With the advance in home computing comes greater ease in digital recording and also makes it a lot more affordable. The line between home music recording software and professional software is much finer then ever before. I will try to help you decide between the two levels of home studio recording software.
Plain and simple if you can afford to go the Pro Tools route – DO IT! Simply put, Pro Tools one of the professional standards for high quality, fast digital recording. Its powerful yet easy to use interface makes mixing and mastering your music a snap. The plugins that come standard are created by industry giants and can simulate almost anything you are looking for. The only draw back is the fact you do need to purchase hardware to go with the software. Most cases you can just get a sound card that supports it, but if you can spend a little more money, go for the Digi 001 or Digi 002. The more digital inputs alone makes either one a smart choice. Plus it is much easy to make a portable rig out of these systems.
The other choice is to go the Cakewalk route. This is a much cheaper method and has a slightly shorter learning curve. The interface is clean and effective. The plugins that are included are limited to its own brand. There are many other companies that provide high-end sound editing plugins, but it can get costly.
So bottom line is take the extra time and money and get yourself a Pro Tools rig and you will have something that you can grow with as your skills grow. Plus, Pro Tools is a lot more upgradable to new hardware. This is the best music recording software solution you can do for a home or small studio setup.
