Which Sequencer

I have decided to make the leap from using Sony Acid to going with a more industry standard sequencer. My two choices are pro tools m-powered or cubase (don't know which version, give me hints). I read yesterday that Pro Tools does not support VST which means I could not use my EWSO Gold XP Pro. If this is true then I definitely don't want that. However, maybe there is a way around that. What do you guys think?

There are plenty of ways around that.

Pro tools is RTAS right? Because I do think that EW products are also RTAS. And if not the current ones, definately the PLAY ones (the new sampler) will be. So nothing to worry about that. Plus you can always go stand alone and midi yoke and see how it goes...

Cubase: Well I've heard the worst things about Cubase 4, so I would suggest to sit with SX3 (or SL3 depends on what you really need and how much you want to spend), and be safe, than sorry...

But there are other programs in the game, also very powerful. Although I don't know if you're on Mac or Pc (could be both, at least for Cubase, which is not the best choice for a Mac to begin with), try the following as well:

Logic, for Mac only

Sonar, for PC only

Digital Performer, for Mac only

Nuendo 3, for both (cubases big brother, and much more expensive and also better of course)

and there could be a couple more around.

Word had it that Pro Tools was not very good at midi, but excellent with audio. It seems that word has it that this is not the case anymore.

I, personally, use Cubase for which I'm really happy, but then again I don't do much picture, only sequencing, so I don't know how Cubase would handle a 15 minute animation short for example, nor I know what you are aiming for...

I am PC based. The other thing is I am used to composing on paper or in Sibelius so I think the score feature of cubase would help me make a transition. Is it worth it to go up to Cubase Studio or would the lower SE version be ok? What other programs are recomended. I really want it to have the capability to compose with video just to try practising with video. Thanks!!!

For starters you could still be composing on paper/Sibelius and transfer the midi file from the computer straight to any sequencers you want...

I've mentioned quite a lot of program I believe, most of which have various versions. Cubase comes at SX3, SL3, SE3 (probably a bit low for my needs, but maybe it's fine for you), at version 4 it's Cubase 4 and Cubase 4 studio.

Sonar comes at 3 versions again, I believe...

Nuendo seem to me a tad too expensive for you, since you're looking at SE products...

Don't know your needds so don't know if the lower SE version will be ok. I've no idea how you are used to doing things, or how you will work. This is up to you to decide. Go to Steinberg site (SBC webhosting.com | steinberg.com I think... if not google it) and search for comparison charts. They will give you an idea on what to look for.

I have been looking at the comparison charts and I don't really know what alot of the stuff is even. The only thing I really use sequencers for so far is to sample my music. Price is not a huge issue if the software is going to have things that make my work flow faster. Thats the only reason (that I know of) for switching to a sequencer. If a sequencer has features that cost a lot more, I am ok with that because if it helps productivity then it will save me in the long run. Also I am very much a "vertical" composer and I dont always know what an instrument will be doing all the way through a piece (Im just not that good enough). So I would like tools that I can learn that will help me to do this efficiently in a sequencer. So based on that what is the word on which sequencer I should go with?

Ok.

I use Cubase SL3, personally. I love Cubase and wouldn't change it for anything. I've tryied Logic but I actually hated it, and I gave it a full year actually!

Productivity? Again it is up to you and how you do things... I can't tell you anything, or give you advice on that.

Charts, what to look for:

How many midi/audio tracks the sequencer can take.

What resolution and bit it can go to.

How many inserts it has

What plug-ins it comes with.

for example wioth Cubase SL3 you get a bunch of Steinberg plug-ins which are not bad at all to begin with. You also get a fairly good algorithm on pitch shift, reverse, time stretch, phase stuff etc, which can also be named plug-ins (as you can also find them in plug-ins), but they are rather good, as audio processes. I don't know that Sonar comes with.

Problems with SL3, for me: At SX series you can actually apply a plug-in straight to the waveform, without adding it as an insert. Just a waveform box. This is missing in SL3 and I dearly miss it, as I'm wasting RAM for inserts here and there.

Limited inserts. It has 5 slots, while SX has 8. Depends on what work you do. with EWQL you won't need any inserts really, the sound is fine out of the box, mostly, but if you were into dance, etc, then the 5 would be minimal really...

The algorithm used for the audio applications (mentioned above), are not enough for me anymore, quality wise.

In other words I'd love to update to SX3 (not 4, it's still full of bugs and does not support direct-x plug-ins, at least last time I checked)

Nuendo has a bunch of further applications and much better video connections, etc, as well as better plug-ins, and audio applications. It is great. But it costs the earth really... Twice as much as Cubase SX3...

None comes with a sampler. Get Kontakt 2, if you're really into doing a better job. It jas scripts, can load pretty much everything, and has a discount sinec you have EWQL Gold xp pro. It also manages RAM much more efficiently, and has 16 midi tracks instead of 8 (Kompakt from EW).

find a way to try them out, before buying. Go to a store and play with them. see what feels better, as this is really impotant. In the end most sequencers are pretty much the same (no FL Studio, or Reason are not proper sequencers to begin with). See how it goes.. If there are demos around download them and play for a few days. See, listen, feel, play, click and you'll see how it goes.

I don't think I can offer much further advice (without you asking any more questions that is). I mean you have plenty of info to start searching on your own. You will be the one using it, you will be the one buying it in the end. It's not good, me telling you that I use Cubase SL3. For all we know, you could hate the guts of Cubase...