What DAW do you use?

Emp_Fab · September 2023

I'm contemplating getting back into recording but it's been a while, so things have changed. In the past I used Cubase when it had midi only capability. I used Traction 1 & 2 for years then played with Reaper but found the interface a bit too easy to get lost in.

What are you using?

merlin · September 2023

I used Protools for a long time. I paid for the full whammy version at education rates. It's an excellent interface but Avid decided after giving me free upgrades since paying the full whack, that they would no longer upgrade me on whatever the OSX upgrade was. So I had nothing.

Paid the nominal charge for Reaper, full everything including indefinite upgrades and it's excellent.

Lestratcaster · September 2023

Reaper for a few years now. Relatively easy to use.

Danny1969 · September 2023

Full actual recording and mixing I prefer Protools and so does my wallet because you can buy a Protools LE interface for a tenner, download PT LE 8.4 for nothing and run it on any old Apple or PC

LE8.4 comes with a superb software synth called Xpand, a great piano VI called Mini Grand and a decent set of plugins. You can pretty much set your budget at £100 including the software, interface and iMac and be happily recording within 10 mins of installing the software ... as there's no drivers to worry about.

The above wouldn't be an option for general use as old Mac's won't run a current browser or a version of OSX that's usable today but for recording ... old iMac £60 - Protools LE interface - £20 - PT LE8.4 software free download.

Winny_Pooh · September 2023

^^^The PT Le recommendation is a very good shout but I think those interfaces sound crude. If you're recording at home with a mic under £100 then thats totally fine though.

If you're spending over £1k on mics and monitors then I'd recommend a better interface and Reaper.

octatonic · September 2023

Pro Tools most of the time now.
I also use Logic a lot.
Sometimes Ableton Live, Nuendo.

If you are on a PC then look at Studio One.
If on a Mac the Logic or Studio One.

If you want to make EDM then Ableton Live.

TheBigDipper · September 2023

These days, I'm a very kludgy user of Logic when recording at home. It's far too much for my needs, but I'm getting the job done so I'm resistant to converting to something else.

I used to do a lot of iOS-based recording, but I hardly ever do now.

PolarityMan · September 2023

reaper

Emp_Fab · September 2023

Danny1969 said:

Full actual recording and mixing I prefer Protools and so does my wallet because you can buy a Protools LE interface for a tenner, download PT LE 8.4 for nothing and run it on any old Apple or PC

LE8.4 comes with a superb software synth called Xpand, a great piano VI called Mini Grand and a decent set of plugins. You can pretty much set your budget at £100 including the software, interface and iMac and be happily recording within 10 mins of installing the software ... as there's no drivers to worry about.

The above wouldn't be an option for general use as old Mac's won't run a current browser or a version of OSX that's usable today but for recording ... old iMac £60 - Protools LE interface - £20 - PT LE8.4 software free download.

I can get an iMac for £60 ? !!

WTF ?

@Danny1969 ;

theatreanchor · September 2023

Logic

tekbow · September 2023

Reaper

PC_Dave · September 2023

I use Studio One - suits me for what I need it for

Danny1969 · September 2023

Emp_Fab said:

Danny1969 said:

Full actual recording and mixing I prefer Protools and so does my wallet because you can buy a Protools LE interface for a tenner, download PT LE 8.4 for nothing and run it on any old Apple or PC

LE8.4 comes with a superb software synth called Xpand, a great piano VI called Mini Grand and a decent set of plugins. You can pretty much set your budget at £100 including the software, interface and iMac and be happily recording within 10 mins of installing the software ... as there's no drivers to worry about.

The above wouldn't be an option for general use as old Mac's won't run a current browser or a version of OSX that's usable today but for recording ... old iMac £60 - Protools LE interface - £20 - PT LE8.4 software free download.

I can get an iMac for £60 ? !!

WTF ?

@Danny1969 ;

You can get a 2008 model or similar for £30 .... that will run PTLE 8 fine.

grappagreen · September 2023

Harrison Mixbus 32c

stratman3142 · September 2023

Reaper

Musicwolf · September 2023

I run Cubase and Reaper on PC plus Cantabile for live work. I chose Cubase as my main DAW as, like you, I've used it since the MIDI only days.

It doesn't really matter which DAW you choose since they are all pretty capable and the software won't be the weak link, in the first instance that will be the operator. If you know someone who can help you then it may be worth adopting the same DAW as they use, otherwise Reaper is hard to beat in terms of value for money (plus there are loads of YouTube videos to guide you through).

swiller · September 2023

may as well go reaper as its not technically free, but trial version is free and its same version. Think there is both a mac and pc version as well and you can turn into a nerd using it.
Cubase is dung, lost a lot of the easy workflow of the atari days and you have to put your dong into the USB port to pass security, all daft things like that.
Of if shelling out logic is v good if you have a mac and free upgrades , unlike cubase and others where you have to fork out every year for the bug fixes upgrades, of which most are a sack of shite.

blobb · September 2023

Mixbus, no plug-ins needed.

Sporky · September 2023

FL Studio. With Kontakt and Helix Native.

Keefy · September 2023

Reaper.

Stratavarious · September 2023

Reaper keeps delivering the goods on PC and Mac.. you can get custom interfaces to match familiar ones.

Logic on Mac.

If you want lots of pre-set drum loops and instruments, a Mac and Garageband is going to go a long way.

How are you putting songs together? All live mic’d acoustic overdubs or sequenced stuff too?

spark240 · September 2023

Studio One on Mac mini M1

Neilybob · September 2023

Reaper

flying_pie · September 2023

Reaper on PC here

Fez · September 2023

Another reaper on pc here too

mudslide73 · September 2023

Another Reaper on PC here.

Paul_C · September 2023

Audacity

siremoon · September 2023

Reaper

JohnS37 · September 2023

If you’re on a Mac start with GarageBand - it’s free, very capable, and highly intuitive. It will do most things, but when you get to the point where you feel you need something bigger it’s an easy transition to Logic Pro.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

JohnS37 said:

If you’re on a Mac start with GarageBand - it’s free, very capable, and highly intuitive. It will do most things, but when you get to the point where you feel you need something bigger it’s an easy transition to Logic Pro.

Exactly what I did.

I think Emp is a PC though

Emp_Fab · September 2023

I am currently PC.... started off on Atari ST using Pro 24 then Cubase (yes, I am that old). On PC I've used Cubase and then Tracktion 1 & 2... tried Reaper. Wrote a song on FruityLoops.

I have the pc hardware. I just wonder whether a Mac OS device such as iMac suggested earlier would offer any advantages over the PC equivalent. I've always quietly admired Macs but never owned one. Getting a 2008 iMac for next to nothing seems attractive to someone that's never had one.

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What DAW do you use?

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