Need DAW good at film scoring

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

Well, time marches on and I want to try my hand at scoring film/animation.

My current DAW (Tracktion) doesn't seem to be good at handling video (3 tries, 3 crashes) so I'm looking for something else (le sigh).

I have SONAR X3 but it's not installed.. the workflow isn't that good for me. BUT.. if it can handle scoring video.. I'll suck it up and learn to use it.

A friend recommended Digital Performer for Windows.. but not sure.. not to mention it's freaking expensive!

Anyone have any experience/recommendations for a DAW that's good for film scoring?

[baconpriest]

I recently scored a feature in Ableton Live and I found it worked very well.

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

I recently scored a feature in Ableton Live and I found it worked very well.

I'll have to try the demo.. last I tried Ableton was a few years back.. thanks!

[arkmabat]

I haven't used it personally but depending on your daw, this plugin could prove very useful. I think Sonar X3 already can import video though.

http://www.lofibucket.com/articles/videoplayer.html

[tehlord]

90% of the people that do score use Cubase for a reason!

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

I haven't used it personally but depending on your daw, this plugin could prove very useful. I think Sonar X3 already can import video though.

http://www.lofibucket.com/articles/videoplayer.html

Nice catch! I'll try this in Tracktion this weekend!

[EdgarRothermich]

Theoretically, you can score a movie with any DAW, depending how you define "score" and what tools you need.
However, the most popular DAW used by most of the film composers is Logic Pro. Some use Digital Performer (great tools for scoring) or Cubase (like Hans Zimmer), and a very small percentage use Sonar (Mission Impossible composer Joe Kramer).

Besides the fact that it is a powerful tool, you won't get a better "bang for the bucks" than Logic. For $199 it is insanely affodable and ready to score out of the box with all the basic Plugins and sounds you need.

Disclaimer: I wrote several books for Logic in my Graphically Enhanced Manual (GEM) series, that teaches you everything you need to use this app (with graphics and diagrams not found in any other book or video tutorial). The book "Logic Pro X - The Details" contains separate chapters for "Scoring to Pictures", "Synchronization", and even "Surround Sound" that teaches you those topics with lots of background information besides the implementation in Logic, again, not be found in any other Logic book or video tutorial. This is especially useful if you are new in the field of scoring to picture.
If you want to check it out.
http://DingDingMusic.com/GEM/

[TrekStar]

90% of the people that do score use Cubase for a reason!

my vote would also go to cubase! it has the best midi editing possibilities imo...

[Zexila]

Reaper 5.0 just got out, so yeah.

[billcarroll]

90% of the people that do score use Cubase for a reason!

+1

Cubase

[Tonberry]

Cubase, Logic and Digital Performer are probably the most common DAWs among video composers. At least those are most often named during interviews I read so they probably are the best.

People say Digital Performer 8 for Windows was very buggy, 8.x updates improved it to some extent. Version 9 is more stable, but not yet super stable. Judging from what users say, it's stable enough to consider it but still not as stable as Mac version. It has a very unique workflow that sits well with making soundtracks, but if you have a project that you need to finish pronto, consider that you will have to spend slightly more time to get to know it to operate smoothly. Here is a great reason why it's so powerful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAPbm2kQ3Xo

I have never done any video so can't comment on that, but overall it's a great software, your friend gave you good advice! Take a look at this to see if it has what you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ljd7R8ASuw

Extra DAW to consider: Reaper v5 is out today and the biggest focus for this version udate was video (maybe it's karma?). It's probably going to take some time to get enough feedback to see how good that works but since it has a a fully functional demo, why not sacrifice an afternoon to give it a shot? You could save big money if it ends up competent enough for your needs.

If I'd be on your place, I'd buy Reaper if I'd be dead broke (since it's not clear yet how good its video is) slash had lots of time on my hands to check it first, Logic if I'd have slightly more money and Mac (it costs 200, just like Reaper it's a steal and its reputation in the score industry makes it a very safe bet) and make a contest between Cubase and Digital Performer if I'd want to get fully commited and have enough money not to worry.

It also depends on whether making music is your hobby or your job, I would never look at high shelf DAWs for a something I want to do just for fun unless my name would be sheik Allahakhbar.

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

Theoretically, you can score a movie with any DAW, depending how you define "score" and what tools you need.
However, the most popular DAW used by most of the film composers is Logic Pro. Some use Digital Performer (great tools for scoring) or Cubase (like Hans Zimmer), and a very small percentage use Sonar (Mission Impossible composer Joe Kramer).

Besides the fact that it is a powerful tool, you won't get a better "bang for the bucks" than Logic. For $199 it is insanely affodable and ready to score out of the box with all the basic Plugins and sounds you need.

Disclaimer: I wrote several books for Logic in my Graphically Enhanced Manual (GEM) series, that teaches you everything you need to use this app (with graphics and diagrams not found in any other book or video tutorial). The book "Logic Pro X - The Details" contains separate chapters for "Scoring to Pictures", "Synchronization", and even "Surround Sound" that teaches you those topics with lots of background information besides the implementation in Logic, again, not be found in any other Logic book or video tutorial. This is especially useful if you are new in the field of scoring to picture.
If you want to check it out.
http://DingDingMusic.com/GEM/

I don't own a Mac and I refuse to buy Apple products, so that's the end of that. I used to run Logic Silver on my PC but Apple ended that run. Love Logic, screw Apple. No personal offense intended towards you!!

DP looks good and it's a $400 crossgrade from SONAR or Tracktion at Sweetwater.. and thanks for the info on whom uses what, very informative!

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

Cubase, Logic and Digital Performer are probably the most common DAWs among video composers. At least those are most often named during interviews I read so they probably are the best.

People say Digital Performer 8 for Windows was very buggy, 8.x updates improved it to some extent. Version 9 is more stable, but not yet super stable. Judging from what users say, it's stable enough to consider it but still not as stable as Mac version. It has a very unique workflow that sits well with making soundtracks, but if you have a project that you need to finish pronto, consider that you will have to spend slightly more time to get to know it to operate smoothly. Here is a great reason why it's so powerful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAPbm2kQ3Xo

I have never done any video so can't comment on that, but overall it's a great software, your friend gave you good advice! Take a look at this to see if it has what you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ljd7R8ASuw

Extra DAW to consider: Reaper v5 is out today and the biggest focus for this version udate was video (maybe it's karma?). It's probably going to take some time to get enough feedback to see how good that works but since it has a a fully functional demo, why not sacrifice an afternoon to give it a shot? You could save big money if it ends up competent enough for your needs.

If I'd be on your place, I'd buy Reaper if I'd be dead broke (since it's not clear yet how good its video is) slash had lots of time on my hands to check it first, Logic if I'd have slightly more money and Mac (it costs 200, just like Reaper it's a steal and its reputation in the score industry makes it a very safe bet) and make a contest between Cubase and Digital Performer if I'd want to get fully commited and have enough money not to worry.

It also depends on whether making music is your hobby or your job, I would never look at high shelf DAWs for a something I want to do just for fun unless my name would be sheik Allahakhbar.

Wow, thanks for the info! DP doesn't look half bad...

Right now I'm working with an animator who is intending to do animations for corporate videos and local TV/cable channels. The pay isn't great, it's not my full-time job, but it could evolve and/or get leveraged into more meaningful work. I'm willing to throw some money at the problem (just bought a $1500 laptop to run my DAW on) since I consider it an investment in my future.

Cubase looks good as well, I used a version back in the day when I had real honest-to-goodness hardware synths (lol).

Ive tried Reaper off and on, I could never get the hang of it.. and I gave it a solid month of work. I guess it's just not for me, which is too bad, it's a great DAW.

[whyterabbyt]

Ive tried Reaper off and on, I could never get the hang of it.. and I gave it a solid month of work. I guess it's just not for me, which is too bad, it's a great DAW.

You could try seeing if it would work as a Rewire slave for the video side only, and continue working in Tracktion for everything audio?

[LawrenceF]

You could also just use a real video editor like Vegas and slave it to whatever daw you already like producing music in. A floating video window is just a floating video window. That it would be Vegas's video preview window you're looking at while doing that may offer some advantages.

Upside:

- Syncing via MTC with any free virtual midi port is easy enough.
- It'll handle video better than any music production daw.
- It's an actual video editor and can render any video format you want.
- You can use all of your VST plugins in the final stages.
- If you're gonna spend Cubase level money anyway, you'll also own a great video editor, not just another music creation daw that you may not otherwise need.

Downside:

- Vegas Pro isn't cheap and the "Movie Studio" versions don't (or at least didn't the last time I checked) slave to MTC.