Cakewalk guy here. I had Sonar platinum so the plugs that came with it carried over. I love this program since I record in a more traditional way. I don't work in loops so don't know how it is with that. I record real instruments in real time tho I do of course do punch ins if needed. It just works. Plugins are never a problem. They just work. I do have a rather fast computer so I'm sure that helps. You do good vids by the way. Thank you!
Cakewalk/Sonar has been an excellent DAW for years. I record pretty much everything into it except the odd virtual instrument and it’s been a solid performer. Thank you for watching and for the comment. Keep creating! 👊👍
@@AudioTechTV 👍👍By the way, I got Diva and Hive and have fallen in love with them! I'm using the LinnStrument with them and it's amazing what you can do with that controller. Of course, if I want a traditional piano or organ, I still use a keyboard.
Mixcraft never seems to get a mention when UA-camrs talk about DAW's and yet it is an awesome program and often available in music Humble Bundles for a very cheap price. It also comes with some excellent vst's. I was so impressed with it that I bought the Pro version and the only regret I have is that companies always overlook supporting it because videos like this never notify people of its existence!!
I’ve definitely included it in previous videos. I know 10 just came out and I haven’t looked much into it but with 9 a lot of the excellent VSTs that came with it are free or legacy VSTs that anyone can grab and add to their DAW of choice. I don’t want to make these videos “every single DAW available for Windows” I just want to give some choices for different workflows. I already think I include too many choices as it is and it can be overwhelming for people just getting started which is what these videos are kind of geared toward. If you are very happy with it, I’m not sure why you would check out a video like this unless you’re looking for something else or just trying to validate your own preference. If you’re just trying to validate your own preference, Mixcraft is great. A lot of people use it and love it and if it’s the best one for you, continue to use it and enjoy.
@@AudioTechTV I didn't watch this video...I only checked to see if Mixcraft was included because usually UA-camrs ignore it. It has nothing to do with validation, I simply hope that more people will discover Mixcraft because I am so impressed with it and think it should garner more attention and acknowledgement..... I certainly am not looking for a replacement!!!😄
If not for HumbleBundle I would never have heard of it let alone use it. I use Cubase as well but Mixcraft has an awesome looking mixer and great adaptable MIDI controller options. Much easier to set up than Cubase but as with all things both have strengths and weaknesses. If you have any other DAW on your system quite often the vst effects and synths can be imported and used from other applications. Also the cost is very competitive and support very good via their forums. They also listen, something I often find missing on other platforms.
Fl Studio has been my DAW of choice for 10 years+! It's easy to use, and can handle many 3rd party plugins (if you want more than the stock ones). Love it! 👍
@@EBMZEQUENZERCan you emphasize what you mean by “workflow?” I’m looking into making my own music (mixing/producing/vocal) and I wanna know the best app for learning.
@@qamo96 my first one would be making tacks unique in order transpose a pattern, unless the sequence is long enough: layer tool to stack sounds : pattern picker, if you don't select a new pattern it overdubs wherever ...... just very confusing
I’d still use Cool Edit Pro 2 if it was 64 bit and could handle VST3. It was an incredible DAW. Even when Adobe turned it into Audition 3 it was still great. But newer versions have taken away features and seemed to have moved away from music production.
@@AudioTechTV Interesting, I haven't kept up with it since like '04 lol. Went to school for Sound Engineering a couple years later and got exposed to Logic and Pro Tools; logic for production and PT for recording and mix/master = unbeatable combo. I miss making music - couldn't make a living off it and had to adapt unfortunately.
My vote is for Studio One, I don't think any company listens to its customers and constantly updates and upgrades the software on such a regular basis. It's top notch and is always getting better.
@@garrya100 True but reaper looks so low budget I cant get past how ugly it is maybe if they had like a ui refresh I would use it more but its just so bland and boiring it gives me 40 year old hobbiest vibes lol to each his own though
@@SueroNetwork one of the strengths of Reaper is you can make it look like anything you want. Want it to look like ProTools? Download a PT skin. Want FL, download a FL skin, or Logic or Cubase… they’re free so try what ever you like. What other DAW allows that sort of customisation? All it takes is a quick look at the Forum or RTFM. No point spending time developing a new GUI when it’s not needed, spend the time on new features.
Recording instruments like guitar because of the takes system which is stellar = Reaper, electronic music/sampling/performing = Ableton, best all rounder = Studio One. This is just my opinion. I also like Reason for playing around but it will never be my main DAW.
I have Pro Tools, Logic, and Cubase. A lot of clients want me to use logic or pro tools, but ngl, I almost always bounce the WAVs to Cubase. It's just been my go to for so long now that while yeah, logic is super easy and user friendly, and PT ultimate is massive and capable of huge stuff, I just prefer Cubase.
It's about time Cakewalk got some attention. It's one of the most powerful DAWs out there, but seems to be consistently ignored in favor of more costly DAWs.
I’ve been super curious about Studio One for a while now. I’ve been a Cakewalk/Sonar user for… forever now. I hear they are going to change Cakewalk back to Sonar and charge everyone for it. If it’s subscription based I will most likely be switching DAWs. Lol I find it scary changing DAWs! Im so familiar with what I have. Do you have any opinions or experience with Studio One? If the pricing is about the same is it worth the switch? Sorry about the late reply.
@@bukavac5607 I have been using Studio One for a long time, and I couldn't recommend it more. Since I Jumped from FL 6 years ago, I experienced a smooth transition. I can only use two words to describe this DAW. simple and powerful. and it is very cheap compare to other DAWs
I use Prosonus studio one +Pro tools....at the beginning I used cubase and then fl , but then I switched to prosonus studio, which got me through a lot, and I'm satisfied with the quality of the DAW... the other one I used before is left behind... Thank you ....
Since you have experience with a few, which one would you say is the easiest to use as far as just plug in and record guitar and vocals? No mixing necessary as we send our stems to pro mixer. PC only though. Thx
Keyboardists may feel differently, but as a guitarist I LOVE LOVE LOVE Reaper. I used Pro Tools for +20 years and it used to be cutting edge but Avid ruined it, switched to REAPER in 2019 and never looked back.
At the moment I would recommend Cakewalk. If you grab it now it’s still free and you can continue to use it for free. They plan on phasing out the free version this year but if you get it before then you’ll be fine. I would also recommend checking out Waveform Free too.
Traktion Waveform - one love)) when cakewalk said "CAKEWALK CRUSH!!!" I've understood It's time to change DAW. Now I'm using only Waveform)) By the way, thank you for tutorials))
@@Aithorus Hola. Mi primer DAW fue FL Studio, pero debo confesar que la sencillez y versatilidad del MMM (Magix Music Maker) me conquistó. Sobre todo porque no necesitas una pantalla muy grande para trabajar en el. También use otros, pero me quedé con la versión premium del MMM 2016. Las versiones mas nuevas reducen el área de las pistas demasiado. Muchos dicen que con MMM no se pueden hacer trabajos profesionales. No estoy de acuerdo. Saludos.
I've been using Reason in my home studio for 6 years and am very happy with it. Also, when I go back and forth from my studio to commercial studios that use Pro Tools, I've never felt at a disadvantage and wished I had PT or some other DAW.
@Dreamer-79 Fl Studio is my go-to. With the updates that it has had up to this point. It has proven itself to be one of the greatest DAW's to myself and others alike.
Used many Daws but studio one is really a top notch daw. Drag and drop feature is what makes it fast and easy. i m pretty sure studio one gonna surpass every daw in coming years.
I remember when i had fostex in the 80's and 90's. C-casette and 4 tracks. Much simpler times. Back then you really had to know how to play one take recordings. Now that i use Daws, i don't have to know how to play, because of virtual instruments. Much easier, but music was better when music was played in own unique ways. Good vid thought.
My first daw was Ableton then pro tools 09 then studio one 2 then back to Ableton then i finally tried Reason and realized it was the best Daw 7yrs now
If that's the best one for you then use it. There are some other great programs that I didn't include as I didn't want this to be "every DAW for music production". These are my top picks.
I'm a cakewalk user. I do mostly midi, and use the staff view extensively. I fine it has very powerfull editing . Hence my question. Does studio one or any of the other daws have a staff view, and if so, how does it compare to cakewalk's staff view's editing capabilities?
Studio One Pro has a nice Score Editor. I think Pro Tools still has a kind of basic score editor but you can use the Sibelius Addon which gives you more advanced score editing features, I think there is still a free version of Sibelius so you can probably use that with the free Pro Tools Intro. Cubase also has a score editor too. There are probably others out there, those are the ones I know of. I don't know how they all compare as it's not a feature that I use.
I actually have a question about something. I'm using cap cut and yes I know it's not a music producing app. But for some reason when I try to line the tracks on top of each other either it goes too far back or too far forward. I want to get the track specifically lined up the way I wanted to so the timing sounds right. Are there any good programs that help with this?
What an awesome video, very competent and great explanation! I feel a bit helpless because the Daw I used (soundation) changed their pricing models and I can no longer save my songs as wav. files. I really liked the many instruments it provided and easy to access interface. I have software to record my keyboard and just look for some digital instruments, and I can't spent too much money... Now according to your video I think cake walk with plug-ins and maybe FL studio or reaper are good choices? Anyone have any other advice? Sometimes all of that is hard to grasp for a newb like me, sorry 😅
@@EricPatton-NC What don't you understand about the ability to customize it? You can modify it to behave and look exactly like other DAWS if you want. For free
Nice video. In your honest opinion, what is the absolute easiest DAW to just plug into and record guitar and vox without steep learning curve for PC? We send our music to pro mixers so we only need good stems to send off. Thx
Great overview! I'm thinking about going with Waveform. It's been really pleasant so far. I was enjoying the demo for Reaper, but Waveform feels more intuitive overall. How are the guitar amp effects in Waveform? I'm using the free version and I was about to purchase a third party amp plugin, but I just saw that Waveform added Guitar IR to the pro version.
It’s a decent IR plugin but just a cabinet sim. I will use an amp sim pedal like the Joyo British and then use that as a cabinet sim and it’s decent. My go to amp sim plugin lately has been Guitar Rig. I recommend checking that one out.
Ive been using logic with mac for ages, but sick of apples prices for a new computer so going to swap to pc and use studio 1, hopefilly it won't be like starting again
i ended up buying fl studio when my son wanted to get into music and that was back in 2004 and hes 37 now i never use it and i using other programs , cant sell it and its updated all up to now and i never had time to use it and i have never seen any one sell there copy
Not sure why any of these lists don’t include Harrison Mixbus 32C. Based on Ardour it utilizes an awesome GUI based on the renound 32C console. Each bus has saturation control. Please do yourself a favor and try it.
At the moment it is still free. If you get it now you can continue to use Cakewalk by Bandlab for free even after they release the new paid versions. But once they release the paid versions, you will no longer be able to get Cakewalk by Bandlab for free.
I'm new at this. Always wanted to do something like this and I just got a laptop for this purpose. But I've never used a program like these. I just love music. What would you recommend for free for a beginner to start?
Tracktion waveform free doesn’t have any limitations and can be great for any style of music. Cakewalk by Bandlab is still free right now and is another program that isn’t limited and it has tons of features. I would recommend either of those. All of them are going to have a learning curve and they all kind of do things similar so if you learn on one you can likely figure things out fairly easy in another. Because of this there really isn’t a decent program that’s easier to get started with compared to another. They are all very similar. If you purchased an audio interface that comes with a program like Ableton Live Lite then give that a try too. Give a few a try and see what works best for you. Good luck!
@@AudioTechTV Thank you so much! I downloaded FL studio because its the one I knew the most about. Its very cool but I feel like i can do almost nothing without buying the full versions. Is the $199 necessary? i feel like limited audio files would be irritating.
Tbh i would look no further than either Reaper or Studio One. Currently im on reaper but would have no problem at all with studio one. The other ones are either too expensive or too complicated or they just simply crash too often. Never had a crash on reaper
I had Sonar back in the X1, X2 and X3 days (2014) when it was owned by Roland and before it was bought out by Gibson. The user community was fantastic and very friendly. Gibson just didn’t give the DAW the attention it deserved and when it was discontinued I lost interest. The synthesisers were particularly good and I miss Dimension Pro and Rapture as well as some of the others. I came back to production a couple of years ago and went with Studio One which I am happy with. Just hope it doesn’t go the same way as Sonar did!
hi great vids thank you , im new looking for a free or low cost daw for newb to work with melodyne ,intent to record vocals on tascam then edit within melodyne which i intend buying and daw then put back into tascam to mixdown and master ,sound like a good plan ? trying to keep it simple lol any help or comment welcome thanks
Sonar 8 Platinum didn't have anything I needed over and above Sonar 8 Studio... until after the fact they stopped updating Studio before Platinum and now no one even mentions it.
Kinda bummed that cakewalk is gonna start charging for their software. It's great software and I used it exclusively but I'm not gonna support a subscription style payment for any daw so I'm moving on to either tracktion or studio one.
I’m not certain that it will be subscription I was just speculating. I think the Sonar version will be a paid licence with a subscription option. We’ll have to see what happens. But nothing wrong with trying out Waveform or Studio One. If you can get used to the different workflow you will love them!
I do have another video that focuses on free programs for guitarists new to recoridng. It’s here ua-cam.com/video/DGhpkahof6E/v-deo.html I would recommend Cakewalk by Bandlab. It comes with a decent amp sim so you won’t need to worry about adding any plugins at the start but you will be able to add them later on when you start getting more into it.
I've heard that FL Studio has a steep learning curve, but I'm wondering if that only applies to creators who have used other DAWS. Do you think FL would be good for a DAW beginner, since I'd be starting fresh with no other DAW experience?
I've used various levels of Cakewalk for decades and my mixes always seem a bit harsh and I'm assuming it's just my ability (lack of) but someone told me that your DAW can really affect the final print down quality of your mix. What do you think about that?
The daw itself doesn’t really affect the quality of the actual render/mix down but the settings that you use in each one can affect it and maybe different dithering options if you are using the daw for that. If you’re rendering to an mp3, each one might have a different way of compressing audio to mp3 and different sound quality options. The plugins that you use in each one will affect the sound. Things like pan law could ultimately affect the sound. How each daw handles plugin latency can affect the sound. In cakewalk if you have the pro channel enabled on your tracks that will affect the sound depending on the modules that are enabled and any settings you might have setup.
@AudioTechTV Thx! I came here to switch. I think it'll be Studio One or FL Studio. Here's my latest track from CbB, that's an example... . ua-cam.com/video/fcd0zvoRuVY/v-deo.htmlsi=sldHdiIXl6aCVlFt
If you're going to use Studio One as your main DAW, you are far better off getting the Plus subscription. It's Pro + every plugin that Presonus makes... or at least most of them. It's like $160 per year.
Hi, I'm approaching 70 and I want to learn how to write music. I have a book about music theory but I looking for software that I can input the music notation then replay it so that I can hear what I've put on the screen. Any suggestions on just a basic or mid line program?
I've only tried it briefly and it was a track limited version. I primarily record all of my instruments and vocals in and it wouldn't be my first choice for that but it can definitely handle the task. It could be great for some people though. it all depends on how you like to work. They have a demo so you can download it and see if Bitwig works for you.
It's strange because they never talk about a DAW that for me is one of the best on the market, stable, good recording quality and intuitive called Mixcraft, maybe because it's German!!
I have a feeling I’ll be talking about Mixcraft a bit in the future. It had nothing to do with them being German, I actually didn’t know that. I just never used it before so it wasn’t on my mind. But things have changed for me. And Mixcraft will get some love from me now.
I've watched a number of videos, and everyone keeps saying that Cakewalk by Bandlab IS Sonar X (whatever) Producer. My last DAW was Sonar X1 Producer. I lost it to a house fire. ALL of the instruments in X1 Producer were FAR SUPERIOR to those in Cakewalk by Bandlab. Does this mean that going forward I can only expect garbage frome Cakewalk?
Cakewalk by Bandlab does not include all the same instruments and effects as previous Sonar versions. The plugins included with Cakewalk by Bandlab are just very basic beginner instruments. I’m pretty sure anyone serious about making music would be using third party instruments and effects anyway. I have no idea what they have planned for instruments and effects in the future. If you choose to only expect “garbage” from them then that’s up to you. I think what most people like about the Cakewalk DAW is the actual program itself. Mixcraft includes some excellent instruments. It’s not free but it’s fairly affordable.
No love for Mixcraft 10 Pro? Mixcraft remains the most disrespected DAW in reviews. I own a Studio One 6 Pro, and still use my M10P for creating music. It is the most user friendly DAW to use along with excellent Midi Samples for every genre of styles.
I’ve got lots of love for Mixcraft 10. When I made this video I hadn’t tried it yet. But you will see a lot more Mixcraft 10 on this channel. I also do the Mixcraft university videos for Mixcraft 10. They are over on the Mixcraft channel with a lot more on the way.
I got a copy of an older version of Samplitude in a package deal with Music Maker. What are some of it's features and advantages? I'd like to learn something more advanced than Music Maker.
So I am like 5 min into this whole new world. Soooo I have a question could I use this kind of software to learn about music theory and cords and triads blah blah blah and have the notes sounds play out so I could start learning whole all this ties together??? I know it’s probably the stupidest question on the internet but I should ask!!! That why I know 😂😂😂😂
Yes you should be able to connect your digital piano to it. It’s compatible with a ton of audio and midi devices. I think you might need to create a Bandlab account in order to get it but that’s as far as activation goes. They might have changed that now too since they created a stand alone installer for it.
Yes! My main DAW for years was Reaper, but right now i'm using Ardour and it's pretty nice. Plus that windows just works with any kind of vst, meanwhile on Linux you have to struggle with them to work properly.
Next check out over 60 of the best free instruments and effects by clicking here ua-cam.com/video/zalI7iKJ8a4/v-deo.html
Cakewalk guy here. I had Sonar platinum so the plugs that came with it carried over. I love this program since I record in a more traditional way. I don't work in loops so don't know how it is with that. I record real instruments in real time tho I do of course do punch ins if needed. It just works. Plugins are never a problem. They just work. I do have a rather fast computer so I'm sure that helps. You do good vids by the way. Thank you!
Cakewalk/Sonar has been an excellent DAW for years. I record pretty much everything into it except the odd virtual instrument and it’s been a solid performer. Thank you for watching and for the comment. Keep creating! 👊👍
@@AudioTechTV 👍👍By the way, I got Diva and Hive and have fallen in love with them! I'm using the LinnStrument with them and it's amazing what you can do with that controller. Of course, if I want a traditional piano or organ, I still use a keyboard.
Mixcraft never seems to get a mention when UA-camrs talk about DAW's and yet it is an awesome program and often available in music Humble Bundles for a very cheap price. It also comes with some excellent vst's. I was so impressed with it that I bought the Pro version and the only regret I have is that companies always overlook supporting it because videos like this never notify people of its existence!!
I’ve definitely included it in previous videos. I know 10 just came out and I haven’t looked much into it but with 9 a lot of the excellent VSTs that came with it are free or legacy VSTs that anyone can grab and add to their DAW of choice.
I don’t want to make these videos “every single DAW available for Windows” I just want to give some choices for different workflows. I already think I include too many choices as it is and it can be overwhelming for people just getting started which is what these videos are kind of geared toward.
If you are very happy with it, I’m not sure why you would check out a video like this unless you’re looking for something else or just trying to validate your own preference. If you’re just trying to validate your own preference, Mixcraft is great. A lot of people use it and love it and if it’s the best one for you, continue to use it and enjoy.
@@AudioTechTV I didn't watch this video...I only checked to see if Mixcraft was included because usually UA-camrs ignore it. It has nothing to do with validation, I simply hope that more people will discover Mixcraft because I am so impressed with it and think it should garner more attention and acknowledgement..... I certainly am not looking for a replacement!!!😄
Mixcraft 10 pro is the very best for me. Give it a try ;)
If not for HumbleBundle I would never have heard of it let alone use it. I use Cubase as well but Mixcraft has an awesome looking mixer and great adaptable MIDI controller options. Much easier to set up than Cubase but as with all things both have strengths and weaknesses. If you have any other DAW on your system quite often the vst effects and synths can be imported and used from other applications. Also the cost is very competitive and support very good via their forums. They also listen, something I often find missing on other platforms.
I started with Mixcraft 7 and updating to 10 currently. I agree, it never gets the credit it deserves. Great daw!
Fl Studio has been my DAW of choice for 10 years+! It's easy to use, and can handle many 3rd party plugins (if you want more than the stock ones). Love it! 👍
FL Studio is excellent. Thank you for watching. Keep creating! 👊👍
I like the interface but the workflow is a nightmare : but I guess people love it
@@EBMZEQUENZERCan you emphasize what you mean by “workflow?” I’m looking into making my own music (mixing/producing/vocal) and I wanna know the best app for learning.
@@qamo96 my first one would be making tacks unique in order transpose a pattern, unless the sequence is long enough: layer tool to stack sounds : pattern picker, if you don't select a new pattern it overdubs wherever ...... just very confusing
@@EBMZEQUENZER ….
I got a lot yo learn 💀
Awesome video! I remember back when FL studio was called "Fruity Loops" 😂😂
I still call it that. 🤣
reaper is THE peoples DAW.
I’m sold
Reaper is a pile of trash
First DAW I used was Cool Edit Pro 2.0. What a gem.
I’d still use Cool Edit Pro 2 if it was 64 bit and could handle VST3. It was an incredible DAW. Even when Adobe turned it into Audition 3 it was still great. But newer versions have taken away features and seemed to have moved away from music production.
@@AudioTechTV Interesting, I haven't kept up with it since like '04 lol. Went to school for Sound Engineering a couple years later and got exposed to Logic and Pro Tools; logic for production and PT for recording and mix/master = unbeatable combo. I miss making music - couldn't make a living off it and had to adapt unfortunately.
Awesome video, I didnt even know some of these existed. Another great informative video, excellent job, thank you!!!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for continuing to watch. Keep creating! 👊👍
My vote is for Studio One, I don't think any company listens to its customers and constantly updates and upgrades the software on such a regular basis. It's top notch and is always getting better.
Reaper does, you’ll get bug fixes and new requested features every couple of weeks.
@@garrya100 True but reaper looks so low budget I cant get past how ugly it is maybe if they had like a ui refresh I would use it more but its just so bland and boiring it gives me 40 year old hobbiest vibes lol to each his own though
@@SueroNetwork one of the strengths of Reaper is you can make it look like anything you want. Want it to look like ProTools? Download a PT skin. Want FL, download a FL skin, or Logic or Cubase… they’re free so try what ever you like. What other DAW allows that sort of customisation? All it takes is a quick look at the Forum or RTFM. No point spending time developing a new GUI when it’s not needed, spend the time on new features.
Recording instruments like guitar because of the takes system which is stellar = Reaper, electronic music/sampling/performing = Ableton, best all rounder = Studio One. This is just my opinion. I also like Reason for playing around but it will never be my main DAW.
I have Pro Tools, Logic, and Cubase. A lot of clients want me to use logic or pro tools, but ngl, I almost always bounce the WAVs to Cubase. It's just been my go to for so long now that while yeah, logic is super easy and user friendly, and PT ultimate is massive and capable of huge stuff, I just prefer Cubase.
It's about time Cakewalk got some attention. It's one of the most powerful DAWs out there, but seems to be consistently ignored in favor of more costly DAWs.
Studio One will be the next industry standard for sure
I’ve been super curious about Studio One for a while now. I’ve been a Cakewalk/Sonar user for… forever now. I hear they are going to change Cakewalk back to Sonar and charge everyone for it. If it’s subscription based I will most likely be switching DAWs. Lol I find it scary changing DAWs! Im so familiar with what I have.
Do you have any opinions or experience with Studio One? If the pricing is about the same is it worth the switch?
Sorry about the late reply.
@@bukavac5607 I have been using Studio One for a long time, and I couldn't recommend it more. Since I Jumped from FL 6 years ago, I experienced a smooth transition. I can only use two words to describe this DAW. simple and powerful.
and it is very cheap compare to other DAWs
@@bukavac5607 I would like to say this daw is very intuitive when it comes to producing music
@@bukavac5607 imagine Cubase and Pro Tools and FL combined that's pretty much it
@@thisdudeisadude well if I need to switch Studio One is first pick so far.
Thank God your channel exists!
I appreciate your concise delivery combined with examples of each DAW you discuss.
I use Cubase because Han Zimmer use it. It prove that this DAW is powerful enough to make an epic filmscore.
I use Prosonus studio one +Pro tools....at the beginning I used cubase and then fl , but then I switched to prosonus studio, which got me through a lot, and I'm satisfied with the quality of the DAW... the other one I used before is left behind... Thank you ....
Since you have experience with a few, which one would you say is the easiest to use as far as just plug in and record guitar and vocals? No mixing necessary as we send our stems to pro mixer. PC only though. Thx
I really appreciate the short intro. It is very refreshing!
gotta love that free life time updates with fl studio
Absolutely! I bought it about 20 years ago and still get the latest version.
Keyboardists may feel differently, but as a guitarist I LOVE LOVE LOVE Reaper. I used Pro Tools for +20 years and it used to be cutting edge but Avid ruined it, switched to REAPER in 2019 and never looked back.
Which one can cou recommend for free? Or nearly free. I would like to produce metal music. I tend between reaper or cakewalk...
At the moment I would recommend Cakewalk. If you grab it now it’s still free and you can continue to use it for free. They plan on phasing out the free version this year but if you get it before then you’ll be fine.
I would also recommend checking out Waveform Free too.
You mean Cakewalk Sonar? I think you can only get i with the BandLab License...
Traktion Waveform - one love)) when cakewalk said "CAKEWALK CRUSH!!!" I've understood It's time to change DAW. Now I'm using only Waveform)) By the way, thank you for tutorials))
Do you have any latency issues with Waveform?
@@johnmokma8897 no )) but I think it depends on audio interface settings. In my settings it's 7ms. It is comfortable latency for me
Nadie lo ha explicado mejor y tan claro. Sumado a la gran cantidad de DAWs que pusiste en pantalla, mis respetos y agradecimiento..!
Estoy de acuerdo Rick. Cuáles te descargaste tú?
@@Aithorus Hola. Mi primer DAW fue FL Studio, pero debo confesar que la sencillez y versatilidad del MMM (Magix Music Maker) me conquistó. Sobre todo porque no necesitas una pantalla muy grande para trabajar en el. También use otros, pero me quedé con la versión premium del MMM 2016. Las versiones mas nuevas reducen el área de las pistas demasiado.
Muchos dicen que con MMM no se pueden hacer trabajos profesionales. No estoy de acuerdo. Saludos.
@@rickkraftwerk2917 gracias, Rick. Lo probaré
Studio One here!
Coming from magix Music Maker for a couple of years, then ableton for 8 to 10 years bitwig fits me like a glove... i really like it very flexible
I've been using Reason in my home studio for 6 years and am very happy with it. Also, when I go back and forth from my studio to commercial studios that use Pro Tools, I've never felt at a disadvantage and wished I had PT or some other DAW.
Acoustica Mixcraft 9 is another good one, also Reaper. My main DAW is FL Studio 21, but I also use Studio One, Reason 12, Reaper, and Mixcraft 9.
Which is your favorite and why??
@Dreamer-79 Fl Studio is my go-to. With the updates that it has had up to this point. It has proven itself to be one of the greatest DAW's to myself and others alike.
This is great information and you’re very articulate! Thank you! I’m going to give Studio one a shot! :)
Went from on-board to Vision to Cubase to Sonar to Studio One. They all have pluses and minuses. Love having Melodyne in S1.
Used many Daws but studio one is really a top notch daw. Drag and drop feature is what makes it fast and easy. i m pretty sure studio one gonna surpass every daw in coming years.
Thank you so much. I need these programs to make songs for my game, one day, if I actually finish the game, you'll be in the credits! :)
Haha. Let me know if that happens! That would be cool. But no need to do it. Best of luck. Thank you for watching. Keep creating! 👊👍
I remember when i had fostex in the 80's and 90's. C-casette and 4 tracks. Much simpler times. Back then you really had to know how to play one take recordings. Now that i use Daws, i don't have to know how to play, because of virtual instruments. Much easier, but music was better when music was played in own unique ways. Good vid thought.
My first daw was Ableton then pro tools 09 then studio one 2 then back to Ableton then i finally tried Reason and realized it was the best Daw 7yrs now
What about Acid Pro? I started with the 4.0 version back in the 00s, so many memories :')
If that's the best one for you then use it. There are some other great programs that I didn't include as I didn't want this to be "every DAW for music production". These are my top picks.
I'm a cakewalk user. I do mostly midi, and use the staff view extensively. I fine it has very powerfull editing . Hence my question. Does studio one or any of the other daws have a staff
view, and if so, how does it compare to cakewalk's staff view's editing capabilities?
Studio One Pro has a nice Score Editor. I think Pro Tools still has a kind of basic score editor but you can use the Sibelius Addon which gives you more advanced score editing features, I think there is still a free version of Sibelius so you can probably use that with the free Pro Tools Intro.
Cubase also has a score editor too. There are probably others out there, those are the ones I know of. I don't know how they all compare as it's not a feature that I use.
Tracktion Waveform Is my main daw, due to flexibility and almost everything is there except I only use the Free versiom
Do you have any latency issues?
@@johnmokma8897 No actually, unlike cakewalk, the Asio selection is actually easy and it automatically syncs latency like fl sudio
On Music maker you have 2 option for the pools, one with personal use and one (more expensive) for commercial productions.
I actually have a question about something. I'm using cap cut and yes I know it's not a music producing app. But for some reason when I try to line the tracks on top of each other either it goes too far back or too far forward. I want to get the track specifically lined up the way I wanted to so the timing sounds right. Are there any good programs that help with this?
If you miss the MOD-Tracker days back in the 90's, go for the Renoise DAW
What an awesome video, very competent and great explanation!
I feel a bit helpless because the Daw I used (soundation) changed their pricing models and I can no longer save my songs as wav. files. I really liked the many instruments it provided and easy to access interface. I have software to record my keyboard and just look for some digital instruments, and I can't spent too much money... Now according to your video I think cake walk with plug-ins and maybe FL studio or reaper are good choices? Anyone have any other advice? Sometimes all of that is hard to grasp for a newb like me, sorry 😅
Reaper the goat
How do people continue to recommend that dumpster fire?
@@EricPatton-NC You can customize it in any way to look and work however you want 🤷♂️
@@Derpadeedooda who cares about that? The meat and potatoes of the program is what matters and Reaper is a steaming pile
@@EricPatton-NC What don't you understand about the ability to customize it? You can modify it to behave and look exactly like other DAWS if you want. For free
@@Derpadeedooda what part of steam pile don't you understand? Glad it doesn't crash for you, never had any luck with it.
Nice video. In your honest opinion, what is the absolute easiest DAW to just plug into and record guitar and vox without steep learning curve for PC? We send our music to pro mixers so we only need good stems to send off. Thx
thanks 😎
Thank you for watching. Keep creating! 👊👍
Great overview! I'm thinking about going with Waveform. It's been really pleasant so far. I was enjoying the demo for Reaper, but Waveform feels more intuitive overall. How are the guitar amp effects in Waveform? I'm using the free version and I was about to purchase a third party amp plugin, but I just saw that Waveform added Guitar IR to the pro version.
It’s a decent IR plugin but just a cabinet sim. I will use an amp sim pedal like the Joyo British and then use that as a cabinet sim and it’s decent.
My go to amp sim plugin lately has been Guitar Rig. I recommend checking that one out.
Ive been using logic with mac for ages, but sick of apples prices for a new computer so going to swap to pc and use studio 1, hopefilly it won't be like starting again
Cubase all day. Insanely underrated.
i ended up buying fl studio when my son wanted to get into music and that was back in 2004 and hes 37 now
i never use it and i using other programs , cant sell it and its updated all up to now and i never had time to use it
and i have never seen any one sell there copy
Not sure why any of these lists don’t include Harrison Mixbus 32C. Based on Ardour it utilizes an awesome GUI based on the renound 32C console. Each bus has saturation control. Please do yourself a favor and try it.
I’ve had it in previous lists. I’ve tried it. I chose not to include it in my list. If you like it and it works for you that’s great.
Magix put me in the game as far as Daws go back in 1999 thru to 2001
Studio one for me.
And I’m still confused, so Cakewalk still free or not free anymore????
At the moment it is still free. If you get it now you can continue to use Cakewalk by Bandlab for free even after they release the new paid versions. But once they release the paid versions, you will no longer be able to get Cakewalk by Bandlab for free.
I'm a REASON loyalist : Once one masters reason : switching DAW's is near impossible
I will remain a REASON user for life
I'm new at this. Always wanted to do something like this and I just got a laptop for this purpose. But I've never used a program like these. I just love music. What would you recommend for free for a beginner to start?
Tracktion waveform free doesn’t have any limitations and can be great for any style of music. Cakewalk by Bandlab is still free right now and is another program that isn’t limited and it has tons of features. I would recommend either of those.
All of them are going to have a learning curve and they all kind of do things similar so if you learn on one you can likely figure things out fairly easy in another. Because of this there really isn’t a decent program that’s easier to get started with compared to another. They are all very similar.
If you purchased an audio interface that comes with a program like Ableton Live Lite then give that a try too.
Give a few a try and see what works best for you.
Good luck!
@@AudioTechTV Thank you so much! I downloaded FL studio because its the one I knew the most about. Its very cool but I feel like i can do almost nothing without buying the full versions. Is the $199 necessary? i feel like limited audio files would be irritating.
Tbh i would look no further than either Reaper or Studio One. Currently im on reaper but would have no problem at all with studio one. The other ones are either too expensive or too complicated or they just simply crash too often. Never had a crash on reaper
I'm tired of ableton live 11 lite not working for me. It won't let me import my music files. When I record and go to export the audio file is blank.
REAPER. That's my favorite.
I had Sonar back in the X1, X2 and X3 days (2014) when it was owned by Roland and before it was bought out by Gibson. The user community was fantastic and very friendly. Gibson just didn’t give the DAW the attention it deserved and when it was discontinued I lost interest. The synthesisers were particularly good and I miss Dimension Pro and Rapture as well as some of the others. I came back to production a couple of years ago and went with Studio One which I am happy with. Just hope it doesn’t go the same way as Sonar did!
hi great vids thank you , im new looking for a free or low cost
daw for newb to work with melodyne ,intent to record vocals on tascam then edit within melodyne which i intend buying and daw then put back into tascam to mixdown and master ,sound like a good plan ? trying to keep it simple lol any help or comment welcome thanks
If you’re buying Melodyne, you can use it in standalone mode and transfer right back to the tascam.
Do all daws sound the same? Plz let me know im a noob to music production!!
Sonar 8 Platinum didn't have anything I needed over and above Sonar 8 Studio... until after the fact they stopped updating Studio before Platinum and now no one even mentions it.
Kinda bummed that cakewalk is gonna start charging for their software. It's great software and I used it exclusively but I'm not gonna support a subscription style payment for any daw so I'm moving on to either tracktion or studio one.
I’m not certain that it will be subscription I was just speculating. I think the Sonar version will be a paid licence with a subscription option. We’ll have to see what happens. But nothing wrong with trying out Waveform or Studio One. If you can get used to the different workflow you will love them!
I’m just getting into this now, is there one that you would recommend the most for guitar players?
I do have another video that focuses on free programs for guitarists new to recoridng. It’s here ua-cam.com/video/DGhpkahof6E/v-deo.html
I would recommend Cakewalk by Bandlab. It comes with a decent amp sim so you won’t need to worry about adding any plugins at the start but you will be able to add them later on when you start getting more into it.
@@AudioTechTVthank you!!
Reaper !!!
Mulab is very under rated.
I've heard that FL Studio has a steep learning curve, but I'm wondering if that only applies to creators who have used other DAWS. Do you think FL would be good for a DAW beginner, since I'd be starting fresh with no other DAW experience?
It’s the one that I started out on. I felt that it was super easy to get started with.
It’s very easy to learn Fl. But I would recommend S1. Has many tools to help you if you don’t know music theory.
I've used various levels of Cakewalk for decades and my mixes always seem a bit harsh and I'm assuming it's just my ability (lack of) but someone told me that your DAW can really affect the final print down quality of your mix. What do you think about that?
The daw itself doesn’t really affect the quality of the actual render/mix down but the settings that you use in each one can affect it and maybe different dithering options if you are using the daw for that. If you’re rendering to an mp3, each one might have a different way of compressing audio to mp3 and different sound quality options.
The plugins that you use in each one will affect the sound. Things like pan law could ultimately affect the sound. How each daw handles plugin latency can affect the sound. In cakewalk if you have the pro channel enabled on your tracks that will affect the sound depending on the modules that are enabled and any settings you might have setup.
@AudioTechTV Thx! I came here to switch. I think it'll be Studio One or FL Studio. Here's my latest track from CbB, that's an example... . ua-cam.com/video/fcd0zvoRuVY/v-deo.htmlsi=sldHdiIXl6aCVlFt
what fl studio pack would be good for just singing n rapping on beats
For me Steinberg Cubase sinds Cubase SX
Studio One lacks a mouse drag view action! SAD! But it is lightweight and amazing DAW!
Good video, there are really many options nowadays.
We have so many options now. All great programs too. Thank you for watching. Keep creating! 👊👍
Reaper is the one.
If you're going to use Studio One as your main DAW, you are far better off getting the Plus subscription. It's Pro + every plugin that Presonus makes... or at least most of them. It's like $160 per year.
Hi, I'm approaching 70 and I want to learn how to write music. I have a book about music theory but I looking for software that I can input the music notation then replay it so that I can hear what I've put on the screen. Any suggestions on just a basic or mid line program?
FL studio is one of the easier layouts. Still complex but easier.
You're the best.
so FL is good for ambient music style?
daw?
ua-cam.com/video/dGfvEAgFHeM/v-deo.html
You forgot Mixcraft Pro studio!
What about Mixcraft Pro Studio? I Love it!
It is excellent. I have a lot of content coming up for it. I’m currently doing the Mixcraft University videos for them it’s a great DAW.
I had Mixcraft. It seemed to look nice the only problem is it would crash often or get hung up so I left it.
With protools van you put your autotune plugin
How to buy online and install step by step
Ableton live...please Sir..
For me is Studio One
I've been hearing that Bitwig is great for in the box creating, but not so good for recording live bands. Do you find this to be true?
I've only tried it briefly and it was a track limited version. I primarily record all of my instruments and vocals in and it wouldn't be my first choice for that but it can definitely handle the task. It could be great for some people though. it all depends on how you like to work. They have a demo so you can download it and see if Bitwig works for you.
i like garageband, but want to work on a pc. what's the closest to that if you can say? thanks
There really isn’t anything too similar to GarageBand. If you like the Clip launcher feature of Garageband then Ableton Live is similar that way.
MixCraft
You forgot SoundBridge 😮
If this was for strictly free programs then yes I would have included it.
It's strange because they never talk about a DAW that for me is one of the best on the market, stable, good recording quality and intuitive called Mixcraft, maybe because it's German!!
I have a feeling I’ll be talking about Mixcraft a bit in the future. It had nothing to do with them being German, I actually didn’t know that. I just never used it before so it wasn’t on my mind. But things have changed for me. And Mixcraft will get some love from me now.
I've watched a number of videos, and everyone keeps saying that Cakewalk by Bandlab IS Sonar X (whatever) Producer. My last DAW was Sonar X1 Producer. I lost it to a house fire. ALL of the instruments in X1 Producer were FAR SUPERIOR to those in Cakewalk by Bandlab. Does this mean that going forward I can only expect garbage frome Cakewalk?
Cakewalk by Bandlab does not include all the same instruments and effects as previous Sonar versions. The plugins included with Cakewalk by Bandlab are just very basic beginner instruments. I’m pretty sure anyone serious about making music would be using third party instruments and effects anyway. I have no idea what they have planned for instruments and effects in the future. If you choose to only expect “garbage” from them then that’s up to you.
I think what most people like about the Cakewalk DAW is the actual program itself.
Mixcraft includes some excellent instruments. It’s not free but it’s fairly affordable.
Why just MAGIX Music Maker not Magix Samplitude Pro X?
Magix Sequoia/Samplitude
No love for Mixcraft 10 Pro? Mixcraft remains the most disrespected DAW in reviews. I own a Studio One 6 Pro, and still use my M10P for creating music. It is the most user friendly DAW to use along with excellent Midi Samples for every genre of styles.
I’ve got lots of love for Mixcraft 10. When I made this video I hadn’t tried it yet. But you will see a lot more Mixcraft 10 on this channel. I also do the Mixcraft university videos for Mixcraft 10. They are over on the Mixcraft channel with a lot more on the way.
Magix Samplitude 😊
Is amazing!
I got a copy of an older version of Samplitude in a package deal with Music Maker. What are some of it's features and advantages? I'd like to learn something more advanced than Music Maker.
So I am like 5 min into this whole new world. Soooo I have a question could I use this kind of software to learn about music theory and cords and triads blah blah blah and have the notes sounds play out so I could start learning whole all this ties together??? I know it’s probably the stupidest question on the internet but I should ask!!! That why I know 😂😂😂😂
I have a question have you made a song for a musician
I haven’t made a song for another musician. That would be cool though.
I just switched from FL Studio to Bitwig. Not going back.
is only one option the free one that one you said is complete free
why does the desc say they're free?
I want a DAW without a trial and without license..please🥺
It’s funny how you name all the audio Dollas, except for logic, pro logic pro is missing out 😔😌
Read the title of the video again. This is for DAWs on Windows, Logic is Mac only.
Yes Logic Pro is missing out on Windows users.
@@AudioTechTV oh, OK that’s why I get it. Nothing wrong with that.
@@A7force I understand I get it
@@AudioTechTV but love your contact keep it up
Reaper> all others
depends what you are doing to be honnest
i have 3rd party plug ins on mine
can cakewalk be used only as sequencer?
No. You can do multitrack audio recording in it too. Plus you can do all of your mixing in it as well. It is a complete digital audio workstation.
can i connect my digital piano to it?@@AudioTechTV
do you need to activate it to use it properly?@@AudioTechTV
Yes you should be able to connect your digital piano to it. It’s compatible with a ton of audio and midi devices.
I think you might need to create a Bandlab account in order to get it but that’s as far as activation goes. They might have changed that now too since they created a stand alone installer for it.
Ardour also has a Windows version
Yes! My main DAW for years was Reaper, but right now i'm using Ardour and it's pretty nice. Plus that windows just works with any kind of vst, meanwhile on Linux you have to struggle with them to work properly.