[NoFrills]

People choose various Desktop Audio Workstations aka DAWs.

This is a thread to see what the Gibson forum members use and what their impression of their chosen DAW is and what they have tried before staying on the current DAW they now use.


I personally use Cakewalk Sonar 8.5.3 Producer since I am a PC user.

I have tried Cubase and found the learning curve was just too steep for me to carry on being trying with it.
So I decided to lower the bar a little and Tried out Adobe Audition 3.
It was definitely worth learning but it still lacked what Cubase offered.

So I ended up with Sonar 8 PE at first which took a little time to get used to but at least it was easy to get my head around.
Had a few bugs and was a bit of a system hog, upgraded to 8.5.3 Producer 32-bit and it ran much better.

The DAW has it's quirks like every other but it does the job beautifully for what I want it to do which ranges from electronic industrial to acoustic unplugged sound.

[sinovic]

Reaper!
Its vst routing shape is one of the most comfortable of the market and is not so complicated as Cubase, for example. Its a daw that weighs almost nothing and it is said that, along with Samplitude, have the best audio engines in the market .

In relation to PC processes, reaper is the king, I have had many tracks projects and it just consume 14% of the computer and using big VSTi.

I think it is he daw of the future and its price is more than ridiculous for what it offers. Without a doubt a great system for work and composition.

Even though I have a huge affection for adobe audition, in fact I still use mostly for editing guitar tracks when a noise slip trough. Its noise reduction tool is stunningly effective and I think is the best I've tried of all daw.

Even the license if it is not free, it never expires, it can be used as often as you like without limitations, now if you like it you can purchase it and its worth doing it, because its cheap and all the other possibilities that offers..It's worth tasting it.

greetings

[jonnyg]

I'm with you on Reaper brother sinovic even though you left out a few things like,

The small footprint 6Mb download.
Just one version - no starter SE packs here with upgrade paths to part you from more of your cash.
Want to work on your project at a friends PC/Mac? Install Reaper on a USB pen drive and carry it with you. That's allowed. No web authorisations here.
Don't like it - just delete it. It hasn't filled up your registry. No uninstallers necessary.
Don't like the look of it - change it with other themes or make your own.
No bloatware - doesn't come with a load of VSTi instruments, samples and trial versions you'll never use.
Reaper VST FX are as good as many commercial offerings costing $$$$$$.
Regularly updated if bugs are found - the developers actually read the forum and do something about it..
The forum - is THE BEST. You'll probably get an answer to any problems the same day.
The cost - Reaper, full printed manual and tuition videos can be had for around $120.00. The PDF of the manual is free and the guy who writes it is an active forum member.
Plus it sounds great, as sinovic said, and it's easy to get started with and/or as deep as you want to go.

I still also use Ableton Live 8 for the nice and easy MIDI and audio looping but Ableton works differently to other DAW's anyway. Previously used Samplitude but I wouldn't give up Reaper to go back to that.

(You were slightly wrong on the licence though. If you buy Reaper v4 now (actually v4.02 at the moment) it's valid until v5.99. That could be around 4 years worth of updates judging by how long v3.x was around.)

[jonnyg]

BentonC, on 01 September 2011 - 04:40 PM, said:

I pretty much exclusively use ProTools, but I tend to think that almost every DAW will outshine others at particular things.

That's very true. I know a lot of DAW fanboyz who dismiss Pro Tools out of hand for whatever they perceive as faults, but things don't become industry standards for no reason. I've never used Pro Tools but I've seen it working in studios and it can be quite impressive.

[GuitarBuilder]

jonnyg, on 02 September 2011 - 01:30 PM, said:

That's very true. I know a lot of DAW fanboyz who dismiss Pro Tools out of hand for whatever they perceive as faults, but things don't become industry standards for no reason. I've never used Pro Tools but I've seen it working in studios and it can be quite impressive.

I use Presonus Studio One; I find it quite intuitive and it does a great job!

[jonnyg]

GuitarBuilder, on 02 September 2011 - 01:32 PM, said:

I use Presonus Studio One; I find it quite intuitive and it does a great job!

It surprised me that Studio One didn't get a bigger user base when it was released since it came from the freebie Kristal which a lot of people used, including me for a while. I went from Kristal to Samplitude initially but most of my friends either moved to Cubase or Sonar/Cakewalk without considering Studio One. A couple still use Kristal. At the end of the day once you find something that works for you there's little point in changing. Loads of guys are happy to use Audacity because it gets the job done for them. As Benton C said in another thread, one of the best things about music these days is you do have choices.

[MarioC]

I use Treacktion III on the desktop and have fooled around with reaper some. I just downloaded Garageband on my iPad 2 and have been experimenting with it some.

[damian]

I use REAPER, Sonar Producer X-1, Superior Drummer 2.0, BDF drums, and a KorgD3200...........


And, I work with producers who know their stuff.............

[cam011235]

i been using pro tools 8 but since buying fast new computer with win 7 64 i am having issues so have got pro tools 9 crossgrade which i am getting next week..hoping this solves audio issues running 32 bit app on 64 bit os..will get mbox 3 next they look pretty good for price...currently run line 6 into mbox 2 for models effects..got an axiom 61 midi controller..use addictive drums ..currently use a sm 58 as my room is to noisy for condenser unfortunately..aim to get electric drum kit will probably use bfd for triggers

[jonnyg]

cam011235, on 17 September 2011 - 05:48 AM, said:

currently use a sm 58 as my room is to noisy for condenser unfortunately.

You shouldn't have any more noise problems with a cardioid pattern condenser than you do with an SM58, especially if you team it up with a noise gate plug-in. Not that there's anything wrong with using the '58. I often prefer to use one if I want a slightly thicker, "shouty" or different lead vocal or for backing vocals etc and some of my friends wouldn't use anything else. Just saying a condenser shouldn't be a problem.

[cam011235]

jonnyg, on 18 September 2011 - 09:22 AM, said:

You shouldn't have any more noise problems with a cardioid pattern condenser than you do with an SM58, especially if you team it up with a noise gate plug-in. Not that there's anything wrong with using the '58. I often prefer to use one if I want a slightly thicker, "shouty" or different lead vocal or for backing vocals etc and some of my friends wouldn't use anything else. Just saying a condenser shouldn't be a problem.

cool thanks for that i looked at those options i didnt think of a noise gate the problem is in my room there is traffic noise like trucks etc i am hoping that i may get a better environment at some stage..i am just sought of used to stage stuff where i know with dynamics need you to be very close..the sm 58 seems to be used in studios by vocalists with big voices..thanks for you feedback i will remember the tip with the noise gate it makes perfect sense

[drumbART - Bartek Beben]

Studio One all the way !


I'm a former Cubase user but the workflow on Studio One is so much better. Yes it lacks some of the Cubase features but makes your recording process more efficient.

[drathbun]

I've been using Cakewalk since it was Cakewalk 9, so from Sonar 4 through the current Sonar X1 Producer. I love everything about it.

[McEye]

Cakewalk Sonar has been my favorate DAW since I started recording and it's the heart of my modest home studio. Other DAW's just haven't inspired me like Sonar has. Currently running X1 Pro and still getting used to it but I think I prefer 8.3 better because I am to lazy to remember all the shortcut keys and hidden options. I prefer to have easier access in menu's, but thats just me and I do like some of the changes in X1 especially the Pro Channel.

McEye

[McEye]

BentonC, on 03 October 2011 - 10:30 PM, said:

What are the features of Sonar that keep you coming back?

I found it to be easier to learn and use overall. It just seem to fit when I was starting out and it feels the same today and it's value for money for sure. I like the bundled software, Dimension Pro, Rapture, Zta3 and the abundance of effects and instruments. It has all you need it make good music in many genres.
I tried a few others eg samplitude. live, studio one but none of them grabbed me like Sonar did.