KVR Audio

DataHawking · Post by **DataHawking** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 10:04 am

So I've downloaded and tried a few demo versions of DAWs and I can't decide between two. These are Bitwig Studio and Ableton Live 9. I'd be getting the standard version of ableton if I was to get it because I want to pick up Serum as my first synth (Really enjoying the demo of it). Furthermore I will be buying a controller in a couple of weeks to go with said DAW and I was thinking about getting push since it seems to work well with both. I already have a second hand audio interface and a pair of Ath m50x (can't use monitors atm).

So if anyone has any input on either DAW, I'd love to hear it.

tehlord · Post by **tehlord** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 10:49 am

Pick whichever one you feel most comfortable using.

If you like Serum then really, really learn it. If you're just starting out one of the worst things you can do is start buying loads of plugins. It's best to have a small selection of tools you know very well. They all do pretty much the same thing in slightly different ways anyway.

robertreynoldsII · Post by **robertreynoldsII** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 4:20 pm

tehlord wrote:Pick whichever one you feel most comfortable using.

If you like Serum then really, really learn it. If you're just starting out one of the worst things you can do is start buying loads of plugins. It's best to have a small selection of tools you know very well. They all do pretty much the same thing in slightly different ways anyway.

I totally made this mistake...too many tools ruined my inspiration.

DataHawking · Post by **DataHawking** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 6:33 pm

tehlord wrote:Pick whichever one you feel most comfortable using.

If you like Serum then really, really learn it. If you're just starting out one of the worst things you can do is start buying loads of plugins. It's best to have a small selection of tools you know very well. They all do pretty much the same thing in slightly different ways anyway.

Yeah I think I'll get Bitwig. And I will learn how Serum works. I'm going to limit myself to one software that isn't native to the DAW for the first year or so. Thanks for the advice!

rod_zero · Post by **rod_zero** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 6:54 pm

If you are gonna get bitwig from their online store I have a $50 coupon (courtesy of u-he) I can give away to you.

I have Push and use Live, I have a little bit invested in Live at this point and it will take some more things from Bitwig to switch but if you are starting IMHo both are fine choices. Bitwig IMHO biggest downside is the CPU use, the GUI and the lack of content.

But you get great modulation system, layering editing and hybrid tracks. What ever you choose pretty much all translates to the other.

Other thing I didn't like about bitwig was the demo, way to restrictive for real testing.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 7:09 pm

I use Push and Live too. There's an unbelievable amount of content with Live 9 Suite, and a mass of third party packs available. I don't know if Bitwig has the same level of support yet ... like rod_zero, I have a lot invested (including many years) in Live.

I agree it's good to learn your tools and don't get addicted to downloading plugins. Good luck making your choices.

simon.a.billington · Post by **simon.a.billington** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:19 am

Think about features and workflow.

If there are particular types of tasks you do quite regularily or certain techniques in writing and mixing, you want it to be quick and intuitive, not hard, convoluted or buried deep in a menu system.

So you really need to work in them and explore them fully, take notes if you have to because it's a pain in the ass if you end up choosing the wrong one.

Then there is 3rd party support. Once you get to a certain point you will be wanting to expand on your system with plugins, you already mentioned Serum.

But not all DAWS are fully supported by everyone, so if there are other things you have your eye on you may want to do your homework and see if they are supported.

Out of the two, Live is the most fully supported. I hear people having issues with some plugins in Bitwig. As an example Waves, one of the majors, doesn't officially support Bitwig but it does support Live. You could try and run the plugins, they might work and even if you do have issues I understand Waves Support is quite good, but there's only so much they can do help because the DAW isn't officially supported.

I'm sure other developers would be the same.

Just something to think about

lnikj · Post by **lnikj** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:36 am

From a slightly different perspective, I am a semi-pro photographer. People in the photographic community will frequently ask whether they should use Photoshop or the GIMP, Paint Shop Pro etc. I, and most people who've been doing it for a long time, would say Photoshop. That is a judgement that is not entirely based on the capabilities of the software though (the GIMP is just about as powerful), it is about the fact that Photoshop is an ecosystem, with a vast amount of support, tutorials, videos, plugins, forum posts etc about it. So many people use it and understand it and help is very easy to find.

Being the new kid on the block, Bitwig doesn't have that yet. Live does. If I was starting out I would be looking for what I could most easily find help with (books, training videos, forums etc).

lnikj · Post by **lnikj** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:36 am

Oops, double

DJ Warmonger · Post by **DJ Warmonger** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 1:02 pm

Not absolutely sure what Bitwig can do, but Serum definitelly can do great things that Ableton Suite can't. Which is why I bought it. This is oustanding and future-proof synth, also GUI will help you learn the basics.

As to DAW, Ableton and Bitwig are pretty similiar and have bright future ahead. The most important thing is what you prefer or need.

Software Choice