DAWs: What's My Best Option?

[Pat.Rio.T. 305]

I am not going to ask what is the best DAW. I already know the answer, and that is not the right question to ask when considering which one to buy. No, my question is this: What DAW is best suited for me?

 

I have already ruled out some. For instance, Ableton Live, as it is more suited to live performance. But there are others which are closer to what I am looking for, however it's hard to decide between them without seeing a demonstration of what they can do the way I would use them.

 

Of course I have to tell you what I am looking for so that you can answer my question properly. So here are some of the main features I am looking for.

 

Like most people who are just starting out, I suppose the main thing I want is independence. In other words, I want to be able to do most everything, if not all the work on my computer, without the need for hardware, or instruments. Because as much as I would love to be able to play and record every instrument myself(And believe me, I would), I am not made of money or time, and I don't have a lot of friends who have the capacity to help me in that regard either. That being said, some time in the future(Hopefully sooner than later) I would like to add the use of, say, a keyboard interface, so I can incorporate my knowledge of piano into the recording of various instruments.

 

Probably the next biggest thing is, that I'd prefer to use more instrument samples, and less electronic. Though I also wouldn't mind mixing a bit of the two. In other words, I'd like to do more this...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8QePMJ80r4

 

 

Not so much this...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AniV8gX6xjU

 

 

(By the way, that first video is a pretty good example of stuff I'd like to do)

 

So what do you think? I've gotten some ideas, but I'd like to hear what people with experience have to say. Maybe I can narrow the choices down and finally decide, so I that can get making some music!

[SkullcandyPegasus 604]

I'd recommend you demo a few daws before making a choice. I love reason for example, but it's not exactly the most popular daw ^~^

 

Just figure out which one you like, and follow your inspirations from there.

[Pat.Rio.T. 305]

I'd recommend you demo a few daws before making a choice. I love reason for example, but it's not exactly the most popular daw ^~^

 

Just figure out which one you like, and follow your inspirations from there.

I have tried this with a couple cheap DAWs, and while I probably should do this with the ones I am considering, I must admit, that I have little knowledge when it comes to actually using a DAW. The main reason I was hesitant to try to demo the more expensive ones, is because I was afraid I wouldn't know enough to be able to use them properly, and thus, get an inaccurate idea of what it can do for me

[SkullcandyPegasus 604]

I have tried this with a couple cheap DAWs, and while I probably should do this with the ones I am considering, I must admit, that I have little knowledge when it comes to actually using a DAW. The main reason I was hesitant to try to demo the more expensive ones, is because I was afraid I wouldn't know enough to be able to use them properly, and thus, get an inaccurate idea of what it can do for me

Just spend a bit more time with the demo maybe. You could spend maybe a week on a single program just trying different things and seeing what you think :33

[BlueBrony 388]

When I was trying to find the right DAW, I tried a few free demos, but I also watched tutorial videos of people using other DAWs. This gives you the opportunity to see what can be done on the DAW by someone who actually knows how to use it. One thing to think about is what you are willing to invest in for now and in the future: does the DAW allow you to easily incorporate outside add-ons? What are the quality of the given samples/instruments? How much money would it take to get the features you want? Can you save your creations in a format that is easily distributed/high quality? How often does it upgrade, and at what cost? Can your computer handle it?

 

In the end, I bought a microphone combo pack that came with a DAW with most of the features I was looking for. It cost me around $175, but it was perfect for me.

 

One final note: learning a DAW is like learning a language. There is a pretty steep learning curve when you start out, but as you invest more time in it, the more you begin to understand it. So don't worry if you feel like you cant work it right- that comes with time.

Edited September 16, 2015 by BlueBrony