In a word, 3DSMAX is a plug-in.
Maya: At first glance, compared with 3dsMAX, MAYA is not so convenient to use. Some functions are easy to do in 3dsmax, but more complicated in maya. If you want to achieve a metal effect, you can get a very good effect by using plug-ins and adding several materials in 3dsmax, while in maya, you may need to link material nodes in a complicated way. For example, in MAX, a plug-in can make great effects to make special effects of flame or smoke, but in maya, it is very troublesome. You may have to manipulate complex particles, or make them by using special effects of fluids, often accompanied by programming (such as maya's embedded language MEL, similar to C).
But actually Maya is very good. Maya can achieve many functions, but it doesn't provide you with menus or buttons. As long as you know this software well enough, you can do many effects that max can't. For example, although max makes some beautiful flames, if you want to control those flames more and make them hover around the characters to form various images, MAX may be powerless. maya can do this. Maya is very open, it opens all the nodes at the bottom to you, and you can combine them at will. In foreign countries, they are also special effects artists, and the salary of Maya special effects artists is higher than that of max special effects artists.
To sum up, Maya is a scientist.
Softimage | XSI:XSI:xsi's interface is very friendly and much more convenient than maya's. An excellent 3D animation software, but because the domestic market is generally occupied by maya, it is not widely used in China, but it is actually a very powerful software, which is not inferior to maya and max in modeling, animation and special effects, or even worse. The famous metal gear used this software. Many film and television special effects also depend on it. However, due to the reasons mentioned above, there are fewer tutorials in China than maya, and many schools don't teach them. If you want to teach yourself, I suggest that English is better. You can buy or download English tutorials. Digital tutor is very good as an introduction, and its teaching is comprehensive, systematic and practical. It is highly recommended.
In a word, XSI is an artist.
Houdini: Well ... what can I say? I can't say which software is the best, but if you ask me which software is the most powerful, I will vote for Houdini. However, it is probably the most difficult 3D software to learn.
Unlike previous 3D software, Houdini is very open, and everything depends on the nodes. Many commands need to be written by yourself, and even involve some signal analysis. In maya, you have to squeeze out a face with that button. In Houdini, you need to get an extrusion node and link it to the model.
In any case, Houdini is the best special effects software, and the top international special effects production can not be separated from Houdini. If you want to learn Houdini well, you need to have programming ability and be very familiar with mathematics. The realization of many effects involves many algorithms and formulas.
Summary: Houdini is a mathematician.
Cinema4D: I haven't used this software, so I dare not talk nonsense. I just learned something from others. Although it is an industrial design software, it is also favored by many three-dimensional artists because of its ease of use. Many artists' three-dimensional still frame pictures are made of it.
Poser: Not professional 3D software, but it is used to provide models for artists. Using poser, you can easily get character models, including people, animals, flowers, birds, fish and insects. Some are provided by the government free of charge, and some are charged. In a word, poser is a good choice if you are not good at role modeling but want to get some good models. Similarly, poser's domestic tutorials are few, and the only ones are old versions. Look at English help. To learn CG well, English is an unavoidable basic ability.
All the above software is just what I usually know, not necessarily objective, but it is my real feeling. Among them, I have been in contact with Maya for a little longer, so I write more.