What DAW are you using?
- Thread starter joey2000
- Start date
Joseph Hanna
Active member
Interesting poll 
I think my scenario is a tad unusual. I'm in my 22nd year of mixing audio for television and in so I've had my nose buried in Pro Tools 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. I found, however, and somewhere along the line, that for my personal music, I needed different "scenery" just to step away from the Work/Pro Tools world. No complaints about Pro Tools I just needed to leave work, at work. I tried everything I could get my hands on as an alternative DAW. For me, Studio One was simply the best and on par with Pro Tools and actually advanced in many areas. I also updated my Reason license which I hadn't used since v3. Back then Reason was more of a toy than anything. However, not the case now. The fact that the architecture is now open to third-party synths is massive. I think the midi environment in Reason is the best, most intuitive of all the current DAWs. Some of the "players" (chord sequencer, dual arpeggio) in Reason are also ultra-creative. I haven't done much audio but I really wonder if I was starting from scratch that Reason may now be a competitive all around DAW.
I think my scenario is a tad unusual. I'm in my 22nd year of mixing audio for television and in so I've had my nose buried in Pro Tools 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. I found, however, and somewhere along the line, that for my personal music, I needed different "scenery" just to step away from the Work/Pro Tools world. No complaints about Pro Tools I just needed to leave work, at work. I tried everything I could get my hands on as an alternative DAW. For me, Studio One was simply the best and on par with Pro Tools and actually advanced in many areas. I also updated my Reason license which I hadn't used since v3. Back then Reason was more of a toy than anything. However, not the case now. The fact that the architecture is now open to third-party synths is massive. I think the midi environment in Reason is the best, most intuitive of all the current DAWs. Some of the "players" (chord sequencer, dual arpeggio) in Reason are also ultra-creative. I haven't done much audio but I really wonder if I was starting from scratch that Reason may now be a competitive all around DAW.rob aylestone
Well-known member
I think the cheap and expensive ones now all are perfectly usable and up scalable. Years back we had protools at work but it was really horrible dealing with midi. It seemed an afterthought sort of bolted on and awkward. We went to Cubase at work and I bought my own for home, just hobby music at that time. The trouble with software you use every day is that change is often too much work. So I’m still on Cubase and premiere for video. Editing I like sound forge. I have cakewalk on one computer to try and it was fine, just different. Adobe audition sometimes but I like sound forge. I have a black magic video editor people rave about but I’ll stick with premiere. I suspect I’m just too used to them to even change now.
I agree with Rob, you get used to a DAW and all others seem clunky. Son and I started with MAGIX Music Studio Gen 6. Ten quid from WHSmiths! Then we got a freebie of Samplitude SE8 in a magazine and never looked back. He is now on Sam Prox 3 and I have Pro X6 (but have little use for it now)
But! I would always suggest a newb gets Reaper. Nothing comes close for the price and depth of functionality plus it has a low CPU hit.
BTW, the chap who said Adobe Audition 3.0 has a "track sync" function no other DAW has is IMHO out with the fairies?
I am NO studio guru but I have read audio mags since 2005 and followed this and other forums for years. I do not recal a single incidence of anyone having "track sync" problems?
In a dim recess of old brain Cubase has a "Use system Timestamp" function. Is that mayhap to do with "syncn"?
Ah, seems it is only to do with MIDI. As yer were!
Dave.
But! I would always suggest a newb gets Reaper. Nothing comes close for the price and depth of functionality plus it has a low CPU hit.
BTW, the chap who said Adobe Audition 3.0 has a "track sync" function no other DAW has is IMHO out with the fairies?
I am NO studio guru but I have read audio mags since 2005 and followed this and other forums for years. I do not recal a single incidence of anyone having "track sync" problems?
In a dim recess of old brain Cubase has a "Use system Timestamp" function. Is that mayhap to do with "syncn"?
Ah, seems it is only to do with MIDI. As yer were!
Dave.
Jon Thompson
New member
I've used the open source LMMS since 2020, but recently I've become aware of its limitations. OK, it's fast for getting things done, and it's very flexible, but there's something lacking in the sound somehow.
So... last Saturday morning, I downloaded the 3-month trial of Ableton Live 11 and worked through LNA's excellent YouTube stuff (she's a Certified Ableton Trainer, so it was a breeze). By Sunday night, I realised I'd be exporting all my MIDI, samples and instruments from LMMS into Ableton this coming weekend, and buying it when the trial runs out.
WHAT a difference, both in terms of facilities and sound quality!
So... last Saturday morning, I downloaded the 3-month trial of Ableton Live 11 and worked through LNA's excellent YouTube stuff (she's a Certified Ableton Trainer, so it was a breeze). By Sunday night, I realised I'd be exporting all my MIDI, samples and instruments from LMMS into Ableton this coming weekend, and buying it when the trial runs out.
WHAT a difference, both in terms of facilities and sound quality!
Jon, I am sure the top people here will agree with me when I say any perceived improvement in sound quality is NOT due to the DAW.
Choosing a DAW is quite a difficult task for many people, balancing features, ease of use, cost and other factors. We shoild not throw differences in sound quality into that mix.
Dave.
cello_pudding
Well-known member
i have been using something called acid pro for sooooo long. like…20 years.
i have tried to use ableton, cubase, garageband, cakewalk…but they were not as professional or easy to use.
i was a contemporary music major and took 4 semesters of recording classes using protools.
protools is great for having every bell and whistle known to humankind, but it’s cpu heavy and overly busy for my simple projects.
acid multitracks, uses directx and vst plugins, easily automates, auto-crossfades (a MUST for me), and i was used to all of the keyboard functions.
i just got some free eq’s, verbs, and compressors, and that’s all i really need.
protools is way better for midi or midi controlled vocoder automation, but that is not really my style of music…so it’s perfect.
i’m sad no one really uses it. i have their video editor too. vegas.
it costs a few hundred, but to me it’s worth it. very compatible with onyx 400f, blackjack, presonus firestudio, and i’m about to get a zedi10fx.
i have tried to use ableton, cubase, garageband, cakewalk…but they were not as professional or easy to use.
i was a contemporary music major and took 4 semesters of recording classes using protools.
protools is great for having every bell and whistle known to humankind, but it’s cpu heavy and overly busy for my simple projects.
acid multitracks, uses directx and vst plugins, easily automates, auto-crossfades (a MUST for me), and i was used to all of the keyboard functions.
i just got some free eq’s, verbs, and compressors, and that’s all i really need.
protools is way better for midi or midi controlled vocoder automation, but that is not really my style of music…so it’s perfect.
i’m sad no one really uses it. i have their video editor too. vegas.
it costs a few hundred, but to me it’s worth it. very compatible with onyx 400f, blackjack, presonus firestudio, and i’m about to get a zedi10fx.
StratmanSteve
New member
I miss my ACID Pro 7. The subsequent versions from Magix didn't feel right. I'm very happy with Studio One and just upgraded to version 6.
I still have ACID Pro on my hard drive. I just can't let go. 🙄
Are you using any control surface like Faderport 16 or the StudioLive?
StratmanSteve
New member
No, just the mouse. I'm recording only me, not a band.
mowtontom2
Member
Sonar from 2004, been using it 20 years and still only utilize 1/3 of it's capabilities.
Cheers
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