Originally Posted by David Snyder
Cakewalk by Bandlab is phenomenal and still free, I think.

Windows only. One of my many objections to GarageBand and Logic is that they are Mac only.

When there are good, cross-platform freeware and cheapware DAWs available, I don't see the point for beginners starting anywhere else.

Experienced users didn't have such choices when we started out — 1998 might as well have been the Dark Ages as far as I am concerned. I stumbled into Digital Performer back then and it's still my choice but I have since learned Logic, Reaper, Audacity, Bitwig, Harrison and a few others just so that I can collaborate with others, without which I could not have made a living during the pandemic.


BIAB 2024 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5