I am an old timer from the analog days. I am looking at redoing a few songs. I have some old analog equipment and may pickup a Korg MS2000 and maybe a Waldorf Pulse rack with 3 VCOs.

I am looking for some fairly easy seqencer software so i can prep it for a local studio with a bass player and guitarist. Looking to get it done in one or two takes after practicing before hand.

I was looking at the German Synapse Audio Orion Pro 7.6? The cost is about $149. It includes lots of VSTs.

Should I be looking instead at Cakewalk, Propeller head or a cheaper version of Pro Tools?

In the old days I generally did the synth bass off the CV from a Roland TR-606 drum machine. Thanks for any sugestions.

you should check out reaper..

REAPER | Audio Production Without Limits

great app, great pricing structure:

Fair Pricing
There is only one version of REAPER. We offer two licenses, depending on how you use it.

$150: full commercial license.
$40: discounted license.

You may use the discounted license if any of the following is true:

You are an individual, using REAPER only for personal use.
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+1 for Reaper (it's what I use)

I do not like the Cubase like interface, but the price is too insane to say no. 40 dollars for so much functionality, is unheard of.

And certainly an extremely capable DAW.

Orion is also a very valid choice, even though the sequencer is inferior to Reaper it comes with very good VSTs which Reaper lacks.

If I had to pick the most easy DAW, I would say Ableton Live, it probably the most powerful and flexible. There is a Lite version that come free with some hardware, it quite crippled but still useful and it offers a quite affordable upgrade to Ableton Live full version.

But I think at its price Reaper is the best.

Reason is probably the easiest DAW out there, but does not do audio recording, you will need record as well to do that, and it wont be cheap. And also you will be sacrificing on the VST end.

Of course you could combine Reaper with Reason if you have the money. Or even go for Ableton Live straight away. Its up to you.

The problem is that you want to incorporate hardware; doing so needs you to move up to higher scale software and hardware than using a full software solution.

Hardware is great (and great fun too) but can be cumbersome integrating with software if you're new to it.

For starters, have you decided on whether to use Mac or PC? Getting soundcards and midi interfaces to work (and rock solidly) is easier on Mac. Once set up, they're basically the same. Some programs apply to both. Some are exclusive to each platform. Like Cakewalk = PC, like Logic = Mac.

My tip would be to look at a Macbook and don't get the midi boxes just yet. Instead, get Reason and a USB keyboard. You will see that it's a wonderfully easy program to work with and it keeps the CV/Gate analogy inside. The sound is punchy and delicous. Should you want to add the sounds of the Fairlight CMI, visit my website. :-)

You can go to Propellerhead Software and download a free demo of Reason. It might be a little different but it's very fun. The GUI is very much like Cubase on Atari, good for us old guys, with the addition of having all synths and effects included there as well.

After a while when you're ready to incorporate your analog gear there's now solutions for controlling that from your computer as well, and Reason works beautifully 'rewire'd' to Cubase, Logic, ProTools etc.

Kudos,
Patrick

Reason is not an option if you want to record guitar and bass rightaway unless you add Record to it.

Seconding Reaper, it doesn't break the bank and there are lots of nice and cheap/free plugins to get started with.

Thanks guys and possibly gals for the suggestions.

I laughed when I saw Patrick's post. I still have 2 boxes in the garage with a Atari 520 ST and it's floppy drive. This was about the time I stopped doing music.

I have been considering a used Korg MS2000 but my friend keeps pushing me to get a MicroKorg XL. The old MS-10 still works.

micorkorgs are a waste of time.. sure people come up with some interesting sounds on them but your money is better spent elsewhere. your MS-10 will poo all over the microkorg.

maybe used nord lead would be a better fit?

This is what I thought. I am not sold on Microkorgs. The old MS-10 is sweet.

I really want an MS-20 and was going to go with a MS2000 or 2000B - at least it has MIDI. I am trying to get as close to old analog as I can.

I considered a Waldorf Pulse module or Studio Electronics. Any of the Moogs are a bit pricey. Sad cause Moog's give you MIDI and CV control - and it's a Moog. Though i like the sound of a analog Korg.

I saw an Access Virus B module that might be under $500.
As a newbie with sequencers - I know hardware adds to the complexity but I am not crazy about VSTs.

That VST Korg MS-20 with the MS-20 keyboard controller is another option but they are hard to fix. One was on eBaywithout the software.

I am wondering about something newer with a USB which may handle MIDI better. Some friends suggested the Korg R3. Not really analog though - virtualized analog.

Thanks for any suggestions or ideas.