Your favorite DAW software

[sonnylarsen]

I've seen a lot of different threads on this site and others that feature people ranting about why their particular DAW of choice is the best one. I personally think that this is far too subjective an area to really come up with which one is the best.

I think the most helpful and constructive thing we can do here is to talk about which DAW is our FAVORITE and why, as opposed to trying to prove it is the best one. I think when someone comes to a forum like this looking for advice on what they should buy, that is what they need to hear, not ranting and raving about if TDM is better than native or if 64bit fixed is better than 64 bit floating point. When I was looking around for info on DAW's, what I wanted to know was what it is like to really USE it in the real world. If I want the specs I can find those easily.

So, with that in mind, I would ask that if you really like your DAW, share the reasons why with us. Tell us how it is to use it in your work, and even why you use it as opposed to something else. Share with us if you switched to it after using a different one for a period of time, and why. I think this is the best stuff.

I will start the whole thing off by saying that I have yet to meet the "ONE DAW to rule them all," yet and I doubt that I ever will. Right now I use SONAR for tracking and composing, and PT M-powered 7.1 for mixing. I have been using cakewalk since the Pro Audio days and I like SONAR five quite a bit. I use it for all types of "pre-production" like recording loops and composing midi tracks, and I do most of my recording on it. I bought Pro Tools because I had a few projects that were mixed on a PT 7 rig and I really liked PT's editing and mixing. I like the inline editing of audio and midi and I have been able to get some great mixes out of it.

So I really like PT 7, but to me it is simply another tool. SONAR works great for what I do with it, and so does PT.

Anyway, sound off for your favorite.

Later.

[brian_delizza]

For making music (MIDI gear and softsynths), usually my goto is Logic.

For recording and editing audio I generally use Pro Tools.

In regards to working efficiently, one feature I love about Logic is the ability to not only assign your own key commands, but the ability to assign MIDI info to key commands.

Capture last take as recording is great too for those moments when you just played that perfect part and you weren't recording, and comes in handy very often for me.

With Pro Tools the main features for me are tab to transient, beat detective, identify beat, and the whole "4 editing modes".

Digidesign did a good job with the key commands for Pro Tools. After learning all the quick keys its amazing how fast you can edit compared to other applications.

Ableton Live is another top contender for me. It puts a little fun back in with its GUI and its intuitive general operation is just great, especially with loops. The warp function is great for correcting drum tracks and lining up samples, and the fact that previewed samples start on beat and play in time is excellent.

Of course I could go on but it would probably never stop....

Its all about just finding which one works best for your needs and allows you to work with the greatest efficiency...

[Lagerfeldt]

My favourite is Logic Pro.

It enables me to focus on making great music and earning money while having fun at the same time.

Working in PoorTools I'm a lot less creative and just making money, and a little less money actually since it takes quite a bit longer to do some of the stuff I get in Logic.

I prefer to make everything in Logic, MIDI and audio or AV sync. I also use it for sound design.

Sound quality wise I don't find any big differences between Logic Pro, Cubase and PoorTools.

[Hexfix93]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

My favourite is Logic Pro.

It enables me to focus on making great music and earning money while having fun at the same time.

Working in PoorTools I'm a lot less creative and just making money, and a little less money actually since it takes quite a bit longer to do some of the stuff I get in Logic.

I prefer to make everything in Logic, MIDI and audio or AV sync. I also use it for sound design.

Sound quality wise I don't find any big differences between Logic Pro, Cubase and PoorTools.

thats because all three of those daws sound like poo poo. try saw studio or samplitude, and you'll see what i mean. I think daws suck. all of them. i'm over them. every single one.

[tamasdragon]

I use a duo. Nuendo and Wavelab. In a few words, fast, precise, and intuitive for me in a way I can do my work better. And I love the fact that I choose the hardware (as they are native systems).
Regards Tamas Dragon

[Rufuss Sewell]

I have Pro Tools HD 7 and Logic 7. So that's all I can comment on.

So far I prefer working in Logic. The most striking difference for me is that I hate Pro Tools' white/pink/baby blue theme. The color scheme doesn't fit the mood I'm in when I want to make music. Logic is dark and allows me to make things whatever color I want. Much more conducive to making music. Kind of like candles vs. fluorescent lights.

For my day job I record mostly rock bands with real drum sets. But I usually start most projects with scratch tracks done to a drum machine, so I give birth to songs with midi. I like to use a lot of synths in my productions and with Logic I feel very taken care of in that area. Not so well in Pro Tools. I also prefer Logic's freedom with key commands. The parameter box for setting quick fades for multiple regions at once is also really cool. Pro Tools does this but in a very limited way, forcing you to set fade in and fade out at the same time. Clearly these two parameters should be set independently.

I do prefer the way Pro Tools handles audio editing, and I really like the power Beat Detective gives me. So in that sense I still need to keep Pro Tools around. I also like the fact that I can say "yes I have Pro Tools HD... and not LE" when customers ask. I also like being able to work on projects from other studio that use Pro Tools.

The ultimate for me: Logic, with a Melodyne button on each track.When the button is pushed that track turns into an analyzed Melodyne track. When the pointer hovers over that track, the pointer turns into the Melodyne tool and the header menus become that of Melodyne's. I also want group edits in Logic. Then I could ditch Pro Tools all together... except to tell customers I have it, but when they get here never actually boot it up.

Actually, maybe I'll frame my PCI card on the wall. "Yo, do you guys have Pro Tools?"

Sure do!

"Hey I thought you said you had Pro Tools?!?"

I do... it's in that frame right there on the bathroom wall. Now lets make some music!

[Geert van den Berg]

I like PT, because it's simple and snappy to operate and it's well thought out, not bloated with useless features you don't use and then programmers can't take it out anymore because their userbase counts on these features to remain...

[bobby yarrow]

Originally Posted by Rufuss Sewell

... Then I could ditch Pro Tools all together... except to tell customers I have it, but when they get here never actually boot it up.

Actually, maybe I'll frame my PCI card on the all. "Yo, do you guys have Pro Tools?"

Sure do!

"Hey I thought you said you had Pro Tools?!?"

I do... it's in that frame right there on the bathroom wall. Now lets make some music!

I've really considered buying an mbox just so I can tell morons I "have protools." If PT's OMF add-on for their lite version wasn't so pricey, I'd actually do it.

[Finnish]

Pro Tools all the way.

REAPER is also quite nice, I'm using it at the moment to get my drums in, and import them to Pro Tools. M-Powered later, njet cash at the moment

[sam c]

SAW Studio

[fifthcircle]

I use Sequoia for the majority of my work. All my editing, mastering and mixing happens there. I use Pro Tools for some of my recording and Sequoia for the rest.

--Ben

[T_R_S]

This is it ...

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/attac...1&d=1135381451

[beruang]

Nuendo. I like the layout of the software and the intuitive (for me) menus. I need to have a right click option on the mouse and a quick editor for wave files. Nuendo is great for using with many different outboard converters too, integrates just about everything (except PT hardware) seemlessly. For me, after using PT for quite a while it is just easier for ME to navigate Nuendo-I still use both but I'm a lot faster in the latter.

I was using Cubase SX when it first came out and it was spot on too-I imagine the reasons I like nuendo would be the same.

[Psyko/Acoustics]

Awww, maaaaaaan!





Someone should make stickies out of these threads so new ones don't get started.




What DAW recording software do you use (in '06)?

POLL: WHO USES WHAT DAW?


Maybe the Mods should make a "dead horse" archive or a "Frequently Debated Subject Forum" or something...

[Lagerfeldt]

Originally Posted by Hexfix93

thats because all three of those daws sound like poo poo. try saw studio or samplitude, and you'll see what i mean. I think daws suck. all of them. i'm over them. every single one.

Now, I don't think the original poster would agree on that angle.

You also have to be realistic. It's about making music and making a living.

Saw/Samplitude won't work like Logic Pro does at all. The sonic differences between all of these DAWs are extremely minor compared to those of adding a couple of quality outboards or summing or doing the mix on an analog mixer hooked up to the DAW.

Treat digital audio with care and sense, and it won't hurt that much. Mix using a hybrid setup and you can get equally good results as pure analog with added flexibility.

Hm, hope this isn't twisting this thread into something else. Just my 2 cents.

[theblue1]

I'm tired of talking about my DAW, frankly.

It works very well; it's very dependable; it's got a huge feature set; it's got good MIDI; it's got a well-liked looping utility (that I seldom use) and the "pro" upgrades have come with some very nice "freebies" over the years.

I like it. I've used it since 1996 when I built my first 8 channel hard-drive based recording rig. I've done many hundreds of recordings with it over that time and only lost data on two occassions, IIRC. There've been one or two rough spots over the years but by and large the updates have been solid and minimal.

All in all, I'm quite happy with my DAW, thanks very much.

[warmer]

I don't see that there could be differences between the DAWs sound as it were, it is more the way things are routed, included plugins, layout etc. DAWS shouldn't impart a sound they are more like calculators when it comes to playing back the audio there is only right and wrong

[manning1]

sonny....
ive used pgmusic.com powertracks for years.
the best deal in pro audio imho for midi and audio multitracking.
if you dont believe me...
here are user references from loads of users other than myself.
http://powertracks.com/guestbooks/gb_ptpa.php

try the demo sometime. it'll be the best 50 buks you ever spend in my opinion.
does everyhting the big names do as well as lots of tricks of its own.
plus no silly dongles. asnd support is free.
there are just hundreds of features in this product.
even many pro tools users use it. ....particularly on the midi side.
(but i'm sure keep it quite...lol.)
seriously. if your a midi expert , youll be surprised.
out of the loads of features i'll name a couple. a clean up feature for midi guitarists plus fretboard displays for various fretted instruments,
yadda yadda. the new version 11 has added a slew of new features.
including vst/vsti support without a wrapper and the ability for groups i understand. a real time audio analyser is built in as well as a midi monitoring utility to help debug midi data streams...guitar echoplex and a slew of other fx also included.

i'm also a new reaper user which i think is a great effort by a talented software engineer. the midi side is still in development, but the audio side is very nice already.
with both i can do ANYTHING. peace.

[Ruudman]

The last six years: Logic for sketches and orch. arrangement,
PT for mixdown and live recording + vocal comp.


ruudman

[Solar]

I use Nuendo and Ableton Live for my music Production. Also use Sonar because i've started with Sonar or should i say Cakewalk 3.0 and i have a lot of songs or work done with Cakewalk but not anymore since Cubase Sx came out and then switched to Nuendo baby!!

So here it is:

Use Nuendo = Midi, Audio recording & Mixing
Use Ableton = To treat with Samples (muhc much easier and Fx so quick) and Remixes (Tehcno, Dance etc..) and Ic an Rewire Ableton Live with nuendo so its like having all those possibilities in front of my DESK. I simply love the workflow of Ableton and with Nuendo its simply wonderfull

Use SAMP = To master my Stems (love the tranparent and translation of Magix) even if i find that there is a huge lack of Automation capabilities that has been discussed here more then once and waiting to see on Samplitude version 9, they said everything will be TOP NOTCH.. (by the way dont wanna startt anything fight here or discussion about SAM)

And finally i of course have Wavelab as an Eternal Editor u know never know, i sometime master in Wavelab too..

So thats it:

Nuendo/Ableton Live/Sam/Nuendo

P.S I have M-powered PT just for the fun of it (even we all now that major plugins in PT sound amazing, but i just have PT just to follow their evolution and learn it even deeper in case if or when i go to mix in a PT environment, i know what i'm talking about) Thats ALL!!!

[sonnylarsen]

Originally Posted by Psyko/Acoustics

Awww, maaaaaaan!





Someone should make stickies out of these threads so new ones don't get started.




What DAW recording software do you use (in '06)?

POLL: WHO USES WHAT DAW?


Maybe the Mods should make a "dead horse" archive or a "Frequently Debated Subject Forum" or something...

Those threads only really address the first part of my post, "which DAW do you use?" and not the most important question, "Why?". I want to read about what draws people into the software that they use and what keeps them using it with so many options available. All of us hear differently because audio is not just sound, but how our brains interpret sound. I think talking about what you like about the products you use is useful for people who are shopping around, and it also helps us focus on understanding ourselves.

P.S. I have been testing out Reaper too. I like it. I think I like it's simple UI most of all. I haven't actually looked at the manual once to learn to do something. THAT is intuitive. Considering the price i don't think that I can avoid buying it.

[Solar]

Originally Posted by sonnylarsen

P.S. I have been testing out Reaper too. I like it. I think I like it's simple UI most of all. I haven't actually looked at the manual once to learn to do something. THAT is intuitive. Considering the price i don't think that I can avoid buying it.

Hey Sonny!

About REAPER, seem and look like a great option but i dont know, there is something about it that HOLD me back to try it out. Is is the GUI or the Mixing Console the way they are placed instead of having a separate Console like Nuendo or SAM or PT.. If someone tried it, how is the Sonic Engine (or Audio Engine)? One thing thought i heard that the Routing is very strong. And i think its lacking some features such "track Folder" little things that makes things simple...

Also isn't it the same guyz that use to work on Vegas or ACID that start REAPER?

Peace

[sonnylarsen]

Hey Solar!

Don't let anything stop you from trying Reaper out. It is non-expiring shareware that I think pops up with a nag screen like once a week after the 30 day trial. I honestly really like the interface. It feels really simple to me and yet does what I've needed to so far. I really enjoy having an unobstructed view of the timeline while messing with the faders. It's audio engine is crystal clear, but keep in mind I haven't mixed any big projects on it yet so I haven't really put it through its paces.

I think if you go on over to the Reaper website ( http://www.reaper.fm ), and the forums at ( http://www.cockos.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=19 ) you will find people very experienced to help you with your questions and Justin the Reaper developer is around on the forums a lot too.

From the way it looks and runs for me so far, I will most likely add it to my toolbox. I am not ready to drop all of my other apps, but it has a great proce and you can't beat direct-to-developer feedback.

[manning1]

solar....
i dont know why your worried about reaper.
you can customise it color wise also. and do your own "themes"
if you wish. or modify someone elses.
i have these pretty meters now i colored myself.
the way the track handling works i find most times i dont need reapers mixer view frankly.
but its there if i do. what i'm saying is i can do all my work in the main view if i wish.
its up to you , but powertracks also that i use has features reaper doesnt and vice versa. powertracks has some effects particularly in its effects suite that reaper doesnt and vice versa. both have a great audio engine from my use.
but reapers biggest strong point is ROUTING. you can route anything anywhere.
it also has a sampler (midi to wave) now in it. THINK DRUM TRACKS.
while powertracks has a slew of midi features.
why i like this combo is the complementary features in each.
for example in powertracks i have fretted midi instrument displays but reaper doesnt, on the other hand reaper has REAVERB which handles impulses, while powertracks doesnt cos it has its own built in verb.
reapers other advantage is a small footprint. it also has a feature called REAfir.
place it on a track and SET YOUR OWN CUSTOM EQ ANYWAY YOU WISH ON A TRACK. a real time display is included.
my recommendation...get both. i'm spoiled for features.
please do yourself a favor and try both. IN DEPTH.

PS....I TOO FAVOR ..a sticky on whats your fav daw software and why....for new folks.

[kelldammit]

i work solely on a laptop (mac) these days, and i'm very fond of dp's consolidated window. that one feature is largely why i pretty much hate to use anything else anymore. i also love the flexibility with bussing, gui, and overall depth of the program. midi editing is great, as is the ability to use multiple sequences chained as a "song", all inside the same project, referencing one virtual rack of vi's and fx (if you so desire).
overall, though, i just am blown away by how far things have come...the horsepower/portablilty combination available now just knocks me out. despite any shortcomings, i've never been more pleased with the results i'm getting, and, equally important, the process/flow of getting them.
i usually have it paired with a traveler at home (ironically enough), or a novation x-station25 when traveling.

on pc, i really dug samp for its depth and excellent stock plugs, and liked how nuendo is intuitive.

a side note/honorable mention: whilst waiting for the dp ub, i had the pleasure of using sagantech's metro. it's solid, fast, small, easy to use, and packs a "big boy" feature set. for the cost and amazing support alone, i've just gotta give props. it's definitely staying on my machine.

[oceantracks]

As a composer and producer, I need the music, and audio side.

I started with Pro Tools.

I went to Logic Pro.

I went to DP.

I now use Nuendo.

They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but I do like Nuendo a lot, and though it has a few really dumb things in it, it does sound great (I know they are all supposed to sound the same, but I have not found this). It makes life easier in many ways, and slows you down in others.

For sheer brute force simplicity and dependability, there is nothing like Pro Tools, simply because there is no one out there like Digi that can be relied on to supply a product that is constantly updated, that listens to users, and is there to support the product. Now, if they could only get their head on straight re their pricing, and built in obsolescence...

TH

[H-Rezz]

I use Logic Pro......

I find it fast and creative , for me the mixer is set out in a very Logical way , i like the fact that once iv'e set it up with the amount of tracks, instruments,aux,busses it's like that everytime i boot up ! But if i do want more audio tracks or Instruments it's no problem to add some more...

I like the fact that each audio fader is simple, not cluttered like other programs iv'e tried.......i love the arrange page and the fluidity of zooming something with one click, editing and zooming back to the original position with another click,instead of having to expand the whole arrange pages in increments, i like the that i can double click on a piece of audio , highlight what i want to edit , edit and close the window and have everything where i left it......

Great and useful stock plug-ins and Synths , a total package out of the box for newbees , something i never think about as a long term Logic user but have to remind myself that other DAW's do not come with such a extensive array of goodies ......

I think a DAW whichever one you choose should be like sitting in a big old comfortable chair , something you should not feel like you have to shift positions to feel comfortable in......

My wish list for Logic Pro would be, if i had one.....

1) Size adjustable faders
2) A left and Right pan dial when two tracks are ganged in stereo
3) Sample accurate editing because everybody else thinks its great but doesn't know why
4) A trim on each