Songwriters favourite DAW and why

[Jose]

Mine is Cubase.

The reason is as simple as it is the first and the one that learned best so now I don't want to waste time learning a new one.

[fastlanestoner]

Hands down it's Reaper over here!

[SDB_12]

Pro Tools 9 for me. Why? Because I know it very well, and am quick with editing while writing songs. I also play multiple instruments and sing, and like to throw together full band productions of songs to get a feel for them. For recording, editing and mixing full band productions, Pro Tools is great for me. Midi kinda sucks in PT, but I don't use tons and tons of midi stuff.

[fret_burn]

Originally Posted by fastlanestoner

Hands down it's Reaper over here!

+1 Cheap and brilliant.

[pinkheadedbug]

It used to be Logic for me, for more than a decade, but about three months ago I switched over to Studio One. Mostly it's ease of use -- I find it super-quick for tracking and setting up instruments and mixes. I also love the build-in mastering tools.

[rdstreets]

For the last ten years it’s been Reason for me.

Before that I was in the dark ages with a Voyetra Gold Sequencer synched to a Spectral Synthesis 8-track hard disc system (which cost a bundle back in the day).

In between I tried Logic but found that it got in the way creatively. Pro Tools was always too pricey for me to consider seriously (still is). Then came Reason and I got it instantly because it mirrored the hardware I already know and am comfortable with. And the results were immediate.

Put simply, the software, while limited in comparison to a full DAW does not get in the way! What I here in my head comes out in a pretty complete piece from my monitors in just a few hours and that’s all that counts from a songwriting perspective.

Further it’s never crashed on me (ever).

For audio I used Ableton Live, but now with Reason 6’s audio integration I don’t even need that. And it’s self-contained and so light on my system that I can track on the weekends and move the files to my laptop for further arranging/mixing on the train to and from the day gig (awesome).

[theblue1]

I use Sonar -- in large part because I've been using it (or its predecessor, Cakewalk Pro Audio) since I put together my first 8 channel DAW in '97. (That said, if I was starting today, I would give a serious look at the current state of Reaper; it seems to be a very efficient, well-programmed DAW with a lot of progressive momentum.)

Now, I'm a big fan of Sonar's workflow, but, honestly, I'm not sure that any one DAW is necessarily going to be that big a deal over any other DAW for pure songwriting reasons. Of course, different approaches to writing will cause different folks to prefer different DAWs. If you like to use looping tools to work out ideas, you might want to make sure your DAW had a good looping interface. Or if you are someone who is highly motivated/inspired by the textures and sounds he comes up with, you might want a DAW that comes with a bunch of interesting virtual instruments. If you're stumped a lot, you might want something that has some algorithmic compositional tools for 'generating' content when the muses aren't forthcoming... or perhaps simply algorithmic arrangement generation if you're not keen on arranging or like roughing out songs quickly.

[Ronnieg]

Cubase for me
Have a simple template set up so i can go straight in and lay down a guitar and vocs with Ezdrummer idea.

[Joe Cole]

I think most songwriter's, and most project studio guys start with one DAW, learn it, flrt with others, but stay true to their first DAW.

You waste so much time relearning how to get simple results from another DAW that it just is not worth it. You learn to live with your work arounds.

For me it was Cubase with ACID, Sonar, Nuendo, Samplitude, Record, then back to Cubase.

Happy to be back.

[Murphster]

I have been using Logic but recently got seduced by Studio One and have been highly impressed. I have been demoing it and using both but have actually gone back to Logic for a couple of things this past week.

I think Studio One is better than Logic 9 for me, it is easier to use, better laid out, it seems to make me work faster and easier. I think it is a great DAW in the making and don't see why it couldn't become a standard in the future.

But I do think Logic has got much better instruments, and for someone like me who does not use a whole heap of plugins, that is important. Logic is a great price, $199 for something that powerful is a bargain to be honest, it is double that for Studio One.

For me it all depends on Logic Pro 10, whenever it is released. Then I will make a decision, upgrade to Logic 10 or invest in Studio One and also invest in some decent instruments plugins.

[dsw67]

Logic for me. Someone I highly respect recommended it to me. It's taken me awhile to get used to it, but I'm getting there. I can't comment on others as I've never tried them.

[benyah]

Logic over here. been with it since logic platinum 4. like john cole said, it was the first daw i knew from the time i was an artist myself being recorded and i stuck with it just because i know it and it works great for me, so no reason to change.

[Rico07]

Originally Posted by pinkheadedbug

It used to be Logic for me, for more than a decade, but about three months ago I switched over to Studio One. Mostly it's ease of use -- I find it super-quick for tracking and setting up instruments and mixes. I also love the build-in mastering tools.

Here, here for Studio One! I have tried others and the work flow on this DAW is smooth. If you are experienced it will be refreshing, if not you will be inspired by it's intuitiveness. I think once word gets around this may become extremely popular. Mine is the pro v2 and the instruments are just awesome. It comes with Native Instuments Guitar Rig, great package for songwriters/guitarists. Presonus is the hit. Hook up a little audio box and have some fun. JET

[Marando]

In chronological order:

Impulse Tracker
Buzz
Reason
Reason together with Cubase
Cubase

Working in Cubase 5.5.3 now and I like it. I'm going to skip Cubase 6 and will get the upgrade to Cubase 7 (that's the plan at the moment).

[baskervils]

Wow, really? No one has posted Ableton Live?

I also use Pro Tools, Reason and Logic but Live really is the ultimate songwriting tool. I barely touch the other programs anymore. Linear DAWs are like tape recorders. Live is on a totally different level.

In clip mode you can completely structure all of the parts of a song. You can bounce around to different parts in real time.

Live is a total game changer as far as my songwriting is concerned.

[Iamcory]

Originally Posted by baskervils

Wow, really? No one has posted Ableton Live?

I also use Pro Tools, Reason and Logic but Live really is the ultimate songwriting tool. I barely touch the other programs anymore. Linear DAWs are like tape recorders. Live is on a totally different level.

In clip mode you can completely structure all of the parts of a song. You can bounce around to different parts in real time.

Live is a total game changer as far as my songwriting is concerned.

I just started Live lite and im extremely interested by it. I'll probably end up getting the full thing.
Also a reason fan, havent tried record though. And was thinking of trying Logic, especially with the 200 price tag.

[pinkheadedbug]

Hold off on Logic until Logic X comes out is my advice. It's probably imminent (next 3-6 months). It could be a gamechanger or it could be a bust.

[Chris Lago]

FL Studio here, and Cubase as well.

[drcaron]

Studio One 2! Amazing workflow.

I used to be a pretty heavy Pro Tools user (5 years+), but SO destroys it in terms of workflow. With SO, you can actually focus on the music, and not on the DAW itself. The program is not totally stable, so you have to save often, but I've been told they've only been working on it for two years, so a few bugs here and there are going to happen. But even with a few bugs, as long as you save your work often, you'll be fine.

For anyone considering a new DAW, I would highly recommend Studio One. Watch a few of the tutorials on YT and the presonus site. You'll be amazed at how much faster you can comp/quantize/edit/group/bus and even just add virtual instruments. Many things are drag and drop, and the interface is very well laid out. I've basically abandoned PT at this point.

Check out some of the other threads on SO, you'll see a lot of love.

[initialsBB]

Originally Posted by baskervils

Linear DAWs are like tape recorders. Live is on a totally different level.

I use Live, but I actually use it just like a tape recorder these days. Haven't touched session view in years. I don't know why but that's just suiting my process best at the moment.

[JoeyThomas]

After going through FL and Ableton, I fell in love with Logic.

Compared to Ableton, Logic does seem pretty linear, but I like that. A lot of my favorite music was made on limited recoding consoles, MPCs, etc. The more traditional style of arranging in Logic actually helps force me to be very deliberate and creative with my writing.

No matter what program you use, learning the key cuts is essential to good writing and workflow. I'm at the point in Logic where I can zoom through big chunks of work just pressing buttons. Makes it feel like a big, visual, flexible MPC with tons of effects, synths, and instruments.

[baskervils]

Originally Posted by Iamcory

I just started Live lite and im extremely interested by it. I'll probably end up getting the full thing.
Also a reason fan, havent tried record though. And was thinking of trying Logic, especially with the 200 price tag.

I LOVED Reason when I first learned DAWs. I'm sure that others will disagree, but it seems really clunky since they integrated audio a few years ago. Editing midi and Audio with all of the blocks is.... well, clunky. Perhaps I need to spend more time with it.

Live does everything I want, so I'm not encouraged to go back.

The only downside to Ableton Live is quick editing on audio loops. There are workarounds, but removing a quick click or pop in 10 seconds would be nice. I'm sure that's coming in the next version. I can easily imagine never using another DAW after that.

Recording strictly to tape is bad ass! I use tape as part of my effects chain, but have not attempted to use my tape machine alone since the PortaStudio days!

[adrianww]

Chalk up another Cubase user here. Sometimes with Reason rewired in.

Basically, just because it was the first DAW that I used (I think it was SL2 or SL3 at the time, rewired to Reason 3) and I've just stuck with them over the years, through Cubase SX3 to 4 to 5 to 6, rewired to Reason 4, then 5, then 6.

(Jeez, I might almost be Steinberg and Propellerheads dream customer when it comes to upgrade-itis...!)

Oh well, it works for me and I've never felt the need to change. If I was going to change, it would probably be to ProTools, but that would only be if I was seriously considering going down a more commercial route and expected to find myself in a "real" studio at some point.

[oweng]

... whichever illegal D/L that has no trojans .... SONY acid 6

my legal copy of Ableton Lite --- 4 plugins max ....!

now come on .. seriously .... this must be a joke.

[Mark Kaufman]

I was hoping more people would chime in as to why the DAW is better from a songwriter's perspective...it just sounds like any other Favorite DAW thread. Sounds like Studio One might be good for the writers... I've always used Cubase, but only because that's the one I have. There are times I wish there were more provisions for the act of writing rather than just the recording and mixing aspects. Sounds like Presonus may be onto something in that way--I will check it out.

[RiF]

I am using PT9 almost completely, but for songwriting Ableton Live really helps to keep the creative juices flowing. That RM1x-like pattern sequencing thingy is what keeps me in a creative flow. Moving stuff around in PT is possible but hard work.

[yotonic]

I'm not entirely sure why but I hate ProTools9. I find Digital Performer much easier to work in as a songwriter. I think the interface is more convenient and intuitive for just tracking simple work demos. In ProTools you have that big clunky Mix window that has to float around. In DP you can build it right in to a custom setup of your own that fits your tracking and compositional style. It also sounds better than ProTools and has a lot of sophisticated features built right in.

[Rico07]

Originally Posted by Mark Kaufman

I was hoping more people would chime in as to why the DAW is better from a songwriter's perspective...it just sounds like any other Favorite DAW thread. Sounds like Studio One might be good for the writers... I've always used Cubase, but only because that's the one I have. There are times I wish there were more provisions for the act of writing rather than just the recording and mixing aspects. Sounds like Presonus may be onto something in that way--I will check it out.

It is my understanding that Studio One was developed by the Cubase guys. I personally like not having a gazillion windows and hoops to jump through. More time to play music. It is easy to navigate, drag & drop is sooo nice! It also plays nice with a host of plugins. Compatibility is a big issue with some DAWs. It simplifies the already complicated world.

[pinkheadedbug]

I think for songwriters there are two important things in a DAW:

1. It's fast to get ideas down

2. It's easy to edit.

For me, Studio One absolutely KILLS on (1). I still have some niggles with (2), mostly about looping and stuff like that but overall it's a very fluid DAW. As much as I love Logic and have a lot of time invested in it, there were always times when you had to spend an hour figuring out how to do something. For example, bus 8 drum tracks to the same bus, or apply the same effect to 24 channels, or make an instance of Kontakt play in mono. You always found the answer but MAN it could take a lot of headscratcing.

Whereas, in S1, most of that stuff is trivial (with certain important limitations0.

The second part, ease of editing, I am not sure that S1 is much better or worse but they do seem to be at least listening. I find midi editing less easy than logic, automation editing easier, audio editing less easy. But overall I can get to an equal-quality mix faster on S1 and really that's what counts.

There's also, to be honest, a fun factor and S1 really has that. For example, browsing effects is about 10,000% more intuitive in S1. Plus it runs VSTs.

[HowOwl]

Cakewalk Sonar has been a long time favourite in the value for money category.