Frequently Asked Questions: Music Production Software

What software do you use?

Logic Pro X. For my main framework, I use Logic Pro X for 49 out of 50 projects. This software is amazing and deep. The built-in samples are great, and the effects are enough to do most things out of the box. There are a few glitches here and there, but overall - I give Logic a 9 of 10 rating.

Should you buy Logic? No idea. There are other products that do a lot of the same things. Even GarageBand is a very capable editor for a lot of projects! Use what you like; the framework (Digital Audio Workstation - DAW) software means less than you think.

Suno. The interface is difficult to work, but the results are outstanding. This is used for the best choirs and solo instruments out there. You still need to create the music you want with something like Logic, and then upload an audio file to get your realistic rendering. It is much cheaper than buying piles of sample packs, but it is also unpredictable and temperamental.

Should you subscribe to Suno? The workflows are always changing, and they update the models regularly. You can't just "learn Suno" once. I don't recommend starting projects in Suno, but it is very useful at the end of your production chain... if you can figure it out.

Tone Transfer from Google Magenta - Runs inside Logic.

Sample Libraries

The DAW software does the work of capturing and arranging notes, but to make things into sounds - that takes synths and samplers.

Apple

Logic ships with a giant selection of samples and instruments.

• Organs - Brilliant - The Hammond sound is well captured in the EVB3 synth. I think this is better than the official Hammond synths.
• Loops - Excellent - Logic also ships with 15,000+ audio loops. This is significant, and can make sketching amazingly fast. I use these all the time in finished products as well..
• Synthesizers - Excellent - There are hundreds presets of pads and leads and basses. In addition to that there are 6 different software synths where you can make your own. I personally enjoy the ES2 synth... and like the Ultrabeat - it takes a while to learn.
• Acoustic Drums - With the release of Logic Pro X, the Drummer kits have gotten a LOT better.
• Electric Pianos - Very nice - These use the EVP88 synth, and the sounds are the best that I have.

CineSamples

• All the Cinesamples. This is my main orchestral workhorse.

Heavyocity

• Damage and Damage 2 - Brilliant. Big, big percussion. The oil drum is so well sampled... I need to find a use for that. Super control of all the samples in volume and stereo field. Oh, and the 3 recording positions means you can fit these right in your mix. So, so, so good. Warm distortion. Easy built-in compressor, reverb, delay.
• Vocalise - Good. Pretty neat little deal for organic drones and... other things.
• Natural Forces - Meh. I prefer Vocalise... but this one has a pile of 90's-sounding things if that's what you're into.
• Gravity - Great. Lots of super cinematics going down here.
• Evolve - Great. This one is a LOT of fun to play with. Very modern and deep sounds. (See the Ghostpocalypse series to hear what this can do. It was built almost exclusively with Evolve.)

Other Things

• Evolution Strawberry - The best and easiest to use electric guitar samples. Excellent presets to get going fast. Excellent controls. Very highly recommended.
• Rise & Hit - Excellent. I use this even when I shouldn't. It is so easy... and so nice. It makes rises and hits.
• The GIANT upright piano Very interesting instrument with a lot of film scoring extras like plucked and bowed piano strings. Good presets.
• Studio Drummer If you've always wanted live drums - this one if for you. You can adjust darned near everything in these three very deeply sampled kits. Three doesn't sound like a lot - but the diversity of processing makes it feel like dozens... plus, you probably only need a couple.
• AbbeyRoad... - Super Usable. Modern Drummer; 80s Drummer; 70s Drummer; 60s Drummer; Vintage Drummer. All pretty good! Before Logic Pro X got its "drummer" track type, these guys were giving realistic beats to all sorts of stuff! More versatile than Logic's Drummer, way more styles are available... but is does take slightly longer to drag around the MIDI regions. They also sound really good!
• West Africa - Cool Just when I thought I knew a bit about West African drumming, I got this and discovered a whole lot more. Great for... exactly what you think it would be great for.
• Kontakt Factory Library and Factory Selection - Existential This is where you find instruments that... you didn't know you had - like a Zurna. Few of them will be amazing - but at least they exist!
• SoundIron Drinking Piano - Neat aged and disused piano sound. I use this quite often to get a more realistic feel.

I have more bits and pieces of other synths and sample sets laying about that you will sometimes hear. But this is well over 95% of my daily use.

Last Update: November, 2025