As a MIDI programmer when it was actually called, DCB, one thing I can tell you and that is, if live and breathe MIDI prgraming, than from what I have come to learn, MIDI is somthing that Pro Tools has not been big on in the past.
With that said, dedicated MIDI programs who help to pioneer MIDI both hardware as well as software knew what a MIDI programmer really needed. Companies like Mark of The Unicorn, Cake Walk, Cuebase were immersed in the development of MIDI techology. With that said here is what you must consider before deciding of a program of any kind.
(1) Are you heavily involved in MIDI gear?
(2) Do you play and write most of your musical instruments on a keyboard?
(3) Do you hear music in your head that is beyond your ability to play live?
If your answer is "yes" to just one of these, than you require a MIDI based program that also offers real audio tracks and not the other way around.
Today most programs offer decent to excellent audio recording capabilities with MIDI as an after thought. However Logic 8 by Apple is MIDI intensive and by no means is MIDI an after thought with Logic 8.
FYI. Way back in the mid 1980s, Apple was one of the very first to pioneer MIDI which was actually called DCB back then. Apple from that day forward continued to recognise the importance of interfacing digital musical instruments and with such being the case, Apple's Logic Studio 8 is their continued ongoing effort to meet the demands of the most demanding musical composer.
If money is no object and MIDI is not a big deal to you, than Pro Tools is your animal. After all, Pro Tools is the top choice in major recording studios for real time recording. Remember that MIDI programming your songs is really about personal time, as MIDI programing is truly time intensive.
Since professional recording studio time costs mega bucks per each hour, pro studios in general are not a conducive place to MIDI program songs from scratch... That is... Unless you own the studio like I do.
It's for this very reason why Pro Tools did not focus on MIDI Programing as a primary feature of their software and hardware. However Pro Toolsfrom from what I have read is now starting to take MIDI a lot more serious.
Thus you do not want Pro Tools if you lean on MIDI to put your music scores together. Don't get me wrong... As I am sure that Pro Tools does a decent job in regards to MIDI. Just that there are a lot of very important MIDI programing features that Pro Tools can overlook that you will sooner or later wish you had, some of which I have outlined below. Simply said, Pro Tools strength is not MIDI.
List of some must haves for MIDI musicians seeking MIDI software.
(1) Horizontal MIDI zoom, ESPECIALLY vertical MIDI zoom. (this is a big one!)
(2) Drop down menu of a wealth of MIDI program options when right clicking on individual MIDI note in the MIDI edit window. Example: Attack, Sustain, Retain, Decay, After Touch, Patch, Pitch Bender, etc. You need all of these options to make the MIDI instrument of choice sound authentic.
(3) Drag mouse cursor over MIDI notes by hand to hear notes in that given window. This is huge! If pro Tools does not allow for this, than Pro Tools is a bust for the hard core MIDI programer.
(4) 256 Assignable MIDI tracks. As you know, MIDI only goes up to 16 channels/tracks. After that you must use letters to assign more MIDI tracks. EXAMPLE: MIDI A1-16, MIDI B1-16, MIDI C1-16, MIDI D1-16, MIDI E1-16, etc. Thus if you have lots of MIDI gear like I do, than 16 tracks will not work for you. If you want to quick and easy mixing of percussion tracks, you can easily use 8 to 12 MIDI tracks just for percussion alone!
The lesson learned here is simple. If you use MIDI programing as the foundation to putting your music togther like I do, than you want a MIDI based program that also offers real audio tracks side by side.
Keep in mind that real audio tracks put a HUGE demand on computer speed, where as MIDI does not. So get the most powerful computer money can buy. (Apple is the only way to go when it comes to audio and video.) After all, Apple computers have been used year after year for the making and mastering the biggest block busters of all time and Apple computers are still Hollywoods choice for the motion picture industry.
Pro Tools is more about audio recording, rather than MIDI recording. If you plan on working with your projects in major studios, than you have no choice but to buy Pro Tools, however I would not recommend Pro Tools LE as it's a stripped down version of Pro Tools full version. No doubt the MIDI side of Pro Tools LE will be stripped down as well and that is a big No-NO for MIDI based musicians.
For more information you will find me via YouTube user, LogicStudioMadness.
Best wish on your next MIDI score!
Cheers,
Midiman
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