I just got Reason a few days ago, and was startled by the fact that it does not record real audio in (vocals, guitar, bells, piano). After realizing how amazing the program is, and getting the hang of it somewhat, I just now need a good DAW to go along with Reason. What are your recommendations?

Cubase? Logic?

By the way, Garageband, which I'm using now, annoys me profusely for it's lack of VST support.

I'm running: Reason 4.0, Mac OS X 10.5, M-Audio Axiom 45, and an M-Audio Fast Track Pro

thanks in advance!

If I were using a mac, Ableton live 7 would be a no brainer. But that's just me. You should try out the demo at their site:
http://www.ableton.com/demo-live

It works really well together with reason, especially for manipulating audio with time stretching algorithms and effects.

Also if you're not confined to only using a mac, I'd check out sonar 7. Which doesn't spark as much creativity as ableton but is very capable in mixing and rewiring with reason.

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I'd say check out ableton and logic, logic is amazing, but very expensive for the "pro" version. Pro tools is also a good, relatively easy to use choice for recording audio.

Yeah Logic and protools seem very expensive. I also hear logic was a bit of a pain in the ass to learn though. I really should try it out to see just how hard or easy it really is. Also I'm an avid pro tools hater . Lol not really but I just think it's overpriced and not an "studio essential" despite how they market it. But hey I agree, try out as much software as you can. Just don't commit to buying software you didn't research!

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ABLETON LIVE 7!!!!!
Don't think about it, just get it!!
If you want to record guitar, bass, vocals and have a 'jam' feel to it, then ableton is the one.
I use it to record guitar and vocals and it has made life so much easier. The session view is great for putting down ideas and then trying different arrangements.

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If you're going to use protools then you need M-Audio hardware, I think that Ableton Live is the best.

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If you're going to use pro tools, you need some sort of digidesign (who own pro tools) hardware, thats how they keep people from stealing their software. M-Audio hardware works (Maudio was bought out by digidesign in 2006), but only with a special version of pro tools called Pro tools m-powered. The only real reasons to go with pro tools are: 1. You are (or desire to be) a professional audio engineer. 2. You are not extremely computer savvy and want a system that will give you the least trouble right out of the box (less hardware/software problems).
These reasons aren't even that good, except the first one is quite true, you won't get far as an engineer these days without at least an intermediate understanding of pro tools. I use pro tools at work, and I use logic express (cheap logic) and abelton at home (sometimes pro tools too, since I know it the best).

everyone keeps on saying us ableton live...you can't find any tutorials or help with it online. I'm still searching looking for stuff to learn how to use warp markers...so I can time stretch. I am using Logic myself...But I am really trying to jump on the Ableton bandwagon.

Warp markers? Aren't they automatically added to the beginning and the end of the sample? I think so... if that's true then you wouldn't really need to do anything yourself regarding warp markers.

To set warp markers though, I think that you have to select the relevant sample in either view mode (edit/arrange) and the click on the small rectangular image at the bottom right screen that's an analysis of the sound file, this will expand, and in this section you can transpose/edit etc.

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