in the short run ableton is easier, but in the long run logic will be easier for more complex productions i think
i own both and i better like logic studio

Whatever you feel comfortable with. In the end, you can do the same thing with every DAW. Logic Studio comes with way more than Ableton Suite but Ableton has a lot of instruments and such that people really love. In the end, whatever you feel more comfortable learning.

I use Ableton

one question for rlaci do you have to quantize songs in order to mix them the reason im asking is b/c even in like audacity i can cut up and chop to make things mix if i need to can i do the same kind of thing in Logic?

ableton is a little easier to learn.

logic is easier to make your tracks sound good.

The quality if the plug-in and instruments that come with Logic is work the admission price alone. If you got the money for for Live 8 and Logic Studio. Maybe even Ableton Live Intro and Logic Studio.

i might end up doing this depending on what Serato and Ableton come up with come Jan.

yea, a lot of people i know use both - I'm learning how to re-wire Ableton into logic

Each have strengths and weaknesses for certain areas.

For instance, manipulating and editing sound files and warping audio is way better in Ableton.

Sound quality of mixdowns and handling of midi is way better on Logic.

Go with both and you get the best of both worlds.

LilSwann MIDI quantization is nearly countless with logic
if you want to mix songs aka AUDIO file "tempoing", then ableton is better with WARP function, but the FLEX function in logic 9 is very similiar to that

the best deal is to buy some hardware with ableton live lite included. it is a channel limited ableton, but you can use it for producing +it is absolutely free +anyways you need a keyboard for producing
if you will love ableton, then buy the full version for the discounted price eg. live lite upgrade, but the better option i think is to buy logic and use ableton lite as a plugin aka rewire

i think i will do this b/c yeah i do need a keyboard btw isn't there a Logic keyboard with already mapped controls? i think theres one but i cant remember the name of it maybe you can help me out.

you can use the akai apc40

comes with apecial version of ableton

you can use any basic kayboard with logic, you have to map only the so called controllers(knobs/faders)
there is two eay to sync your controller:
1.you map the software for your controller
2.you map your controller for the software = presets on your keyboard (logic has some preconfigured things not like ableton exactly for this purpose, but personally i hate it :D )
i like the edirol and korg keyboards, but i think for you in the learning stage it is perfect to buy the cheepest m-audio keyboard bundled with live lite

(korg kontrol 49 is officially supported and preconfigured by logic)

I use both. if i'm remixing a track I prefer to use Ableton because of the warping etc. for mixtape recording and original production i use Logic. most of my sample based beats are made within Ableton. as i learn more about logic and ableton, also get the hardware i need i'll probably switch to one or the other. but for the time being i'm stuck right down the middle.

As a couple of guys mentioned, I used both. But I run Live as a re-wire slave to Logic and you really do get the best of both worlds with these two. I also agree that in the short run, Live is much easier to learn but Logic is definitely the more powerful of the two when it comes to production. Its also probably the only product that Apple sells that is way under-priced IMO.

Also, Novation makes some excellent midi controllers, and their Automap technology comes with pre-built templates for most major software - including Logic Pro. Check them out...well worth it.

As far as templates for logic, there are alot of them all over the web. Check logic forums or some of the other audio forums. I remember I use to have an MPC quantize patch for an older version of logic, now they have swing, some other guy created setting on the pluggins to recreate an SSL (solid state logic) eq.... There is a huge community for both.. You can't go wrong with either, but scratch did team up with Live so that intro pack for $99 would be very appealing.

in logic how do you setup up midi keyboards and drum pads? I can't seem to find anything on this.

because it is called CONTROLLER ASSIGNMENTS in logic
+ you have Zones, Modes also
in logic you have wider options and you can use your controllers for more things(money saver), but a little bit more hassle to set up things

the drumpads you must to set up with the included software, because the drum pad is literally touchsensitive key (but you can set it up wrongly to work as switch, fader, knob)

ok cool thnx rlaci

oh rlaci how exactly would i setup a keyboard just to play the software instruments in Logic? do i have to map that out too?

no need to map the keyboards in logic, it should recognize it.

agree