What is the best mixing and mastering software for pro sound out of your recordings?

The short answer to your question is: Pro Tools, Digital Performer and Logic (not sure about Logic for mastering) are all great software programs on the Mac side and I think PT and DP both work with Windows. However, if you are asking about "pro sound" not "demos," there is much more to it than just buying some software. Pro sound is rarely achieved by simply getting the latest, greatest software. I've had analog 16 and 24 track studios, all versions of ADAT's, DA-88's, Digital Performer, Cakewalk, Pro Tools Logic and more. It doesn't matter what you use, at the end of the day there is still a great deal of skill required to bring it all together. And the software is not as critical as the hardware it's interfaced with and the hardware will only sound as good as the engineer who is using it. Professional mixes and masters won't be the result of any software program, even high-end mixing and mastering tools and thousands of dollars worth of plug ins with presets for every instrument won't magically achieve pro sound. As far as recording formats and sound quality goes, we haven't improved upon analog all that much, if at all. We have improved upon ease of use, more powerful editing tools, full recall etc... But there is a notion that anyone can crank out a pro recording with an iPad and some plug ins now but compared to truly great sounding recordings, it is really rare to hear someone who can actually achieve those results. That said a great engineer can make better sounding recordings in a well tuned home studio than a poor engineer will do in a world class studio. In addition to having the gear and the skill to use it, great monitoring is critical and (as alluded to above) having a properly tuned listening space of the proper dimensions is also important. I really cringe when someone asks what's the best software for mastering. Mastering is truly an art and achieving great sounding masters is difficult -- like mixing, it's not just about running your mix through a chain of plug ins. Rather than trying to master yourself, if you're trying to save money, you're almost better off running your mix through Landr or some other automated mastering system. It won't sound nearly as good as putting it in the hands of a real mastering engineer but it will likely sound better than what most people can do on their own.

Pro Tools is my first choice with Logic Pro X being second. Of course the computer, type of interface, monitors, etc. are all important to creating the sound you want. For mastering, I've found Izotope Ozone to be the easiest to quickly dial in a very nice sound for a variety of genres of music and Waves plug-ins for fine tuning as well. All that being said, at the end of the day, the software and equipment is only as good as the creativity and talent of the actual person producing.

digital is digital if it sounds. good in headphones all work wellor a great pair of reference speakers you win. Just make sure you reference speaker is true not colored or bassie protocols logic sonar

Can't go wrong with ProTools, IF you've got the $$$ and hardware to handle it.

I suggest Pro Tools. Or, what I have been using, Qbase.

Better have an upscale computer.

I have been recording for 30 years. Now I am facing major upgrades

to a new computer and interfacing. I have been using a Motu interface.

Study and become informed.

I hope this helps!

Your ears - - -

I use the BR900cd this unit doe's a great job..

Any DAW should work, there's this misconception where one DAW is better than the other but the truth is whatever floats your boat and how effectively you can use your DAW. There's now such thing as the 'best' mixing and mastering software. You can literally get 'pro' sounds outta Pro Tools/Cubase/FL Studio/Logic Pro/Ableton/Reaper. Remember, it's not the software, it's YOU and your skills!

I use Sonar to mix and Ozone to master, but the quality of the product truly rests in the skill of the engineer.

Cubase. ProTools.