What DAW are you using and why? Let me know below! Please check out part two of the series with even more DAWs! ua-cam.com/video/wGPikn2UAPo/v-deo.html
Been hooked on Ableton Live ever since the 'Lite' version was bundled with some hardware about 10 years ago. I've found it more intuitive than others I've tried.
Hi Warren. I use Ableton Live. Why? Well before trying that I tried a few others and just couldn't get on with the layout. They would frustrate me a lot, but when it came to Live. I spent 16 hours straight learning it.. with version 4 I think it was, and I've used it ever since. I stuck with version 10though, because I can operate it in my sleep.
Logic , ‘cus I figured…humm , they make the cheese grater ,I might as well stay with the one that brought stay with logic and also I’m old and lazy 👍🎸🎼
Presonus Studio One 5 :). I also have Cubase 11. I mainly use S1 because I like moving around and carrying a USB dongle is a big no-no. I can upgrade Cubase to 12 just to get rid of that stupid dongle, but I already own S1 and upgrading S1 is cheaper than Cubase. In terms of feature and ease of use, I think they are very similar. I think S1 is faster too, performance-wise.
Home studio hobbyist here... originally bought Reaper because of its unlimited free demo period, and its low price once I decided to commit. I found it easy to get started with the basics. I'm always learning new things, but it's far more capable than I'll ever need. I'm running it on a run-of-the-mill Dell laptop in Windows 10, mostly recording and mixing audio, with occasional bits of MIDI. Anecdotal testament to Reaper's simplicity. When my daughter was in high school, she was running Cubase on a PC. She purchased a third-party VST instrument which we could not get to work. Steinberg's tech support was useless, largely because their hours are basic 8-5 German time, forcing users in the US to resort to email and/or keep really strange hours for on-line support. On the other hand, Sweetwater's support was great, since we bought both Cubase and the plug-in from them. On day, a Sweetwater support agent was helping us via a desktop-sharing session and he suggested trying the plug-in with another DAW to determine if it was the plug-in causing our problem, or Cubase. My daughter's laptop only had Cubase on it, so the agent suggested we try Reaper. Via remote sharing, he called up the Reaper webpage, downloaded Reaper, installed it, opened a project, assigned the plug-in to a track, recorded a few notes and played them back. While he was doing all this, I kept an eye on the clock. IT TOOK TWO MINUTES. From download to playback: TWO MINUTES. My daughter switched to Logic when she went away to college, because that's what the school used. She hasn't touched Cubase since (300 bucks down the tubes) but me? I'm sticking with Reaper. P.S. As a old fart who could never afford studio gear when I was younger, I love that I can make Reaper look like an old Neve or API console, though the standard Reaper skin is probably easier to read on less-than-perfect displays.
I have been using Studio One for about 4 years now. I really love it and feel it is one of the best DAWS. I have used other DAWS, and while I like them, namelt FL Studio (my first), reason from version 3, Cakewalk (when Sonar had it), Ableton (which I use presently for live gigs) and some others, I have stuck with Studio One. But I also feel there are other things that you can very easily achieve on other DAWS that you may not be able to acheive on some others. Each DAW has its uniqueness and they should be celebrated for that.
I am using Studio One Professional under Sphere subscription. It has been perfect for me. The moment I first used S1, I just started mixing right away without reading any manual or watching any tutorial. Everything makes sense and everything is drag and drop. Studio One V6 is just 3 days away as well so stay tuned. Most of the features that the other DAWs have here, Studio One has it. It’s like Reaper. Very lightweight on the CPU, very customizable (but not as advanced as reaper), super stable but easier to use (IMO).
I've used Reason at home on a PC since 2016 & have been very happy with it. I've spent many hours in "professional" studios that use Pro Tools, sitting at the desk with engineer, and have never felt I'd be better off with PT.
Me too, since 2015. Reason Essentials 8. Never even felt the need for the full version. It does exactly what I need and I've never felt the need to look elsewhere.
I use Reason because I love the idea of an interface which mimics analog gear, and because the Reason rack instruments really offer an amazing variety. While I know it's popular with those making so-called electronic music, I use it for making fusion/progressive rock style music, recording my live drums and bass. For keys/synths/pads I use the MIDI editor and included virtual instruments. The included rack gear is also impressive, and my only processing plug-in is the AIX-DSP multiband gate and EQ I use for drums. It's pretty easy to change time signatures and tempo mid-track in Reason too. Reason isn't perfect, but it does offer a lot in one package.
I use FL for 11 years now, it’s my first DAW and it’s really working for arrangements and cooking some new stuff. But if you’re mix engineer, you need more tools, than creative features and many professionals choose Reaper. It’s cheap and give you great bunch of different tools, but it’s hard to start creating new music in it, especially electronic. All DAW have their users 😊
I use Studio One. I'm very much a beginner with DAWs, but I find its interface intuitive, and I can get encouraging results as I learn. I'm looking forward to exploring the content here to get a better understanding of how I should do things.
I've used Digital Performer, Live, Reason, Logic, Reaper, Bitwig and dabbled with the rest. I come back to DP all the time. It's the crazy list of features that does it: Run Command, Mix takes, Chunks, V-Racks, Track Selection, all of the MIDI, great comping, and built in pitch correction and stretch / beat detection, extended movie scoring support, and newer features like the Clips window, MPE, Articulation maps, ARA, AU, VST2 , VST3 support etc. I do love the others ones as well, but DP covers the most bases in one swoop. That I can set a Clip to fire a tuning command and SysEx with the patch on an old synth without it bogging up the timeline for instance is just cake, or I can have that whole process in a separate Chunk in the same project, along with remixes like mentioned already. Anyway they're all great, DP just gets the least press for some bizarre reason.
Thanks for the in depth love about DP! I really only could get into a couple of features during the interview and was of course limited on time as to not take up so much space.. But I definetly have worked other DAWs before and found the same conclusion.. Its like I said in the video.. It feels like a second skin.. DP works at the same speed you do.. Its SUPER musical.. I'm just glad I was able to get the chance to make more people aware of it! . Plus the themes keep it "classy" lol! 🤣🤣 Thanks for your comment!
I'm actually using two DAW's. I have Logic Pro on my iMac, and I have Ableton Live on my laptop (which is a PC). I love them both, however, I get a lot of latency issues with Ableton, which I believe is due to the processor in my laptop not being fast enough. But the Logic Pro on my Mac is flawless.
Hi Warren, I use Predominatly Cubase 12 Pro. Ive been using it since the VST version came out in the early 90's so now over 20years . I also use Ableton for Sound design, ive been using that since early 2000's along with interfacing with NI Maschine, i have both run on PC and Linked for when i want to intergrate them together, loads of flexiability.
I've used them all (going back to Studer/Dyaxis MacMix in the 1980s), and I adopted HARRISON MIXBUS-32C about 15 minutes after seeing my first demo. It feels like using a mixer rather than a plug-in host. Every channel strip comes with a great (Harrison) EQ and compressor, and every bus includes that plus soft-saturation, so about 80% of your typical plug-ins are already there. Plus you can map any control of any plug-in into a fader in the channel strip, so you almost never need to have plug-in GUIs open. Plus it supports every known format of plug-in (VST2/3, AU, LV, etc.). Plus there are very good in-line oscilloscope and VU meter plug-ins for the inputs and busses. Plus it's fully cross-platform (Mac/Win/Linux) and open-source! Support for touchscreens (think Slate Raven) coming soon... I just switched from a MacPro 2013 to a MacStudio. Plug-ins from Eventide, iZotope, Waves, Voxengo, Harrison, MetricHalo, PlugIn Alliance, Softube, WaveArts and others. Softsynths from NI (Kontakt), Arturia and BFD. Hardware: Antelope Orion Thunderbolt I/O, Audient ASP800 mic-pre/ADC, Grado, Westone & AKG headphones, Adam & Focal monitors (Klipsch sub), Presonus FaderPort controller, Grace m900 DAC + headphone amp.
Reaper is my always reliable workhorse. I'm using (and adapting to my personal needs and workflow) for more than 12 years now. I love its always helpful community .
Cakewalk by Bandlab! A mature DAW that has had a lot of owners, and was at its most expensive when owned by Gibson. AS Gibson allmost fell over, it was luckily taken over by Bandlab who offers it for free. Continuing updates, and has the best support forum. Allways left out due to being free I suspect. It knocks a lot of the competition right out of the field. I've tried many of them.
I agree. Seems Cakewalk always gets left out of the DAW conversation. I've been usung it for years and years. Probably gets left out because its free but i will put it up against any DAW.
Cakewalk all the way. For me it’s most similar to Cubasis but without the licensing nightmare that comes with the multitude of bundled versions I have (so I like Yamaha stuff). I would really like to move to Reaper as it is ridiculously stable and runs on everything but midi editing is not pretty and I need that to fix my cruddy keyboard playing
I agree. You should have added Mike over at Creative Sauce to this video to discuss Cakewalk by Bandlab. (Mike was pitching both Studio One and Cakewalk, but seems to have become exclusively Cakewalk focused. I bought Reaper and Studio One, after the Gibson debacle. I am forever thankful to Bandlab for what they did.
I'm using Cubase since my early Atari ST days. We also hooked it up to a TRS-8 and later Adats. I did try other DAW and I'm far from claiming it to be the best DAW, but it is for me. I have never been tempted to leave it and it is one of the most complete, if not the most complete DAW. I've never felt restrained by a missing feature and my only complain is merely PC related. ASIO should support aggregation, but other than that I'm fine. The upgrade policy sometimes feels like a subscription, but this is true for many packages. If you are a little bit like me, stick to whatever keeps you going and if it is Cubase, welcome to my world :).
Does the latest Cubase still have the issue with midi timing where notes are placed later or earlier than they were played in real time (in my case about a 32nd note late)? I plan to upgrade to the latest version in the next year but that issue has been driving me crazy for years. I’ve been a Cubase user since the late 90s. I can work around that issue but it’s a PITA.
@@filmjazz I've never had that issue with my current MIDI interface. I remember having something like that, when I was using a cheap USB to MIDI plug, but was able to fix it with the system MIDI latency settings and maybe channel settings. But I understand that this is highly annoying. I'm a PC user, too. There's a trial now for all three versions, so you could give it a try upfront.
Reaper on Windows 10. I do amateur home recording. One feature I like is the remote control feature where I can use my phone as a remote controller (or any device with a web browser) to control the tracking process. I do this away from the computer to minimise computer noise or to choose the place in the room for best sound
I keep meaning to try the remote control function in Reaper. My studio is in a spare bedroom with gym equipment. If I am running out of space I want to move some keyboards to the living room and run MIDI and cat5 audio to the studio. Then I can just use my phone to control Reaper so I don't have to use my laptop and then transfer files to my desktop.
There is also a way to create controls for musicians to control their headphone mix. They can use their phone or tablet to slide faders. You can create a single control for a headphone mix or break it into several faders where each can control a track or groups of tracks. If you work alone where you are the engineer and playing as well then letting them mix their own headphone mix relieves you of a task that can interrupt the flow of the session.
Studio one 5 is my favorite! Couldn't be happier with it. It does everything from normal daw, mastering page, and you can use it live too. One stop shop🤘 P. s Great to see Joe on here! Joe and gregor have taught the S1 users so much
So many great DAWs! I've been using Cakewalk for about two decades now and I think it's every bit as good the others on the list - if your main use is recording and mixing audio, or working a lot with MIDI. It's now free so doesn't include a lot of extras such as 3rd party plugins, but it has a core set of plugins to get you started and then you can spend the money you saved on your own plugin library. It's also Windows 10 only. Under Gibson they were working on a Mac version, but that project was abandoned at some point before Bandlab bought Cakewalk. Thanks.
I am tinkering with Bandlab, but the vocal recording and editing seems very limited for this DAW which otherwise can become a super DAW. So i am now trying to learn Avid Pro Tools the free version, but it seems to be a very difficult DAW to learn because it's operating functions seem to be based on key strokes in preference over simply mouse clicks. Even the set up of the software seems complicated. Now after downloading stuff, it looks like zi am now running the ultimate version instead of the free version. How did that happen? Avid ProTools? Still undecided.. Ableton live was doing ok, but always seem painful ti keep everything working....and limited tracks for free version. If pto tools is too complicated, then I may give Reaper a try. Just a retired guy looking for a music hobby. If I find something great like an improved version of vocal editing BandLab, then that would be great but it's not considered a serious DAW it seems more like a toy at this stage and badgers its users to participate in collaborative activities, which is not to my liking.....hope privacy is not breached by the software.
@@tyronelowe7090 You probably want Cakewalk (by Bandlab), not Bandlab. Note that they will be discontinuing the free version of Cakewalk eventually, replacing it with a paid version. It's Windows only. I use Cakewalk because I've been using it for 2 decades. It's not supported by certain hardware products such as DAW controllers as it's no longer considered one of the top DAWs. Whatever DAW you pick, they all have a learning curve. I think the most popular for Windows right now are Ableton and Studio One.
The best daw is the one that works for you. All too often musicians and producers think that they way they create music is the ONLY way, which is obviously BS. There are so many ways to make music, each as valid as the last.
I use Harrison Mixbus 32C, mostly because my sessions are relatively simple and the workflow is exactly like using a Harrison Console. I love the way that works, and the EQ and built in compressor in each channel strip is fantastic. It sounds awesome, especially once you get to grips with the metering and saturation controls on the buses. MIDI is pretty good too, more than good enough for me!
I first started with Propellerhead's Reason, which I still use form time to time for the really good instruments it has. Then I tried Pro Tools briefly before moving on to Studio One (which came with my audio interface). But then I heard about Reaper and that the developer is the same guy who wrote Winamp... I was sold. It's my primary DAW, ridiculously fast and stable, does everything I need it to do and the price is incredibly affordable compared to other options. With extensions the program takes on whole other life too, it's sensationally good imho.
I use Logic and LUNA. Logic because I am used to it for many years and LUNA for its idea of having and giving a sound to the audio and the vintage real studio feeling of former times.
Great video! I use Reason as rack plug-in with Reaper DAW. Reaper has insane CPU efficiency, track folders and other great features, and Reason is a sound design dream, so it makes for a great combo.
I am in a committed relationship with Logic but that Reaper demo was intriguing. And also the Ableton demo. Honestly this is one of the most useful videos you have ever posted.
I actually own and use most of these. It's been a huge learning curve to wrap my head around some of the shortcuts and such, but the differences in workflow actually inspire me to create out of my comfort zone.
I too use these DAWs. I like Mixbus 32c because I can get a decent mix (my opinion) with no plugins. Each chanel has a full EQ section and Compressor/Limiter/Leveler just like the 32c console used to mix "Thriller". It has as sound which is unlike all the other DAWs.
I am using Reaper with a windows 10 gaming PC. I JUST started with recording my music in December 2021. I used to record on a little 8 track machine and wanted to upgrade. Reaper has a learning curve but I'm enjoying it. I use my 280HD Pro after watching your headphone comparison :) for mixing and trying to master. I'm nowhere near good with this yet but I'm learning.
I'm an old school amature that started with a Teac 4 track reel to reel in the 80's and ended up with a hybrid system - a big ol' Tascam 3500 console and a 24 track hard disc recorder in the early "noughties". I gave it away for about 15 years and started again about 4 years ago. At the moment I'm still using the Abelton 10 Live Lite that came free with my Scarlett interface! Limited to 8 tracks. ( And multiple "Chains") I can't believe what is possible. Keeps me amused! AND, I am absolutely convinced that, say, the Taylor Swift's, Ed Sheeran's, John Mayer's, Kanye West's etc etc etc of this world (and/or their "producers"), could produce a No. 1 song in my spare bedroom, with my laptop, my software and my modest selection of low cost microphones and interfaces.. Sure, all of those folks have access to the best gear, best spaces and best people. But its not about the gear. Never has been. Never will be. I reckon the most important thing as far as DAW's go, is just to know,(whatever you are using), well....ie to be "productive".
Everyone's favorite DAW is the one they've been using the longest. The differences have become so nuanced. If you're entirely confused start with Reaper because it's a place to start. I settled on Reason because the GUI is kind of warm and organic.
Seems to me that one of the ways DAWs are different are in how much is packed into menus - main or contextual. To me both Reaper and Logic are PACKED with menus, all loaded with dozens and dozens of features & choices/options, and filing cabinets of prefs & settings. Very appealing to someone who _loves_ savouring the endless features! (
I’m a Luna and Logic user. Disappointed that Luna didn’t get a mention in this video as it’s free with an Apollo. And there is one sitting right there on the desk! I mainly use Logic for it’s built in instruments and guitar amp/pedal models. Mix everything in Luna.
Digital Performer has some incredible features no other DAW has. Every program has it's plusses and minuses - but the DP features I can't live without like multiple mixes, chunks, the Drum Editor, articulation maps and customization are just a few. They continue to keep the program fresh and are staying with the industry with Clips, ARA support, MPE, etc. I'm faster on this DAW than any other and have been using (and teaching) different platforms for MIDI sequencing and audio for over 35 years.
Awesome comment! I wish I could have gotten into that kind of depth with my interview.. Im just stoked DP was able to get some awareness in this video! I was glad to be a part of it!
I started using Ardour on Linux and Windows and am nowadays using Mixbus32C v8 on Mac Mini M1 and MacBook Air M1. I really like the console like workflow and usability, the routing capabilities, the included features, the ability to run it on Linux, Windows and Mac, and last but not least the overall sound.
Yeah, same here. Started with Ardour, then bought Mixbus and finally upgraded to MB32C. The switch is easy as they're all built on the same platform. I like that it's cross platform, but in my experience the Windows version sadly doesn't compare at all in performance. Very unstable. In a Linux environment I really haven't had any issues, it just works.
Yeah, I'm using Mixbus v8 too (starting from v5). I like that "analog" style of mixer-window and editing possibilities. Want to mention an outstanding Mixbus support from guys out there within the shortest time!
@@carlkolthoff5402 32C v8 runs flawlessly on my setup. I find that with any Windows system it's important to dig in and optimize it for audio. I use a Ryzen processor and a low level workstation GPU (Radeon WX2100) and a stripped down build, with all the most stable driver versions I can find (no beta or bleeding edge stuff). Run a clean install of Windows and only install what you need. (bloatware kills it!)
@@neuroeder great to hear! For me personally, I was a Linux user long before I discovered Ardour, so I'll happily keep that platform in my studio (although I use Windows on a daily basis too, but only for work).
I'm using Studio One Sphere. Several reasons for using it but the main things are the ease of use. Once set up it's easy going start the program and you'll be recording within minutes. The Sphere version let's you also have it installed on 5 computers at the same time so I have a computer in our studio/rehearsel room and can record directly then upload the song/recording to the provided cloudservice and then when I get home I just download it and can continue working from home.
Reaper!! It is quite versatile and low drama with easy installation. You don't need a ton of requirements for it to do its thing. Plus, you can "skin" it to look and work like Pro Tools.
It's an endless debate but for my part, I use Reason 10 for electronic music, and Studio One 5 for any recording session and production. Thank for this video and cheers from Canada.
I've been using Logic Pro for about 10 years now...but i also switch between that and Pro Tools if someone asks for the PT session after. I also been using Ableton Live here and there but mainly using it for backing tracks for live.
I've been using Pro Tools on a PC for 13 years. I find it very intuitive and easy to use. Other DAWs might have more features but Pro Tools for me is my digital tape recorder!
Long-term Reason user. Its toy-like skeuomorphic UI is great for experimentation & looks fantastic. Recently switched to PC from Mac without a hitch. Definitely getting squeezed by the weak & expensive upgrades but I’m locked in, having thousands of files. Been loving the MIDI players, there’s nothing quite like them in other DAWs. I am still inspired by Reason after 20 years.
I like how you used people who predominantly use these specific daws so we can get a better perspective on each one. A lot of youtubers start dismissing daws because they have never/rarely used them.
I'm like you ... a Gen Xer who started using ProTools on an old TDM system back in around '98. What I love about it now is I also have a C24 surface, so mixing in the box is just like mixing on a console. ProTools really got controller hardware integration right.
I'm at about 6:00 now, and I think you overlooked one major aspect in your overview: not all DAW versions (say: the more affordable ones) are capable of recording (or even processing) audio (tracks). When you want to record singing or playing guitar you need audio tracks, and not all entry level DAWs have those/are capable of recording audio. That renders them useless for a large group of home-recorders/producers and the real entry level is the one above.
I used to use protools then about 10 years ago I tried Reaper, I could not believe how much easier it is. Reaper is just so flexible, I love it. I never went back to protools.
i was a young studio engineer in training in the day of 16-track tape and big format analogue desks, the only digital things were lexicon reverbs and ultraharmnizers in the rack; I stopped working in studios and came back to it, and the world had gone digital and everyone using a daw was a NASA engineer in my eyes, I tried logic on a low power laptop, and it was horrible, so I gave up. I tried Ableton as my friend and an Ableton tech for a bunch of big touring acts, but that was again so difficult for me trying to see how it all was laid out, I ended up buying an MPC hardware unit, and that did me well for a year while my brother and I set up a company selling copyright free music for creators then I upgraded to a 2022 MacBook air M2 32GB ram and 500TB drive and bought logic and 4 failover plugins, I also purchased the SSL uf8 desk flying fader controller and the SSL UC-1 channel strip section controller and was in heaven, the laptop was so overpowered for me right now I have zero latency, can handle all the big plugins, and the external daw controllers mean I can mix with my hands and ears, not my eyes and a mouse trying to sweep a virtual eq knob. I have adapted so much faster now, I'm still in the box, but I have all the physical knobs and dials I was used to and feel more at home with for me logic Pro x, and this setup is the ultimate home studio for me and what I'm producing and selling,
Right now I'm using Studio One, Bitwig and Reason as a Plugin. I sometimes use Reaper because many of it's features (also, I just love it for what it is.) I find being DAW gnostic is the way to go. DAWS are part of the creation, and each do things differently that are amazing in their own ways
Thanks for doing this, Warren! Very comprehensive. I get asked a lot by people looking to get into DAWs what is "the best one", and it really, really depends on your background, and where you want to go. So many of these started out as MIDI sequencers, and some really wear that heritage still. I started out in the early 90's with Cakewalk and Sonar, and moved to Logic (when it was still Emagic), because it was more powerful. But man, what a learning curve. When Pro Tools LE came out, I jumped to that, because it behaved so much like a mixer and a tape deck, which is what I knew best. I stepped up to a Mix Plus system in 2000, and I've been in Pro Tools ever since. Currently running Pro Tools Studio. But it's not the best for everyone, and I'll be the first to acknowledge that. And I have Logic Pro as well, because some of my collaborators and customers use that, and I have to make things as easy for them as I can.
I started out recording in 2000 using Roland 1680 and then the VS 2480. Loved it for hands on recording. I now use the Presonus Studio One V5 Pro on a Mac Mini. I love all the generic plugins that cover Pro EQ, Compression. The editing and Midi recording is wonderful. Right now I am using Arturia Keylab Essential 49 to get any Synth Sounds needed. Like you say, it's what you are used to using, so I chose Presonus and love their updates have been using it since 2015. . Also they were recently purchased by Fender; so I'm looking forward to see what that will do for the Software and hardware in Presonus.
I’ve been on Logic Pro for over 10 years. So people know upgrades are included in the price ($199) for the major release and the updates since the 10 /“X” release in 2013 have been great including many new plugins, instruments and capabilities. Key takeaway is the updates are not just bug fixes. So far it has cost me an average of about $20/year for a pro DAW. I will say you need to invest some time in optimizing your configuration with your audio interface. This is critical to prevent the notorious clicks and pops. My rig has been running flawlessly for years with a UAD Apollo interface on 2017 MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM. Instruments are fantastic and infinitely adjustable, no limitations to tracks or bus counts and the stock plug-ins are really good especially the compressors. Editing is a dream when it comes to comping and retiming audio tracks. I feel for the money and capabilities Logic Pro is once of the best DAWs for artists and producers. I work with multiple artists who are on Logic and we can share Logic “packages” to collaborate without wasting time with exports and imports.
Been liking it myself for the most part as well, but haven’t tried others. It does seem over valued next to pro tools, but it’s not like anyones going to hear a diff. Which stock compressor/s do you like most, and which reverb? Thanks
@@chinmeysway Hi. I use all the various compressors offered in LPX as well as some third party plugins from UAD. The LPX compressors are modeled after some great studio classics and it all depends on the what I’m trying to accomplish. The Platinum is nice as a transparent ducker using a side-chain. The vintage opto is nice on vocals to level. The studio vca is nice on a summing bus. Do a google search on the types of compressors in Logic and there is a wealth of profiles of the models. As for the reverbs I use them all depending on the application. I will say ChromaVerb is very clean with a long decay.
This is a really good comparison with good justifications. For those starting out choosing a DAW is a big commitment and investment of time so the pressure is there to make a good decision before starting on the road. Ableton does so much with samples and clips that it was my choice for composition, however if I was a Mac user I'm sure I would have taken Logic. Whatever you choose, stick with it and don't re-compare for a long time as the principles for the majority are similar, and you need to enjoy your time rather than get caught in a loop of reconsideration. I remember how much fun I used to get out of a Tascam 4 track tape, so ultimately it's about enjoying making your own music. Great video - Thanks to Warren and all the contributors!!
Used FL for 3-4 years and switched to Logic X after getting into Apple ecosystem due to iCloud sync. I would love to learn cubase soon. I’ve seen people work on DAWs and inspiring others to get THAT daw. It’s all about how thoroughly you know things inside. ❤ Love this channel.
Well done! This is a crazy topic because musicians and producers are so passionate about their DAW. It’s silly, really, and a distraction from making music. 😅
So I started with Nuendo, then at college I got to use Pro Tools, Reason, Logic, and Ableton, and finally, at uni I used Reaper. While Pro Tools was my favorite in College and Uni, I now adore Reaper and have been using it for 6 years and haven't looked back since. However, I will admit nothing came close to Ableton's ability to completely change sounds, it was mind-blowing, but something I don't need.
Started on Amiga with Octomed. Then moved to PC with Impulse tracker and Cubase. Then used Ableton for a while before moving to a Mac with Reason. Dumped Mac and Reason and ended up with Studio One and the Reason Rack on PC since 2019. Love it!
If I am making solely electronic music - it’s bitwig now. It’s the most advanced for that stuff. However, when recording and working with live instruments, S1 is still king for me. The arrangement features are off the charts and it allows you to do everything you could need to do in one program. Still also think pro tools is the best for mixing. But there we go. They each have their strengths
I agree. I'm primarily an Ableton User and Bitwig feels very much like Ableton but with some different querks that I like. The updates have just been making it better bit by bit.
I agreed.. i used fl studio 15years and tried many daws, But finally i find a daw smooth and easy Daw for my music industrial.. its bitwig ❤️💪 im really like it
I use Harrison MixBus 8, Nuendo 12, and Studio One. The focus, however, has been on Nuendo, which is very much like Cubase with post production toys, but I usually export the audio into MixBus, which to my ears, sounds better than anything else I've heard.
In the broadcast industry, I started with tape, razor blades and china markers. When digital appeared we started with Cool Edit and Cool Edit Pro. When Adobe bought Cool Edit, we got lifetime licenses for Adobe Audition. Which is fine for basic things like podcasts and voice work. I am now trying out several pro-level things including Reaper, which I like.
Been using Pro Tools for many years. I believe the important thing for us home studio people is to pick a DAW and really learn how to make it yours. I don’t know how to do everything in Pro Tools but I know how to do what I need so the workflow doesn’t get in the way.
Studio One for the win! Seriously though, it's just so easy to use. Drag & drop functionality, epic audio editing capabilities. You also get melodyne included (pro version) which is great for turning audio into midi as well as tightening up those tunings! Also, the user interface just seems to get me 'in the mood' ! I learned the basics in Reaper, tried FL Studio but the workflow just didn't suit me. I dipped my toe into Studio One and dived straight in. The Sphere membership is a no brainer for $15 a month.....👍
I’m a Reaper user now but I started out using Steinburg pro 24 on an Atari ST. I still have a Steinberg SMPTE dongle that plugged into the parallel port of the Atari to control my Fostex half inch 8track recorder. The thing I like about Steinburg apart from creating VST and sharing it is that in my family is that Pro24 has been passed down to the next generation because my son uses Cubase now. Thank God for the Atari & Steinberg!
Cubase here, since so many years. I have also tried FL Studio and Reaper and found them too difficult to use for what I'm doing. I think Studio 1 is the closest to Cubase in terms of completeness and user experience consistency. I have heard that many ProTools users are leaving it since the new licensing / pricing model. Apparently, many oif them are moving to Cubase, based on all the UA-cam videos I see.
I started my music journey on Sony Soundforge, then tried Reason 2.5, but ended up settling for FL Studio, have it since v7 and I feel like I know it inside out by now. For any new musician, it's an easy DAW to learn and make noise fast, it has free updates for life, meaning, you pay once and upgrade forever, and that's very good selling point, considering the prices of DAWs these days. Plus, it's a powerhouse of editing and the Piano Roll is a delight to use.
Started learning on Studio One 5. It's very drag and drop. But I moved over to REAPER after learning some things. It uses about .01 gb of Memory and I get a dopamine hit everytime I figure something out. Just learned to use scripts! It's fun to learn the DAW and leaves CPU/RAM to use plugins and VSTs.
I've started producing music in 2003 using a cracked Reason v1. Later on, I've discovered Fruity Loops v3 (also cracked), which became my go-to DAW. Up until this day I use both (legally licensed 😁), but FL Studio (formerly known as Fruity Loops) is my main DAW! I think that the best DAW is the one that you're the most familiar with, and which enables you to create whatever you have in mind.
My liking of Adam Steel's videos from the very beginning of this audio journey is what made me go with Reaper. 'Tis a mighty beast of a program. Not for the faint of heart.
Oh wow, those Pro Tools subscription models are criminal! I'm on Logic and in the past Logic Pro Studio was quite expensive to buy, (around 600 dollars maybe? But there was an affordable upgrade from Logic Express) but now it's just a one time purchase of 300 or something in Europe, and so MUCH is included these days. I started out on Pro Tools with an M-Box, but I was really struggling to get familiar with the software. When I switched to Logic, my productions became so much better really fast and everything felt way more intuitive. Only downside: the Apple ecosystem is pretty expensive.
Reaper is my favourite by far. I also love using the players through the midi out in the reason rack within reaper to control all of my third party instruments. Reaper is extremely stable, hardly ever crashes, routing is very intuative and rendering is as fast as lightning. No messing about with technical issues which saves time and is infinately customisable. Everything i need in a DAW.
I am still blown away why Acoustica Mixcraft Pro Studio doesn't every get mentioned...It is so affordable and it can do everything the big boys do. You also get a boat load of virtual instruments for free. Check it out if you never have. I tried Studio One (which I loved) but I spent more time trying to learn the interface than mixing.
I completely agree. Mixcraft is amazing, especially for people who are just starting out. It's super easy to pick up and the Pro version is a fraction of the price of other DAWs There are some limitations and (some of) the virtual instruments are pretty meh but for that price it's great value for money.
I use Cubase but also have mixcraft. I love Mixcraft. Is probably the easiest DAW to edit tracks in. The only issue that I've had with it is when I use my Focusrite 2i2 to try to record electric 🎸 with my TH-U guitar sim there is huge lag when recording. Cubase doesn't lag. I've changed the audio timing to the fastest it will allow with the Focusrite it still lags. Other then that I absolutely love using it for editing mp3's which Cubase only allows wav files. The midi instruments are extremely impressive as well.
I also absolutely love Mixcrafts stock plugins. The stock reverb that Mixcraft has is probably my absolute favorite reverb plugin and I have a ton of stock and premium reverb plugins. I even like it better than Slate Digitals Premium- Verb Suite Classic. Mixcrafts reverb is extremely simple and just sounds amazing.
Mixcraft has horrendous customer service and is clunkier than it has any right to be. And this is coming from someone who dove into the pro upgrades. The only good thing about acoustica is their plugins
Reaper: 1) Low cost - great for me as I was starting out, and potentially for future students and artist colleagues looking to learn a DAW on a low budget; 2) Low CPU usage by it and native PIs - also good for students and artists who want/need a low barrier of entry; 3) Very high level of customisation via open-source scripting - this enables custom automation, linking with third party software, and streamlining of workflow for various applications; 4) Active user and developer community - that is highly knowledgable and generous in sharing their insights and improvements on the DAW. In the past I've worked with Digital Performer and (the not quite a DAW) Garageband. Looking forward to learning Logic, Ableton and Pro Tools in time as well.
Logic Pro X is amazing. The included plugins cover everything you need and the artificial intelligence drummers are excellent. As a songwriter, it's got it all. I've added tons of 3rd party plugins, but I could get away with the included ones if I had to.
I’ve been using the stock plug ins before moving onto to paying for them or using outboard just to know that I understand things well first like compression. But hard to tell if they sound good if a comparison is not available. The comps seem to be ok for parallel, barely (the distortion added seems too digital), and only one reverb seems tolerable. The vintage console EQ is nice however! And the delays are pretty fine. Overdrive sounds fine actually. But sooo ready to graduate from all of these!
@@chinmeysway I started with a few plugins that might not beat the stock plugins in terms of sound quality, but the interfaces are easier to use or are unique. I also wanted specific sounds that are not as easy to create with stock plugins. Abbey Road chambers and plates as well as the RS124 are great additions in that regard. I also love the Binson Echorec plugin from Pulsar. You could re-create the Echorec with stock plugins, but it would be a complex stack of different delays and saturation when you consider the color an Echorec adds from its classic circuitry. Easier to buy the plugin to save time every time you want that sound.
@@chinmeysway I also have the Puigchild compressor (it’s a Fairchild clone) along with the companion Puigtec EQP-1A (Pultec clone) which behave differently than the stock plugins. I like knowing how these work in case I ever run into a real one someday… less likely with each passing year. I’ve collected a lot of others, but these and the others I mentioned are worth buying. The entire Abbey Road suite is fun, but I really gravitate to a few of those. Renaissance Bass and MV2 are must haves.
I used Studio One for many years before learning about Bitwig. Now I use both but for different reasons. Bitwig for songwriting/sound design, and studio one for mixing and mastering. It's the perfect combo for me.
I'm just a hobbyist at home so I'm not your typical audience of semi-pros wanting to up their game to the pro level. Though, I'm a curious person and I like to see what is out there and what others are using. So, I am currently using Cakewalk by Bandlab (formerly Sonar) and after watching your video, i came to realize that Cakewalk has just about the same or very similar features as most of the DAWs discussed in this video. The fact that Cakewalk is a free DAW is probably why it hasn't been taken seriously by the recording/mixing community. I would have loved to see Cakewalk compared to the usual contenders and see if, because of it's free nature, it is more amateurish in nature or if it has value as a pro DAW that could compete with the more popular ones. Or are there other reasons it would not be considered on a pro level? Thanks for reading.
Once a DAW is free you know it no longer has any use except for being for the hobbyist. I have Cakewalk by band lab which I hardly use now (Studio One user) I used Sonar a few days ago to do some music on it. It is a good DAW shame that band lab spoilt Cakewalk's reputation by making it free. I think a lot of the ideas Cakewalk came up with are reflected in other DAWs. If I were you I would change up now and use something better!
@@shan5445 there are still pros using Cakewalk. The only things that were lost in the change to free were some of the virtual instruments and a few plug-ins. A trained engineer could definitely make a top level recording with it. That doesn't mean that your wrong about it being aimed at home users. Basically every DAW sounds the same in it's base form.
@@shan5445 Better in what sense? If Cakewalk has most features of the others, why would I change? Besides, being a hobbyist and not making money out of it the justification of paying for something that I can get for free is kinda hard.
Cakewalk by Bandlab is the same program as SONAR Platinum, which was being sold for prices similar to the DAWs mentioned in this video. Now it's free, albeit without 3rd party products that were sold with SONAR. The fact that it wasn't always free is always overlooked in reviews and comparisons. Imagine if Cubase became free next week; that's what happened with SONAR
Man do I feel old. I started with my first DAW in 1988. A quarter million for the New England Digital Post Pro. Kind of like the Synclavier which I saw in the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix a few years back. Later moved to Pro Tools but they were always late with keeping up to speed with Mac updates. Also didn’t like when they moved to subscription based. So I’m now a Logic user and love it. The takes as demonstrated in your video was a game changer. Good to see the other DAW demos. Thanks.
Reaper and Cubase are my go to DAWs. But I love FL Studio and also use Ableton Live. And sometimes I also open up Pro Tools but Reaper and Cubase are my main
Cakewalk, hands down. Just because it's free doesn't make it lame lol! Used it for midi early on and then computers finally got fast enough to make latency a non issue. Have since been using it as an all in one box, tho I do have a Yamaha DM2000 for a board with 48 channels of lightwire in and out. Absurdly good! And plugins are never an issue. It just works.
I love reaper for its price as well as its customizability. It just works great. Also, this video made me decide that I will definitely never be getting Reason.
Team Cubase! aha (and sometimes Ableton depending on the project if workflow asks for it) but even then I always end up back in Cubase with stems for mixing!
I started with Cakewalk ProAudio on PC nearly 25 years ago, then Sonar, now Cakewalk by Bandlab - I can still open projects I created 25 years ago. Perfectly happy with it. I also use Cubase occasionally and Wavelab for 2-track editing
Finally seeing someone else who uses this. Have just started dabbling in audio production to create a soundtrack for a game I am making and waveform was the best thing I came across that was free. Was a bit surprised that nobody seems to mention it even though it is well reviewed...
I have been using Cubase since ‘96. I was taught Sound recording Technology during autumn ‘91 and spring ‘92 in a 24 track analog studio at a music school. The centerpiece of the studio was a Soundtracs IL3632 mixing console and we recorded on a Studer A800. Back then Cubase was not a DAW yet, but we used a timecode box connected to the Atari 1040 to stribe SMPTE code to the tape recorder so that we could syncronise Cubase to the timecode on the tape.
I've tried over the years many DAWs....Sonar, Nuendo, Cubase, Pro Tools, Studio One, Reaper, Digital Orchestrator....now, it's Cakewalk and I will never go back,does everything all DAWs do,plus it's FREE!!!!
Super! A really good and cool overview of most of the existing DAWs. I use Logic and wouldn’t like to work myself into a new DAW, even if I knew there were better DAWs out there. And Logic is unbeatable as far as the price is concerned.
For audio only work, especially mixing in the box - Protools n Cubase n logic For live loops/DJ/EDM - Live For EDM production - FL/Live/Bitwig For overall usabilty/shortcuts - Studio One I have used all of these, settled on Cubase. Because I prefer acoustic music/live tracking guitars etc... But also need great midi editing for additional programming. Logic is a close competitor, but Cubase let me do all of that in more flexible manner. And it might be a much debated topic but in my view Cubase gives closest sound during mixdown and after export. Peace!
I've been trying Universal Audio's Luna recently, I gotta say it is really impressive. I've been an Ableton user for years, I even got the Push 2 and always loved the flow. But if you got a few machines, it is really awesome the quality of the sets you can build using Luna virtually, but applying traditional techniques that accessible by the console emulations and in general, with any UA plugin which aims to emulate traditional hardware, hitting the nail a lot of times. Sometimes harder than another, but great toys to play with.
With Logic pros latest updates I feel it has the most versatility while still having professional level tools to work with Alchemy is an amazing synth The drum designer is hands dow the best system Apple loops is a ton of value and the stock tools are really good The compressors and delay tools etc are awesome I know logic pro was garbage fisher price level a few years ago but for those who have not taken a serious hard look at it in the last 12 months you should because Apple has managed to do with that DAW is insane
I use reaper on windows 7. I saw Adam interviewed on your channel and was sold! I never even used the free trial... just bought it the same day and love it! Thanks, Warren love your channel and also thank you, Adam, for the tutorials. PS: I use to teach Pro-tools for corporate multi Media departments in the early '90s.
Lifelong Cubase user, tried all the others but have always gravitated back to Cubase, probably the best DAW is the one you know and feel most comfortable with..
Using Mixbus32C for tracking, editing and mixing, Reaper for MIDI, and MuseScore for scores. OS: Linux. I find the workflow of Mixbus32C and its effectiveness to be the best for me.
What DAW are you using and why? Let me know below! Please check out part two of the series with even more DAWs! ua-cam.com/video/wGPikn2UAPo/v-deo.html
Been hooked on Ableton Live ever since the 'Lite' version was bundled with some hardware about 10 years ago. I've found it more intuitive than others I've tried.
Hi Warren. I use Ableton Live. Why? Well before trying that I tried a few others and just couldn't get on with the layout. They would frustrate me a lot, but when it came to Live. I spent 16 hours straight learning it.. with version 4 I think it was, and I've used it ever since. I stuck with version 10though, because I can operate it in my sleep.
Logic , ‘cus I figured…humm , they make the cheese grater ,I might as well stay with the one that brought stay with logic and also I’m old and lazy 👍🎸🎼
I use reaper and it’s super simple and extremely versatile for mixing and mastery sound effects and field recording for my library.
Presonus Studio One 5 :). I also have Cubase 11. I mainly use S1 because I like moving around and carrying a USB dongle is a big no-no. I can upgrade Cubase to 12 just to get rid of that stupid dongle, but I already own S1 and upgrading S1 is cheaper than Cubase.
In terms of feature and ease of use, I think they are very similar. I think S1 is faster too, performance-wise.
Home studio hobbyist here... originally bought Reaper because of its unlimited free demo period, and its low price once I decided to commit. I found it easy to get started with the basics. I'm always learning new things, but it's far more capable than I'll ever need. I'm running it on a run-of-the-mill Dell laptop in Windows 10, mostly recording and mixing audio, with occasional bits of MIDI.
Anecdotal testament to Reaper's simplicity. When my daughter was in high school, she was running Cubase on a PC. She purchased a third-party VST instrument which we could not get to work. Steinberg's tech support was useless, largely because their hours are basic 8-5 German time, forcing users in the US to resort to email and/or keep really strange hours for on-line support.
On the other hand, Sweetwater's support was great, since we bought both Cubase and the plug-in from them. On day, a Sweetwater support agent was helping us via a desktop-sharing session and he suggested trying the plug-in with another DAW to determine if it was the plug-in causing our problem, or Cubase. My daughter's laptop only had Cubase on it, so the agent suggested we try Reaper. Via remote sharing, he called up the Reaper webpage, downloaded Reaper, installed it, opened a project, assigned the plug-in to a track, recorded a few notes and played them back. While he was doing all this, I kept an eye on the clock. IT TOOK TWO MINUTES. From download to playback: TWO MINUTES.
My daughter switched to Logic when she went away to college, because that's what the school used. She hasn't touched Cubase since (300 bucks down the tubes) but me? I'm sticking with Reaper.
P.S. As a old fart who could never afford studio gear when I was younger, I love that I can make Reaper look like an old Neve or API console, though the standard Reaper skin is probably easier to read on less-than-perfect displays.
I have been using Studio One for about 4 years now. I really love it and feel it is one of the best DAWS. I have used other DAWS, and while I like them, namelt FL Studio (my first), reason from version 3, Cakewalk (when Sonar had it), Ableton (which I use presently for live gigs) and some others, I have stuck with Studio One.
But I also feel there are other things that you can very easily achieve on other DAWS that you may not be able to acheive on some others. Each DAW has its uniqueness and they should be celebrated for that.
I am using Studio One Professional under Sphere subscription. It has been perfect for me. The moment I first used S1, I just started mixing right away without reading any manual or watching any tutorial. Everything makes sense and everything is drag and drop. Studio One V6 is just 3 days away as well so stay tuned. Most of the features that the other DAWs have here, Studio One has it. It’s like Reaper. Very lightweight on the CPU, very customizable (but not as advanced as reaper), super stable but easier to use (IMO).
Studio one is awesome. I love it for all the same reasons as you. Lets just hope Fender doesn't end up ruining it like what Gibson did to cakewalk....
@@scarletiv5683 Yeah, let's see, I only hope they don't destroy one of the best DAW in the market.
now owned by Fender you can guarantee give it a couple of years and they will totally ruin it and the price will go through the roof
I've used Reason at home on a PC since 2016 & have been very happy with it. I've spent many hours in "professional" studios that use Pro Tools, sitting at the desk with engineer, and have never felt I'd be better off with PT.
Me too, since 2015. Reason Essentials 8. Never even felt the need for the full version. It does exactly what I need and I've never felt the need to look elsewhere.
Since 2003! Best creative DAW for me.
It's the best DAW
Reason 13 👍👍👍
I use Reason because I love the idea of an interface which mimics analog gear, and because the Reason rack instruments really offer an amazing variety. While I know it's popular with those making so-called electronic music, I use it for making fusion/progressive rock style music, recording my live drums and bass. For keys/synths/pads I use the MIDI editor and included virtual instruments. The included rack gear is also impressive, and my only processing plug-in is the AIX-DSP multiband gate and EQ I use for drums. It's pretty easy to change time signatures and tempo mid-track in Reason too. Reason isn't perfect, but it does offer a lot in one package.
I use FL for 11 years now, it’s my first DAW and it’s really working for arrangements and cooking some new stuff. But if you’re mix engineer, you need more tools, than creative features and many professionals choose Reaper. It’s cheap and give you great bunch of different tools, but it’s hard to start creating new music in it, especially electronic. All DAW have their users 😊
It's very easy I use it for everything (reaper)
Hey Warren! Studio One Presonus Sphere user here. Migrated after 10+ years with Cubase. Never looked back.
I use Studio One. I'm very much a beginner with DAWs, but I find its interface intuitive, and I can get encouraging results as I learn. I'm looking forward to exploring the content here to get a better understanding of how I should do things.
I've used Digital Performer, Live, Reason, Logic, Reaper, Bitwig and dabbled with the rest. I come back to DP all the time. It's the crazy list of features that does it: Run Command, Mix takes, Chunks, V-Racks, Track Selection, all of the MIDI, great comping, and built in pitch correction and stretch / beat detection, extended movie scoring support, and newer features like the Clips window, MPE, Articulation maps, ARA, AU, VST2 , VST3 support etc. I do love the others ones as well, but DP covers the most bases in one swoop. That I can set a Clip to fire a tuning command and SysEx with the patch on an old synth without it bogging up the timeline for instance is just cake, or I can have that whole process in a separate Chunk in the same project, along with remixes like mentioned already. Anyway they're all great, DP just gets the least press for some bizarre reason.
Thanks for the in depth love about DP! I really only could get into a couple of features during the interview and was of course limited on time as to not take up so much space.. But I definetly have worked other DAWs before and found the same conclusion.. Its like I said in the video.. It feels like a second skin.. DP works at the same speed you do.. Its SUPER musical.. I'm just glad I was able to get the chance to make more people aware of it! . Plus the themes keep it "classy" lol! 🤣🤣 Thanks for your comment!
I'm actually using two DAW's. I have Logic Pro on my iMac, and I have Ableton Live on my laptop (which is a PC). I love them both, however, I get a lot of latency issues with Ableton, which I believe is due to the processor in my laptop not being fast enough. But the Logic Pro on my Mac is flawless.
Hi Warren, I use Predominatly Cubase 12 Pro. Ive been using it since the VST version came out in the early 90's so now over 20years . I also use Ableton for Sound design, ive been using that since early 2000's along with interfacing with NI Maschine, i have both run on PC and Linked for when i want to intergrate them together, loads of flexiability.
I've used them all (going back to Studer/Dyaxis MacMix in the 1980s), and I adopted HARRISON MIXBUS-32C about 15 minutes after seeing my first demo.
It feels like using a mixer rather than a plug-in host.
Every channel strip comes with a great (Harrison) EQ and compressor, and every bus includes that plus soft-saturation, so about 80% of your typical plug-ins are already there.
Plus you can map any control of any plug-in into a fader in the channel strip, so you almost never need to have plug-in GUIs open.
Plus it supports every known format of plug-in (VST2/3, AU, LV, etc.).
Plus there are very good in-line oscilloscope and VU meter plug-ins for the inputs and busses.
Plus it's fully cross-platform (Mac/Win/Linux) and open-source!
Support for touchscreens (think Slate Raven) coming soon...
I just switched from a MacPro 2013 to a MacStudio.
Plug-ins from Eventide, iZotope, Waves, Voxengo, Harrison, MetricHalo, PlugIn Alliance, Softube, WaveArts and others.
Softsynths from NI (Kontakt), Arturia and BFD.
Hardware: Antelope Orion Thunderbolt I/O, Audient ASP800 mic-pre/ADC, Grado, Westone & AKG headphones, Adam & Focal monitors (Klipsch sub), Presonus FaderPort controller, Grace m900 DAC + headphone amp.
Diggin on Studio One! Thx for ALL your content Warren and crew!
Cheers studio one user 😂
Thanks ever so much! Glad to be able to help!
@@YusraChannel marvellous!
Love mine...
Great choice man!
Reaper is my always reliable workhorse. I'm using (and adapting to my personal needs and workflow) for more than 12 years now. I love its always helpful community .
Cakewalk by Bandlab! A mature DAW that has had a lot of owners, and was at its most expensive when owned by Gibson. AS Gibson allmost fell over, it was luckily taken over by Bandlab who offers it for free. Continuing updates, and has the best support forum. Allways left out due to being free I suspect. It knocks a lot of the competition right out of the field. I've tried many of them.
This is true. I love cakewalk.
I agree. Seems Cakewalk always gets left out of the DAW conversation. I've been usung it for years and years. Probably gets left out because its free but i will put it up against any DAW.
Cakewalk by Bandlab with Creative Sauce! Also missing BitWig with Venus Theory.
Cakewalk all the way.
For me it’s most similar to Cubasis but without the licensing nightmare that comes with the multitude of bundled versions I have (so I like Yamaha stuff).
I would really like to move to Reaper as it is ridiculously stable and runs on everything but midi editing is not pretty and I need that to fix my cruddy keyboard playing
I agree. You should have added Mike over at Creative Sauce to this video to discuss Cakewalk by Bandlab. (Mike was pitching both Studio One and Cakewalk, but seems to have become exclusively Cakewalk focused.
I bought Reaper and Studio One, after the Gibson debacle. I am forever thankful to Bandlab for what they did.
I'm using Cubase since my early Atari ST days. We also hooked it up to a TRS-8 and later Adats. I did try other DAW and I'm far from claiming it to be the best DAW, but it is for me. I have never been tempted to leave it and it is one of the most complete, if not the most complete DAW. I've never felt restrained by a missing feature and my only complain is merely PC related. ASIO should support aggregation, but other than that I'm fine.
The upgrade policy sometimes feels like a subscription, but this is true for many packages.
If you are a little bit like me, stick to whatever keeps you going and if it is Cubase, welcome to my world :).
Does the latest Cubase still have the issue with midi timing where notes are placed later or earlier than they were played in real time (in my case about a 32nd note late)? I plan to upgrade to the latest version in the next year but that issue has been driving me crazy for years. I’ve been a Cubase user since the late 90s. I can work around that issue but it’s a PITA.
P.s. - I’ve always used it on windows
@@filmjazz I've never had that issue with my current MIDI interface. I remember having something like that, when I was using a cheap USB to MIDI plug, but was able to fix it with the system MIDI latency settings and maybe channel settings.
But I understand that this is highly annoying.
I'm a PC user, too.
There's a trial now for all three versions, so you could give it a try upfront.
Reaper on Windows 10. I do amateur home recording. One feature I like is the remote control feature where I can use my phone as a remote controller (or any device with a web browser) to control the tracking process. I do this away from the computer to minimise computer noise or to choose the place in the room for best sound
I keep meaning to try the remote control function in Reaper. My studio is in a spare bedroom with gym equipment. If I am running out of space I want to move some keyboards to the living room and run MIDI and cat5 audio to the studio. Then I can just use my phone to control Reaper so I don't have to use my laptop and then transfer files to my desktop.
There is also a way to create controls for musicians to control their headphone mix. They can use their phone or tablet to slide faders. You can create a single control for a headphone mix or break it into several faders where each can control a track or groups of tracks. If you work alone where you are the engineer and playing as well then letting them mix their own headphone mix relieves you of a task that can interrupt the flow of the session.
Studio one 5 is my favorite! Couldn't be happier with it. It does everything from normal daw, mastering page, and you can use it live too. One stop shop🤘
P. s Great to see Joe on here! Joe and gregor have taught the S1 users so much
Agree Joe and Gregor are awesome!
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Also an avid user of Studio One. The best DAW I have ever sticked with.
I use studio one 5.5 and waiting for 7 to upgrade...
So many great DAWs! I've been using Cakewalk for about two decades now and I think it's every bit as good the others on the list - if your main use is recording and mixing audio, or working a lot with MIDI. It's now free so doesn't include a lot of extras such as 3rd party plugins, but it has a core set of plugins to get you started and then you can spend the money you saved on your own plugin library. It's also Windows 10 only. Under Gibson they were working on a Mac version, but that project was abandoned at some point before Bandlab bought Cakewalk. Thanks.
I am tinkering with Bandlab, but the vocal recording and editing seems very limited for this DAW which otherwise can become a super DAW.
So i am now trying to learn Avid Pro Tools the free version, but it seems to be a very difficult DAW to learn because it's operating functions seem to be based on key strokes in preference over simply mouse clicks.
Even the set up of the software seems complicated.
Now after downloading stuff, it looks like zi am now running the ultimate version instead of the free version.
How did that happen?
Avid ProTools? Still undecided..
Ableton live was doing ok, but always seem painful ti keep everything working....and limited tracks for free version.
If pto tools is too complicated, then I may give Reaper a try.
Just a retired guy looking for a music hobby.
If I find something great like an improved version of vocal editing BandLab, then that would be great but it's not considered a serious DAW it seems more like a toy at this stage and badgers its users to participate in collaborative activities, which is not to my liking.....hope privacy is not breached by the software.
@@tyronelowe7090 You probably want Cakewalk (by Bandlab), not Bandlab. Note that they will be discontinuing the free version of Cakewalk eventually, replacing it with a paid version. It's Windows only.
I use Cakewalk because I've been using it for 2 decades. It's not supported by certain hardware products such as DAW controllers as it's no longer considered one of the top DAWs.
Whatever DAW you pick, they all have a learning curve. I think the most popular for Windows right now are Ableton and Studio One.
The best daw is the one that works for you. All too often musicians and producers think that they way they create music is the ONLY way, which is obviously BS. There are so many ways to make music, each as valid as the last.
Loving Studio One and having the ability to use Reason as a VST.
Thanks for sharing Jay!
whattt
The Reason vst is big boost in any of these other DAWs! I like it in cakewalk
I use Harrison Mixbus 32C, mostly because my sessions are relatively simple and the workflow is exactly like using a Harrison Console. I love the way that works, and the EQ and built in compressor in each channel strip is fantastic. It sounds awesome, especially once you get to grips with the metering and saturation controls on the buses. MIDI is pretty good too, more than good enough for me!
I first started with Propellerhead's Reason, which I still use form time to time for the really good instruments it has. Then I tried Pro Tools briefly before moving on to Studio One (which came with my audio interface).
But then I heard about Reaper and that the developer is the same guy who wrote Winamp... I was sold. It's my primary DAW, ridiculously fast and stable, does everything I need it to do and the price is incredibly affordable compared to other options. With extensions the program takes on whole other life too, it's sensationally good imho.
I use Logic and LUNA. Logic because I am used to it for many years and LUNA for its idea of having and giving a sound to the audio and the vintage real studio feeling of former times.
Great video! I use Reason as rack plug-in with Reaper DAW. Reaper has insane CPU efficiency, track folders and other great features, and Reason is a sound design dream, so it makes for a great combo.
An engineer suggested I keep doing my production and mixing in Reason but do my mastering in Reaper
I am in a committed relationship with Logic but that Reaper demo was intriguing. And also the Ableton demo. Honestly this is one of the most useful videos you have ever posted.
REAPER is AWESOME...
Studio One and Ableton are my 2 go-to DAWs, but I respect all other DAWs for their own unique merits.
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
I actually own and use most of these. It's been a huge learning curve to wrap my head around some of the shortcuts and such, but the differences in workflow actually inspire me to create out of my comfort zone.
Cakewalk ( Been a user since The Sonar days). I do use Harrison Mixbus 32c for mixing (Love the sound)
I too use these DAWs. I like Mixbus 32c because I can get a decent mix (my opinion) with no plugins. Each chanel has a full EQ section and Compressor/Limiter/Leveler just like the 32c console used to mix "Thriller". It has as sound which is unlike all the other DAWs.
I am using Reaper with a windows 10 gaming PC. I JUST started with recording my music in December 2021. I used to record on a little 8 track machine and wanted to upgrade. Reaper has a learning curve but I'm enjoying it. I use my 280HD Pro after watching your headphone comparison :) for mixing and trying to master. I'm nowhere near good with this yet but I'm learning.
I am a Reaper User for 3 years. The interface being very similar to Sony Vegas is what sold me to it.
I'm an old school amature that started with a Teac 4 track reel to reel in the 80's and ended up with a hybrid system - a big ol' Tascam 3500 console and a 24 track hard disc recorder in the early "noughties". I gave it away for about 15 years and started again about 4 years ago. At the moment I'm still using the Abelton 10 Live Lite that came free with my Scarlett interface! Limited to 8 tracks. ( And multiple "Chains") I can't believe what is possible. Keeps me amused! AND, I am absolutely convinced that, say, the Taylor Swift's, Ed Sheeran's, John Mayer's, Kanye West's etc etc etc of this world (and/or their "producers"), could produce a No. 1 song in my spare bedroom, with my laptop, my software and my modest selection of low cost microphones and interfaces.. Sure, all of those folks have access to the best gear, best spaces and best people. But its not about the gear. Never has been. Never will be. I reckon the most important thing as far as DAW's go, is just to know,(whatever you are using), well....ie to be "productive".
Everyone's favorite DAW is the one they've been using the longest. The differences have become so nuanced. If you're entirely confused start with Reaper because it's a place to start. I settled on Reason because the GUI is kind of warm and organic.
Seems to me that one of the ways DAWs are different are in how much is packed into menus - main or contextual. To me both Reaper and Logic are PACKED with menus, all loaded with dozens and dozens of features & choices/options, and filing cabinets of prefs & settings. Very appealing to someone who _loves_ savouring the endless features! (
Basically, they are all good, and you can't go wrong. I still don't know what one to choose. :D
I’m a Luna and Logic user. Disappointed that Luna didn’t get a mention in this video as it’s free with an Apollo. And there is one sitting right there on the desk! I mainly use Logic for it’s built in instruments and guitar amp/pedal models. Mix everything in Luna.
Digital Performer has some incredible features no other DAW has. Every program has it's plusses and minuses - but the DP features I can't live without like multiple mixes, chunks, the Drum Editor, articulation maps and customization are just a few. They continue to keep the program fresh and are staying with the industry with Clips, ARA support, MPE, etc. I'm faster on this DAW than any other and have been using (and teaching) different platforms for MIDI sequencing and audio for over 35 years.
Awesome comment! I wish I could have gotten into that kind of depth with my interview.. Im just stoked DP was able to get some awareness in this video! I was glad to be a part of it!
I just spent 400$ on getting DP11.2 because ARA2 was FINALLY there, only to find out that Vocalign STILL DOESNT WORK on Windows 💔
I started using Ardour on Linux and Windows and am nowadays using Mixbus32C v8 on Mac Mini M1 and MacBook Air M1. I really like the console like workflow and usability, the routing capabilities, the included features, the ability to run it on Linux, Windows and Mac, and last but not least the overall sound.
Yeah, same here. Started with Ardour, then bought Mixbus and finally upgraded to MB32C. The switch is easy as they're all built on the same platform. I like that it's cross platform, but in my experience the Windows version sadly doesn't compare at all in performance. Very unstable. In a Linux environment I really haven't had any issues, it just works.
Yeah, I'm using Mixbus v8 too (starting from v5). I like that "analog" style of mixer-window and editing possibilities. Want to mention an outstanding Mixbus support from guys out there within the shortest time!
@@carlkolthoff5402 32C v8 runs flawlessly on my setup. I find that with any Windows system it's important to dig in and optimize it for audio. I use a Ryzen processor and a low level workstation GPU (Radeon WX2100) and a stripped down build, with all the most stable driver versions I can find (no beta or bleeding edge stuff). Run a clean install of Windows and only install what you need. (bloatware kills it!)
@@neuroeder great to hear! For me personally, I was a Linux user long before I discovered Ardour, so I'll happily keep that platform in my studio (although I use Windows on a daily basis too, but only for work).
I'm using Studio One Sphere. Several reasons for using it but the main things are the ease of use. Once set up it's easy going start the program and you'll be recording within minutes. The Sphere version let's you also have it installed on 5 computers at the same time so I have a computer in our studio/rehearsel room and can record directly then upload the song/recording to the provided cloudservice and then when I get home I just download it and can continue working from home.
Reaper!! It is quite versatile and low drama with easy installation. You don't need a ton of requirements for it to do its thing. Plus, you can "skin" it to look and work like Pro Tools.
It's an endless debate but for my part, I use Reason 10 for electronic music, and Studio One 5 for any recording session and production. Thank for this video and cheers from Canada.
I've been using Logic Pro for about 10 years now...but i also switch between that and Pro Tools if someone asks for the PT session after. I also been using Ableton Live here and there but mainly using it for backing tracks for live.
I've been using Pro Tools on a PC for 13 years. I find it very intuitive and easy to use. Other DAWs might have more features but Pro Tools for me is my digital tape recorder!
I started out with Mixcraft, then studio one and now reason. Reason I like because it's really simple. Easier to get music uploaded in the daw
Long-term Reason user. Its toy-like skeuomorphic UI is great for experimentation & looks fantastic. Recently switched to PC from Mac without a hitch. Definitely getting squeezed by the weak & expensive upgrades but I’m locked in, having thousands of files. Been loving the MIDI players, there’s nothing quite like them in other DAWs. I am still inspired by Reason after 20 years.
I like how you used people who predominantly use these specific daws so we can get a better perspective on each one. A lot of youtubers start dismissing daws because they have never/rarely used them.
I'm like you ... a Gen Xer who started using ProTools on an old TDM system back in around '98. What I love about it now is I also have a C24 surface, so mixing in the box is just like mixing on a console. ProTools really got controller hardware integration right.
I'm at about 6:00 now, and I think you overlooked one major aspect in your overview: not all DAW versions (say: the more affordable ones) are capable of recording (or even processing) audio (tracks). When you want to record singing or playing guitar you need audio tracks, and not all entry level DAWs have those/are capable of recording audio. That renders them useless for a large group of home-recorders/producers and the real entry level is the one above.
I used to use protools then about 10 years ago I tried Reaper, I could not believe how much easier it is. Reaper is just so flexible, I love it. I never went back to protools.
i was a young studio engineer in training in the day of 16-track tape and big format analogue desks, the only digital things were lexicon reverbs and ultraharmnizers in the rack; I stopped working in studios and came back to it, and the world had gone digital and everyone using a daw was a NASA engineer in my eyes, I tried logic on a low power laptop, and it was horrible, so I gave up. I tried Ableton as my friend and an Ableton tech for a bunch of big touring acts, but that was again so difficult for me trying to see how it all was laid out, I ended up buying an MPC hardware unit, and that did me well for a year while my brother and I set up a company selling copyright free music for creators then I upgraded to a 2022 MacBook air M2 32GB ram and 500TB drive and bought logic and 4 failover plugins, I also purchased the SSL uf8 desk flying fader controller and the SSL UC-1 channel strip section controller and was in heaven, the laptop was so overpowered for me right now I have zero latency, can handle all the big plugins, and the external daw controllers mean I can mix with my hands and ears, not my eyes and a mouse trying to sweep a virtual eq knob. I have adapted so much faster now, I'm still in the box, but I have all the physical knobs and dials I was used to and feel more at home with for me logic Pro x, and this setup is the ultimate home studio for me and what I'm producing and selling,
Right now I'm using Studio One, Bitwig and Reason as a Plugin. I sometimes use Reaper because many of it's features (also, I just love it for what it is.) I find being DAW gnostic is the way to go. DAWS are part of the creation, and each do things differently that are amazing in their own ways
Thanks for doing this, Warren! Very comprehensive. I get asked a lot by people looking to get into DAWs what is "the best one", and it really, really depends on your background, and where you want to go. So many of these started out as MIDI sequencers, and some really wear that heritage still. I started out in the early 90's with Cakewalk and Sonar, and moved to Logic (when it was still Emagic), because it was more powerful. But man, what a learning curve. When Pro Tools LE came out, I jumped to that, because it behaved so much like a mixer and a tape deck, which is what I knew best. I stepped up to a Mix Plus system in 2000, and I've been in Pro Tools ever since. Currently running Pro Tools Studio. But it's not the best for everyone, and I'll be the first to acknowledge that. And I have Logic Pro as well, because some of my collaborators and customers use that, and I have to make things as easy for them as I can.
I started out recording in 2000 using Roland 1680 and then the VS 2480. Loved it for hands on recording. I now use the Presonus Studio One V5 Pro on a Mac Mini. I love all the generic plugins that cover Pro EQ, Compression. The editing and Midi recording is wonderful. Right now I am using Arturia Keylab Essential 49 to get any Synth Sounds needed. Like you say, it's what you are used to using, so I chose Presonus and love their updates have been using it since 2015. . Also they were recently purchased by Fender; so I'm looking forward to see what that will do for the Software and hardware in Presonus.
I’ve been on Logic Pro for over 10 years. So people know upgrades are included in the price ($199) for the major release and the updates since the 10 /“X” release in 2013 have been great including many new plugins, instruments and capabilities. Key takeaway is the updates are not just bug fixes. So far it has cost me an average of about $20/year for a pro DAW. I will say you need to invest some time in optimizing your configuration with your audio interface. This is critical to prevent the notorious clicks and pops. My rig has been running flawlessly for years with a UAD Apollo interface on 2017 MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM. Instruments are fantastic and infinitely adjustable, no limitations to tracks or bus counts and the stock plug-ins are really good especially the compressors. Editing is a dream when it comes to comping and retiming audio tracks. I feel for the money and capabilities Logic Pro is once of the best DAWs for artists and producers. I work with multiple artists who are on Logic and we can share Logic “packages” to collaborate without wasting time with exports and imports.
Been liking it myself for the most part as well, but haven’t tried others. It does seem over valued next to pro tools, but it’s not like anyones going to hear a diff. Which stock compressor/s do you like most, and which reverb? Thanks
@@chinmeysway Hi. I use all the various compressors offered in LPX as well as some third party plugins from UAD. The LPX compressors are modeled after some great studio classics and it all depends on the what I’m trying to accomplish. The Platinum is nice as a transparent ducker using a side-chain. The vintage opto is nice on vocals to level. The studio vca is nice on a summing bus. Do a google search on the types of compressors in Logic and there is a wealth of profiles of the models. As for the reverbs I use them all depending on the application. I will say ChromaVerb is very clean with a long decay.
Studio one for me, It;s so easy to use and turns out excellent results without any hassle. Love it.
This is a really good comparison with good justifications. For those starting out choosing a DAW is a big commitment and investment of time so the pressure is there to make a good decision before starting on the road. Ableton does so much with samples and clips that it was my choice for composition, however if I was a Mac user I'm sure I would have taken Logic. Whatever you choose, stick with it and don't re-compare for a long time as the principles for the majority are similar, and you need to enjoy your time rather than get caught in a loop of reconsideration. I remember how much fun I used to get out of a Tascam 4 track tape, so ultimately it's about enjoying making your own music. Great video - Thanks to Warren and all the contributors!!
Reason is looking incredibly tempting… might have to make the switch from Pt.
Thanks ever so much for sharing
Used FL for 3-4 years and switched to Logic X after getting into Apple ecosystem due to iCloud sync. I would love to learn cubase soon. I’ve seen people work on DAWs and inspiring others to get THAT daw. It’s all about how thoroughly you know things inside. ❤ Love this channel.
Well done! This is a crazy topic because musicians and producers are so passionate about their DAW. It’s silly, really, and a distraction from making music. 😅
I’ve switched from PT to LUNA… was a life changer. If you’re on Mac using UAD’s console, they go together like peas and carrots.
So I started with Nuendo, then at college I got to use Pro Tools, Reason, Logic, and Ableton, and finally, at uni I used Reaper. While Pro Tools was my favorite in College and Uni, I now adore Reaper and have been using it for 6 years and haven't looked back since. However, I will admit nothing came close to Ableton's ability to completely change sounds, it was mind-blowing, but something I don't need.
Started on Amiga with Octomed. Then moved to PC with Impulse tracker and Cubase. Then used Ableton for a while before moving to a Mac with Reason. Dumped Mac and Reason and ended up with Studio One and the Reason Rack on PC since 2019. Love it!
Bitwig is worth a mention in 2022. As an FL user, and someone who sporadically uses Logic and Ableton: Bitwig feels like the future of DAWs.
Yes, I can definitely see a part two coming soon!
If I am making solely electronic music - it’s bitwig now. It’s the most advanced for that stuff.
However, when recording and working with live instruments, S1 is still king for me. The arrangement features are off the charts and it allows you to do everything you could need to do in one program.
Still also think pro tools is the best for mixing. But there we go. They each have their strengths
I agree. I'm primarily an Ableton User and Bitwig feels very much like Ableton but with some different querks that I like. The updates have just been making it better bit by bit.
Moved from Presonus to Bitwig a year ago. Happy user so far,
I agreed.. i used fl studio 15years and tried many daws, But finally i find a daw smooth and easy Daw for my music industrial.. its bitwig ❤️💪 im really like it
I use Harrison MixBus 8, Nuendo 12, and Studio One. The focus, however, has been on Nuendo, which is very much like Cubase with post production toys, but I usually export the audio into MixBus, which to my ears, sounds better than anything else I've heard.
MixBus sounds great. Absolutely!
In the broadcast industry, I started with tape, razor blades and china markers. When digital appeared we started with Cool Edit and Cool Edit Pro. When Adobe bought Cool Edit, we got lifetime licenses for Adobe Audition. Which is fine for basic things like podcasts and voice work. I am now trying out several pro-level things including Reaper, which I like.
Been using Pro Tools for many years. I believe the important thing for us home studio people is to pick a DAW and really learn how to make it yours. I don’t know how to do everything in Pro Tools but I know how to do what I need so the workflow doesn’t get in the way.
Studio One for the win! Seriously though, it's just so easy to use. Drag & drop functionality, epic audio editing capabilities. You also get melodyne included (pro version) which is great for turning audio into midi as well as tightening up those tunings! Also, the user interface just seems to get me 'in the mood' ! I learned the basics in Reaper, tried FL Studio but the workflow just didn't suit me. I dipped my toe into Studio One and dived straight in. The Sphere membership is a no brainer for $15 a month.....👍
well fl studio is different from the others. I started with it first due to its better looking UI.
I’m a Reaper user now but I started out using Steinburg pro 24 on an Atari ST. I still have a Steinberg SMPTE dongle that plugged into the parallel port of the Atari to control my Fostex half inch 8track recorder. The thing I like about Steinburg apart from creating VST and sharing it is that in my family is that Pro24 has been passed down to the next generation because my son uses Cubase now. Thank God for the Atari & Steinberg!
Cubase here, since so many years. I have also tried FL Studio and Reaper and found them too difficult to use for what I'm doing. I think Studio 1 is the closest to Cubase in terms of completeness and user experience consistency. I have heard that many ProTools users are leaving it since the new licensing / pricing model. Apparently, many oif them are moving to Cubase, based on all the UA-cam videos I see.
Agree. People wanting to see what Cubase can do in the hands of a power user should check out film composer Guy Michelmore's channel.
made by same people
I started my music journey on Sony Soundforge, then tried Reason 2.5, but ended up settling for FL Studio, have it since v7 and I feel like I know it inside out by now. For any new musician, it's an easy DAW to learn and make noise fast, it has free updates for life, meaning, you pay once and upgrade forever, and that's very good selling point, considering the prices of DAWs these days. Plus, it's a powerhouse of editing and the Piano Roll is a delight to use.
Started learning on Studio One 5. It's very drag and drop. But I moved over to REAPER after learning some things. It uses about .01 gb of Memory and I get a dopamine hit everytime I figure something out. Just learned to use scripts! It's fun to learn the DAW and leaves CPU/RAM to use plugins and VSTs.
I've started producing music in 2003 using a cracked Reason v1.
Later on, I've discovered Fruity Loops v3 (also cracked), which became my go-to DAW.
Up until this day I use both (legally licensed 😁), but FL Studio (formerly known as Fruity Loops) is my main DAW!
I think that the best DAW is the one that you're the most familiar with, and which enables you to create whatever you have in mind.
My liking of Adam Steel's videos from the very beginning of this audio journey is what made me go with Reaper.
'Tis a mighty beast of a program. Not for the faint of heart.
I love the Jerky Boys reference @25:11 "I need my shoes and my glasses"... gave me a good chuckle.
Awesome! I'm glad you caught that! 🤣🤣 Those guys were the greatest! 🤘🏻🤘🏻 I think my Saul Rosenberg impression was pretty good eh? Lol!
Oh wow, those Pro Tools subscription models are criminal! I'm on Logic and in the past Logic Pro Studio was quite expensive to buy, (around 600 dollars maybe? But there was an affordable upgrade from Logic Express) but now it's just a one time purchase of 300 or something in Europe, and so MUCH is included these days. I started out on Pro Tools with an M-Box, but I was really struggling to get familiar with the software. When I switched to Logic, my productions became so much better really fast and everything felt way more intuitive. Only downside: the Apple ecosystem is pretty expensive.
Reaper is my favourite by far. I also love using the players through the midi out in the reason rack within reaper to control all of my third party instruments. Reaper is extremely stable, hardly ever crashes, routing is very intuative and rendering is as fast as lightning. No messing about with technical issues which saves time and is infinately customisable. Everything i need in a DAW.
I am still blown away why Acoustica Mixcraft Pro Studio doesn't every get mentioned...It is so affordable and it can do everything the big boys do. You also get a boat load of virtual instruments for free. Check it out if you never have. I tried Studio One (which I loved) but I spent more time trying to learn the interface than mixing.
I completely agree. Mixcraft is amazing, especially for people who are just starting out. It's super easy to pick up and the Pro version is a fraction of the price of other DAWs There are some limitations and (some of) the virtual instruments are pretty meh but for that price it's great value for money.
I use Cubase but also have mixcraft. I love Mixcraft. Is probably the easiest DAW to edit tracks in. The only issue that I've had with it is when I use my Focusrite 2i2 to try to record electric 🎸 with my TH-U guitar sim there is huge lag when recording. Cubase doesn't lag. I've changed the audio timing to the fastest it will allow with the Focusrite it still lags. Other then that I absolutely love using it for editing mp3's which Cubase only allows wav files. The midi instruments are extremely impressive as well.
I also absolutely love Mixcrafts stock plugins. The stock reverb that Mixcraft has is probably my absolute favorite reverb plugin and I have a ton of stock and premium reverb plugins. I even like it better than Slate Digitals Premium- Verb Suite Classic. Mixcrafts reverb is extremely simple and just sounds amazing.
Mixcraft has horrendous customer service and is clunkier than it has any right to be. And this is coming from someone who dove into the pro upgrades. The only good thing about acoustica is their plugins
Reaper:
1) Low cost - great for me as I was starting out, and potentially for future students and artist colleagues looking to learn a DAW on a low budget;
2) Low CPU usage by it and native PIs - also good for students and artists who want/need a low barrier of entry;
3) Very high level of customisation via open-source scripting - this enables custom automation, linking with third party software, and streamlining of workflow for various applications;
4) Active user and developer community - that is highly knowledgable and generous in sharing their insights and improvements on the DAW.
In the past I've worked with Digital Performer and (the not quite a DAW) Garageband. Looking forward to learning Logic, Ableton and Pro Tools in time as well.
Logic Pro X is amazing. The included plugins cover everything you need and the artificial intelligence drummers are excellent. As a songwriter, it's got it all. I've added tons of 3rd party plugins, but I could get away with the included ones if I had to.
I’ve been using the stock plug ins before moving onto to paying for them or using outboard just to know that I understand things well first like compression. But hard to tell if they sound good if a comparison is not available. The comps seem to be ok for parallel, barely (the distortion added seems too digital), and only one reverb seems tolerable. The vintage console EQ is nice however!
And the delays are pretty fine. Overdrive sounds fine actually. But sooo ready to graduate from all of these!
@@chinmeysway I started with a few plugins that might not beat the stock plugins in terms of sound quality, but the interfaces are easier to use or are unique. I also wanted specific sounds that are not as easy to create with stock plugins. Abbey Road chambers and plates as well as the RS124 are great additions in that regard. I also love the Binson Echorec plugin from Pulsar. You could re-create the Echorec with stock plugins, but it would be a complex stack of different delays and saturation when you consider the color an Echorec adds from its classic circuitry. Easier to buy the plugin to save time every time you want that sound.
@@chinmeysway I also have the Puigchild compressor (it’s a Fairchild clone) along with the companion Puigtec EQP-1A (Pultec clone) which behave differently than the stock plugins. I like knowing how these work in case I ever run into a real one someday… less likely with each passing year. I’ve collected a lot of others, but these and the others I mentioned are worth buying. The entire Abbey Road suite is fun, but I really gravitate to a few of those. Renaissance Bass and MV2 are must haves.
I used Studio One for many years before learning about Bitwig. Now I use both but for different reasons. Bitwig for songwriting/sound design, and studio one for mixing and mastering. It's the perfect combo for me.
I'm just a hobbyist at home so I'm not your typical audience of semi-pros wanting to up their game to the pro level. Though, I'm a curious person and I like to see what is out there and what others are using. So, I am currently using Cakewalk by Bandlab (formerly Sonar) and after watching your video, i came to realize that Cakewalk has just about the same or very similar features as most of the DAWs discussed in this video. The fact that Cakewalk is a free DAW is probably why it hasn't been taken seriously by the recording/mixing community. I would have loved to see Cakewalk compared to the usual contenders and see if, because of it's free nature, it is more amateurish in nature or if it has value as a pro DAW that could compete with the more popular ones. Or are there other reasons it would not be considered on a pro level? Thanks for reading.
Once a DAW is free you know it no longer has any use except for being for the hobbyist. I have Cakewalk by band lab which I hardly use now (Studio One user) I used Sonar a few days ago to do some music on it. It is a good DAW shame that band lab spoilt Cakewalk's reputation by making it free. I think a lot of the ideas Cakewalk came up with are reflected in other DAWs. If I were you I would change up now and use something better!
@@shan5445 there are still pros using Cakewalk. The only things that were lost in the change to free were some of the virtual instruments and a few plug-ins. A trained engineer could definitely make a top level recording with it. That doesn't mean that your wrong about it being aimed at home users. Basically every DAW sounds the same in it's base form.
@@shan5445 Better in what sense? If Cakewalk has most features of the others, why would I change? Besides, being a hobbyist and not making money out of it the justification of paying for something that I can get for free is kinda hard.
@@keithferris9574 Cakewalk user here.. do you know the names of those pro who uses cakewalk? you dont usually see that and I'm curious to know. thanks
Cakewalk by Bandlab is the same program as SONAR Platinum, which was being sold for prices similar to the DAWs mentioned in this video. Now it's free, albeit without 3rd party products that were sold with SONAR. The fact that it wasn't always free is always overlooked in reviews and comparisons. Imagine if Cubase became free next week; that's what happened with SONAR
Man do I feel old. I started with my first DAW in 1988. A quarter million for the New England Digital Post Pro. Kind of like the Synclavier which I saw in the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix a few years back. Later moved to Pro Tools but they were always late with keeping up to speed with Mac updates. Also didn’t like when they moved to subscription based. So I’m now a Logic user and love it. The takes as demonstrated in your video was a game changer. Good to see the other DAW demos. Thanks.
Reaper and Cubase are my go to DAWs. But I love FL Studio and also use Ableton Live. And sometimes I also open up Pro Tools but Reaper and Cubase are my main
Cakewalk, hands down. Just because it's free doesn't make it lame lol! Used it for midi early on and then computers finally got fast enough to make latency a non issue. Have since been using it as an all in one box, tho I do have a Yamaha DM2000 for a board with 48 channels of lightwire in and out. Absurdly good! And plugins are never an issue. It just works.
I love reaper for its price as well as its customizability. It just works great. Also, this video made me decide that I will definitely never be getting Reason.
Why did the video definitely not make you want to get Reason?😂
@@dougroyce5784 Don't think the representative producer really sold it that well.
I use Reason and the guy made me not want to buy it lol 😂
Heck yeah! Thanks for featuring our Band
Team Cubase! aha (and sometimes Ableton depending on the project if workflow asks for it) but even then I always end up back in Cubase with stems for mixing!
I started with Cakewalk ProAudio on PC nearly 25 years ago, then Sonar, now Cakewalk by Bandlab - I can still open projects I created 25 years ago. Perfectly happy with it. I also use Cubase occasionally and Wavelab for 2-track editing
I'm using tracktion's Waveform 12 ... FREE. Lot's of options to go PRO if needed... lot's of options to produce if not. Big plus ... works on Linux.👍
Not many linux users here. Ardour is good too.
Finally seeing someone else who uses this. Have just started dabbling in audio production to create a soundtrack for a game I am making and waveform was the best thing I came across that was free. Was a bit surprised that nobody seems to mention it even though it is well reviewed...
I have been using Cubase since ‘96. I was taught Sound recording Technology during autumn ‘91 and spring ‘92 in a 24 track analog studio at a music school. The centerpiece of the studio was a Soundtracs IL3632 mixing console and we recorded on a Studer A800. Back then Cubase was not a DAW yet, but we used a timecode box connected to the Atari 1040 to stribe SMPTE code to the tape recorder so that we could syncronise Cubase to the timecode on the tape.
Great video Warren! I am using Reaper the most but also Cakewalk and Ableton.
I've tried over the years many DAWs....Sonar, Nuendo, Cubase, Pro Tools, Studio One, Reaper, Digital Orchestrator....now, it's Cakewalk and I will never go back,does everything all DAWs do,plus it's FREE!!!!
Super! A really good and cool overview of most of the existing DAWs. I use Logic and wouldn’t like to work myself into a new DAW, even if I knew there were better DAWs out there. And Logic is unbeatable as far as the price is concerned.
For audio only work, especially mixing in the box - Protools n Cubase n logic
For live loops/DJ/EDM - Live
For EDM production - FL/Live/Bitwig
For overall usabilty/shortcuts - Studio One
I have used all of these, settled on Cubase. Because I prefer acoustic music/live tracking guitars etc... But also need great midi editing for additional programming. Logic is a close competitor, but Cubase let me do all of that in more flexible manner. And it might be a much debated topic but in my view Cubase gives closest sound during mixdown and after export.
Peace!
Wow, that's a very nice selection of DAWs you covered. Good job you guys!
I've been trying Universal Audio's Luna recently, I gotta say it is really impressive. I've been an Ableton user for years, I even got the Push 2 and always loved the flow. But if you got a few machines, it is really awesome the quality of the sets you can build using Luna virtually, but applying traditional techniques that accessible by the console emulations and in general, with any UA plugin which aims to emulate traditional hardware, hitting the nail a lot of times. Sometimes harder than another, but great toys to play with.
LUNA is great because of the context-sensitive tool panels and hosted processing on Apollo hardware. Really nice sound too.
With Logic pros latest updates I feel it has the most versatility while still having professional level tools to work with
Alchemy is an amazing synth
The drum designer is hands dow the best system
Apple loops is a ton of value and the stock tools are really good
The compressors and delay tools etc are awesome
I know logic pro was garbage fisher price level a few years ago but for those who have not taken a serious hard look at it in the last 12 months you should because Apple has managed to do with that DAW is insane
I use reaper on windows 7. I saw Adam interviewed on your channel and was sold! I never even used the free trial... just bought it the same day and love it! Thanks, Warren love your channel and also thank you, Adam, for the tutorials. PS: I use to teach Pro-tools for corporate multi Media departments in the early '90s.
Lifelong Cubase user, tried all the others but have always gravitated back to Cubase, probably the best DAW is the one you know and feel most comfortable with..
Using Mixbus32C for tracking, editing and mixing, Reaper for MIDI, and MuseScore for scores. OS: Linux. I find the workflow of Mixbus32C and its effectiveness to be the best for me.