Pro Tools or Logic

Question

I'm not writing this thread to start a war, its just that I'm having a very hard time deciding between Pro Tools or Logic. I would eventually like to use both, but I can only afford to go with one right now and I really only want to focus my attention on one at this time as well.
Overall, I am really leaning towards Logic with a MOTU interface. However, the more I read the Pro Tools Vs. Logic debate, the more I start to question what to go with. I read so many posts with people bashing Pro Tools, but most people I know use it, most pro studios use it, and most musicians I've researched use it. Logic, on the other hand, seems like a complete package, made more for the creative side of composing/songwriting. I can get an awesome studio set with Logic/MOTU for MUCH less $$ than a Pro tools rig.
However, it seems like going the Pro Tools LE route, Digi 002, (which Is all I can afford at this point), I will be compromising quality overall. The only reason I can see going with Pro Tools is because so many people use it and it would be easy to transfer files with other Pro Tools users. Other than that, I really would like to take the Logic route.
For the record, I play guitar and bass and use drum machines. I would like to start getting more familar with midi and Logic seems like a good program for that.
What do you all think. This decision is really driving me crazy. Thanks.

Answer 1

Jack,
I am a composer who has used Pro Tools since it came out over a decade ago. I have had all kinds of systems, as Digi changed over the years.
I finally ran out of money when HD came out. I could not afford to upgrade my Mix system, yet I wanted to use the most current version of the program, which Mix no longer supported. So I sold it, and got LE and an 002R. I have used this system for over a year. I have done national commercials with it and it has paid for itself many times.
I use a lot of stereo samples. That eats up tracks. The 32 track limit in LE, and the instability of virtual instrument plug ins in LE made me start thinking about Logic. It wasn't the converters in the 002R....they are terrible and you must buy something like an Apogee Mini Me and then it sounds great going in.
But it was a little over a week ago that I bought Logic 7.2. Yesterday, I had a song with 58 tracks playing back just fine on my G5. The virtual instruments work great too. It is a much harder program to use than Pro Tools, but it is much richer and deeper. There are frustrating things about it that make you scratch your head, but these are minor compared to what it gives back to you.
Unless you have over 10 grand to get a REAL Pro Tools system, and then face the fact that it will be replaced by something else in a couple years that will require you to sink thousands more into it, get Logic and take on the learning curve. Pro Tools is best for cutting audio, not dealing with midi and composers. And, I think now that Apple owns it, it will only get better, and probably easier, to work with. Buying into Digi, remember, is buying into a hardware company. They want people to get a "taste" of Pro Tools with LE, and then move up to to HD. They don't understand that most people, with the power of computers today, ain't moving up to a 10 grand system when they can do almost all of that in Logic, or even Digital Performer, Nuendo, etc.
Keep saying this to yourself...."Digidesign is a hardware company. They want and need me to buy HARDWARE to remain in existence. Hardware....hardware...money...more money.
Tom H