3 answers
sophie
Student
Fishersville, Virginia
5
Questions
Asked
483 views
how do i get a music DAW?
i want to start my own band and i don't have a daw or a studio
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3 answers
Zivko Popov
Music Artist
1
Answer
Hobart, Indiana
Updated
Zivko’s Answer
Logic, Ableton, Adobe Audition will be the best bet for recording a band if you want the full studio experience. Getting started I'd recommend Reaper, being the easiest to use out of all of them.
Thomas O'Shea
Music Producer, Composer, Live Sound Engineer, Musician
130
Answers
Madison, Wisconsin
Updated
Thomas’s Answer
Hey Sophie,
IMO John's advice (though very accurate) can be overwhelming. If you're just starting out, which it sounds like you are, you don't need to think about "what about this? or what if I don't like that?" Features, prices, differences between each daw, and all the little nuances don't matter and shouldn't be focused on when you're starting out. Start with a free daw. They're everywhere. GarageBand if you're on Apple Products, or BandLab if you're using a different brand. You can use phone apps to make music (that's how I started), tablets, computers, or even just a simple loop petal setup. All the daws- free and paid- can be found online either through a provider's website (like Ableton) or on the App Store for (apple app store, google play store, etc).
IMO John's advice (though very accurate) can be overwhelming. If you're just starting out, which it sounds like you are, you don't need to think about "what about this? or what if I don't like that?" Features, prices, differences between each daw, and all the little nuances don't matter and shouldn't be focused on when you're starting out. Start with a free daw. They're everywhere. GarageBand if you're on Apple Products, or BandLab if you're using a different brand. You can use phone apps to make music (that's how I started), tablets, computers, or even just a simple loop petal setup. All the daws- free and paid- can be found online either through a provider's website (like Ableton) or on the App Store for (apple app store, google play store, etc).
John Graham
Music Producer
61
Answers
Bremerton, Washington
Updated
John’s Answer
Hi Sophie!
Choosing Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software can be somewhat daunting, but fortunately there are several out there for every budget and experience level. Here's a link to a recent article on the topic: https://blog.landr.com/best-daw/
It depends on what you're planning to do:
- Do you just want to record yourself and your band, and let someone else do the production (Arranging, Editing, Mixing, & Mastering)?
- Do you want to do everything yourself and become an independent producer?
- Do you want to specialize on one or a few of the production functions, such as Recording or Mixing?
Also, it depends on your budget and how much complexity (depth of capability) you want. Also some DAWs are unique to certain computer operating systems (e.g., Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, or Linux). Here's a link to a basic comparison chart to get you started: https://www.thedawstudio.com/resources/daw-comparison-chart/
Free for beginners - here's a link that offers 25 free choices, but of these I would recommend Cakewalk or Waveform Free - just my opinion. https://midination.com/daw/free-daw/best-free-daw/
For $60, it's hard to beat Reaper, which you can own outright, only asks for a single renewal payment every five years or so, and has a ton of "how to" videos on its site, a thorough manual, and a great user's forum for any questions you may have.
For new bands, popular DAWs include Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Reaper, and Studio One, with Logic Pro often cited for its ease of use and versatile features, but it's only for Apple Mac (no Windows version).
Here's a breakdown of the DAWs mentioned and why they are popular:
Logic Pro:
Many users find Logic Pro user-friendly, especially for beginners, and it's a good all-around choice for recording and producing.
Pro Tools:
While often associated with professional recording studios, Pro Tools is also a powerful option for bands, known for its robust features and industry standard status. But it's expensive. They have a free starter version with stripped-down capabilities.
Reaper:
Reaper is a powerful and versatile DAW that's free to use with a license that can be purchased later, and it's known for its flexibility and customization options. It doesn't come with many virtual software instruments, but it accommodates most of the free and paid ones out there.
Studio One:
Studio One is a user-friendly DAW with a good balance of features and ease of use, making it a solid choice for new bands.
Cubase: Cubase is another popular choice, known for its powerful features and traditional workflow.
FL Studio: Some users also recommend FL Studio for music production, particularly for its unique workflow and mixer.
Ableton Live: While often associated with electronic music, Ableton Live is also a capable DAW for bands, especially if you plan on using virtual instruments or performing live with the software.
I would recommend you try out some free trials or demos of different DAWs to see which one feels most comfortable for you. In the end, whatever you choose, there will be a learning curve - so it's good to have a manual, training videos, and a forum of people to support you.
Good luck and have fun on your journey!
Choosing Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software can be somewhat daunting, but fortunately there are several out there for every budget and experience level. Here's a link to a recent article on the topic: https://blog.landr.com/best-daw/
It depends on what you're planning to do:
- Do you just want to record yourself and your band, and let someone else do the production (Arranging, Editing, Mixing, & Mastering)?
- Do you want to do everything yourself and become an independent producer?
- Do you want to specialize on one or a few of the production functions, such as Recording or Mixing?
Also, it depends on your budget and how much complexity (depth of capability) you want. Also some DAWs are unique to certain computer operating systems (e.g., Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, or Linux). Here's a link to a basic comparison chart to get you started: https://www.thedawstudio.com/resources/daw-comparison-chart/
Free for beginners - here's a link that offers 25 free choices, but of these I would recommend Cakewalk or Waveform Free - just my opinion. https://midination.com/daw/free-daw/best-free-daw/
For $60, it's hard to beat Reaper, which you can own outright, only asks for a single renewal payment every five years or so, and has a ton of "how to" videos on its site, a thorough manual, and a great user's forum for any questions you may have.
For new bands, popular DAWs include Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Reaper, and Studio One, with Logic Pro often cited for its ease of use and versatile features, but it's only for Apple Mac (no Windows version).
Here's a breakdown of the DAWs mentioned and why they are popular:
Logic Pro:
Many users find Logic Pro user-friendly, especially for beginners, and it's a good all-around choice for recording and producing.
Pro Tools:
While often associated with professional recording studios, Pro Tools is also a powerful option for bands, known for its robust features and industry standard status. But it's expensive. They have a free starter version with stripped-down capabilities.
Reaper:
Reaper is a powerful and versatile DAW that's free to use with a license that can be purchased later, and it's known for its flexibility and customization options. It doesn't come with many virtual software instruments, but it accommodates most of the free and paid ones out there.
Studio One:
Studio One is a user-friendly DAW with a good balance of features and ease of use, making it a solid choice for new bands.
Cubase: Cubase is another popular choice, known for its powerful features and traditional workflow.
FL Studio: Some users also recommend FL Studio for music production, particularly for its unique workflow and mixer.
Ableton Live: While often associated with electronic music, Ableton Live is also a capable DAW for bands, especially if you plan on using virtual instruments or performing live with the software.
I would recommend you try out some free trials or demos of different DAWs to see which one feels most comfortable for you. In the end, whatever you choose, there will be a learning curve - so it's good to have a manual, training videos, and a forum of people to support you.
Good luck and have fun on your journey!