KVR Audio

cowby · Post by **cowby** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 4:40 am

Hi Guys,

Is it because some DAW are good at making Dance tunes where another one is good at making Classical / Movie kind of music ? Just like Headfi lovers who may have many Different types of Headphones to taste different kind of music. Can you share why you have more than one DAW but still actively using them in turn or in special occasion ?

Cheers!
Cowby

vegaron · Post by **vegaron** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 5:15 am

I wanted to ask the same question for months now! I never understood, why so many people here bother to buy and learn such complex software more than once. I don't even know my own DAW in full detail yet.

Apratim · Post by **Apratim** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 5:25 am

some have second daw and some dont they use it due to some features which are available in other daw like i was using reaper with ableton for the m4l environment

but later bought max 7 so i use it rewired so no second daw for me new

THE INTRANCER · Post by **THE INTRANCER** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:14 am

I've probably answered that in a different thread recently, but fundamentally it comes down to my needs exceeding the capabilities in which the daw in which I moved from couldn't meet my requirements to fulfil a desired task or tasks to a level I was comfortable with.

I moved from Reason 7.0 to Studio One 2.6/..3.0, because my focus was on producing film score music and had easy access to VST instruments directly without needing to do loopback tricks with NI Reaktor 5 and loopmidi utilities. Better workflow features / environment too for that purpose. 200 track projects v 30 to 40 that was typical in Reason for me.

Distorted Horizon · Post by **Distorted Horizon** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:28 am

Why people buy and use different synths when they can get things done with one?

For me Reaper is a simplified workhorse (with as much depth as I want/need), Bitwig is also a workhorse but more experimental, Reason is mostly for fun and sound exploration. If a few things were made better in midi roll and arrangement view, it could easily be a workhorse too. FLStudio on the other hand is a bit different from anything else and forces me to think differently so the output is also different.

el-bo (formerly ebow) · Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:33 am

Consistenly using the same environment/workflow may lead to proficiency, but at the same time can sometimes lead to creative stagnation.

Changing up that environment/workflow can force people to work in different ways, which can offer fresh inspiration, and different outcomes. Of course, you may even end up with similar outcomes. However, the journey to get there might turn out to be more enjoyable.

morelia · Post by **morelia** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:48 am

The secondary, or even third DAW can be explained. It's the 4th I really struggle to understand.

2nd - FLStudio - I find it easier for midi based work.
3rd - Tracktion - I have a soft spot for the DAW I started out on so I keep upgrading to see where it is heading. Maybe if Reaper get's sold to Mackie I'll jump ship back to Tracktion.
4th - Studio One - I thought I would use the audio quantise more, GAS, I had a few stability problems and thought it might be a ship to jump to, not really sure. I don't use it.

machinesworking · Post by **machinesworking** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:12 am

This is really pretty straightforward.
I think there are two basic categories of DAWs in a sense:
Linear sequencers that attempt to answer all your needs like Logic, Cubase, Digital Performer, Samplitude, Reaper etc.
And concept sequencers and trackers like Live, Bitwig, ReNoise, FL Studio, Numerology etc.

Linear sequencers attempt to cover all bases, offer advanced automation features, SysEx and sometimes even NRPN access, importing of movies into the timeline with traditional syncing support, surgical MIDI editing etc. etc.
Concept sequencers will often offer non linear song creation in some way, it might even be the main way, Live and Bitwig offer super easy access to elestic audio and an intuitive workflow. All this comes at the expense of less 'features'. You personally might be fine with no SysEx acces, or limited movie integration, or limited automation types and choices, so the loss of layers of menus of things you don't use is no big deal.

I use DP9 and Live because I'm not a fan of stretching audio in DP and Live just maybe got workable SysEx. Their feature sets are different enough to where they fill the gaps the other one has. One is really intuitive,the other is really deep.

Tj Shredder · Post by **Tj Shredder** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:45 am

My main tool has not been a DAW for many years. I did all in Max/MSP really all. Back then I was very used to ProTools for all kinds of jobs, still the most intuitive tool for me. I hated the attitude of Digidesign/Avid to making their code break on OS upgrades for example - never bought it for myself.
Then there was M4L and I tried Live. It was so much focused on boring fixed beat music, couldn't deal with just editing audio without applying treatements to the audio without asking (you would have to switch off warping instead the other way around) I simply didn't like it...
I am still looking for the universal tool and can't find it yet. I got a copy of Bitwig when I bought a Keyboard, even payed for the update to 2.0. It is one of the most promising projects, but at the moment failing miserably regarding MPE. Since I have a LinnStrument, this is the core feature which has to be supported. Though its claimed and even delivered with a LinnStrument, its screwing completely the midi channel information.
I got DP with a german magazin subscription for around 90 €. A bargain? Yes, but unfortunately even normal workarounds for getting my LinnStrument in there are too much hassle.
The best until now, though with the least feature set seems to be Ardour. Its close enough to Protools has a much better waveform view for editing audio, and maybe in combination with plug-ins like Bidule it could be it. And its free software!
I still hope that Bitwig will turn into that universal tool I imagine, its also a modular synth in itself.
In short I am still not convinced to decide on a single tool for timeline based work...

P.S. My therapist says, I was traumatized when Gibson killed Studio Vision. I seem to have decided unconsciously to never trust a DAW again. I did love Studio Vision in the old days...

woggle · Post by **woggle** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 8:10 am

Tj Shredder wrote:My main tool has not been a DAW for many years. I did all in Max/MSP really all. Back then I was very used to ProTools for all kinds of jobs, still the most intuitive tool for me. I hated the attitude of Digidesign/Avid to making their code break on OS upgrades for example - never bought it for myself.
Then there was M4L and I tried Live. It was so much focused on boring fixed beat music, couldn't deal with just editing audio without applying treatements to the audio without asking (you would have to switch off warping instead the other way around) I simply didn't like it...
I am still looking for the universal tool and can't find it yet. I got a copy of Bitwig when I bought a Keyboard, even payed for the update to 2.0. It is one of the most promising projects, but at the moment failing miserably regarding MPE. Since I have a LinnStrument, this is the core feature which has to be supported. Though its claimed and even delivered with a LinnStrument, its screwing completely the midi channel information.
I got DP with a german magazin subscription for around 90 €. A bargain? Yes, but unfortunately even normal workarounds for getting my LinnStrument in there are too much hassle.
The best until now, though with the least feature set seems to be Ardour. Its close enough to Protools has a much better waveform view for editing audio, and maybe in combination with plug-ins like Bidule it could be it. And its free software!
I still hope that Bitwig will turn into that universal tool I imagine, its also a modular synth in itself.
In short I am still not convinced to decide on a single tool for timeline based work...

P.S. My therapist says, I was traumatized when Gibson killed Studio Vision. I seem to have decided unconsciously to never trust a DAW again. I did love Studio Vision in the old days...

I have just switched to Samplitude from Reaper and so far it seems very good for a standard linear DAW. I was a bit worried it would not be able to compete with Reapers much vaunted power / flexibility etc but that does not seem the case at all for what I do - which has little to do with popular music. The current bundle deal is good value as it includes Spectral Layers Pro which can be used for both corrective spectral work and interesting sound manipulation. Also includes Sound Forge which is good as replacement for Audition which is now subscription based and too expensive for me now.
http://www.magix.com/index.php?id=24739 ... d4096ab48e

D-Fusion · Post by **D-Fusion** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 8:31 am

I have many of them incase they go bankrupt.
I have used Cakewalk products and Synapse audio (Orion) for over 20 years and when it got shut down and Orion Discontinued i had Cubase to go to

I also own Studio one Artist 3.5 with vst support, FL Studio, Zynewave Podium, Energy XT (Dead sw), Reaper, Propellerhead Reason 9.5.

Tj Shredder · Post by **Tj Shredder** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 8:38 am

D-Fusion wrote:I have many of them incase they go bankrupt.

That is why I think Ardour is something worth to put even money in. Its open source and has potential and can't go bankrupt. At least not the code...

imrae · Post by **imrae** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:00 am

I haven't used it much lately, but Renoise is fun as a secondary DAW. The tracking workflow inspires different ideas and is more sample-based. It's quick to create a few variations of glitchy beats and then render them for import into the main DAW.

machinesworking · Post by **machinesworking** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:10 am

Tj Shredder wrote: P.S. My therapist says, I was traumatized when Gibson killed Studio Vision. I seem to have decided unconsciously to never trust a DAW again. I did love Studio Vision in the old days...

Well I'm willing to bet that DP 10 is being announced on the 25th at Winter NAMM. DP9 is almost three years old at this point. It's possible they get off their ass and get proper MPE support with the upgrade.

Too bad to hear about Bitwig and MPE, I've thought about it over Live but the list of things it misses VS Live keeps me in Live. Live 10 is not getting MPE support at least out the door.

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 9:18 am

I bought Reaper because I was thinking of batch converting some REX files to WAV and apparently this DAW can do that.

I bought Fruity Loops, Studio One, Magix and 'Harrison Myxomatosis Bus' because they were cheap or seemed to offer something different.

I only actually use Live 9 Suite.

[User sharing] : Why do you have a seconday DAW (or even more to use?)