Gear Used:
– Royer R84 Ribbon Mic
– Shure SM57 Dynamic Mic
– WA273 Preamp
– Digigrid IOS Interface
– Fender American Stratocaster
– Fender ’68 Custom Twin Reverb 2×12 Amp
– Avid Pro Tools Ultimate
-Slate Raven
Look below to compare and contrast over 20 leading DAWs and some key points. Click on the ‘Make’ or Manufacturer’s name to go to the DAW’s product web page or click on the ‘Model’ or DAW’s name to read our article about the DAW. Feel free to type keywords in the ‘Search’ box to narrow the amount of DAWs that you are comparing.
Make | Model | Version | OS | Plug-in | Interface | Price USD | Strengths |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ableton | Live | 11 | M W | VST/AU | ASIO/Core Audio | Free - $750 | On-the-fly production for the 21st century. |
Acoustica | Mixcraft | 9 | W | VST | ASIO | $95/150 | Flexible feature packed DAW with even video editing. |
Adobe | Audition | CC | M W | VST | ASIO/Core Audio | $21/month | Top quality built in audio tools including restoration. |
Apple | Logic Pro | 10 | M | AU | Core Audio | $199 | Very popular for music production and composition. |
Audacity | Audacity | 3 | L M W | VST | Core Audio/ WDM | Free | Perfect for use as a consumer tape recorder. |
Avid | Pro Tools | 2022.4 | M W | AAX Native | ASIO/Core Audio | $9.99/month or $99/year | Simple standardized interface and machine-like. |
Avid | Pro Tools HD | 2022.4 | M W | AAX Native/AAX DSP | Proprietary Hardware | $8000 | Industry standard DAW running on DSP cards for greater power and stability |
Cakewalk | Sonar | X3 | M W | VST/DX | ASIO/WDM | $49/month or $499 | Excellent music production DAW with a long history. |
Cockos | Reaper | 6 | M W | VST/JS/ DX | ASIO/Core Audio | $60/$225 | Superb quality DAW with no hype and great updates. |
Image-Line | FL Studio | 20 | M W | VST | ASIO | $199 | Great starter DAW and very easy to use. |
Magix | Acid Pro | 11 | W | VST/DX | ASIO | $7.99/month, $199, or $299 | The ultimate loop-based production program. |
Magix | Samplitude | X7 | W | VST | ASIO/WDM | $129 - $599 | Amazing sounding music and audio production DAW. |
Magix | Sequoia | 16 | W | VST | ASIO/WDM | $546.34/year or $2529.38 | Samplitude with advanced features for big facilities. |
Magix | Sound Forge | 16 | M W | VST/DX | ASIO | $349 - $499 | Audio DAW great for restoration to sound design to mastering. |
Merging Technologies | Pyramix | 10 | W | VST | ASIO | $995- $4995 | Competitor to Pro Tools with DSP native systems. |
MOTU | Digital Performer | 11 | M W | MAS/AU | ASIO/Core Audio | $499 | Great music creation DAW used by composers. |
Mutools | MuLab | 9 | M W | VST | ASIO/Core Audio | $81 | Inspiring DAW with modular synth and FX engine. |
Presonus | Studio One | 5 | M W | VST/AU | ASIO/Core Audio | $399 | Full featured DAW made by Presonus. |
Propellerhead | Reason | 12 | M W | N/A | Core Audio/ WDM | $499 | Rack-like view with VIs and now audio recording. |
Steinberg | Cubase | 12 | M W | VST | ASIO/Core Audio | $549 | Great all around music production. (VST Creator) |
Steinberg | Nuendo | 12 | M W | VST | ASIO/Core Audio | $999 | Advanced audio for post-production DAW. |
DAWs – Check out an expansive list of the leading Software Digital Audio Workstations that are available from Audacity to Digital Performer. Browse through and read individual articles on over 20 leading DAWs.
What is a DAW? – What does a Digital Audio Workstation actually do and what’s the difference between a Hardware DAW and a Software DAW? Learn all of this and more in this educational and informative article.
Which is the Best DAW? – There are tons of great Software DAWs to choose from so how can you know which one is the best, or more correctly which one is the best for YOU?
This saying is like a law of nature, getting all three can only be accomplished at the expense of someone else. It’s like saying you want to hover in the air. You can do it if you have some other force like blowing air, a rig of wires, or somebody’s shoulders; but each requires energy and sacrifice beyond what you can do yourself. You can only have all three at the expense or uncompensated extra effort of the person or company providing the service for you.