PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production DAW Users - which DAW do you use and why?

Good luck.

As for complications, there's not a real big difference between ProTools, Real Band or any other DAW software, in my opinion.

How does Real Band stack up as far as VSTis and VSTi capabilities?

These are my main problems with RB. The last that I knew, I don't keep up with RB improvements, RB did not send out any timing info. Thus any VSTs, plugins like delays, vibratos, arpeggiators etc, and any VSTis that require timing info will not work automatically in RB. They can work but you have to play around with the plugin/VSTi so its timing matches RBs.

Also RB is a 32-bit program, thus its ram limit is 3.5 GBs. Many of the higher end VSTis reach that limit very fast! I was forced to upgrade to a 64-bit machine as many of my VSTis are ram hungry. I had to do 2 measures at a time, bounce to wav, then add the next 2 measures using that 32-bit DAW. Now with a 64-bit I can do the whole song with no problems.

So if you are not using high end VSTis or time dependent plugins then RB is just fine. You have to decide what your goals are! For RT and MIDI backing track generation RB is the only DAW on the market that can do that. Plus it will work with many VSTis and VSTs.

I hope this helps.

Hi Mario,
Your comment helped reinforce my recent decision to stick with Pro Tools considering I already have it and it's becoming easier to learn. You are right, the 32 bit limitation is a big deal. PG Music needs to address this.
Thanks

This is why I offered the Music Calculator app I wrote a while back.
Makes these type of exact calculations real easy.
It can be pretty handy, especially in conjunction with ACW (to find the tempo if needed).

Basically it converts tempo, resolution and milliseconds to other needed values.

For instance if the VST allows inputting a value in mS you can put in the tempo and find how many mS to each 1/4 or 1/8 note. This helps with some delays etc.

Or you can find a tempo that is '/thousandths' of a rounded tempo going the other way. Like a tempo of 120.2242 .. yes RB allows inputting that, so you can get pretty exact with a little effort and the <trademark>rharv Music Calculator</trademark>.
Maybe I should call it a studio calculator; that describes it a little better.
Back to the marketing department .. they should have thought of this!

Yes, those types of calculations were exactly what I was talking about. However it is much easier and faster if the DAW does it automatically for you.

I just wanted to let him know that you could use those time based synths/effects with RB.

Sonar X1. Has everything I need and more. I don't think my audio recordings are gonna require anything additional anytime soon.

RockinDiy.com - Recording Studio Solutions and Resources

This thread is very interesting. It's been extremely instructive for me to read the song project workflow of so many forum members and to discover the different daw preferences.

I've got to admit that, for the most part, I have no daw preference. Everyone I've tried over the years felt overwhelming and could not maintain my interest long enough for me to begin to feel comfortable. I've used Sony Acid, Cockos Reaper, Cubase, RealBand and Music Creator. Each has it's own set of strengths and weaknesses. As someone mentioned earlier it's like choosing a car or an instrument; one will fit like a glove while others will never fit. It's the trying to find the "fits like a glove" daw that's frustrating to me.

Presently, I'm using BiaB to initially find the tempo, key signature and structure of a song. I try to use midi based styles to create a very simple two or three instrument, mono backing track.
The backing track is converted to audio and imported into my Zoom MRS-8 digital eight track recorder. The recorder is used to record whatever instrument or vocal tracks I choose to record. For me, this hardware recorder works as the built-in mic, battery or a/c power, built-in drum and bass machine and the signal chain effects althorythms are functional but powerful tools.
The audio tracks are exported to Audacity for editing and some effects processing.
At least one of the audio tracks is imported into RealBand through the Audio Chord Wizard. I may use the results or may chose to use the SGU file instead.
For RealBand I believe the most important choice is deciding what instruments comprise "the band". Once that decision is made the selection of RealTracks becomes much more manageable.
Multiple styles, RealTracks, instrument specific chord charts and midi instruments are used to create "master" instrument audio tracks.
I've been trying to learn RealBand better and use the built-in effects but usually I'll get frustrated and finish adding effects and mixing in Audacity.

As you can tell my work flow is still a work-in-progress.

I'm currently using Studio One, mostly because it came bundled with my PreSonus digital interface. I found it fairly easy to learn and it works quite well. That said, I would really love to switch to Sonar X3, mainly because of their midi interface. I've downloaded the demo and the problem is, it's practically unusable since I don't have 1080x1920 screen resolution.

The images in the link below is 1080 X 1920

1080

Why would you want your DAW to have that aspect ratio?


1920 X 1080 is more likely what you're aiming for. X3 requires that? That seems odd.

//Edit - the forum software no likey the first link I tried

Yes, 1920 x 1080. Sonar doesn't require it, but it really appears cluttered on a smaller resolution. I'll keep messing with the demo and see if I can make it usable on what I have.

I use Reaper..

for example this song made with RT=>drag and drop=> reaper:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNuy7Aj_y7s


just added vocal and guitar

Wow! You have the patience of Job. I render RT's to a folder from BiAB, drag them to Logic pro and mix/apply effects and master there with Ozone plug-ins. Not being critical at all -- just amazed at the process.

An old Peggy Lee tune (which is actually even older than her). I love when these old tunes are covered and given a breath of new life. And it is especially cool when they are covered by non-English speakers. It shows how music has such a universal appeal. Thanks for posting.

Oh, and by the way, I agree... Reaper and BIAB are a great combo.

I can fix that for you for $10 ..

JBridge, natively supported in BB/RB now.

Now 64 bit plugins load normally in BB/RB (the native support part), yet they can use the other available RAM in the OS (not 32 bit limit).
So now, essentially, RB loads 64 bit VSTs that can use the full available RAM even though BB/RB itself doesn't.

I use FL Studio.

I basically use BIB to generate ideas, ie drum tracks, guitar rhythm, piano, chord progressions but not melody lines, and then compile midi file which may be anything from 4 to 32 bars. On FLS, I replace midi with VSTs, add effects, do a LOT of editing and sometimes replace midi tracks with samples & add other tracks. When song finished, I compile an mp3 file. Also, FLS allows you to compile midi file as well.
FL Studio is easiest and most comprehensive DAW on market, one that is continuing to evolve. On it, you can do anything

This is interesting. I think DAW's give themselves different audiences. For example obviously BIAB is for composers and to easily build tracks and construct style trials of melody and chorus'. But Realband say vs Cakewalk Sonar Which is buying a sequencer and a music store combined. Sonar comes with 20 synthesizers 6 drum machines and a vacation to different Studios for their mixing consoles. So you are buying a store full of gadgets. Now lexts compare Cakewalk Sonar to Reason. Reason is having those instruments hooked up and gives you examples of what different combinations will do with the combinators. Reasonbanks and Sonic Gold Refill You are buying examples of how to do many things with combinations and these give you ideas of how to think out production. Also there is another sequencer Synapse Orion that is along the lines of Reason it comes with a lot of synths like a wavestation and FM and Porphet and wavetable and a rack of lots of effects but it is not as ingenious as the combinator setups are but I believe it is like Biab a few people operation. It is made in Hungary. Then you have Cubase which is good I guess if you are a guitarist or in a band or want a seperate control room things like that. Reaper which is a sequencer. I would not compare it to Cakewalk Sonar. Which is a music store. I don't think of Reaper as anything more than a sequencer. and Fruity Loops which is kind of like Reason and Synapse. The truth is the prices of everything for what they are is a fair deal. So why not support everyone. I won't upgrade everyone but most of these I have at least bought one version of their product.

Please do not think of Reaper as merely a sequencer. It is a fully-fledged DAW. It is a lean and mean program not bloated by a whole of instruments and effects that you might not want anyway. It is just about the most stable and solid program I have ever used. You can operate the 64-bit edition of Reaper and it will load 32-bit VST instruments and effects with its own built in bridging. I have never had any problems. I think it is an outstanding program.

Janice & Bud,

Ha! Ha! I have very little patience but enjoy learning and experimenting. There is so much to learn and so little time.

The Zoom DAW has some effect chains I find very useful so I can get a track to sound similar to the way I hear it in my mind prior to moving inside the computer. It also has a built-in condenser microphone and can be ac or dc powered so it fills many needs for me. I have a computer audio interface but don't like having to crank up the ol' computer just to record something.

Software tools like Ozone or EZ Mix would be helpful for their signal chains and presets but I'm still learning to use what I have.

The mind of a retired engineer..... I 'almost' have him convinced to try the free version of Studio One Artist. He claims he's so poor he has to save up some to have enough extra to get something for free. <Grin>

Charlie