Daw setups

Another aspect of LMMS that is quite attractive is the fact that it comes with plenty of built-in effects and virtual instruments, including the ZynAddSubFX synth, which is one of the most versatile freeware synths there is.

There is one other downside besides the user interface though. But it is a bit of a pros-cons situation. Here we dug up something a little different for you. You can either download the DAW onto your machine or use the online version in your browser, which is quite convenient.

Upon first brush, the interface might look a little confusing. It just takes a few minutes to figure out. Over instrument presets are included, with MIDI and chiptune instruments. Download: Bosca Ceoil. So, you can start projects, invite people to join in, and make music together.

Ohm Studio gives you the ability to record, create, and edit. Audio can be recorded at high quality, and MIDI notes and events can be drawn in, just as you would expect. If you want to view racks and plugins, this can be done in a modular fashion.

Download: Ohm Studio. Now, this is kind of a geeky addition to this list, but if Linux is your platform, you dig that anyway. Download: Qtractor. Ohm Studio is verifiably cool.

But Soundtrap? The comparison is apt, though, because Soundtrap, like Ohm Studio, has been designed as an online collaboration platform. Soundtrap gives you access to beats, loops, and instruments, and even allows you to plug in and record your own instrument.

It gives you the ability to record, edit, and collaborate on any device, and your projects are stored in the cloud. Naturally, its main sales proposition is that you can collaborate with anyone anywhere.

Download: Soundtrap. It has 60 presets and a touch-based interface. The Zenbeats store gives you access to sounds, loops, and creative tools. And your sounds are always backed up in the cloud. For beat making, we think Zenbeats is a solid option. Just so you know. Download: Roland. The Windows and Mac compatible MuLab is an easy-to-use creation, recording, and editing tool that features an integrated modular synth and effect engine.

But MuLab is Mac and Windows compatible. Download: MuTools. It gives you the ability to record, edit, and mix, all from one interface. It promises to be highly usable by audio engineers, musicians, soundtrack editors, and composers alike. Arodur offers non-liner editing, non-destructive recording, any bit depth and sample rate, and even supports dozens of file formats.

Any number of tracks and busses are allowed. It supports transport sync and external control surfaces. It even comes with a video timeline. This open-source production tool works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Some working knowledge of compiling source code is necessary if you want to use it on Windows or Mac, though unless you want to contribute to Ardour. Download: Ardour. Podium Free offers both a modern user interface reminds be a bit of Ableton Live and a fast workflow and has been built with electronic musicians in mind.

It also has a customizable user interface. Download: Zynewave. Not to mention, it comes with loops. Their sound library includes instruments, presets for guitar and voice, as well as session drummers and percussionists. GarageBand even comes with EDM- and hip hop-inspired synth sounds.

These can be modified using the Transform Pad Smart Control. Apple gives you the ability to record, mix, and master your tracks natively, and if you want, you can even share your music through social networks after the fact.

Download: Apple. Audacity benefited from being one of the early, free, open-source, cross-platform DAWs downloadable on the internet.

Podcasters were quick to adopt it, and music producers liked how easy it was to use. And it does have some new skins. Download: Audacity.

And MPC Beats is great for beat making. Some DAWs can do everything. Some are better for real audio. Others are better for electronic music and beats. And we even covered DAWs that are better suited to video game music and real time remote collaboration. Every DAW features a different workflow, even if they all share some similarities. Basically, the best DAW is the one that works best for you, regardless of the tools and features available or not available.

So, I started out learning Pro Tools with a friend. It was kind of a slow-going, frustrating process, but at least I had support and accountability. I had Tracktion an early version of Waveform at home, though, so I started messing around with that. I like to do a lot of lo-fi kind of stuff, and my fans seem to enjoy it most too versus my more polished, hi-fi productions. The decision mostly came down to workflow and what I tolerated in terms of limitations.

With the above list, you should be able to whittle down your options to three or so. Why not try each of them and see what works for you? Download the DAW from its provider, install it on your computer, open the program, and start messing around. In essence, YouTube is your best friend. There are plenty of tutorials and demos for most DAWs. Some like AKAI Professional even offer in-depth video tutorials on how to use their software right on their website.

The same goes for connecting hardware to your computer, cabling, and so forth. Otherwise, all you need is a laptop, and maybe a MIDI controller. Meaning — you can record all your audio tracks, program or draw in all your MIDI tracks, edit, mix, and master, all within the same software environment.

To be fair, mixing and mastering are both a science and an artform. They can take a while to do well. They just know their gear so well that they can create amazing mixes and masters regardless of limitations. They know how to make the most of the equipment they have. Read the Ableton Live 11 Suite review. The headline feature in version 20 was a native bit Mac version, meaning that FL Studio can now be used on macOS as well as PC without the need for a clunky workaround.

Pleasingly, licenses are shared between both Mac and PC versions. Image-Line offers lifetime free upgrades to FL Studio users, meaning that all existing users of the software now automatically own upgrades to version 20 on both platforms. And the updates just keep on coming: version Read the FL Studio 20 review. Version Central to this overhaul is the addition of Ableton-style Live Loops, which enable you to jam with ideas before recording them to the main timeline.

There's also a new step sequencer, completely overhauled samplers and new tools for electronic beatmakers. Even though Apple is largely following trends here rather than setting them, this is the modernising step up that many Logic users have been waiting for.

Read the Apple Logic Pro X Along the way, the company also invented virtual studio technology, developed a class-leading audio editor WaveLab and survived the dark days of software piracy. Despite increased competition, Cubase is still up there at the head of the DAW pack. The latest version, Cubase 11, is a solid update that expands its offering on a number of key fronts.

For new purchasers, the many excellent plugins, extensive sound library and massive functionality make it worth the asking price, and it's worth noting that the more affordable Artist and Elements editions come with decent feature sets, too. An oldie but a goodie, then.

Read the Steinberg Cubase 11 review. Studio One has been gaining ground for several years, and it's now a DAW of real power and maturity, not merely matching its rivals in most respects but going beyond them in a few areas.

Version 5 sees the software really come of age, with a fully developed score editor and Clip Gain Envelopes that that deliver surgical region-based volume automation. In fact, whether you're an existing user or new to music production - or even an old hand who's dissatisfied with their current DAW of choice - it's one of the best DAWs around.

With its responsive, modernist interface, smooth workflow and innovative-but-relevant feature set, Studio One 5 truly represents the state of the art in virtual studio design. This is one of the most customisable and affordable DAWs around.

What's more, it's wonderfully responsive, with everything from scrolling and zooming to fader moves and item editing feeling quick and fluid. Factor in some budget for the soundware of your choice and Reaper makes for a top-class music production environment.

Find out more: Cockos Reaper 6. Reason has undergone some big changes over the past couple of years. Of course, you can still use Reason as your main DAW, but with the stock instruments and effects now available to use anywhere you like, and a new MIDI Out device for controlling your external gear, this is the most attractive that the software has looked in years.

Reason 12 sweetens the deal still further, with a more powerful and flexible Combinator, hi-res graphics and a new sampler. Read the Reason Studios Reason 11 review. Has it really been seven years since the launch of the first version of Bitwig Studio? It has indeed, though that still makes it a relative infant in DAW terms.

That said, version 4, is most notable for the introduction of a pretty fundamental feature: comping. This is handled in a typically elegant, 'Bitwiggy' way, though, and if you're looking for new 'creative' functionality, consider Operators, which add a new and very powerful dimension to how and when MIDI or audio events are triggered. Non-musicians can simply sequence the supplied audio loops, but a decent collection of software instruments comes supplied, too, as does multitrack recording functionality and a good selection of virtual guitar amps and stompboxes.

Drummer is great for automatically generating beats, Smart Controls make for more pleasant editing of sounds, and you can even use the Logic Remote iPad app to control the software.

Download GarageBand. Through its eight major updates, Mixcraft has evolved from a basic starter app to a genuinely impressive DAW, taking on features normally associated with costlier alternatives.

Mixcraft 9 has a sleeker interface with detachable panels, as well as new automation features, vocoder tracks, new effects and instruments and the option to convert audio to MIDI with a single click. It might not be the flashiest DAW on the market, but if you invest in Mixcraft you'll be getting a well-supported production solution that comes at a great price, and newcomers will find it very approachable. Read the Acoustica Mixcraft 9 Pro Studio review. The software has never had quite the same impact in the home recording market, but knowledge of it certainly puts you at an advantage if you want to work in the industry.

You can now update tracks and timeline sections during playback, so you can experiment with effects, presets, loop points, etc, without ever stopping the music. As such, your creativity can flourish uninterrupted. There's also Avid Cloud Collaboration, for cloud-based project storage, while the Avid Marketplace, which is designed to connect you with others in the audio community.

Whether all of this will be enough to significantly grow the Pro Tools user base remains to be seen, but existing fans are unlikely to look anywhere else. Find more more: Avid Pro Tools. Better still, it's now made the software available for free.

The third-party content that was bundled with the paid-for version has been removed, but the DAW's key features, such as the Skylight user interface, flexible ProChannel modules and bit mix engine, are all here. So, if you're a PC user on the lookout for a new DAW, you've got literally nothing to lose by trying this one. Find out more: Cakewalk by BandLab.

A DAW can be used throughout the music production process: for recording, editing, arranging, mixing and even mastering. If you can, try working through this process - demo versions of many DAWs are available - so that you can test the workflow. It goes without saying that, before you buy, you should also make sure that your prospective DAW is compatible with your computer, any other hardware that you might have, and any plugins that you consider essential to your workflow.

I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music.