Your DAW is one of the most important pieces of your home studio.
But there are tons of options to choose from. How do you know which one is right for you?
This quick guide will help you zero in on the perfect DAW. Just select the features you’re looking and you’ll see the best option(s) for you.
So if you want to stop searching and start making music, you’re in the right place!
If you’re just starting out with using a DAW, the number of options can be overwhelming. These are my 21 MUST LEARN tips so that you can use your program better, faster, and more creatively.
Grab it here:
Contents
The 11 Best DAWs of 2022
First, think about what your goals are.
Do you spend more time writing music, or mixing music? Do you want a DAW that does one specific job well or an all-rounder?
Once you’ve figured out what you’re looking for, you can choose the best DAW for you.
The DAWs on this list are curated to fit all your needs.
Once you’ve picked a program, stick to it. Learn it inside out. Use the stock plugins. The better you know your DAW, the better your music will be.
To make it even easier,
What price range are you looking for?
What are you using your DAW for?
What genre will you be working on?
Want to see my favorites?
Logic Pro X
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An extremely popular piece of software. And super beginner friendly too!
Although Logic Pro is great for composing and producing music, I love using it for mixing too. The stock plugins that come with Logic Pro X are perhaps the best stock plugins of any DAW.
This one is my personal go-to DAW!
Pros
-Beginner friendly
-Extremely versatile
-Great for writing music
-Great for recording, mixing, and mastering
Cons
-Audio editing isn’t as robust as in some other DAWs
You should buy it if: You want a creative DAW that’s great for writing, recording, and mixing.
Learn more about Logic Pro X here: Apple Logic Pro X
Cockos Reaper
This DAW is powerful and budget-friendly (it’s a steal at $60 for a personal license). It’s one of my personal favorites.
You can customize the layout and functionality of the software to suit your workflow.
It’s super beginner friendly and there are tons of tutorials online. If you’re just getting started, Reaper is easy to learn and just as powerful as any other DAW.
It also has all the major features you’d expect from a premium DAW, so it’s popular with professional producers too.
Pros
-Beginner friendly
-Full-fledged DAW at a low price
-Customizable interface to match your workflow
-Good stock plugins, especially for sound design
-Super powerful routing
Cons
-As far as DAWs go, it’s really new. So it’s features aren’t going to be as flexible or detailed as some other DAWs’.
You should buy it if: You want a full-fledged DAW at a low price, or you’re a sound designer looking for a clean, clear-cut program.
Studio One 5
This DAW has become increasingly popular over the last few years, with good reason. It is now one of the most commonly used DAWs.
It combines the best of both world from electronic-focused DAWs like FL Studio and more audio-focused programs like Pro Tools.
It’s drag and drop formula makes building tacks quick and easy. And the update to version 5 introduced new features like clip gain envelopes, a score view, and a streamlined “Show Page” that makes liver performances a cinch.
Features like Chord Track and Pattern Mode make Studio One an amazing DAW for composing.
And it’s high-quality stock plugins and intuitive interface make it great for mixing as well.
Pros
-Extremely Versatile
-Tons of features for writing and composing
-Great stock plugins
-Customizable interface to match your workflow
Cons
-Interface can easily become cluttered if you aren’t careful
You should buy it if: You want a creative DAW that’s great for writing, recording, mixing, and mastering.
Ableton Live
Top electronic music producers around the world use Ableton Live.
Although it lacks some advanced editing and mixing features, it can seamlessly integrate into your live sets.
If you use this DAW, check out these workflow tips to speed up your writing.
Pros
-Beginner friendly
-Incredible MIDI and automation Features
-The session view makes writing fun and fast.
-Great stock plugins
Cons
-Audio editing isn’t as robust as in some other DAWs
You should buy it if: You’re a live dj, electronic musician, or want to be able to write music non-linearly.
Learn more here: Ableton Live 10 Standard
Harrison Mixbus 32c
Mixbus is the perfect DAW for analog lovers who want a more affordable, digital alternative to bulky consoles.
Harrison have been making inline mixing consoles since the early 1970’s, and they’ve got it down to a science. From Herbie Hancock to Smashing Pumpkins, countless hits have been created using Harrison’s hardware.
Mixbus takes the iconic sound and workflow from their consoles and puts it in your computer.
If you prefer the layout of a console to a typical DAW, check out Mixbus.
There are two versions for different budgets. The standard Mixbus software will run you about $115. Mixbus 32c offers more mixing tools for about $447.
Pros
-Sounds Terrific (analog emulation adds great color to the tracks)
-Great for Recording and Mixing
-Great Workflow (for people who have used consoles before)
Cons
-Not Beginner Friendly (especially for musicians who haven’t used analog gear)
-MIDI Features could use some quality of life improvements
Cubase Pro 10
Cubase has been around for a long time and remains popular to this day. It’s innovative, trustworthy, and stable.
Tons of composers for tv and film swear by it. It’s got a powerful workflow for anyone who’s mostly focused on writing music. But it still has all the bells and whistles you’d want for mixing and editing.
Pros
-Great stock plugins
-Great stock instruments and samples
-One of the oldest DAWs around, so it’s flexible and stable
Cons
-Workflow isn’t particularly beginner friendly
You should buy it if: You want a creative DAW that’s great for writing, recording, mixing, and mastering.
Learn more here: Steinberg Cubase Pro 10 Recording Software
FL Studio
Another affordable DAW that’s extremely popular among electronic music producers. FL Studio is easy to use and has some great composition features.
With easy to use automation and a flawless piano roll, FL is wonderful for writing MIDI.
But it isn’t so great for working with audio. The cheapest version doesn’t support audio recording, so you’ll need to pay more if you want to track guitars or vocals.
Pros
-Beginner friendly
-Incredible MIDI and automation features
-Unmatched piano roll for writing music digitally
-FL’s patterns make it easy to write and arrange songs
Cons
-Some production techniques require weird workarounds
-There are redundant features, which can make it more confusing to use
You should buy it if: You’re an electronic or hip hop musician
Learn more here: Image Line FL Studio 20
Pro Tools 12
This is perhaps the most popular DAW in the professional world. For professional mixing and editing, this is the industry standard. A lot of people have a love/hate relationship with Pro Tools.
It’s extremely powerful, letting you knock out complex edits in a matter of seconds.
But it looks clunky and outdated. It’s not a beginner friendly program.
The stock plugins are generally good, but it lacks a stock multiband compressor – this isn’t a huge issue though.
The stock compressor can still be used for sidechain compression and parallel compression.
Pros
-Industry Standard DAW
-Great Recording Quality and Features
-Unmatched Editing Capabilities
-Great for Mixing and Mastering
Cons
-Not Beginner Friendly
-Not Good for Writing Music
-Outdated Interface
You should buy it if: You want to work as a professional audio engineer, recording, editing and mixing other people.
Learn more here: Avid Pro Tools
Bitwig Studio
This little-known DAW is great for music production and live performance.
Founded by ex-Ableton engineers, Bitwig Studio shares a similar concept based on ‘clips’. It has a great modular synthesis environment and networking features.
But the most exciting feature of Bitwig isn’t actually available yet. Bitwig aims to let users work on the same project simultaneously while using different computers.
Who knows if/when that feature will be released, but it’s a good reason to keep an eye on Bitwig.
Pros
-Powerful modular environment for creating effects and sounds
Cons
-As far as DAWs go, it’s really new. So it’s features aren’t going to be as flexible or detailed as other DAWs’.
-The main selling point (working on a project simultaneously using different computers) isn’t available yet.
You should buy it if: You’re an experienced electronic musician who wants a digital modular setup.
Learn more here: Bitwig Studio 2 Music Production and Performance Software
Propellerhead Reason
This is the perfect piece of software for electronic music producers that love the look of analog equipment.
The bundled virtual instruments are powerful and versatile, and Reason comes with some great collaboration tools.
Pros
-Patching allows you to create complex sounds and effects
-Great stock instruments
Cons
-Outdated interface
-Audio editing isn’t as robust as in some other DAWs
You should but it if: You’re an electronic or hip hop musician looking for an awesome set of instruments.
Learn more here: Reason 10
MOTU Digital Performer
Despite being one of the oldest DAWs available, Digital Performer has only recently made its way from Mac to Windows.
Like Cubase, MOTU is a favorite of composers for film and tv. And its recent integration of some of Ableton’s best ideas will help it stay that way for a long time.
Unlike some of the others, they have a 30-day free trial available, so you can give it a whirl.
Pros
-Great stock plugins
-Great stock instruments
-Ableton-like clips view for nonlinear writing
Cons
-Automation could be better
You should buy it if: You want an all in one audio solution for producing music
Learn more here: MOTU Digital Performer 10
Mixcraft Pro Studio
This affordable option has gathered some serious fans over its lifetime. It’s simple, user-friendly, and easy to use.
Pros
-Beginner friendly
-Inexpensive
-Solid stock plugins and instruments
-Comes with Melodyne
Cons
-Some of the included plugins are available for free already
You should buy it if: You want a full-fledged DAW at a low price
Learn more here: Mixcraft 8 Pro Studio
UPDATE: Learn about 7 DAW mistakes that can really hold you back in our recent video:
Conclusion
Here are the 11 best DAWs available in 2022 (in no particular order):
- Logic Pro X
- Pro Tools
- Studio One
- Ableton Live
- Cubase Pro
- Propellerhead Reason
- FL Studio
- Cockos Reaper
- Bitwig Studio
- MOTU Digital Performer
- Mixcraft Pro Studio
Next Steps
If you want to dig deeper into music production and learn what it actually takes to make mixes that sound pro…
And you’re an intermediate or advanced producer…
Be sure to check out the free masterclass:
Enjoy!
Audio professional, musician and founder of Musician on a Mission.
Thank you for sharing this insightful post. I found it to be engaging and informative, and I appreciated the unique perspective that you offered. Keep up the excellent work.
This is probably the worst list I’ve seen. Reaper a new DAW? Ableton not good for mixing? Bro what… let’s also stop calling pro tools the industry standard. Nobody should pay to rent a daw. If I use a daw I’m owning that software.
How you make a list about the best DAWs and basically list every single one lmao
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They’re both Pro. The difference is that 32c has extra channels and more EQ. Also 32c needs a higher res monitor.
No mention of Bitwig’s (groundbreaking) modulation system?
It is so far beyond what any other DAW is capable of in this area, but your main pro point for it was a feature that isnt out yet?
I used cubase for many years, but it was becoming tedious to use as a sound design & electronic production environment. No multi assignable macros, no native modulators, no multiband FX wrappers, no FM synth, projects get super cluttered fast with MIDI tracks added only for routing purposes, if you want to use a modulation shaper (like LFOtool) and you can only use it as a MIDI CC mod source.
Bitwig blows Cubase 11 out of the water when it comes to sound design, synthesis, sampling.
So far my only gripe with Bitwig Studio 4 is the transient detection when slicing loops needs a lot of work & I miss Cubase Pro’s mixer snapshots when mixing down. I will still have to use Cubase for anything involving ARA2 or working with video audio, but aside from that I will never use it again. Bitwig is just so much more streamlined for my needs.
axb dolls Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? Many thanks
Reaper is an excellent bargain, but I found it overrated as a DAW. It’s fine if that’s your budget, but it has some clunkiness in its interface and feels unfinished. (Yes, I know it’s customizable, but that’s not a simple thing to do, unless there’s a skin you happen to love. And besides, I’m not paying to finish your software for you.)
I love Reason, spent many years with it, but its audio editing is rudimentary, and its hardware-based interface leads to some limitations on the mixer.
Logic is Mac only. That’s a HUGE con, and a dealbreaker for me. (Sorry, as with Reaper, I don’t join cults.)
Currently I use Studio One 5. It has a few more annoyances than it should for the price, but it’s a very nice product overall.
Reaper Reaper Reaper !!
There is nothing that comes close to this software.
Sorry ! You are only kidding yourself if you think otherwise.
The shear amount of custom things that can be done to reaper is truly unlimited. And with a huuuuge loyal dedicated community of guys making add ons . It’s only growing by the minute.
Hot second Reason !! ( Soon Reason 12 )
So reason, using reasons rack extensions inside of reaper is the ultimate.
You are wasting your time with anything else.
Reaper, Mixcraft, Motu, all the same… just typical generic low end DAWs. Bitwig is the future. From workflow to UI, innovative and hugely underrated. The only thing it’s missing though is score view. StudioOne #2, Cakewalk #3. Crashy ProTools living out its last days. Cubase stuck in the 2000’s timeframe. Reason is the elephant in the room resource hungry and slow with VSTs. Fruity – meh. Ableton Live good, but workflow is structured for live. IMHO. Demo them, make a decision that’s not based on what your favorite blogger is using, but ease of use, stability, how quickly you can jot down your ideas.
I use PreSonus Studio One 5 Professional, which I purchased in 2020, yet this article, which supposedly gives us the best options for 2021, lists Studio One 4 and the video link provided is for Studio One 3. Really? Do you even know what is available in 2021? Studio One 5 Professional added many new features and is a substantial upgrade from version 4, so I question any of the information in this article. Take some advice and do your research before pretending to have knowledge. You just lost me as a reader, as I cannot take your advice seriously.
Seriously!!! It is not that deep. Out of all the daw info you are apparently offended because of Studio One. I’m sure that this site is not offended in the least by your petty opinion….
Sorry but I have to totally disagree with this biased and probably paid article…. Reaper is the only DAW which makes sense to buy. For amateurs, pros…. reaper is the best value for buck and does everything you need from recording to mixing and even mastering. And sadly enough the best plugins for mastering are free…. you can load them into your reaper.
Very good information here. Thank you. I’m a long time ProTools user
currently ver.12.8. However here in Nashville, TN. The Harrison Consoles
company is based right here, some of the best and most widely used consoles
in the world especially in the large film studios. They have created Mixbus32C
DAW that is very hard to beat. it resembles the great analog consoles us old
timers used in the 60’s,70’s, 80’s, 90’s and many still prefer them over the newer digital consoles. The sound you get out of this DAW is unreal, analog warmth, plenty of control all over the console. It has converted me from ProTools!! and its costs very little they have Mixbus which runs $19 on sale lots
of times and the Mixbus32C is the Pro version around $89.
After trying nearly every DAW out there, Logic has become my favorite. I’m still on the hunt for an app to quickly record things like loops and short samples in high quality without having to fire up a full DAW. Any recommendation for a real l’ightweight’ mac recording app?
I noticed that you left Cakewalk by Bandlab off this list – it is a fully featured DAW and it is free??
Cubase – “Audio editing isn’t as robust as in some other DAW” ?
Sorry, can you clarify this?
Cubase has most robust audio editing from all DAWs …
Or do You know any audio editing feature, that miss in Cubase ?
Thank You !
Best
Martin
Hey Martin,
good catch! I was updating this article recently and must’ve gotten my wires crossed for some reason. I’m updating now, as this wasn’t my intended “con” to include for Cubase.
Reaper is great and has essentially an unlimited trial period with nothing locked out. You just have to deal with a nag when starting it, if you use it for more than 60 days. That being said, even at the full price, it is an absolute steal compared to most everything else on the list. I haven’t delved into the intricacies of using virtual instruments in it, as I mostly use FL Studio for that side of things, but for straight recording and mixing, it’s awesome.
Why is Adobe Audition not even mentioned? It’s expensive, no doubt, but surprised that it’s not even listed here.
Because it’s not a DAW, it doesn’t have a sequencer for starters. It would be in the same category with Audacity.
I started the music with sequencer in 1989 with Notator SL in Atari 1040 STE and is very stable and is the best for editing in MIDI, after I work in PC with Logic Platinum but is block so many times, after when Apple buy Emagic I used Logic Pro X with Apple and the problem with Logic Pro X with Mac Pro (cylindre, 2013 version) is not really stable, when is used with Kontakt, the CPU is quickly in the maximum for nothing and the computer block always, Apple technicians trying to fix it with me by phone but never the problems gone.
I started work also with Protools version 8 HD3 in 2006, is the most stable DAW for mixing and editing, the problem with AVID is the upgrades because they are very expensive, when we buy Protools HD3 in 2006 the price is like 14 000 UDS, and the Digidesign sync I/O, Command 8 are not compatible with the new Protools HDX and you need buy new Mac or PC.
For used Kontakt 6 I try Studio One 4, Ableton Live, Cubase Pro 10, Logic Pro X, FL Studio, Bitwig Studio, Propellerhead Reason, Cockos Reaper, MOTU Digital Performer, Mixcraft Pro Studio, mixbus 32 C-5, N.I. Machine 2.
The best, easiest to used quickly, the most logic for audio, MIDI, editing and for used Kontakt 6 is mixbus 32 C-5, in second position is Machine 2, the position 3 is Logic Pro X.
Is really cheaper the price of this Mixbus 32 C-5 and the workflow is really the best, actually is the top DAW.
VERY GOOD THANKS
I’m currently an ableton user, but I Reaper was my first DAW. Got into it back in 2006 I believe. I was new to music recording and Reaper was just too customizable for me. It worked great, but I never knew if I was doing things correctly, and spent too much time reading forums and figuring out workflow. That time could’ve been spent making music. As a beginner I needed some limitations and a semi closed in setup like ableton gave that to me. Also I do more midi recording than audio recording. Reaper’s midi in those days was not really up to speed.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever go back to reaper as I’m happy with ableton. But other than my lack of knowledge early on I think it’s a fine piece of software.
“The best…” Totally pointless article. What’s the best guitar? What’s the best car? It’s completely subjective. I might own a custom Gibson Les Paul that cost me an arm and a leg but Eric Clapton will make my Yamaha acoustic that cost 80 pounds sound amazing. I might own a top of the range Canon DSLR but Henri Cartier Bresson could take amazing photographs on a throwaway Kodak. The best DAW is the best DAW for you. I like a lot of what Rob writes and teaches but this article is pointless and misleading. Next….
Hey guys been a performance vocalist since college, over 30 years. Blessed to front some pretty amazing bands, but do to reliability issues I want to focus on making my own music. For someone who current doesn’t play an instrument, and is new to the Apple world, which DAW would be good for me to song write, produce professional music? I have some basic knowledge of GarageBand, and again to compose I don’t play so I imagine one with amazing loop options would be important.
Mixcraft is an excellent recommendation; I hadn’t heard of it until I Googled up this list. I’m having to change my DAW after two decades using the same one (Sony Acid Pro, but it was originally Sonic Foundry Vegas…many confusing name changes over the years after Sony acquired Sonic Foundry). I’ve used a lot of others, but not by choice; Acid Pro did everything I needed, and using it was completely intuitive after many years. But then Magix acquired it from Sony about a year ago…the dreaded Magix. Long story, but anyway, I’ve got to give up my old friend and settle on a new DAW.
So I started checking demo versions, Googled up a list to start from and found this–and moving to Mixcraft is no move at all. I could literally just start working without consulting any Help docs or vids of any kind. All the menus are just where I expect them to be; I actually wonder if Mixcraft has the same core software as Acid/Sonic Foundry somehow. Anyway, zero learning curve, and when I loaded an array of my high-cpu plug-ins–a set-up that would crash Acid, which is part of why I’m giving it up–Mixcraft handles it without a problem. Love it; it’s got everything I need, it works without glitches, and it’s dead simple–that’s a good thing, in fact, simple is a great thing.
I was a Cakewalk Sonar user for years. Did all the upgrades to the latest and greatest (read $$$). I got away from making music for a few years and I go back to find Sonar bellyup replaced by a watered down thing called Bandlab. All of the $$ I spent down the tubes. I ended up getting Mixcraft and I love it. It has a straightforward interface, mix-downs are quick, nice effect plugins and very extensive VIs. Support is awesome also. The only reason I’m shopping around now is that Mixcraft is 32-bit and I have some paid-for plugins that will only run on 64-bit host. (I don’t want to have use JBridge). Acoustica said they have no immediate plans to upgrade unfortunately. ProTools light came with my MAudio keyboard and I hated it. The pros can have it.
Cakewalk by Bandlab is free and now fully supported with regular updates.
The new version supports everything I previously licensed on the old version.
The only downside for some is that it is PC only..
I would not recommend Fl Studio’s , why you ask , There customer service is awful. Plus they give you the run around and never help you out. I know , I’m having trouble with it. If , I can’t find help with it, Then , I’m planning to change daw.
Thanks for this article and the dialog that it has inspired.
I’ve been using MIDI since its inception. What music power it has given those of us who want to create what we hear in our heads without having to leave home. I could only imagine back then that one day in the not too distant future, I would have everything I needed to record, master and upload a song for online sale by late afternoon — all by myself. For musicians, it is a wonderful time with all the choices we have.
Back in the late 80’s there were few choices for MIDI sequencing and audio recording. For the PC, the software available couldn’t do both. The audio software available at a realistic price was archaic. The sequencing software was affordable, and there were several choices. Back then, you had the same arguments about which was better.
I bought Texture (a loop based sequencer) and a PC Clone at Rhythm City in Atlanta. Thus, the PC became my computer of choice from then on.
Shortly after learning Texture and limitations it had for me because of being looped based, I went with Cakewalk with linear tracks. And I loved that I could make my own scripted commands using the Cakewalk Application Language (CAL — which quit being supported after Greg Hendershott sold Cakewalk).
The best software is that which meets your needs.
When Cakewalk went to the regular upgrades, I decided to make a change. I love upgrades, but only when they meet my needs. Most of the time they don’t affect me at all, so I skip them.
I tried every PC DAW I could get my hands on. They all are exceptionally powerful, but many try to do everything, making them slow and a CPU/memory hog. I had already used some of them projects. The rest I used for at least one project.
The one that ended up meeting my needs is Reaper. Like Cakewalk “of yore,” it is user expandable and personalizable (it is a word–I checked :-). I thought it would be great to write my own “actions” (like the CAL scripts/commands). I’ve never needed to learn! There are so many actions available, it will frighten even experienced DAW users. The same goes for its personalization. Keyboard shortcuts can be loaded for some popular competitor DAWs (or you can come up with your own shortcuts). I’d liken all of this to having your own huge Lego set that includes a 3D printer so you can design your own special parts.
You can try Reaper (exactly like the licensed version) for free for 60 days. After that, if you continue use, you are on your honor to pay for it. It never stops working, license or not. The personal use license is about the same price I paid for my original version of Cakewalk in the late 1980’s (no adjustment for inflation here)! If you use it individually/commercially and make less than $20k a year using it, the price is still $60. Educational is $60. Otherwise the price is $225 (with inflation taken into consideration, that’s much less than I paid for my original Cakewalk).
My advice on learning it:
If you are completely new to DAWs, search for videos that explain the basic aspects of DAW usage. As with any new endeavor, you have to learn the terminology. Also watch videos explaining the basics of audio and MIDI. You need to have a handle on that terminology. Take notes for easy referral.
Do not personalize Reaper until you have a handle on at least the basics. Many videos expect you to be using the stock version, and it’s a good thing because everyone’s on the same page.
As has already been written in other posts, watch the Kenny Gioia (Joy-ya) videos on reaper.fm. Unless you’ve already been in the DAW trenches (tracks?) for a significant time, do not binge watch them until your brain turns to mush. Run Reaper while you’re watching. Follow along with Kenny (his Reaper files used in the videos can be downloaded). When you can take the actions Kenny teaches without referral to his video or the Help files, you’re doing yourself a huge favor.
Reaper has different terminology for things. Write the terms down along with what other DAWs call them (if you know). I was used to “clips.” and Reaper calls them “items.” I was used to merging multiple clips into one clip — in Reaper I glue multiple items into a single item.
If you’re coming from another DAW, still watch the Gioia videos :-)
Whatever, do not go down the mouse hole of Actions until you’ve learned the basics of Reaper. With all my years of experience, they scared the heck outta me! How will I ever learn all of them? The answer is you learn only those that you need. When you know the terminology of what you need, the search engine for the Actions is very helpful in finding what you want.
Create lots of music using Reaper. When stuck, search for your answer using the proper terms. There are many helpful Reaper users out there.
FOR ME, Reaper is the answer to my DAW needs.
I have no connection with Cockos, Reaper, whatever. They are due my good words for the wonderful job they’ve done creating this software AND for their respecting me enough not to force me to use anti-theft systems that often keep me from using my software until I jump through lots of hoops to get it to working.
Completely agree Bobby! I used an ancient DAW called SAW Plus32 for over a decade. Somehow or someway I quit using that or they stopped making/supporting it and I had a hell of a time finding a replacement that flowed the way I liked. SAW was very straight forward, clear and concise and it worked wonderfully with Sound Forge…
Long story short, I banged my head against Logic, Pro tools etc…. I’m not exactly sure how I found Reaper but it was a godsend when I did!
I encourage anyone who is looking for a DAW to try Reaper. For the price it can’t be topped. Everything within the system is customizable to be tailored to your exact needs.
Buy it once for 60/225 bucks and all future updates and releases are included!
Reaper is the TRUTH!
Great Advice My friend
After reviewing them, Cubase stands out with Groove agent. GA4-5 compares with expensive drum modules like Superior Drummer and Addictive. I’ve read people complaining about GA but I firkin dig it.
Cubase is already great but man GA kicks ass.
no it doesnt stand up to superior drummer, addivtive drums etc as an acoustic drum module. you cant even mix & match kit pieces from the various refill kits you buy.
Its basically an MPC style sampler (like Ableton’s drum rack) with a ridiculously clunky interface and a few acoustic drum kits thrown in with mediocre customisability.
I can make one kit sound like about 100 different kits in Addictive Drums 2. The groove agent acoustic kits have very little variation in timbre & vibe in comparison. I loved it as a Cubase user & still use it for slicing drum breaks in Bitwig because the slicing detection in Bitwig is not great, but as soon as they fix that, I doubt i’ll ever use GA5 again.
The best DAW would generally be one you could afford for now. So that shouldn’t be a cause of debate, anything works out. Anyway, if you need to finance a home studio with real pro tools, there’s a package for that if you are a US national. Just check out the website page.
Sorry for double commenting and being critical. I wanted to follow up with stating that I feel that it’d be more responsible of you, and more appropriate, for you to change the name of your list to something along the lines of “11 Best DAW Apps For Me, May 2019. Which Are Your Best For You?”
Or, to at least state that your list is based on your opinion and which ones you’ve found work best for you (personally). Because, you hit the nail on the head when you said that the better question is “which are best for you,” rather that “which are the best.”
I understand that the title you chose is something that targets the top search phrases, so I’m probably wrong about the title. I just think its misleading, and I think you should consider editing it. Its kind of impossible for any one person to have enough knowledge of every single DAW, in order to truly state which ones are the best. My guess is that you know this, already.
I would request that you spend more time looking into REAPER.
I’m curious as to which of those companies send you donations, for listing them higher in your rankings!
I’m also wondering if you missed the fact that REAPER can be configured to do everything that those other DAW’s can do (with some exceptions from newly released versions in the last 8 months or so, such as Cubase 10), and it can be set up with a GUI theme of whichever DAW is your favorite (as far as how it looks and where things are located). Plus, REAPER can do much, much more than pretty much all of them. Another exception to that statement is that Ableton has the clip/scene view, which REAPER does not have. However, REAPER can use ReWire, to connect to any other DAW. Its pretty unbelievable that you even ranked Reason higher than REAPER.
There is a bit of a higher learning curve, with REAPER… but after using Ableton as my main DAW for 9 years, and switching to REAPER, I determined that it was superior within about an hour of using it. I’ve used Logic, Pro Tools, and Cubase, as well.
I think that it is pretty difficult for any one person to make an absolutely solid statement, as to which DAW’s are the best, or to order them from best to worst. I think it comes down to personal preferences, as far as which things you want, which GUI strikes your emotions in a way that make you able to create, and which DAW you have years of experience with. With that being said… I’d suggest to anybody who has 2+ years of experience with any one of the top 10 listed here, to stick with the one they know unless there is one that has things that they can’t do & that they really want or need. And, then… if you’re going to switch, get it overwith & switch to REAPER (for free)… and just deal with the fact that its learning curve is dramatically higher than the other DAW’s (mostly because it has dramatically more amounts of options, configurability, and capabilities, compared to all of the others.
In closing, I think its irrisponsible of you to list the best DAW’s in order of best to worst. Especially, when you’re at the top of Google search results and your list seems biased. No offense, and sorry for being blunt. I understand that you’re providing good information for a lot of people, with the end result being you directing people towards signing up for an in-depth class. I’m sure I could learn quite a bit from your class, but if you can’t get your list straight then I don’t know why I’d bother.
Hey David
Just wanted to inform you that above his list it says in no particular order. I admit it was pointless and confusing to number them but he is not saying one DAW is better than any other in his list.
It appears that you’re a rep for a DAW that you don’t think got what you consider a good enough review.
It’s stated that the DAW’s are listed in “no particular order”, but you are complaining about a best to worst that isn’t there. You also want to know who paid to be listed, and, you don’t like the title of the article.
As you say take a better look at Reaper, I think I know who you’re working for so the question is, where is your article listing the best DAW’s that are out there right now since you object to this article so much?
People choose a DAW primarily based on the amount of money they have available to purchase one, everyone wants the best, the one all those big producers use, then they look in their wallets and choose the best they can afford.
Your bitching is amusing, but contributes nothing to the article, unless you’re trying to say the article wasn’t negative enough, so you felt the need to gripe.
An amuse read, but I can’t find a reason for it.
Hey, thank you for being blunt, i’m a beginner and I’ve been using logic for like 2months now, would you digest I switch to REAPER now?? Also aside from the DAW what other MIDI or plug-in do I use??
I wonder why there is never a mention to a totally free and absolutely fantastic DAW as ARDOUR. Designed to work on Linux it is a comprehensive and complex tool for musicians and, best of all: you can get lots of free plugins to work with.
Obviously Cakewalk by Bandlab MUST appear in that list. I know it was discontinued by Gibson but NOW IT IS ALIVE, IT IS BETTER THAN BEFORE AND BEST OF ALL… IT IS FOR FREE.
Yes
I’ve been using Cakewalk since the were Twelve Tone Systems back in 1988. I’ve tried about every DAW out there and non compare to Cakewalk Sonar Platinum. Most everyone uses ProTools but that’s a complete joke.
After using ProTools for 20 years I was loath to have to learn and go through setup pains with another Daw. I changed over to Reaper 3 years ago and definitely have not looked back. Love the customization you can do with it, especially the way it looks and Ironically went for a protools look as that was what I’m used to. It handles large sessions with ease unlike the over bloated protools constantly complaining. Consistently updated and amazing support. Kenny Gioia’s tutorials are awesome.
I’ve used a lot of audio software(Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase, Sonar, Fruity Loops, Reason, Ableton, Sibelius, Finale, Soundforge, Komplete, Audacity, etc…)
And after a little re-education with youtube videos (all free…) I’m 100% sure Reaper is the best DAW to buy – especially if you are new to music production!
The support community is excellent, the videos are excellent, the software is professional, etc, etc…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw4pekLPVys
Slant rate it number one. I think that are right to do so.
https://www.slant.co/versus/6425/6431/~cubase-10_vs_reaper
The main issue people sometimes mention is midi editing. Specifically how it differs from Cubase. But quite often they just haven’t learnt the techniques – as there’s very little difference.
The new audio alignment in Cubase 10 is pretty smart. But I bet it will appear in Reaper soon. And its not a feature worth the extra £400…
Also Reaper are quick to update and don’t charge existing users a premium for a new feature!
Overall, after many years of music production I suggest that learning to use a free notation editor like Musescore will speed up you music production on all levels, particularly midi production editing (as you will start thinking in score and then the possibilities are endless) and you wont be wasting time on the piano roll…
Happy days!
No Sonar?
I think the author of this article is really biased and practicing favouritism .
Honestly I am convinced that Reaper is the best. All the features, low price, fantastic proccesinh, great biuld it plugins. What’s not to like?
congratulations for the article but in part there is a variety of misinformation about the daw because to be updated the article are talking about ableton and fl without highlighting the latest versions as ableton10 and fl 20, missing sequioa and pyramix that is used in studies mastering at a higher level, to say that some daw are emphasized in a genre is unprofessional since they are all compatible MIDI, should be based more on sources such as the prizes (IDMA) of the winter conference to have more accurate data where in that case Fl 12 is the best daw of this year without mentioning the 20
How about listing the best mobile DAW’s for Apple and Android phones?
DAMN , YOU ALL ARE MISSING THE POINT OF THIS POST. ITS NOT ABOUT WHATS THE BEST DAW 2018 RATHER …HERE ARE THE TOP DAWS IN 2018 , PICK ONE ACCORDING TO YOUR NEEDS. IM SICK ALREADY TO SEE PPL COMPARING DAWS JUST BECAUSE THEIR CRAPPY COMPUTERS CANT HANDLE A SIMPLE MULTI TASKING CPU PROCESS. YOU WANT FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE NO GLITCHES? GET A FREAKING CONSOLE SOME PREAMPS AND A TAPE MACHINE…HAVE FUN.
Actually, i am so old school I am Jonesing for a tape 16 track console which I could never afford!! These Mac based DAWs are not for analogue people!!
Endless windows when all i want is to run thorough some pedals and record! Why do computer progs have to be so difficult!
Yours,
Vic
DAMN HOMIE.
CHILL OUT.
ONE WORD: CAPSLOCK.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
I have been recording music for fun since the days of cool edit and I must say I absolutely love Cubase. Maybe someone can help me out here but it has a feature called EQ Position, what exactly does that do and which other DAW have something similar?
I have been using Mutools Mulab for audio and midi recording, mixing and mastering for several years with nothing but success and great results. Anyone else agree?
I have experienced only a small number of very minor grizzles but you can start with a free, no specified usage term download, then low cost upgrade forever.
Easy-to-learn and operate with high quality and flexible VST Plugin use in any studio or live performance situation.
No, I don’t have any connection with owners/developers. Just a happy, ongoing user.
Agreed. Tried Live, tried PT and Reaper and Cubase was simpler than most, but freaking Groove agent is killer. To me Cubase is worth it just to get the SE version of GA.
You said:
I tried every single DAW…
And narrowed it down to a shortlist of the best 2 DAWs for musicians.
Find out what they are here:
… but you gave no answer. What are those 2 DAW’s?
I use Korg Gadget for composing and mixing (producing synth/midi music in general) and iZotope Ozone (8 Standard version) for (incredibly efficient) mastering. This way I am freed from commonly known „DAW-choosing/switching” madness. Hahahahah!
Has anyone experience with mixcradt pro 8? I’d love to hear opinions and experiences.
Yes I have Mixcraft Pro 8 (and Studio One)…..It has all the functions you would expect, the Pro version has more virtual instruments, loops, synths etc., but the normal version will certainly do for everything, Mixcraft is by far the easiest to learn, has tons of tuition videos on youtube, brilliant support and good video support for film scoring….Studio One is more stylish, yes that counts too, but it still leaves me staring at a black window when it comes to video, despite people reporting about it to Presonus. Video does not work in Studio One, not on windows anyway. Admittedly, I am still rotten at mixing because I spent all my time composing, but I think Mixcraft is underrated, it just hasn’t made it marketing wise, so far. People who know how to mix will be o.k. with Mixcraft. take a trial.
Yes, I have tried all the “biggies” and Mixcraft beat them all. By FAR the easiest and most intuitive to learn which is huge for me…I have no patience for overly complex and just poorly designed software which makes it hard to record music (Pro Tools is the worst; what a crapfest!). Mixcraft wins hands down.
Stumbled across this article via a completely different search but had a lot of laughs reading it, and the comments. I think a few people on here agree with my philosophy: The best camera does not make the best photographer. I have used a ton of DAWS (pretty much every one at some point, for one reason or another) and on the other end of the spectrum I have made entire albums on nothing but an SP1200 and a crappy Mackie mixer. I am happy with my results. Anyone else’s opinion on the results I get from my equipment is subjective of course as is all art. Stop obsessing over what soccer boots you wear and start Playing football (I assume you get the topical analogy). I thank you.
No Bitwig? Its only won DAW off the year two year in a row!!
open your eyes jackass
reaper and ableton are monsters, but reaper don’t have clip launcher (with plugin vsti yes, playtime) and always need an extra configuration.
and in ableton the mixing is complicated, and rigid skin.
with this two daws you have no limits in creativity.
number 1 and number 2 the orden is irrelevant because every daw has its potentials and weaks.
I dont like fl studio except piano roll and automation funtions, the mixer is horrible. and patterns are rigid for creativity.
Choosing the best DAW is always a subjective choice according your musical tastes, preferences and how intuitive you find the software to be.
Reaper should be number 1 without glitch , yeah and you know that !!
This seems some kind of Mac focused list?
Thanks for the review.
Personally, as a newcomer to DAWs, I just need something to bring in jazz band and orchestral MIDI Files from Musescrore (notation software) in order to get better, more realistic sound. That’s about it. It’s overwhelming, to be honest, where to even start. Tracktion 6 is free, so I might go with it as a start; Reaper is great, from what I hear, but quite a beast to learn (what with all its flexibility); Mixbus looks simple and is inexpensive, but from reviews I’ve read it’s missing several plugins – I don’t want to deal with that if it’s going to mean having to buy them.
On and on it goes. It is what it is!
I think that Ableton and FL Studio are the easiest to use for beginners. It really depends on the genre. I find that if I want to make underground music, I go for Ableton. FL Studio can be used for more purposes, like scoring.
I must be dyslexic, because everyone seems to say that Ableton is user friendly. Not this user. (Probably why I love Mixcraft so much.) I’ve tried Ableton several times and uninstalled it every time out of frustration. Oh well. It looks like so much fun, but I can’t seem to get there. Back to Mixcraft…
I totally agree. I have tried a lot of them and I dont understand why Mixcraft Pro Studio is not near the top. Anyone know?
Me too. Mixcraft made it possible for me to even start mixing (I did NOT “get” the other DAWS back then….
Digital Performer comes out of one of the oldest and most well established digital music lineages. We started using the top sequencing program, Mark Of The Unicorn’s Performer 5, in the early 1990s and then transitioned over to Digital Performer when it was offered as a DAW. Since then MOTU Digital Performer has continued to upgrade and improve through each new version, currently DP 9. I have worked with Logic Pro, Cubas, Pro Tools and Reason, among others, and truthfully, each and every modern professional DAW has so many powerful features that they are all effectively the same when it comes to producing a pro recording. This is due to the fact that in order to stay competitive, every DAW company has to be looking at upgrading their version of software to have the same or better features than the newest version of their competitors. So if your current DAW doesn’t have some select feature that appears in another one, just wait for the next upgrade, and it probably will.
That being said, I would like to mention how easy and powerful a program Digital Performer is to use, once one has learned to navigate its gigantic feature set. Out of the top DAWs, it is very much under-rated, despite its very wide spectrum of applications. It has one of the finest sequencing and notation programs built into it. It also has a wonderful array of virtual instruments and high quality plugins, that keep growing with each upgrade. It is an incredible tracking, editing and mixing tool, as well as having full video editing and mastering features built into it. NO DAW is that easy to learn and use to the full extent of its features. Having worked professionally with quite a few, Digital Performer is one Digital Audio Workstation that is definitely among the top ones you can buy. It is right up there with Pro Tools and Logic, although I much prefer its interface.
How would you compare Digital Performer to Samplitude?
Jeskola Buzz Machines for life! <3 sound trackers.
Damn! I was about to make that very comment! Lol!
I think that Ableton is one of the most user-friendly and versatile DAWs. You can easily use Ableton’s built-in racks, samples, synths and effects to produce and master your tracks (at a decent level).
I like to couple it with Izotope, Omnisphere, Absynth and a few other VSTi that help create space within the mix.
Totally agree, specially now when 10 is out, grate update.
Well, I totally disagree! Tried 9 three times. Completely counter-intuitive! FL/Pro Tools are the best imho!
Yeah, but the problem is… it’s a PAID software, dude. Too bad I’m not that rich HAHA.
Wondering, though, in that Ableton really shines for live recording, would it be a good DAW for taking, say, an exported MIDI file from an orchestral or jazz band piece made in Musescore notation software (open source, free, but made for notation out put, not so much good audio) and running it in Ableton to get better (VST or other font) sound?
That’s all I need a DAW for.
Thanks.
Great post Rob, very interesting insight into many different DAW’s – some of which I’ve never heard of. Personally I started out on Logic just because I thought it was what all the cool kids were on lol. I’ve since moved towards Ableton over the last few years or so, sometimes linking Reason as a slave DAW via external instruments. However I’ve recently come across BTV Solo. It’s very easy to use, great for jotting down ideas and can be used as both a DAW and an external VST. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for large compositions but for the money they’re selling it for it is a really handy piece of kit to add to your musical arsenal. You can find it here http://bit.ly/2GgS2vP . Have a look I’d like to see what your oppinion of this is
I’m not sure this flick through a few DAWs is really a list of the top offerings for 2018. You didn’t actually mention that Pro Logic is ONLY available for Apple, and you have included SONAR when it was announced last year that it was shutting up shop (literally, you can’t buy it anymore…users can still access their software ). The review lacks depth and balance. But has given me a few brands to check out to get started (to replace my Sonar Platinum lost love).
Hi,
I am a Logic Pro X user. I love it. If Apple had a Window version I would of stick to it. While my daily work is mostly done on Windows, I need a software that will function on Apple and Windows. I’ve looked done some tutorials on other DAWs that works on both platforms. I’ve looked at Pro-Tools, Studio-One, Sonar and Cubase. I’m a composer, mostly I’ve chosen Cubase Pro 9. Now I’m working on a project; I like the workflow. Some part is more difficult to learn than Logic Pro X. I like the way the editing works. I’m still learning, since September my initiation to Cubase I see some result that I’m happy with.
Ah so many DAWs – I’ve tried most of them. I currently use Logic Pro X and find it more than adequate for what I need to do. It’s cheap. I used to use Cubase but their upgrade prices drove me away. I used to use Pro Tools but their MIDI stuff didn’t work for me – I’ve heard that it’s better but I’m not about to pay $299 just to reinstate my license for another year. I used to use SONAR when I was using Windows computers and I would probably continue to use SONAR but I hate Windows so much. SONAR is pretty solid and it too is available for cheap. Reason is okay – it still feels likes it geared for EDM but I’ve used it for rock productions and now with VST plugin support I might check it out again. Reaper looks cool and Kenny Gioa’s tutorial series helps people get up and running really fast. Ableton I use to try out arrangments and will admit that for working with loops there is probably nothing out there like it. Load up your own loops and try out different things is dead easy. Once I find an arrangement I print the audio and bring it into Logic where I mix and master.
Ha:) Ableton is n. 4 and Bitwig 12 – funny that compare to Ableton, Bitwig can multiply/add automations, do hybrid tracks, deactivate-hide unused tracks and couple more thing, while only few it cant. Big down is absence of scoring (Ableton has maxscore) but over all, after three years found myself stop using ableton and working only in Bitwig.
My 2c – speaking as someone that uses 4 different DAWS, including Reason, S1, Ableton & Cubase – I believe I know their strengths & weaknesses very well. But it’s not about my personal knowledge and experience which may or may not be extensive, depending on who is doing the measuring.
Software is engineered like any other technical solution which implies certain deliberate techniques or choices are included, which all added up provide a very different experience. A simple example are cars which all go from A to B, but some have aircon, powerful engines, sun roofs etc. The overall driver experience is hugely varied, even if the driver is a beginner or a professional.
Pretty much the same with DAWs – some are engineered with absolute power and features – others are not. The comparison really becomes interesting when the software costs are not that different but the included feature sets are.
Logic Pro X: I used Logic 9 for years but simply could not get used to X. Also Apple as been nagging me, so I switched to windows, after discovering how great Windows 10 actually is.
Then I started looking for a replacement:
Ableton Live: workflow not so great for mixing, annoying (imo) browser and plugin UI’s.
Bitwig Studio; workflow not great for mixing, limmited collection of built-in mixing plug-ins.
Reaper: great, but too much functionality and configuration options to tinker with, after three months it still confused me.
Harrison Mixbus: awesome mixer, but awful sequencer!
I went for Studio One because it’s ease of use: default keyboard shortcuts are easy to remember and a great drag and drop interface. I also like the build in FX and instruments very much. I find it great for recording, arranging and mixing. It feels most comfortable comming from Logic.
So just a personal preference!
Ableton 10 lands soon and apparently the browser got a major overhaul as us users have bitched and moaned about it since time immemorial. Apparently, throwing our toys out of the pram worked!
Cakewalk is dead. Gibson killed it. :(
indeed, I use Sonar and love it and just found out they have stopped developing it.. im #()#)(*)!!!! off
Cakewalk Sonar rulezzz !
Yes, very sad. Have been with them since Music Creator and still learning. I loved the direction it has gone over the years and the flexibility with the look. The closure makes sense in terms of the ‘perpetual’ licence recently granted to Platinum users. I thought at the time that was a strange business model, but it’s clearly a final sweep of the funds before heading out the door. I’ll be fine for a while but without regular updates this is going to fall behind the market. I might as well bite the bullet and start looking around.
Its alive and well plus its 100% free!!
Creativity – Cubase. Production – ProTools.
I’m investigating SAW (Software Audio Workshop). Any comments…?
My experience is most people who use more than one DAW do not actually know any of their DAWs all that well. Getting a review from someone who has played with a number of DAWs to compare is not the same as asking someone who is a master of that tool. Imagine being at an auction and an old violin comes up for bidding and someone who knows a lot about the technical specs of violins tells you a bunch of information that basically says on paper it has no real special value but then a master violinist picks it up and after a quick tuning plays a song that captures everyone’s attention. Who gave you more information…the technical specs (that you can find on the manufacturers website) or the master player who showed you its potential.
So when I read someone saying I use this DAW for this and this DAW for that…I do not put a lot of faith in their review. I know Propellerhead Reason pretty much inside and out but it took me years to get there (and I learn software fast). So of course when I hear someone say they don’t like the “some feature” in Reason compared to another DAW I ask them for more details. So far in my experience is most times Reason did do everything they needed and in a number of instances it did it quicker than the way they were doing it in their DAW. They just never took the time to learn it (even in their other DAW they were using). I have a friend that knows Cubase inside out and another that knows Logic inside and out. They basically have the same experiences of people who do not know their DAWs well saying negative things about those DAWs when they actually do those things exceptionally well. Pretty much all the modern DAWs can do everything from recording and editing to mastering. The only real noticeable difference I see is in their workflow. Some (like Reason) have a workflow that I thinks help spark creativity which helps me as a songwriter. Others (like Logic or Cubase) have a workflow geared more around mastering. It doesn’t mean that you can create songs in Logic or that you can’t master songs in Reason and someone who knows their DAW well will do any of those tasks quickly. I would recommend you determine what workflow style fits you and then dive in to mastering it. If you are musician and just get hardware then the rack method in Reason may make more sense to you but if you like to see an overview all on one screen at once so you don’t get lost that might be the last DAW you would choose.
Checking out the latest and greatest is fun to see what is coming but do not let it rob you of the time it takes to truly master the tools you already have. Just because you can buy a chisel it doesn’t make you a master carver just as buying a DAW doesn’t automatically make you an audio engineer and just because you downloaded and tried a dozen different DAWs does not make you a DAW expert by any means and you are likely adding confusion.
i like your comment, but you’re a bit misguided to the term mastering.
logic or cubase are not a single bit geared towards mastering, you just misinterpret the term mastering with production and mixing.
How do you know people who use more than one DAW dont know them well?
What you say is generally correct; however, there comes a point when someone who’s been in the business (regardless of what it is) knows the industry well enough to be able to sit down with related software and see, fairly quickly, what’s going on.
For instance, it doesn’t take long at all to see that LibreOffice is good but quite cumbersome when trying to do certain basic essentials that MS Word does much better. One can quickly see that the programming reflects more of the programmer than it does the user.
That’s not to say that LibreOffice is bad. It’s only to say that there are certain aspects of the programming are stark clear to anyone who’s familiar with word processing.
At any rate, it really does come down to personal preference, and yes, one has to watch out for reviews from people who let person preference thwart their basic approach to a DAW.
I was getting the flow going with Bitwig a month ago. Im studio one user but Bitwig for me seem pretty good when creating. But at the same time I found it kinda difficult to deal with virtual instruments routing. To me studio one made that part 10 times faster and easier. But if one day I decide to change daws I will go with Bitwig. Using it for some reason I felt like I was using fl stdio back again in my opinion. LOL
any one has experienced with cockos reaper 5 ?
After using Logic and Pro-Tools, Reaper is my first DAW since 2 years ago. Logic and Pro-Tools are great, Reaper is as much great, and is more flexible, adaptable, fast (on experience), and has a suprisingly optimezed CPU load, and still 64-bit internal mixing engine. Native plugins are visually ugly, but it features some first class sounding plugs, as Reaeq, reacomp, reavoice, etc…Maybe the weakest point, but for me not a big deal since I’m using a lot of third party plugs…
It has a large suite of JS-plugins, some of them very interesting. Routing and automation is very easy, in general all functions are very intuitive and it has a big user comunity, which ensures constant improvement. This is the key I think, and this is the future in my opinion. Multiple updates (very often, 2 weeks or so) allways run fine. Never looked back to my previous DAWS, this is a fact.
REASON 9.5 for all my songs
did you mean cubase 9.5 ?
im on sonar but they close…pity
what about reaper, like many daws its not a devicehogh?
Why isn’t Band in a box or Realband in this list. Biab is like hiring many musicians to play on your tracks. They have musicians for every part and many drum tracks that sound professional. And you can easily import them into other DAW’s to mix and things like that. Also I am sorry that Sonar is being discontinued. That software is like visiting several different mixing studios, and they had a ton of gorgeous plugIns that came with the program. I hope somehow it can get a github license like Linux programs have. Sonar is one terrific program.
You forgot to add Renoise to the list
Yes, Renoise is actually great no matter it doesn’t feel like every other DAW because of the tracker-mode view. Make no mistake, it’s powerful enough with some neat features other DAWs frequently lack…
No matter the years you might have spend jumping from one DAW to another, the true music genius lies within you – these DAWs wont make you a better producer.
So just concentrate on what you are using and forget about these ratings, specifications and usabilities.
best comment. human quality give value to the machine used.
I have used Pro Tools used crash on overload all the time i have used reason as well then switch to studio one 3.5 so simply and the videos to help you on you tube is awesome unlimited tracks as well with a mastering suite that is super easy to use the sound engine is great as well stock plugins is great and the community place gives you a bunch of great presets for your plugins Daw for life
Now with VST integration, I find Reason beeing the most efficient for me. I must admit i grow up with and is the only DAW to have no secret for me. As i master all keyboard shortcuts and tricks i can produce a good musical sketch very easily and incredibly fast.
I also love to do the final mix in Reason as i find their SSL mixer very efficient.
PS : I’ve also use Logic and Ableton Live a lot, but since the VST integration in Reason, i only use Reason….
I was not impressed at all with Studio one at all, the thing they did with curser is BEYOND dumb, they do let you fix it but I had to watch close to 17 videos to do so. Their own guy promoting it said it too. All the problems of cubebass.
Logic pro x is best
i can’t believe goldwave is not on the list, been using for decades
Been using Cubase 5 since over 8 years now. Still a fantastic DAW today!
best,
Frederic
http://fredericbernardmusic.com/
Sorry Guys. If it’s quality of sound that you want, then Harrison Mixbus cannot be beaten. I can’t believe it’s not even in the top ten. I use Studio One for tracking and editing but when it comes to mixing I export my stems to Harrison Mixbus. The difference is astounding.
I would definitely agree. I just bought Harrison Mixbus32C a few month ago as an addition to Digital Performer with the same purpose.
By the way , the support from Harrison is very fast. I received an answer betwenn less than an hour The guys there are very friendly and really care about your problems. I would highly recommend this Company and Mixbus.
I discovered Mixbus 32C on Thanksgiving weekend 2017. I was blown away at how fast I could get a good sounding mix. Great time saving for mixing.
I use 3 DAW’s religiously!
Propellerhead Reason- for sound design and song sketches! I find I spend most of my time in this DAW.
Ableton Live – I use this mainly for Live use but I also prefer Ableton for Sampling.
Logic Pro – I use this for Audio Recording, Mixing, and Mastering. If I have to do a full project start to finish I choose Logic above all else and most of the time I’m bouncing down audio from the afore mentioned DAW’s into Logic to complete the project.
I honestly advise having all 3 of these DAW’s there is a learning curve to having 3 DAW’s but if you immerse yourself into music like I do it’s a complete blast learning them and finding new ways and new sounds to create the music in your head or even the music you didn’t know was in your head! Total Creativity!
I would like to hear your opinion on Ardour. I think it’s quite nice, and it has an extensive list of useful plugins. It’s open source, so you don’t have to invest anything to try it out :)
I bought Mixbus that is based on Ardour and I absolutely love it not only for mixing but also for how well workflows have been thought out which due to its Ardour foundation. I bought the X42 metering and EQ which is really good sounding too.
Hi Guys,
I looking for a DAW for EDM production, like different types of house music. One of my friend suggests the Studio one.
I want to learn using 1, not 3-4 until I find out which is the best for me. So Studio one is would be a good pick for me, or…? Also, can this do mastering as well?
Thanks your answers
Hi,
Studio one is the best daw it can do basically anything you want plus it has a fast workflow through its drag and drop feature.
Studio one 3.5 is the way to go and yes, you can master as well. I love it.
I have tried all the daws but I want to humbly submit that PRESONUS studio one v3.5 is far far better and user friendly.
Hi all
I’ve been messing around with GarageBand (don’t laugh) and totally new to the whole DAW’s thing, I’ve been doing some research and I’ve kind of narrowed it down between reason and FL. any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Do you get plenty of instruments in both DAW,s to get started and what would you fellas say is the most user friendly for a beginner.
Hi, I’ve been using Reason (along with Ableton live) for many years. Found it to be as simple or as intensive as I need it to be to finish my projects. I’m currently trying to get my head around FL Studio and have to say I’m struggling! All reviews say how easy and user friendly the DAW is but I am honestly finding it difficult to do the simplest of tasks. I could be missing something but in my opinion, Reason is the most accessible, this may change when I finally get to grips with FL Studio! Hope this helps!
Oh my goodness, your situation sounds an awful lot like mine! I have been messing around on garage band too for the last few months, and have been frustrated trying to find a better quality DAW. I’m not nessasarily looking for one that has the best sound quality, but one that has a wealth of instruments. Much imput would be appreciated on this end, too.
Cool Edit Pro 2.0!!!!
Lol
My experience so far after 12 months of making Electronic Dance Music. I’ve tried 4 DAWs and this is my take. Mixcraft is a great DAW generally. Easy to use. Great for playing live instruments into it however, it’s not good for creating House Music. It struggles with Warping and trying to introduce sidechain compression is tricky. Ableton is great for this, and now I use both. Ableton Live is also fairly easy to get along with. I do recommend Bitwig or Studio 1 as a great all rounder especially if you can’t afford Pro Tools and don’t have months to try and figure it all out.
Wow, all i see is reason growing up and getting better by the minute while abmeton falls logic pro is crash heavy and buggy like apple these days all around and pro tools is for live instruments recording only school trained in all departments propellerhead has the edge now besides the EQ and lack of plug in capabilities we are hoping for a more powerful Ui in the next while. Propellorhead started as the worst and have managed to climb up every year. Lot of great daws here but id seriously put Reason on top just for the stock and where its going. Pro tools standard is sinking apple products are weakening by the minute i do love FL studios however and ableton all sounds the same I can totally spot the sound comes from that software!
Spell check issues on this apple phone haha
PreSonus Studio One 3. The workflow is so user-friendly. I’ve just moved from Cubase. Although I’ve been loyal to Cubase since Atari ST version 1.0 in 1989, I have to admit that it’s been a bit clunky and whoever did the original conversion from Mac to Windows was on a steep learning curve. PreSonus Studio One 3 is like Cubase re-designed from scratch with all the good bits and none of the bad bits. Well done PreSonus. :)
1-Ableton Live 9- Arrange
2-FL studio – Compose
3-Pro Tool – Mixing – Mastering
For me these are the best daw. But Everyone have different preferences and worflow
Yes, different DAWs for different workflows!
I find Samplitude and Mixbus great for Mixing/Mastering too besides ProTools.
Reason is good for refining signature sound and groove.
So it depends on what you are trying to do. The more DAW your learn the more you will understand about your 1 favorite DAW as you trying to map back convenient workflows into your #1 DAW. You will quickly understand the strengths and weaknesses of your #1 DAW this way. And you will be training your composing/arranging/mixing vocabulary in the process. If you play guitar yes you want to master one guitar. But any guitarist knows different models inspire different songs until you reach the point where you have brought back all the techniques to your #1 instrument.
I’ve been using Mixcraft Pro Studio for about four years and love it. Started out with PS 6, then PS 7, and now PS 8, and yes the affair continues more passionately with every revision. Thanks for the DAW listing Rob!!! Mike Dillon 54W
What about Audacity? I have used it now for a few years and find it simple and easy to use. Altho I have two different Cubase Programmes { I refuse to use the silly term DAW} I find them difficult to start up and get into and sometimes when all seems to work it doesn’t record. Most annoying So I stick to Audacity. as it’s straightforward Up comes the page and click the record button and away you go . It has all the usual fine tuning functions that I need and I mix it all accordingly.. I also have my songs that I produce played on a number of Community Radio Stations right across Australia and even get airplay in certain parts Of America and Canada.
If you haven’t yet tried it, check out Harrison Console’s Mixbus and Mixbus32C. Without going into the history, Harrison has essentially built a software version of their consoles. Mixbus is similar to other DAWs, but the workflow is different from others. It features EQ and compression on ever channelstrip, with a layout that is right on the channel: you don’t have to go through popups to get to EQ, compression, or channel sends. The Master bus includes EQ, compression, and tape saturation, also all right on the channelstrip.. From what I have read from experienced mixing engineers up to speed using Mixbus, mixing with Mixbus is considerably faster than other DAWs.
Mixbus is still fairly new, and has had some quirks in past releases. But those seem to be resolved and cleaned up, so it seems now to be very stable and solid. And, to make the product more enticing, Mixbus sells for $79. (Mixbus32C is $299.) (No, I don’t work for Harrison, but I can appreciate a good deal!)
Whether this will become an industry standard and become used by all is anybody’s guess. However, if I was just starting with recording and mixing and was looking for my first DAW, this would be my starting place.
I would enjoy reading what you or other readers think of Mixbus or Mixbus32C, if you have worked with it.
I just started with MB, and all I can say is : I love it :-)
It will not replace my Logic pro X … but for mixing it is superior
Agreed. I do most all my band based mixes in MB 32C now.
+1 Totally agree with you and I am a Studio One fan
I’m attracted to it, however, in view of missing plugins (noted in reviews) I don’t want to have to hunt around or buy them. All I need a DAW for is bringing in jazz band and orchestral MIDI files from Musescore (notation software) to get better and more realistic sound (I guess using VSTs etc.). That’s about it. So I’m leery about what’s missing in Mixbus.
Been using FL for 15 years, as well as Ableton, Reason, all the multi trackers and even the old Sony Acid and Soundforge. FL is amazing, speaking as an artist that is, but yes its not as user friendly if youre a mix engineer and arent composing… However, with some quality plugins and even the stockers like Maximus and Newtone, theres not much you cant do that other DAWs can… Ive stepped away from producing a hard electro house track to picking up my strat, setting up mics and producing a pop rock song for an artist. I love FL! So, if youre doing your own. Mastering in house, get some good plugins (compressors, preamps, tape emulators, etc) and youll be happy.
People always give FL crap for no reason and I don’t understand why. Like why is FL studio “bad”?
I feel like people give it crap cause it’s “easy” to use. Just cause it has a “start” button, doesn’t mean it works like you think it does.
1 person could be driving a speed boat while the other a ship. It’s all in how you use it that matters. If you can’t drive it, you have no room to talk.
There are few objectively bad points about FL:
no hotkey customization
clunky way to make macro controls, and no intuitive way to see them
no effects rack where you can see and control EQ’s, compressors, macro knobs, reverbs, delays etc all in 1 view.
A lot of other opinions come from stereotypes and ignorance, like “FL studio is to make copy-pasted beats for hip-hop”. Lot of people do difficult genres like classic orchestra, VGM or IDM, experimental. In fact actually pattern-based and modular workflow is better for experimental genres, rather than linear workflow.
So IMO strong points of FL: composing
Weak points: mixing, automation, hotkeys.
Doesnt mean you can’t do all in all DAWs, but the better aspect in one daw, the more experimental you can be. So I’m more experimental when composing in FL, but I’m more experimental when mixing in Ableton.
Ironically, Ableton Live and Propellerhead Reason which are meant for producing MODERN Electronic Music have the worst UI :(
Caustic runs on IOS, iPhone, Windows, and Android. Small, fast, with features overlooked by the other DAWs.
Thanks Nicholas, I will take a look!
Boy, did you stir up a hornet’s nest with that article! Lol!
Makes for a good read every time!
I found it really easy to use Caustic. But at the time I checked it out, I didn’t see an easy way to record audio into a track. Also On Windows using my old M-Audio Fast Track Pro interface, I noticed tremendous latency when attempting to perform into the tracks. So I have since abandoned Caustic. But it’s so cool to be able to produce something on computer and then show it to someone using my phone. The included instruments seemed really powerful for the price, and way more intuitive than Ableton Live, which is my DAW of choice for now.
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