"A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier. Modern DAWs are software running on computers with audio interface hardware."
What do I need except a DAW to create Music?
1. Sense of Music
2. A Good Computer(In terms of Hardware)
3. A MIDI device(Optional, but it would be easy if you have one)
Rank 10: Renoise
If you've ever worked with an old-school tracker, Renoise will look instantly familiar. Music is made in grid-based patterns, and these patterns can be arranged to create songs. It might look and sound like quite a techy workflow, but for a lot of people, it works.
Of course, this kind of interface isn't going to appeal to everyone, but if you do buy into the tracker philosophy, you'll find that Renoise implements it superbly. It comes with its own audio processors and supports plugins; it's OS X, Windows and Linux-compatible; and you can ReWire it to other DAWs.
So, if making music on a QWERTY keyboard is more appealing than doing it on a musical one, look no further.
Rank 9: Avid Pro Tools
Among laymen, Pro Tools has practically become a byword for the whole process of recording a piece of music on a computer, which says something about its strength as a brand and ubiquity in studios.
Make no mistake: this is still the professionals’ choice, and now that the ‘proper’ (as opposed to LE) Pro Tools software can finally be run on a PC or Mac without the need for any external hardware, it’s become a much more viable option for the home musician. Pro Tools is gradually becoming a more 'open' DAW, too, and as of version 11 it's a 64-bit one that performs better than ever.
Rank 8: Cakewalk Sonar
It’s reasonable to suggest that Sonar is the most popular PC-only DAW in the world. A couple of years back, it was given an almighty overhaul and rebranded as Sonar X1. This heralded the arrival of a much cleaner and clutter-free GUI, a powerful built-in channel strip (the ProChannel) and many more features that greatly improve the workflow.
Sonar X2 (pictured above) was released in 2012, adding the Modular ProChannel, Console Emulator, Sonar versions of Breverb and Roland's R-Mix, automation lanes and take lanes. Sonar X3 was recently announced, with one of the highlights being the integration of Melodyne pitch editing to the Studio and Producer editions.
Rank 7: Propellerhead Software Reason
Propellerhead’s Reason has always been a great self-contained music production package for people who want to do everything ‘in the box’, but early versions were limited in that they couldn’t record audio and couldn’t be expanded with plug-ins.
Both of these issues have now been addressed; as of Version 6, Reason was combined with Record, Propellerhead’s short-lived audio recording software, and version 6.5 heralded the arrival of Rack Extensions - bespoke instrument and effect add-ons that can be purchased through Propellerhead’s online store.
Version 7 upped the ante still further with the addition of MIDI Out, deeper editing of audio recordings, the ability to convert recordings to REX files, a number of mixer tweaks and the new Audiomatic Retro Transformer effect. All of which adds up to one of the most enjoyable music making experiences you're likely to find as a computer musician.
Version 7 upped the ante still further with the addition of MIDI Out, deeper editing of audio recordings, the ability to convert recordings to REX files, a number of mixer tweaks and the new Audiomatic Retro Transformer effect. All of which adds up to one of the most enjoyable music making experiences you're likely to find as a computer musician.
Rank 6: Steinberg Cubase
On the market since the days of the Atari ST (ask your Dad), Cubase has been around for the advent of audio recording, plug-in effects and instruments (Steinberg actually invented the VST standard) and every other major DAW development.
Cubase 7 represented a significant update for the software, with MixConsole breathing new life into its mixing capabilities and the Chord Track and Assistant being on hand to help you with your composing. Such improvements demonstrate that Steinberg is still innovating, bringing more power, quality and innovation to its production software.
Rank 5: Presonus Studio One
Eyebrows were raised when, a couple of years ago, audio hardware manufacturer PreSonus announced that it was releasing its own DAW.
No one should have worried, though: the resulting product, Studio One, felt pretty mature from the moment it was launched, and anyone who’s tried one of the traditional DAWs (Logic, Cubase, Sonar) should feel right at home with it.
Studio One 2 is an even more enticing proposition, offering built-in Melodyne audio editing and proper comping. All of which reinforces the impression that this is a DAW that's really going places.
Rank 4: Cockos Reaper
For the benefit of those not in the know, Reaper is a remarkably affordable cross-platform DAW that has a tiny footprint and sophisticated MIDI/audio routing capabilities. What’s more, the demo is fully-functional, though if you want to keep using it after 30 days, you’re required to pay the license fee.
Version 4 brings an assortment of new features including pitch envelopes, surround sound support, and an improved, skinnable interface. In terms of bang for your buck, nothing can touch it.
Rank 3: Apple Logic Pro
A Mac running Logic is almost an expected find when you head into a professional musician’s studio - it’s a supremely elegant music production solution that just works.
Allaying fears that Logic Pro X would just be 'GarageBand Pro', the latest version of the software draws on Apple's junior DAW to just the right extent and is unafraid to take inspiration from the competition (Ableton Live, mainly). X marks something of a 'reset' for the Logic Pro series - and one that was unquestionably overdue.
Apple has consolidated and refined just about every significant pre-existing feature without unhinging any of them, then added a number of welcome new features - a redesigned interface, the Drummer plugin, Flex Pitch, MIDI effects and more - that feel instantly at home.
Rank 2: Ableton Live
When the first version of Live was released in 2001, few could have predicted the impact it would have on the music software marketplace. Here was a DAW that threw out the traditional design rulebook and established itself not just as a recording program for composers, but also as a performance instrument in itself.
The updated version 9 hit the spot nicely. Its MIDI editing refinements are a big hit and the audio to MIDI conversion is brilliant. The new Browser is fast and smooth and the search function is great.
Live 9 can also be used with Ableton's new Push controller to give you an even more hands-on music-making experience.
Rank 1: Image Line FL Studio
The software began life as Fruity Loops, the phenomenally popular step-based beat/groove maker that’s been used by aspiring producers the world over (Deadmau5 included). However, full-on DAW status was achieved some time ago - if you think that this is merely an entry-level application that only allows you to create loops, you need to take a second look.
FL Studio might not be for everyone, but if its workflow agrees with you, you’ll never look back. There's even an iOS version now, and version 11 has kept the desktop version moving forward by adding a Performance mode, multitouch support, new synths and new effects. What's more, you get the feeling that there are even greater things to come.
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