I would say it's Yamaha's SOL. Cubase adopted some features, but still not all of them.
Sonar is cool too, because it works directly on MIDI files (you can open and save them, instead of importing and exporting from a project).

 

Last edited: Jan 3, 2016

FL studio has the best PIANO ROLL out there. 1-click input/erase, and tons of midi tools for quick workflow. Use FL vsti or FL rewire to try and use FL piano roll in different DAWS.

If Ableton would take a page from FL, then I would vote Ableton.

 

There is nothing wrong with the PT 12 midi... What are you guys talking about?

 

I've tried Ableton, Cubase and FL Studio. FL Studio is not ideal (for instance, it doesn't handle audio well, not as good as Ableton does at least), but in terms of piano roll editing and midi tools (there are many little tools that help you humanize your midi, riff machine, strum, flam etc) FL Studio is fantastic.

As for FL Studio having an opinion of an amateurish program... I think it's mostly due to two things: a) the old name Fruity Loops - it sounds just silly; people still use that name b) a lot of people pirated it, and it became popular and there are way too many shitty tutorials in fl studio. But other than that it's a DAW like any other. Like i said, there are certain fields in which it is not as capable as other DAWs (i would say it's mostly audio), but overall I wouldn't say FL Studio is a toy.

 

I agree, however, Fruity Loops was never intended - at its conception - to be DAW. It came out in 1997? and was a sequencer. I'm guessing the year, but around 2000-2001, it introduced audio recording capabilities.

I still condsider FL a "SEQUENCER ON PCP AND STEROIDS!" , and for almost 20 years (....my God we're getting old) I've never used it to record anything!!! Only importing and mangling samples loops and sequencing soft synths and using vst fx +automation. I used Cakewalk 7.0 in 1997 for audio duties. In 2015, I use it the exact same way.

But back then we didn't have ASIO or VST fx or instruments. Just DX plugs. So, try and reassess what you view FL to be. It's a sequencer that nothing except maybe ableton can touch, and it does many things that Ableton really can't.

Try throwing FL in your toolbox, and start a project with it. It's awesome!!! Then dump the project files into your main DAW by way of the VSTi or Rewire, or manually rendering tracks to WAVs. You can even work with it - realtime/in conjuction with - your main DAW

I use Ableton, Samplitude, Sonar, Reaper - and FL (SA) FL (Rewire), FL (vsti) for sequencing.

For older people - I STILL use MAKING WAVES 5.44, Incarnation, ReBirth, and TUREG 2 on random occasions, to create some quick 1,2-4 bar material !

 

Last edited: Jan 3, 2016

Then how does it comes that i couldn't find yet an option in StudioOne to randomize the f* velocities for all the notes selected? It only compresses them without generating any randomness about them. Now that's really frustrating because i somehow need that ability.
If anyone here could guide me on how to randomize notes velocities in S1... i'd appreciate it eternally

 

You can't use MIDI plugins in S1?! There is no humanization/randomization for MIDI?! That sucks. That DAW sucks then. Change to Cubase. Kidding ofc.
http://www.midi-plugins.de/#Home

 

I like S1, i tried in the last couple weeks and it's great in MIDI but it's also a CPU hog..........

 

Not any DAW is ideal for any thing. It depends on your workflow, experience and most importantly internal feeling about them.

I don't know anyone that has been influenced by threads like this. For example me, I would never ever would change my DAW because I really love it for a lot of reasons. No one would be able to convince me to change it. Because I have done and would imagine somethings that can be easily done with it more than any one else.

This thread is good for beginners that are going to start their music journey. It's better to give them chance to have experiences with all of them. After 1 or more years, watching a lot of tutorials, etc. they would fall in love with one of them. MIDI editing is a small subset.

 

Definitely Cubase. Second close Digital Performer for orchestral scoring, but this one is a bitch to learn

 

For experience, the go-to would be Ableton. I don't understand much of how arrange things in FLStudio, but it have its crowd and that must be for something... I once saw a guy lay down a full track in 20 minutes (but of course with a shit ton of presets, like, click and there it is your supersaw). Other Mixing Oriented DAWs have amazing or more complete MIDI capabilities but are not 100% oriented to fast MIDI workflow, or even not oriented for looping shit out (as Ableton, Logic Pro X and FLStudio are). So go with one of those 3 for pure EDM. On a sidenote, I use StudioOne and Ableton, each for different purposes, but S1 is pretty good at handling EDM, altho, the midi workflow question, I go head-first with ableton. One advantage you could get with let's say S1 or Cubase is that they allow you to see all tracks in one piano-roll, and edit them at demand (that for orchestral arrangement is a blessing). Hope it helps, have a wonderfull journey

 

+1.

I really adore DP. It is a beast but as you said it's hard to learn. It is also a resource hog (at least on my laptop). I wish to learn it at some point of time. Also, if they could just do the simple channel assignments not the loooong route. But it is an amazing DAW.

Ps: S1 user here.

 

These times are long over. It's rather the opposite: FL Studio has grown so powerful that you really need some patience to get familiar, but you can do a lot.
Do you rely on the Piano Roll much?
You didn't tell us what you want to do with your MIDI.
For MIDI editing, I would personally favor Ableton, Reaper, Cubase, DIgital Performer and Logic.
A little warning: If you work a lot with MIDI controller data and SysEx, Ableton is out of the question.
On the other hand, to re-use, extract and re-arrange snippets of MIDI files, Ableton is great.

 

Last edited: Jan 4, 2016

FL studio has a facility named MIDI OUT that you can send all of the midi messages that are available on the MIDI protocol to your plugins. I bet most of you have no idea about using it.

 

this is helpful http://ocremix.org/community/topic/41043-studio-one-3-my-new-main-daw/ read neblix's post

 

I love using FL studio for midi sequencing. For me it is my go to since I know it like the back of my hand. Once you figure out the short cut keys and learn how to cut corners It is very fast in terms of workflow. Programming and quantizing can be very flexible. I also use Logic Pro X often, however using FL makes it user friendly and to me makes it way easier and faster to edit midi. Everyone has their own DAW they prefer over another. Just find which ever one you're most comfortable with and experiment with other DAWs if you ever have a chance. FL and LPX are my fav.

 

Last edited: Jan 4, 2016

yes that is true foster, I have used this feature couple times to write melodies. Very useful

 

Can you you also post-edit midi clips's velocity values? Like randomizing them on purpose?

Also guys, on Ableton Live is there any way possible to post-edit a midi clip in the way i described above? I know there's native midi plugins like "Velocity" but i don't want that, because that's happening in the recording phase. I want to be able to POST-randomize velocities. I only know BITWIG so far to be able to do this in a ultra-fast and "in your face" quickie way. . Am i losing hope?

 

I read a lot on choosing the best DAW before. Here is what I concluded.
Logic Pro For midi Editing. FL Studio for fats work flow and cerativity ( fast way from brain to speakers), Pro tools for Audio Editing and mixing (Industry standard blabla.....), Ableto live for Live Performance and creativity.
Finally, it is not the DAW what matters it is you and the level of understanding for your DAW that matters. And You will not regret much on which DAW you use. You will regret a lot on the time you lost to learn and understand a new DAW evry time you see new updates. Go for One DAW Invest your time for music theory, learn new skills of creativity, Just transform your music knowledge from armature like to Professional level. analyse how hit songs Made? Deconstruct them....Excuse me too much.

 

Last edited: Jan 4, 2016

is there any point in checking out Reason?