A DAW that was created to work perfect with wave files.

[clangorous]

Studio One does an excellent job with wav files. It will do some amazing things with transient detection and groove extraction and the bend editing capability allows you to quantize audio. Pitching and adjusting tempo is easy.

There is a learning curve like any DAW, but it works great with WAV files.

[nix808]

u wanna some magixx ACID?
+1

[satYatunes]

You should definitely look at Sony ACID Pro. It's main purpose was to work with audio files/loops, MIDI was added later on (I forgot the version). It detects the tempo and key of the wav file and matches it to your project Key and tempo. Great workflow to sketch ideas quickly by throwing in some loops. It's beat mapper function helps with longer audio files especially for remix. It was a very capable DAW, unfortunately the development stopped at version 7. They kept alive the music studio version however I have never demoed it. It's a cut down version of Acid Pro. Now it's owned by Magix so lets see what they do with it.

Reaper started mimicking Acid Pro functions in it's early days. In fact, it was the only replacement and close to Acid Pro functionality. It's a full fledged DAW now with good capabilities to handle wav files. Only function that's missing is auditioning / matching the wav files to project key.

Tracktion 6 is pretty good in this area however I am not sure how good it's wav file editing / warping features are.

[Googly Smythe]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Cubase, so... Cubase.
Besides, most, if not all, current DAWS can handle audio satisfactorily.

[whyterabbyt]

OP has been here since 2004. Clearly not enough time to find a DAW which works with audio files.

[sfxsound3]

most, if not all, current DAWS can handle audio satisfactorily.

I'm on the contrary opinion. I've tried most of them, and they are still lacking in essential functions. No option to rename or delete a file from the DAW's file browser? Most don't have that!!! No integrated audio editor? No batch processing? Just some basic, basic audio handling functions - normalize, reverse, invert phase, stretch, - and if you want more - go buy a dedicated editor app. The good ones are several hundred bucks. But you'll have to use it outside the DAW, then import, then export, etc.

OK, I haven't checked latest Cubase or Logic, but other than those two - it's a fest.

[T-CM11]

most, if not all, current DAWS can handle audio satisfactorily.

I'm on the contrary opinion. I've tried most of them, and they are still lacking in essential functions. No option to rename or delete a file from the DAW's file browser? Most don't have that!!! No integrated audio editor? No batch processing? Just some basic, basic audio handling functions - normalize, reverse, invert phase, stretch, - and if you want more - go buy a dedicated editor app. The good ones are several hundred bucks. But you'll have to use it outside the DAW, then import, then export, etc.

OK, I haven't checked latest Cubase or Logic, but other than those two - it's a fest.

If you want a full audio editor inside a DAW, why not purchase IL Edison?

[sfxsound3]

most, if not all, current DAWS can handle audio satisfactorily.

I'm on the contrary opinion. I've tried most of them, and they are still lacking in essential functions. No option to rename or delete a file from the DAW's file browser? Most don't have that!!! No integrated audio editor? No batch processing? Just some basic, basic audio handling functions - normalize, reverse, invert phase, stretch, - and if you want more - go buy a dedicated editor app. The good ones are several hundred bucks. But you'll have to use it outside the DAW, then import, then export, etc.

OK, I haven't checked latest Cubase or Logic, but other than those two - it's a fest.

If you want a full audio editor inside a DAW, why not purchase IL Edison?

He's asking about a DAW. I already mentioned the purchase option. OK, Edison is a plugin, which is a plus, but how do I transfer files from it to the DAW and back? Drag and drop? Don't think so.

[xbitz]

"I transfer files from it to the DAW and back? Drag and drop?" well... in AL Edison(standalone version) is a great choice as a third-party editor


it's scriptable too https://www.image-line.com/support/flst ... ol_run.htm if need some automatable process

[alex921]

there is Audacity,

Audacity is an audio editor, not a DAW.

And you're point is? Audacity is not a DAW I get that. But it doesn't mean it can't be used as a external audio editor. It's more capable then most DAWs functionality in terms of audio editing. For example, I use Audiofinder aswell , which is remarkable efficient in handling my samples, but also remarkably faster and smoother with audio editing.

Start to think out the box a little bit...

[inkwarp]

considering the OP specifically asked about a DAW.
it's in the question.

[omiroad]

The OP describes a traditional DAW, like Cubase.

[Distorted Horizon]

Just remembered that Reaper just had spectral editor built in.

[jancivil]

OP has been here since 2004. Clearly not enough time to find a DAW which works with audio files.

peek out from facepalm.jpg

[soulone82]

I would suggest Logic, but it was created to work perfect with .aiff files.