Digital Audio Workstation or simply DAW has revolutionized sound recording and editing over the years. Back in the day, music enthusiasts would shiver thinking of the hard work they had to put in to make quality music.
Instruments were complicated and the instructions were unclear. Now with advancements in modern technology, making music has never been so easy. And DAW is the key to achieving this success.
Let's look at some brief details about the products. If you get interested, you can check out more about them in our later segment.
Image | Product | Features | Price | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Logic Pro | Features an AI drummer with a wide range of beats. Comes with Flextime Quick Help menu | $-$$ | |
 | Ableton | Comes with a live new pedal Drum buss device for efficient and clean drumming Nested groups | $-$$ | |
 | FL Studio | Option of multiple arrangements 125 Mixer tracks available Free updates | $ | |
 | PreSonus | Parallel Processing Multi-touch user interface Extended effects panel | $-$$ | |
 | Avid Pro Tools | 3 months of free autotune use Latency monitoring Easy to use | $$$ | |
 | Cubase | Comes with a video editing mode Incredible Presets Precise recording and mixing | $$ | |
 | Reason | Notes are easily highlighted and muted Features scenic hybrid instrument Access to VST plugin | $$ | |
 | Cakewalk | User-friendly interface Wide range of effects and sends Effortless multitasking because of the innovative skylight interface | $-$$ | |
 | Bitwig | Works on Windows, Mac, Linux Individual Note modulation Collection of 119 drum kits | $-$$ | |
 | Acoustica | Easily controllable mixer panel Attractive visuals Features a humble bundle | $$$ |
1. Logic Pro X-Best for Value
This DAW
on our list has gotten the attention of music producers worldwide for its
user-friendliness and fantastic features. The logic pro x was a huge leap from
the previous edition. It comes with extremely convenient plugins.
The DAW
has a huge array of instruments, synthesizers, and presets you can choose from.
An interesting thing that Apple has provided its user is the demo projects. The
users get their hands full of synths, drums, and beats of a full demo that they
can play with.
They can customize it and make new sounds with it. Getting the rights of a song can be tough but Apple seems to do it with ease. And the most amazing part of it is that the demo projects are free.
PROS
CONS
2. Ableton Live 10- Best for the innovativeness
Imagine
one day you are playing the keyboards or guitar and suddenly you come up with a
tone. But alas you can’t seem to play that again or figure out the chords. A
musical masterpiece just can get lost like that.
But you don’t have to worry if you use this DAW on our
list. It has a capture feature that will tell you the exact chords or rhythms
that you used while playing that tone. Also, the stock plugins are intuitive
and creative. It has been loathed by musicians for its innovativeness.
PROS
CONS
3. FL Studio 20 - Best for Synchronization
They have been in the DAW business for more than 20 years now. They sure know their stuff. Therefore, they came up with this banger. Every DAW has an APDC system which is short for auto plugin delay compensation.
This system makes sure all the sounds that are being recorded and mixed stay synchronized. In FL Studio 20, this system is nearly flawless. Overall, it’s a great DAW for beginners and professionals alike,PROS
CONS
4. PreSonus Studio One-Best for Corroboration
For better sound editing and mixing, it's sometimes essential to merge and sync multiple DAWs. But many DAWs in the market don’t have the feature for syncing with other DAWS.
This one in our list can be used well with other DAWs. Also, it doesn’t have any limitation over music style. You can experiment and make any type of music you want. This is a great product for creative reasons.PROS
CONS
5. Avid Pro Tools-Best for live instruments
This next DAW on our list handles audio recording and editing very well. The user can easily edit and manipulate their sound. One problem that many DAW users face is that sometimes they forget to save their audio track and everything is lost. But with the pro tools auto-saving system, you don’t have to worry about that.
It always creates a backup for this case. It has a cool beat detective tool that helps its user create custom beats and loops. It also provides a lot of editing features. All in all, it’s a simple yet efficient DAW for you to purchase.
PROS
CONS
6. Cubase 10-Best for Efficiency
DAWs are used to produce sound at a fast rate. To achieve that, it needs multi-functionality. Cubase 10 is highly praised by critics and users alike for its efficiency. With its powerful pitch connection controller and hit point detection system, it can save a lot of time.
In many cases, a user has to perform multiple tasks at the same time. This DAW is perfect for situations like that. It’s an extremely powerful and functional DAW that anybody is going to love to use.
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CONS
7. Reason Suite 11-Best for Live Looping
This DAW on our list of top 10 DAWs for beginners provides tons of opportunities for the user to play with their creativity.
It has a massive variety of loops and samples. Also, with an astounding number of audio effects, it’s a great choice for anyone eager to learn sound mixing.
PROS
CONS
8. Cakewalk Sonar X3 - Best for Clean Workflow
Well, DAWs tend to get messy with all the configurations and settings popping up from all the parts of the screen. It's extremely hard to keep track of what is exactly happening.
This DAW in our list solves this problem. The skylight interface has easy access to all settings and effects. You can edit MIDI tracks in no time. The DAW also offers a versatile range of tracks and audios for you to play with. The most fascinating aspect of this DAW is its addictive drums. It has a full set of drums with separate output for each of them.
If you are thinking of mastering audio editing, this DAW can give you the boost that you need.
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CONS
9. Bitwig Studio - Best for Availability
Next On our list of top 10 DAWs for beginners is this state-of-the-art DAW. It’s available in all operating systems and has a detailed editing function. For creative purposes, users need to have access to third-party instruments to make unique beats.
Bitwig studio allows the user to utilize third-party apps to make incredible music. If you are thinking of starting a career in music production then give this DAW a chance.
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CONS
10. Acoustica Mixcraft 9 Pro- Best for PC
Last but not least is this magnificent DAW on our list of top 10 DAW for beginners. With its out of box features and innovative tools, it has quickly become a favorite DAW for many people. The preset is very easy to get hold of. It also provides tons of royalty-free samples and beats so that the beginners can get a basic idea of editing or organizing.
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DAW Buying Guide
Here are some factors you should consider before thinking of getting a DAW.
Mac or PC
These two are the most popular operating systems for computers in the world right now. The computer is the main source and the place where everything flows from. Many DAWs operate on either Mac or PC.
So, it's important to figure out that the DAW you’re buying suits your computer's operating system. Because, if they are not compatible, the whole process of sound editing and mixing won’t even start.
Price
Probably one of the things that we wish we could ignore. But sadly, it’s a big deal. DAWs in the market currently range from cheap to very expensive prices. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the more expensive the DAW is, the better the features are. Even a moderately priced DAW can do a lot.
And also, another important thing is that often there are huge discounts on DAWs. So, always look for something that is well in your budget but also fulfills your ambitions.
Audio Plugin Compatibility
We’ve already talked about compatibility in our Mac or PC section. But there is another factor. So, the main thing is the audio has to be inputted from the source to the computer to edit or mix it.
For that, there are certain varieties of connection types or plugins. There 3 types of these plugins that you should check with your computer if it's compatible or not.
Headphone Outputs and Microphone Preamps
If you are a music producer, you have to have microphone preamps up your sleeves. You need to continuously record and mix various sounds at the same time. Preamps are necessary for doing that.
Also, headphone outputs are good for collaboration. You can manage multiple tracks with ease. So, look for a DAW that has access to these configurations. If a DAW has multiple settings, it is much more efficient and ergonomic.
Resolution
Last but not least, you have to look for the resolution of the DAW. At the end of the day, the most important thing that matters is the quality of the sound. If a DAW produces a cacophonous sound, it's best to ignore it.
You want to make rhythmic and mellifluous sounds with your DAW. So, before buying always check the resolution.
Final Thoughts
Sound mixing and editing sound complicated because of the technicality and skill that it requires. But it isn’t. With a user-friendly DAW that has a sufficient number of features and effects, even you can be a virtuoso in music production.
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