david.michael's Ultimate Software DAW Guide
Last Updated: March 07, 2007


Since probably half of the questions in this forum look something like "Which sequencer should I buy?" or "Which is the best DAW for trance?", I decided that this forum could use a sort of software DAW "buying guide" which can be referenced and used for feature comparisons, system requirements, prices, etc. Maybe this will help to reduce the plethora of repetitive questions that this forum gets pelted with daily. I will try to keep this guide as up-to-date as possible, and mods are welcome to update/correct it as necessary. Please note that I obviously don't use every single piece of software listed on here, so I don't personally know the ins and outs of each studio suite. All I know is what I have researched and experienced. Feel free to correct me or help to fill in any blanks.

General Info
- There is no "best" choice. This guide is intended to help YOU decide which software would suit YOU best.
- Cheaper options are not necessarily poor ones.
- There are more options than those listed here. I am trying to combine a list of the most used/asked about ones.
- Most companies provide a very capable demo of their software. When in doubt, try it out.
- This post is a continual work-in-progress. Feedback/additions welcomed.


DAW Comparison Chart

code:


MANUFACTURER     PRODUCT        PLATFORM     SEQUENCING METHOD     # OF TRACKS     PLUGIN FORMATS   FEATURES           PRICE
________________ _____________ ____________   _____________________ _______________ ________________ __________________ _______

Ableton          Live 6        Windows,       Linear, matrix        Unlimited       VST, AU          Realtime           $499
                               Mac OS X       (special), pattern                                     time-stretch,
                                                                                                     flexible routing,
                                                                                                     drag/drop sampling
________________ _____________ ____________   _____________________ _______________ ________________ __________________ _______

Apple            Logic Pro 7   Mac OS X       Linear, step,         255             TDM, AU          34 included soft   $999
                               v10.3 +        pattern                                                instruments
________________ _____________ ____________   _____________________ _______________ ________________ __________________ _______

Cakewalk         Sonar 6       Windows XP,    Linear, pattern       64              DirectX, DXi,    24-bit/192KHz,     $139
                 Home Studio   Vista, x64                                           VST, VSTi,       ACID loop/MIDI 
                                                                                    ReWire           groove clip supt.
                                                                                                     music notation


                 Sonar 6       Windows XP,    Linear, step,         Unlimited       DirectX, DXi,    64-bit engine,     $369
                 Studio Ed.    Vista, x64     pattern                               VST, VSTi,       Roland instruments,
                                                                                    Rewire           Sonitus FX Suite,
                                                                                                     Lexicon pantehon LE, 
                                                                                                     SFZ, Cyclone
  
                 Sonar 6       Windows XP,    Linear, step,         Unlimited       DirectX, DXi,    64-bit engine,     $619
                 Producer Ed.  Vista, x64     pattern                               VST, VSTi,       Surround support,
                                                                                    ReWire           Video support,
                                                                                                     Convulution
                                                                                                     reverb, assignable
                                                                                                     FX, REX, PSYN II
________________ _____________ ____________   _____________________ _______________ ________________ __________________ _______
 
Image Line       FL Studio 7   Windows 2k,    Linear, step,         64              VST, VSTi, DXi,  Speech synth,      $149    
Software         Producer Ed.  XP, 2k3,       pattern                               Buzz, FL,        10 incl. synths,
                               Vista, Intel                                         ReWire           25+ Integrated FX,
                               Mac w/Bootcamp                                                        Sample Library,
                                                                                                     Lifetime updates
________________ _____________ ____________   _____________________ _______________ ________________ __________________ _______

MOTU             Digital       Mac OS X       Linear, step,         Unlimited       TDM, MAS, AU,    50+ incl. plugins, $395
                 Performer 5                  pattern, loop                         Premiere         MasterWorks 64-bit
                                                                                                     ProToos DAE support
________________ _____________ ____________   _____________________ _______________ ________________ __________________ _______

Propellerhead    Reason 3      Windows XP,                                          ReWire           Intuitive "rack"   $499      
Software                       Mac OS X                                                              interface, 
                                                                                                     very complete 
                                                                                                     studio suite

________________ _____________ ____________   _____________________ _______________ ________________ __________________ _______

Steinberg        Cubase SE 3   Windows 2k,    Linear, loop,         48              VST, DirectX,    VST System Link,   $159
                               XP, Mac OS     overdub, step, punch                  ReWire           24/96 kHz audio
                               X v10.2

                 Cubase        Windows XP,    Linear, loop          Unlimited       VST, VSTi,       47 plugins, 2      $499
                 Studio 4      Mac OS X                                                              instruments. audio
                               v10.4                                                                 warp, freeze

                 Cubase 4      Windows XP,    Linear, loop          Unlimited       VST, VSTi,       66 plugins, 6      $999
                               Mac OS X                                                              instruments,
                               v10.4                                                                 external inst. &
                                                                                                     FX, Surround 
                                                                                                     support
________________ _____________ ____________   _____________________ _______________ ________________ __________________ _______

Software Details

Ableton Live
| Website | Screenshot |

quote:

Official System Requirements: Macintosh System Requirements * Any G3 or faster (G5 or Intel Mac recommended) * 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended) * Mac OS X 10.2.8 (10.4 or later recommended) Windows System Requirements * 1.5 GHz CPU or faster * 512 MB RAM (1 GB recommended) * QuickTime 6.4 or higher * Windows 2000/XP * Windows-compatible sound card (ASIO driver support recommended)

Ableton Live is designed around the notion of being as much an instrument for live performances as it is a tool for composing and arranging. Many DJs use Ableton to mix/play tracks as well as to produce, hence the name "Live". As such, the interface is more compact than most DAWs and designed for use on a single screen. There is a total lack of pop-up messages and dialog boxes, aside from the Options dialog. Sections of the interface can be hidden/shown when arrows are clicked. All audio processing in Live is done realtime. Ableton supports "Freezing" tracks to reduce CPU load.

Live contains two views: the arrangement view and the session view. Session view is mainly used to organize/trigger sets of sound clips which can be arranged into "scenes". The arrangement view is fairly similar to a traditional soft-sequencer interface. Live comes with 2 default instruments and 22 built-in effects.

Live may be a good choice for producers who like a live, realtime workflow, and for producers who also want to laptop DJ with the same software.





Apple Logic
| Website | Screenshot |

quote:

Official System Requirements: * Macintosh computer with PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5 or Intel Core Duo; Intel Core Duo, PowerPC G5, or dual PowerPC G4 processor recommended * Logic Node applications require PowerPC G5 or Intel Core Duo and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity * 512MB of RAM * Mac OS X v10.4.3 or later for PowerPC-based systems; Mac OS X v10.4.4 or later for Intel-based systems * QuickTime 7.0.3 or later * 8GB of available hard drive space * DVD drive for software installation * Available USB port for XSKey (copy protection) * Low-latency multi-I/O audio hardware and MIDI interface recommended

Apple's Logic would probably be the "Industry Standard" sequencer for dance music for Macs, comparable to Cubase on the PC. It is also used by many mainstream artists such as Snow Patrol, Chemical Brothers, Nine Inch Nails, Gwen Stefani, etc. Logic provides software instruments, synths, effects, and recording capabilities. It also supports Apple Loops, which are professionally-recorded instrument loops that are royalty-free and can be used as beats. Logic supports multichannel surround sound and can handle up to 255 audio tracks.

Logic also has built-in support for distributed processing via LAN. This means that one machine can run Logic Pro while other networked machines can run the node app, onto which effects and synth processing can be unloaded. This allows a user to use machines not powerful enough to be the main DAW to contribute to the overall processing of the digital signal and reduce the load on your main workstation.

Apple also provides Logic Express, a stripped-down version of Logic, which is limited to two-channel mixdown (no surround). Apple's GarageBand also uses to Logic engine.

Logic may be a good choice for Mac users who want a full, very professional software suite or distributed processing/surround support.





Cakewalk Sonar
| Website | Screenshot |

quote:

Official System Requirements: * Intel Pentium 4 1.3GHz or AMD Athlon XP 1500+ or higher (Pentium 4 2.8GHz or Athlon 64 2800+ recommended) * Windows XP (x64 edition required for 64-bit edition of Sonar) * 256 MB of RAM minimum (1 GB or higher recommended) * 1024 x 768 16-bit display or higher (1280x960, 24-bit recommended) * 100MB free space ("multiple gigabytes" recommended) * DVD-ROM drive

Sonar is a fully functional software suite which has won many "best of" awards. Sonar can be used for recording, editing, mixing, mastering, and outputting music and other audio. It is currently the only major DAW on the market that fully supports XP-64, VISTA-64, full beginning to end 64 bit internal processing, a 64-bit audio engine, a 64-bit mixer, and a scripting language (CAL). Its interface is praised for having fast zooming and mouse-wheel support. Active Controller Technology remaps your MIDI controller on the fly to provide immediate command of soft synths.

There are three different versions of Sonar: Home Studio, Studio Edition, and Producer Edition. The following features are exclusive to the Producer Edition: AudioSnap Multitrack Audio Quantization, VC-64 Vintage Channel (an analog-modeled dual EQ/compressor), Session Drummer 2, Roland V-Vocal processor, Surround mixing, SurroundBridge, Sonitus Surround Compressor, POW-r dithering, PSYN II (subtractive synth), Pentagon I (analog modeling synth), RXP (groove instrument), Convolution Reverb and Lexicon Pantheon Reverb.

Sonar may be a good choice for PC users who want a responsive interface and a through-and-through 64-bit processing engine.






Imageline FL Studio
| Website | Screenshot |

quote:

Official System Requirements: * Minimum Pentium III or Athlon XP (any processor supporting SSE instructions) or Intel Mac with Bootcamp (running Windows XP) * Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista * Minimum 256MB ram * 200MB free harddisk space * Windows compatible soundcard with DirectSound drivers, ASIO drivers required for audio recording (FL installer comes with generic Asio4All drivers)

Formerly known as "Fruity Loops", FL Studio developed from a simple drum machine into a fully-blown digital audio workstation. Despite its reputation as being a "toy", FL Studio is a very capable piece of software, with very appealing buying-points, which can deliver professional results.

Many love FL studio for its intuitive and easy-to-learn interface. Users build individual patterns and then arrange these patterns into a song. FL is often considered to have a very low learning curve, so it's great for beginners to pick up on. It's GUI seems to be "love it or hate it", as many consider it to be very easy on the eyes whereas many consider it to be horrendous looking. I personally find the darker GUI very nice, as I don't like to stare at a white screen for hours on end.

Imageline provides some attractive features for their DAW, not the least of which is free lifetime updates. You only have to purchase this program once, and you're set for life. A very low price-point for the Producer edition ($149) puts FL as an incredible bang-for-buck option. There is also a "XXL" bundle which includes DrumSynth Live, SimSynth Live, DX-10, Soundfont player, Sytrus (a very nice synth), DirectWave & Videoplayer, giving you a 37% overall price reduction ($361). There is also a "Fruity Edition" ($99), which is somewhat scaled down, and "Express Edition" ($49) which is essentially a drum machine. FL will also run on Intel Macs via Bootcamp.

FL Studio may be a good choice for PC users (or Macs w/Bootcamp) who want bang for their buck and a very easy-to-use interface.





MOTU Digital Performer
| Website | Screenshot |

quote:

Official System Requirements Unknown-- feel free to submit

Digital Performer is a fully featured DAW for the Macintosh which is incredibly stable and a much lower price point than Apple's Logic. Some nice features about DP include built-in pitch correction capability, Masterworks EQ plugin which rivals high-end 3rd party EQ plugins in terms of quality, and a set of virtual instruments.

Digital Performer may be a good choice for Mac users who want a stable and capable platform but don't want to spend a grand on Logic Pro.





Propellerhead Reason
| Website | Screenshot |

quote:

Official System Requirements Windows * Intel Pentium III 600 MHz or better * 256 MB RAM * 2 GB free hard disk space * CD-ROM drive * Windows XP/2000 or later * Monitor with 800x600 pixels resolution or better * 16-bit windows compatible audio card, preferably with DirectX or ASIO drivers Mac OS * G4 or G5 processor * 256 MB RAM * 2 GB free hard disk space * CD-ROM drive * Mac OS X 10.2 or later, 10.3 or later strongly recommended * Monitor with 800x600 pixels resolution or better

Reason is a popular music sequencing suite which is geared towards creating electronic dance music. Reason can be used either as a complete virtual music studio, or as a collection of virtual instruments to be played live or used with other sequencing software.

Unlike many other audio applications, Reason cannot record audio tracks or be expanded with third-party plugins. That is not to say that Reason cannot deliver professional results, as has been proven by time. Many producers use Reason in tandem with other applications which have these capabilities. Reason shines in its unique interface which emulates a rack of hardware synthesizers, samplers, signal processors, sequencers, and mixers, which are all connected by realistically animated cables. Reason has received much praise for its original and playful interface, which makes the path of audio/modulation signals through the program easily visible and graspable. And while Reason doesn't support third-party plugins like VST, they do have a proprietary "ReFill" format.

Reason may be a good choice for PC or Mac users who are familiar/used to using hardware, or want a fully enclosed soft-studio.





Steinberg Cubase
| Website | Screenshot |

quote:

Official System Requirements Mac * Mac OS X Version 10.4 * Power Mac G4 1 GHz or Core Solo 1.5 GHz * 512 MB RAM * Display Resolution 1024x768 pixels * DVD drive required for installation * CoreAudio compatible audio hardware * USB port required for Steinberg Key (copy protection device)* * Internet connection required for license activation PC * Windows XP Home or XP Professional (both with Service Pack 1 installed) * Pentium/Athlon 1.4 GHz * 512 MB RAM * Windows DirectX compatible audio hardware (ASIO compatible audio hardware recommended for low latency performance) * Display resolution 1024x768 * DVD-ROM drive required for installation * USB port required for Steinberg Key (copy protection device)* * Internet connection required for license activation

Cubase would probably be considered the industry standard for dance music production on the PC platform. Cubase supports many nice features such as unlimited undo, fully integrated audio recording and mixing along with effects, and real-time stretching and adjustment of audio tempo.

Steinberg invented the ever-popular VST format, and, as such, VST support is obviously included with Cubase. This opens Cubase up to nearly unlimited expansion. Cubase essentially set the model for modern-day sequencers/arrangers/DAWs. The full version of Cubase 4 includes a wealth of tools, including 66 plugins, 6 instruments, and surround support.

Almost all versions of Cubase use dongles for copy protection, so you must have an available USB port for this.

Cubase may be a good choice for PC or Mac users who want a lot of tools right off the bat, and a proven professional platform for music production.

Last edited by david.michael on Mar-07-2007 at 18:48

Feel free to submit additions/corrections. I don't have direct experience with all of these programs, so I may need help. I'm basing a good deal of it off of research and not experience. Also, let me know which hosts you would like added to the list.

Last edited by david.michael on Mar-07-2007 at 18:26

nice thread, one small remark after a quick look: c4 doesn't support dx anymore.

___________________
www.dezma.be

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/dezmamusic

nice post for sum1 willing to choose his DAW

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by DeZmA nice thread, one small remark after a quick look: c4 doesn't support dx anymore.

Corrected, thanks!

Great post for newcomers. You should add Reaper to that list, it's a DAW, it's 40$ bucks. I just recently started using it, and I am thinking of moving over from cubase after so many years. It's that good. It's something I would advise anyone to try. It's 2.1 megs, small ehh, yet it runs better than my cubase sx 3, my RME audio driver has some insane low latencies not possible with other hosts I've used. It's an eye opener for sure. And audio quality, let's just say it's on par with the big boys... Eaven surpassing some of them...It has support for dxi, vsti, vsti, rewire, support for multiple processors and more, it has some insane routings not possible with a lot of the expensive hosts, and it's making a stirr in the pro audio community. Check it out for yourself.

http://www.reaper.fm/feat-techspecs.php Technical Specialifications

http://www.reaper.fm/features.php Features

After using it for few days, and learning the diefferent features of this program, I just can't belive it's this good..

And here is an example of a post I have got from one of the reaper users, showing all 8 cores at work

quote:

I recently sold Cubase 4.02 to go full with Reaper. Its not perfect but the things it does already just slay cubase. Unlimited sends/inserts, total flexible routing and the big one for me, dual quadcore support.... Check this out... http://homepage.ntlworld.com/t.engl...6k32samples.jpg This is a picture of 10 instances of NI's Massive all playing 16 note poly at the same time (patch 4AD) in ultra high mode. Now, the project is 96k and my scard buffer is 32 samples (thats 0.33ms latency!!) And all the instances of massive are playing back perfectly, no audio glitches or anything. Absolutley AMAZING performance, Cubase would DIE at this sample rate/latency with just a couple of instances running.

Last edited by DJDIRTY on Mar-07-2007 at 20:13

quote:

Originally posted by DJDIRTY Great post for newcomers. You should add Reaper to that list, it's a DAW, it's 40$ bucks. I just recently started using it, and I am thinking of moving over from cubase after so many years. It's that good. It's something I would advise anyone to try. It's 2.1 megs, small ehh, yet it runs better than my cubase sx 3, my RME audio driver has some insane low latencies not possible with other hosts I've used. It's an eye opener for sure. And audio quality, let's just say it's on par with the big boys... Eaven surpassing some of them...It has support for dxi, vsti, vsti, rewire, support for multiple processors and more, it has some insane routings not possible with a lot of the expensive hosts, and it's making a stirr in the pro audio community. Check it out for yourself. http://www.reaper.fm/feat-techspecs.php Technical Specialifications http://www.reaper.fm/features.php Features After using it for few days, and learning the diefferent features of this program, I just can't belive it's this good..

Thanks, I'll have to check that out! I'll get it added to the list when I get a chance.

Very nice post. Now I know where to direct people when they are starting out

Awesome Thread man!!!
Thanks for taking the time to summarize this as I noticed continous requests for information regarding chioce of DAW's.

This really breaks it down for those making the initial leap in to midi/audio recording! It gives the opportunity to glance over the different features and options of each in order to investigate further in more details themselves instead of asking the same rhetorical questions "What DAW should I use?" or "What is the best DAW Software" and getting the same answer "There is no Best" or "It's personal Preference". Although in essense these answers are somewhat correct, you lay it on the line!!!

___________________
The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around us, even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.

inb4dasticky


nice post here. should help

really cool, amd a great read. thanks