things about Ableton and Logic. not so much Reason.

Outboard is less common then you think. Especially in dubstep, very digital genre from a broad generalization sorta standpoint.

Its really in the skill of the producer, DAWs are fully capable, hardware doesnt have AS huge an effect as youd think, certainly NO effect that would make up for years of learning.

Just pick a good, capable DAW, and learn from there.

[sixth sense]

Try out the Reason 5 demo

[ketamine]

Logic

+1

[Kes-Es]

I produce out of FL and I like to think My shit's alright, fuckkkkk DAW loyalists, seriously.

Get what's most comfortable for you and looks the most like something you wouldn't mind staring at for hour upon hour upon hour.

You're not going to be making pro quality shit right out of the box with ANY DAW, so you might as well smoke a J and acquaint yourself with whatever you can afford because at the end of the day, It doesn't fuckking matter and A shiny hammer doesn't make you a better carpenter.

[Electric_Head]

You can make professional sounds on any DAW, Massive isnt a DAW its a synthesizer dude lmfao. And you can make any sound on any synths dont lie to yourself.

Its not what you use, its how you use it.

I never got on with rReason because I like audio clips, but alot people use it to great result, all about finding what easiest to let YOUR ideas out for YOU, and sticking with it. But daw doesnt effect sound, and theres NOTHING WRONG WITH FL.

Cubase can be great but I`m similar to Basic A with my use of samples.
For that reason I use Reaper.

Basic A - what do you use?
Have you tried Reaper?
I find it is the best program to use for live sample work.
I have used Cubase for years but just find Reaper to be soo much more user friendly when working with samples.
The media explorer allows you to preview sample content in the context of the tune.
This I find to be an amazing feature.
It just removes the need to use a sampler or similar tool to preview the sample in the context of the tune.

[1aoone1]

I've heard fruity loops get's you pretty cheesy sounds

Well thats Defo a lie, I tend to use a mix of FL, Acid and Massive. Its a pretty good combination.

[Ongelegen]

The best program is the one that suites the way you work.

this x1000!!

[victor w]

It's called 'professional sound' for a reason. Professionals acheive it, because theyre...professional. Just keep practicing and learning.

And Reason is the best. Period. Don't listen to what anyone else says. Another period.

[Phase Down]

theres one thing you've got to start realising, that basicly every daw has the same options, they just go there through different routes.. whichever works for you, it DOESNT matter on your sound.

[AJGR]

It's called 'professional sound' for a reason. Professionals acheive it, because theyre...professional. Just keep practicing and learning.

And Reason is the best. Period. Don't listen to what anyone else says. Another period.

this is spot on

to the OP, it takes a long time to get a professional sound using any software or hardware. it really doesn't matter what you use as long as you enjoy it.

did you say you had Pro Tools? Logic is pretty much the same thing but harder and more annoying to use imo.

[AJGR]

Right now I'm liking Reason but the whole audio clips thing is kind of a bummer, I'm having to chop my audio in pro-tools then import them as small samples. I've heard lots of good things about Ableton and Logic. not so much Reason.

that's because your doing it wrong, Reason 5 has a wave editor.

[deadly_habit]

renoise
cubase
pro tools
my setup