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Though all great production and composition may begin with an ambitious idea, sometimes the execution of that idea will require the right toolset. Of course, what “the right toolset” means exactly is highly subjective and will vary according to the producer’s genre, tastes, methods, and overall level of proficiency. Thus, in this article, we will attempt to guide producers of all stripes through the complicated and overwhelming process of finding the right Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
What is a Digital Audio Workstation?
Firstly, it’s probably worth establishing some definitions. So what exactly is music production software and how do DAWs fit into this definition? Music production software is simply a digital means of composing, recording, editing, and producing music. Another phrase commonly used for this is “Digital Audio Workstation,” or DAW. Whether we are talking about Logic Pro, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Pro Tools, BandLab, or even GarageBand, these are all mainstream examples of DAWs. But which of these options is right for you?
Alongside considerations about price, learning curve, and workflow, certain apps will be favored by a particular genre of producer. A hip-hop producer will require a very different set of tools than an EDM producer. A live DJ will have very different demands from a studio producer.
Below is an in-depth exploration of each major Digital Audio Workstation along with a discussion of whether each one will be right for you and your specific style.
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Best Free Plugins
Though most of the major DAWs have some terrific stock plugins, it’s Logic Pro X that is arguably the stand-out here. Through the 70 clearly-designed effect plugins, Logic gives producers an astonishing amount of control over the specificities of their sound. With a terrific range of vintage and modern compressors, some versatile reverb, and some wildly detailed MIDI plugins, it’s one of Logic’s key strengths.
Virtual Instruments
Virtual instruments are a tricky thing to assess. If you are looking for the most realistic emulation of a real instrument, the general consensus leans towards Logic Pro. Logic’s subtle and organic-sounding range of acoustic instruments more than demonstrates this point. That being said, if you don’t have a Mac and thus can’t use Apple Logic Pro, DAWs like Ableton and ProTools are more than adequate.
Sampler Instruments
For hip-hop and EDM producers, finding a DAW with the right sampler will be enormously important. Though all mainstream DAWs have good-to-great sampler instruments, one stands out: Ableton. Ableton’s Sampler allows for such a high level of precision that one can essentially create their own instrument through the software. Due to its clear and intuitive interface, it’s also perfect for any live performance.
Editing Software
In terms of audio editing, few DAWs surpass the specificity and extensive capabilities of Pro Tools. For producers who work with a lot of audio recordings and like to experiment with waveform inputs, Pro-Tools offers some impressive features. With a speedy workflow and a detailed audio editing interface, it makes sense that Pro-Tools is so popular among sound designers and film composers.
Mixing plugins
The mixing process is so particular to each producer or engineer that it’s difficult to pick the “best” DAW for mixing. Nonetheless, certain DAWs are renowned for their mixing capacity. Pro-Tools is well-known for its terrific signal flow and its stellar mixing workflow. Whether you are mixing for film, working in a major studio, or tweaking your new composition: Pro-Tools is the industry standard for a reason.
Equalizers
The majority of these DAWs contain some cutting-edge digital EQ plugins. Logic has a range of intuitive vintage and modern EQs. In addition, their built-in EQ interface for each track is enormously useful and highly dynamic. Ableton also boasts a strong and highly-detailed stock EQ. Similarly, Pro-Tools is powerful in its EQing and mixing capabilities.
Effects plugins
For built-in effects plugins, one would do well to match Logic Pro’s enormous library. With seventy well-designed, dynamic, and intuitive plugins, Logic is a tough DAW to beat in the field of effects. Add to this the magnificent Pedalboard plugin (which includes 35 “stompboxes”) and you have an enviable amount of options for your desired sound. Though there are certainly some stunning stock plugins from other DAWs, these are often only included in pricier versions. With the purchase of the only edition of Logic, they’re all yours.
Best Software for Beginners
This really depends on where you are starting from. If you are an aspiring producer who has become familiar with the GarageBand interface, this would allow for an easy learning curve with Apple’s Logic Pro. Indeed, Logic is almost identical in workflow and layout and also lacks the overwhelming complexity of pricier options like Pro-Tools. Alternatively, if you are used to loop-oriented work and pattern-based production, it would be advisable to opt for Ableton or even FL Studio—if you’re a fast learner.
Free
For a producer with little to no budget, it’s perhaps worth considering free online DAWs like Soundtrap, BandLab, or Soundation Studio. Considering how expensive some of the options below can get, these free online solutions are worth trying out.
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The Best DAWs
Logic Pro
Logic Pro will be the most familiar DAW to users of Apple products and to those already acquainted with GarageBand. Produced by Apple and designed exclusively for the MacOS system, Logic Pro is essentially an evolution and expansion of GarageBand’s interface. This means that for amateur young producers, the learning curve is notably less steep than with some other DAWs. But Logic is much more than just a beginner’s application. Before going any further, it’s worth running through some numbers. In total, Logic has a massive 5,953 patches for audio, auxiliary, output tracks, and software instruments. They also have 70 effect plugins, and 25 excellent software instruments.
In addition, one of the unique advantages of Logic Pro is its detailed and immensely useful Score Editor. This allows for both the writing of detailed notation as well as a translation of your MIDI compositions into written scores (for producers who don’t know notation). Thus, Logic Pro is best suited to composers and producers looking for an uncomplicated workflow and an accessible layout. It also has a notable emphasis on audio recording and editing. At a relatively modest $200, it’s a top-quality application.
$199.99
Free Trial
www.apple.com/logic-pro/
Ableton
According to Tracklib’s user survey, Ableton Live is the most popular DAW. That’s understandable considering the versatility, live functionality, and vast sound-molding abilities afforded by the software. But there is a caveat here. Ableton is available in three versions: Intro,
Standard, and Suite. The Intro version, coming in at $99, contains only 4 software instruments, 1500 sounds, 21 audio effects, and 11 MIDI effects. The Standard edition ($449) comes with 6 software instruments, 1800+ sounds, 37 audio effects, and 14 MIDI effects. Finally, the Suite edition ($749) has 17 software instruments, 5000+ sounds, 60 audio effects, and 16 MIDI effects. But as well as its catalog of included plugins and VSTs, Ableton’s strength is in its capacity for on-the-go production.
Through its brilliant Session View, Ableton is perfect for live performers and DJs. It’s also renowned for enabling detailed and highly-controlled sound design. Paired with the precision of the automation editing, this makes it perfect for EDM artists and producers looking for a high level of detail in their sonics.
$99 / $449 / $749
Free Trial
www.ableton.com/en/live
FL Studio
Known for its intuitive, innovative design and well-loved by a certain generation of hip-hop and EDM producers, FL Studio is a top-of-the-line DAW. It should be noted that despite its reputation and widespread popularity, FL Studio is not the easiest to adapt to. Unlike Logic Pro, this is a DAW that markets itself towards the seasoned beat-maker. Producers who are used to the conventional left-to-right style of composition may struggle with FL Studio’s non-linear workflow. On the other hand, this loop-oriented approach is what attracts so many hip-hop and EDM producers. After the initially jarring adjustment, this pattern-based style allows for a uniquely streamlined and highly-customizable experience.
$99 / $199 / $299 / $499
Free Trial
www.image-line.com/fl-studio
BandLab
As a young producer, browsing through the various DAWs can be a disheartening task. After all of the extensive research, many will look at the price tag and realize that an incredible piece of music production software is simply too expensive. But there is another option for the amateur producer: BandLab is a free and online DAW that is a great fit for artists working on a small budget. Shockingly, the software doesn’t make many sacrifices in quality for its price and accessibility. Though the included VSTs are fairly unexceptional and the general flexibility is far from the pricier giants of the DAW market, for beginners and hobbyists it's well worth a try.
Alternatively, other free options include Soundtrap and Soundation Studio. Both are also included in the top 5 of Best Free Online Beat Makers (Including Samples). You find a more detailed rundown in that feature.
Pro-Tools
Produced by Avid Technologies and often touted as an industry standard, Pro-Tools is a much-loved and hugely powerful piece of software. Arguably, if a producer is attempting to enter the music industry and collaborate with experienced professionals, it’s worth knowing your way around Pro-Tools. But given its wide use and expansive capabilities, there is a hefty price. Pro-Tools, unlike the aforementioned DAWs, is subscription-based. This means that—aside from the cheaper and stripped-back “Pro-Tools Artist” edition—producers will have to pay upwards of $100 per year for the comprehensive Pro-Tools Studio edition. That being said, even a brief rundown of Pro-Tools’ strengths reveals how astonishing the DAW is.
Firstly, we have the ability to convert audio into MIDI. This is very important for producers who want to layer certain tracks. There is also a regular series of updates to the app. Pro-Tools also has one of the most efficient workflows on the market. On the other hand, some critique has been directed towards the quality of the VST and plugin library. This means that producers may end up paying even more for good third-party additions. All in all, despite the recurring cost, Pro-Tools is worth it for producers already working at a professional level.
$9.99 Monthly / $31.99 Monthly / $99.99 Monthly
Free Trial
www.avid.com/pro-tools
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The best DAW to pick if you’re making EDM
Ableton has long been a favorite among EDM producers and live DJs. This owes itself to several important factors. Firstly, Ableton has a brilliant non-linear, loop-oriented production option. This session view—with its use of “clips”—allows for easy and dynamic live performances and is vital for the loop-heavy requirements of EDM.
Secondly, Ableton has some of the best sound-molding capabilities among the major DAWs. Considering the genre is so dependent on texture and sonics, that’s a must-have. And finally, the automation software is top-notch, giving producers enormous control over the movement of their sound.
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The best DAW to pick if you’re making hip-hop
The general consensus regarding the ideal hip-hop DAW leans towards two options: Logic Pro and FL Studio. This gives producers a choice between a linear arrangement (Logic Pro) and a non-linear, loop-oriented approach (FL Studio). Thus, a hip-hop producer who prefers simple, recurring beats will prefer FL Studio.
A producer who prefers a multi-phased track with development and complex structure will probably prefer Logic. In addition, along with the capacity for intuitive sampling, both plugins have extensive virtual instrument libraries, allowing for a diverse sound palette.
Conclusion
For any aspiring producers, it’s vital to consider that all DAWs essentially do the same things. Though there are certainly differences (which we have outlined above), there is nothing decisive.
The main thing that determines the right DAW for you is the overall “feel” and workflow of the software. Even though some DAWs are considered ideal for certain genres, this does not mean that you can only produce hip-hop with FL Studio or EDM with Ableton. These are all top-quality DAWs and the only major difference will be your instinctual reaction to them. In order to test this out and see what works for you, simply download the free trials, start making beats, and see what you think.
Now we want to hear from you. What do you think of this list? Or did we miss any of your favorites? Tell us in the comments.
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