Logic, Sampletank, and/or GarageBand for Ipad?
I'm not familiar with most music software and was wondering what should I get if I want to use the most realistic sounding software instruments?
I have GarageBand for iMac but I wonder if the touch screen version for iPad has more capability sound wise that I'm missing on my iMac?
Then the pros say it's really between programs like Logic and Pro Tools and GarageBand is just a toy, not a real program for recording or mixing.
However, I've heard the online demo of SampleTank and am really impressed with the sound quality. Sampletank has an iPad version so I'm wondering, if I want realistic sounding software instruments, if I should just cut out the middleman and go that route? The reason people recommend Logic or Pro Tools is usually because you can play more and alter the sound. But if I'm already getting a great sound from SampleTank on iPad, do I need Logic? Can I get away with GarageBand to record a decent CD? Or as my ear learns more am I going to want the tweaking power of a Logic Pro later?
I'm basically dealing in the rock genre sound so I'm going for a heavy rock sound from software instrument. I hope helps gives people enough of an idea that they can recommend one or the other from my choices.
Thank you.
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Let me preface this by saying I can't really help you on the software side, since I work on a PC and therefore have no experience with Garage Band or Logic. For my Digital Audio Workstation I use Reaper, which is a great product for a fair price (it's also available for Mac). Also, if you really want to create songs with full arrangements, stick with your iMac over the iPad. Especially if you plan on using Virtual Instruments, which can be pretty processor heavy, and if the instruments work with samples you're going to need plenty of disk space as well.
I took a quick look at Sampletank and it is a sample workstation. However you will probably need a host application to act as a sequencer for it (to tell it which notes to play at what moment). It says that it works as a standalone as well, but I think it would then be in conjunction with a keyboard hooked up via MIDI; but in that case it would be for live use, so if you want to record the output you would still need a program to do that, and at that point you might as well use Sampletank as a plugin in a DAW.
The question I wanted to ask: Do you plan on entirely building your songs with virtual instruments and/or samples? I also do rock music and use a virtual instrument for the drums, but I play the bass and the guitars and then use a software amplifier emulation to get the sound I want. I've yet to come across a convincing virtual instrument for guitars, so (if you can) you're better off playing them.
I don't know if my response was at all useful to you, but if you have any other questions let me know. 
Yes, I plan to use software instruments entirely. This helped a lot. I am certain the iMac version of Logic would be best. As you said, processor speed must be considered. Plus there is really nothing the iPad version can do that the iMac version of GarageBand or Logic can't surpass.
I think I've actually gotten to be pretty good at tweaking the software instruments in GB to a sound I am happy with. Guitars are a little harder but I think I'm getting there. The trick I think with guitars is sometimes they sound real and other times they don't. So what I do is stay away from the notes that sound electronic. Of course, my ear may not be as refined as yours and I may discover in the future the guitar sound is lacking. But until then I have fun coming up with different riffs and just getting better.
Thanks for the help.
