MALIK ARSHAQ
We are at a point in time where irrespective of
whether you're a sound engineer, a producer
or even a musician, it has become almost
crucial to know your way around digital audio
workstations. Today, DAWs come with various
differences in terms of workflow, capabilities
and functionality. So, choosing the right
DAW based on your specific requirements
is an important factor in deciding how
efficient you might be with the software.
Let's have a quick look at a few DAWs
and see what they have to offer.
Avid Pro-Tools Logic Pro
Let's us begin with what is considered to be the industry
standard when it comes to DAWs. Pro-Tools is the preferred
platform in most commercial recording studios, having
been around for around 27 years, it has consolidated its
position in the market. As far as audio recording, editing
and complex routing capabilities go, Pro-Tools is a force
to be reckoned with. Avid has also worked towards
creating a wide range of hardware including interfaces
and mixing desks that are integrated with the software. If
you're looking to be a commercial studio engineer, audio
editor or mastering engineer then Pro-Tools is for you. With a UI similar to that of GarageBand, Apple’s flagship
DAW, Logic Pro is considered to be one of the top tier
choices when it comes to professional audio production
tools. Retaining the simple and clean aesthetic, Logic Pro
combines it with extensive MIDI editing capabilities, high
quality software instruments, synthesizers and effects. A
marriage of detailed MIDI capabilities and professional
recording and editing options, Logic Pro is a no-brainer for
intermediate and expert level audio engineers and producers,
especially if they're accustomed to working on Macs.
GarageBand
This extremely user-friendly DAW rose to fame because
of its simple interface and the ease with which users
could pick it up to get some great results. GarageBand
comes free with Macintosh computers which makes it
extremely accessible. It has plenty to offer in terms of
samples, software instruments and effect plugins. Even
though its simplicity results in a few limitations when it
comes to routing and complex programming, its simplicity
and the quickness with which you can achieve results,
makes it an ideal DAW for beginners who are looking
to grasp the concept of recording and production.
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Ableton Live
If you are a musician that intends to perform a live electronic
set or perform with instruments and manipulate loops,
look no further. Ableton’s unique Session view allows you
to launch clips, loops and scenes, enabling the DAW to act
as an instrument itself. You can also flip over to the linear
Arrangement view to track live or MIDI instruments. Live
has a wide variety of MIDI controllers and hardware that are
seamlessly integrated to it, such as the grid-based Ableton
Push. Enhancements such as Link allow you to sync two
different devices, in order to be control the DAW from either
device in real time. MaxforLive is a platform that provides a
wide plethora of new and re-worked plugins in open source
fashion. Even though it functions as a mixing/editing tool,
it doesn't not compare to DAWs such as Pro-Tools in that
aspect. Ableton Live is perfect for DJs, electronic musicians
or artists that are oriented towards loop based performances.