Best DAW for PC

[Duchess75]

I'm trying to get into composing and arranging for music libraries and I've been told that most composers use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) to input their scores into in order to have them played/recorded for use. I've been recommended a couple of packages for MIDI inputting/writing: Logic X and Ableton (and possibly Pro Tools?)

I wondered if anyone could recommend either of these? The main thing for me to consider is that I use a PC and not a MAC. I want something that is going to allow me to produce professional-sounding results so I can submit my music properly and at least be considered!

I don't need fancy stuff. The key thing is a DAW that is compatible with my music writing software (Music Publisher) and that has realistic instrumental sounds. It doesn't need to notate stuff for me - I'm not paying extra for things I can do myself. Any recommendations?

[chk071]

If you're not on a Mac, then Logic won't be an option, because it is Mac only. The main question is, how much are you willing to spend? Most of the major DAW's will cost a couple of hundred $/€. If you want to go for something affordable, check the market place forum on this site, and get yourself a copy of Studio One 2 Producer. I got mine for $45 i think, and it's a mighty good DAW, especially if you come from Cubase, as it has a very similar workflow. If you can afford it, i'd go with Cubase if you want a VST DAW, or, with Propellerhead Reason, which would give you a big library of sounds, if you're looking for "realistic instrumental sounds". Not the highest quality of sounds though, but, if you want that, i figure you'd want to shell out some money, and get some Kontakt libraries, or similar on top of the DAW expenses.

[whyterabbyt]

I wondered if anyone could recommend either of these? The main thing for me to consider is that I use a PC

A rough idea of the spec of your PC might help, particularly if its older.

[RichieWitch]

With current computing power, any DAW is going to run on your PC. That's not really an issue. What it comes down to is workflow. Every DAW has their particular target audience that likes making music in a particular way. You have to figure out what *your* way is and then choose a DAW that encourages that workflow rather than getting in your way.

As for instrumental sounds, I don't think you're going to find a DAW that comes with a comprehensive collection of orchestral instruments. Some DAWs have a limited collection or you may be able to buy expansion packs that include ocrchestral instruments. But I would suggest you pick up a Sampler type instrument, and then buy the instrument libraries you need. Native Instrument's Kontakt is probably the most well known of these types of instruments, but IK Multimedia also offers an affordable orchestral instrument. I'm sure other KVRers will expand this list.

The libraries you can add vary wildly in quality, especially in the area of how many samples have been made of each note at each velocity, or whether they recorded fewer notes and just pitched them up or down to create the surrounding notes. As you can imagine, the more samples the library is built from, the more labor-instensive it was to create, and the higher the cost, but the more realistic sounding. For me, I like libraries that contain multiple samples of the same note, round-robin style, so that if you play the same note in a sequence, there are subtle variations each time the note is sounded. Again, more samples = higher cost.

So there is some food for thought. I compose occasional orchestral pieces, and I use Ableton Live and Kontakt, using some of the instruments that came with Kontakt (like the cello ensemble) and a handful of instruments I've added over time (Yamaha grand piano and timpani come to mind). I can't say Ableton is the best choice for orchestral composition, but it works for me.

[bobhva]

Try any demos that you can first to see if the workflow fits your taste, most of them have a trial version for evaluation. Avid | First is free, MuTools is a very good free program. I personally use Sonar and Live because I like the workflow of those programs. Everybody has an opinion on which DAW is "best", but you need to find what works best for you.

As far as Instruments go there is also a wide range of products that would work for you. I personally think the Sonivox Film Score Companion is a very nice package that sounds very good and covers the basics for this type of music. Beware though Sonivox customer service is one of the worst companies that I have dealt with.

Have fun and best of luck to you.

[Zexila]

The key thing is a DAW that is compatible with my music writing software (Music Publisher) and that has realistic instrumental sounds.

Tough one, Logic got decent orchestral stuff in factory library, but it's OS X and doesn't do your software, other stuff cost way too much and still doesn't get anything close.

Cheapest route is to go with Reaper for DAW and go for some 3rd party orchestral library (is this good enough? http://www.garritan.com/products/personal-orchestra-5/ ), you can score this for the price of some DAW's that are going to be recommended.

There's also free orchestral libraries, don't know how good they are, check this out.

viewtopic.php?p=6512783

[tehlord]

Most composers use Cubase.

If you want to create for music libraries forget about using free orchestral samples. Things have moved on.

[lobanov]

There is no "the best DAW for PC" but there is "the best DAW for you". Goals and needs, money, your actual specs, your preferences in GUI, music you make etc. Your optimal choice depends on all of these.
Look at this and demo what you like the most, don't rely on people opinions:
https://www.kvraudio.com/q.php?search=1 ... 60&tg[]=10
Sorry, there is some "crap" in this list (abandonware and just "bad" software). But the choice is wide these days.

P.S. ProTools is more for mixing engineers I think.

[lobanov]

And after researching put concrete questions: "Is Cubase (Reaper, FLStudio, StudioOne etc.) good for XXXX?" Your question is too vague to answer it. Too many choices.

[flugel45]

The other thing to consider is whether you want a linear or pattern-based DAW.

Generally-speaking, if you have some musical training - especially on piano/keyboard - and plan to play your parts into the DAW through a midi keyboard, then you probably want a linear-based DAW. Examples of these are Cubase, Studio One, Sonar and Reaper.

If you don't have much musical training, or just want to make use of loops (pre-recorded bits of music) for your productions, then pattern-based might be the way to go. DAWS in this category are FL Studio, Ableton Live and Bitwig.

There is a lot of overlap between the two types, but you probably want to stick to the one that mostly fits your style of music-making -- at least in the beginning. Once you get the hang of things, there's nothing stopping you from using both types... Many here do!

[Jolaff]

In what Cubase or Studio One is more linear than Ableton/Bitwig?

Clips mode is just an option in Live/Bitwig.... if you use the arrangement it's all the same thing...

[jhudstudio]

In what Cubase or Studio One is more linear than Ableton/Bitwig?

Clips mode is just an option in Live/Bitwig.... if you use the arrangement it's all the same thing...

I have used FL for years and its so fast to mix in. But far as linear and recording audio, it's not the best at the time.

I manage to do my own work around. I can't live without the mixer setup. So fast and easy to mix with.

[LawrenceF]

You might consider trying to compose in whatever software your mix engineer uses first. I assume by never having or using a daw you likely won't be mixing it yourself, which would probably be a mistake as relates to trying to get placements, unless you're pretty good at it.

The potential benefit of that, assuming you have a mix guy, is that you'll personally know someone who knows how to use the software.

[Googly Smythe]

... I want something that is going to allow me to produce professional-sounding results so I can submit my music properly and at least be considered!...

This depends more on your plugins and sample libraries/instruments. Even an entry level DAW may suffice, if you have something like EastWest Hollywood orchestra, or a bunch of quality Kontakt libraries.
Most built-in vst instruments are pretty average...
This all assumes, of course, that you can actually write some good toons to begin with!

[Alejandro_ar]

........I've been told that most composers use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) to input their scores into in order to have them played/recorded for use.
.......I want something that is going to allow me to produce professional-sounding results ...........
I don't need fancy stuff. The key thing is a DAW that is compatible with my music writing software (Music Publisher) and that has realistic instrumental sounds.

As you are using a "music writing program" I should assume for what you said that you write most of your music using music notation and perhaps some you play using a midi controller, digital piano or whatever instrument that sends midi messages. Probably the program you have (which I don´t know and have never tried) have some kind of performance humanizing function and ways to edit the dynamics (if not, most DAWs will allow you to do this).

Maybe you are thinking that your working flow might begin by you assigning each instrument to a different midi channel and then saving your work as a midi file (in the proper format). Then, most DAWs will allow you to load that midi file automatically assigning to each instrument (track) a different midi channel. Then, you will be able for example to assign to every track, a different virtual instrument (vst soft synths or virtual sampler). Of course, you will be able as well to add to your composition, in the DAW, tracks with pre-recorded sounds / audio (wav files or whichever other format your DAW allows to) or to record them.

If this is so, and as flugel45 said and because the way in which you said you make your music, I think that you might end up feeling more comfortable using a linear-based DAW and will suit you better. I do have FL Studio and love it, but I think it might not be the proper one for you. Which one?: any of the linear-based ones that are being recommended I guess. The ones I know (I have used or tried) are Sonar by Cakewalk which can be recommended, Cubase (which I had and I know is very good but I found less friendly than Sonar, but that is me), and Power Tracks Pro Audio from PG Music (which seems kind of childish if judged by its GUI but is powerful enough and costs half what the entry level versions of most of the better known, but has no demo trial). Most DAWs you can try before buying.

You can buy a DAW (the lowest version being sold of each brand but probably sufficient for your needs) for around 100 U$S. Where you will be spending more money is in your instruments. Regarding acoustic instruments, sampled ones -for which you will be using a virtual sampler- might be the best choice (though there might be exceptions). Good sampled instruments are expensive (just one can be as expensive or more than what you will be paying for your DAW). There are many good ones (the expensive ones for Kontak by Native Instruments are a good bet so you could buy Kontakt or instruments powered by Native Instruments that can be played by Kontakt Player (which is their free virtual sampler version just to play those particular instruments)).

Therefore, I think you ought to be thinking of spending for a start not less than 500 U$S in total (that is if you want, as you said, realistic instrument sounds to play and record your scores). Afterwards, you will probably keep buying more instruments in the future (and that is another bet I dare to make).

But maybe I have it all wrong and there are other ways in which you could be able to better achieve your goal (surely there are) and/or short-cuts for allowing you to spend less money at the beginning. Mine is just an opinion (and not a qualified one).