KVR Audio

cowby · Post by **cowby** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 7:31 am

Though my main DAW is Studio one (also got Cubase 7, Sonar x3 and Flstudio) but I found that the most pleasant GUI to my eyes is Flstudio. Love the screen color tone and not to mention the animation. What's your choice?

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 7:55 am

If you mean just visually (rather than functionally) then I've always liked Live's plain flat GUI... I find it easy on the eyes after hours of use.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:00 am

Hmmmmm...tough one. Probably Sonar Platinum, with Logic Pro X and PT11 being close and tied for second place.

xbitz · Post by **xbitz** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:13 am

piano roll (and all the Windows based windows in it) of Sonar still looks ugly, generally Bitwig(or energyXT) black/orange combo is the best color combo for me

toothnclaw · Post by **toothnclaw** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:22 am

http://renoise.com/products/renoise/screenshots

lfm · Post by **lfm** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 9:34 am

ProTools probably - and I can understand why most of the third party themes for Reaper is based on PT. Also what is there is good thinking in PT, some fast zoom options, overview of everything as inserts in track view as well as delays on each track in mixer view etc. Main drawback is you have to extend workspace to both monitors to have mixer on second, you cannot undock mixer.

Second is Samplitude - good visibility and also some clever abilities how controls on track is zoomed as track size changes. So you don't immediately loose controls when track gets samller. Plenty presets for various things in gui. Also some theme swaps that changes basic look on track view and mixer view separately to your preference.

Third Cubase - the basic look at install was really plain looking, but once getting some coloring for track types etc there is good clarity of it all. Also discovered mouse wheel smoothly changing size of Console Mixer view strips, instead of maybe two options(normal/narrow normal/tall) in most daws. I also like the stationary cursor as they call it - everything in project view scrolls at center of screen, rather than page scrolling. Also the mixer view with the tracks content is scrolled above each mixer slot. Total of it all - Cubase is favorite.

Fourth Sonar - also plain at first install, but once getting some colors for track types visibility is good. A little big and clumpsy look in mixer view, you could get much more in view having more options. Not so fond of menu everywhere, so many clicks compared to toolbars, rather prefer old Sonar 8.x there. Improved by new Control Bar though.

They all have decent coloring options for eye to quickly find what you are looking for.
I wished they all have total theme options like Reaper - but did not see a single one that really were worked through for Reaper(donated some to 3rd party Albert came quite a bit, but too much missing). Hiddeous amount of work to make a theme in Reaper - so it never got there, really.

Yorrrrrr · Post by **Yorrrrrr** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 4:43 pm

FL Studio 12.2's is the best one for me.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 5:20 pm

Cubase.

Orbit-50 · Post by **Orbit-50** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 5:25 pm

Even though it's not my main DAW of choice, FL Studio's 50 shades of dark grey is the best.

Vintage73 · Post by **Vintage73** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 5:25 pm

Appearance-only, not usability: Reaper with any number of custom themes.

Then Cubase.

Then ACID Pro 7

Then Studio One

For the hosts I've used.

next level · Post by **next level** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 5:27 pm

Orbit-50 · Post by **Orbit-50** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 5:47 pm

No one loves Studio One 3 more than me, and it's my main DAW after years and years of searching, but I would not say that it is the most pleasant to look at in any way shape or form. I just can't say it.

Vintage73 · Post by **Vintage73** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 6:02 pm

Yes, S1 3 could use some proper theming.

e@rs · Post by **e@rs** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 6:15 pm

I love Studio One v2's shades of grey.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Fri Dec 25, 2015 6:20 pm

Ableton Live looks great to me ... clean, uncluttered and easy on the eye (Disco & Dark skin especially).

Most pleasant GUI - Your choice?