While software programs like Pro Tools have earned the industry-standard label, it isn’t always accessible, nor is it always appropriate for your needs. Plus, with the ever-increasing processing power of mobile devices, there’s a range of DAWs that you can carry around with you in your pocket.Īpps like Steinberg’s Cubasis, Garageband for iOS, Propellerhead Figure and more provide intuitive ways for the musicians to create high quality sounds on the fly.
Relatively new options include Studio One from PreSonus, Bitwig, Reaper and more. The DAW is the centre of modern audio creation, therefore, it’s a fiercely competitive space. There is an effortless movement between the physical controls and the DAW, as they’ve been made and mapped with Ableton Live specifically in mind. Unique to Live is the movement between session and live views – with the touch of a button you are transported from the sequential workspace to a sample-based trigger display. Ableton has also invested heavily in Push, a controller that seamlessly integrates with Live to take your performance to the next level. Live PerformanceĪbleton Live: it’s in the name! An alternative for FL Studio, Live (which recently clicked over to version 10) is praised for use in electronic music, but flexible enough to be used for any genre. It may not be the most logical if you’re recording a lot of audio, but any purely digital composers will find a plethora of options and creative tools to work in FL Studio. With super extensive automation options, and an intuitive piano roll, placing notes and painstakingly moving through samples has never been easier.
DJ, EDM, Hip Hopįormerly known as Fruity Loops (thanks Kellogg’s), FL Studio is cited as a one-stop, in-the-box method of composition, favoured by DJs, EDM, and hip hop artists. It may be one of the more difficult to learn because of the differences visually and functionally, but it is very rewarding and can be bridged for use in other programs like Ableton Live and Pro Tools.
Reason’s analog feel is well-suited for those who are used to hardware modular synths and enjoy patching things in with cables. Visually you can move your effects and instruments into an animated digital rack to emulate a hardware environment. You can load your own sample files with ease, manipulate the shape and quality of a synthesizer’s envelope and sequence your drums or sounds with immense creativity. Reason Studios’ (the newly branded version of Propellerhead) Reason ( now up to version 11) is a DAW in itself but has the added bonus of being a really powerful source of sounds, great for creating synths, sampling, and editing your audio. Therefore, if you’re used to the Apple environment and have grown up putting some hours into Garageband sessions, Logic would be a smooth transition.
Logic is also considered the professional version of Garageband, Apple’s entry-level DAW that’s free on every Mac.
And though entire degrees are taught on the program, it is easy to get a grip on the basics through online tutorials and a little trial and error. Many sound engineers and producers will tell you Pro Tools is second to none for function and processing. Regardless of how you operate, if you’re on a commercial-stage or are working in the professional sphere, you will likely have come across Avid’s Pro Tools. The kind of audio you’re driven to create will affect your choice of platform, so we’ve assembled the best and explored their capabilities. In an effort to convince you to try something new, or even if you’re just getting started, here are some tips on the different DAWs out there.įor every DAW, there is a different workflow. It may seem daunting to have to learn and master multiple workspaces and functions, but in reality, most DAW Graphic User Interfaces (GUIs) are pretty similar, and if you’re familiar with one you should be able to make your way around others quickly.