KVR Audio

dark water · Post by **dark water** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 8:54 pm

Hello everyone,

If you could only work with a free DAW, (not a cheap one), which would you choose please?

I am a teacher of a class of 30 children aged 8-9 years old.
We have 13 (@_@!!) working PC computers in our computer lab, and no midi input devices currently (school funding for such luxuries is non-existent in UK schools like ours).

However, we have a group of very enthusiastic children and, or course, computer mice for inputting sequences in piano rolls etc.

I have read this thread from 2015, and there are some worthy contenders put forward as useful free DAWs:
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=449145&start=60

We've now moved on a couple of years, and I'm looking at Traction 6 Free, Zynewave Podium Free, Studio One Free.
Mulab free is another consideration. Are there any others you would recommend please?

I'm downloading and using various free DAWs (as per the above) currently, but it would be helpful if any people with some experience at using any free DAW could also comment on its strengths and weaknesses please.

I would like to teach my pupils how to discover, enjoy and play around with synths, drum machines and effects during the next 6 months (hopefully once per week).

I'm happy to use free VST plugins, outside of the DAW's own plugins, and I already have a great number of these that I use myself in my own home DAW (commerical licensed DAW, Ableton Live 8 ).

Please only recommend free DAWs that you think would be easy and enjoyable for 8-9 year olds to use.
Please don't recommend cheap ones, they really are beyond us as we have no extra money this current academic year to spend.

Many thanks,
DW

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 8:57 pm

MuLab, it's really nice looking, easy and fun DAW for kids, maybe LMMS?

https://lmms.io/

There's also Magix Music Maker Free

http://www.magix.com/us/music-maker/

But hands down MuLab, it's really great for kids.

dark water · Post by **dark water** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 9:09 pm

Cool - thanks Zexila.
I've just downloaded Studio One, Zynewave and Traction 6, so I'll download MuLab too.

It'll be great to hear from other people too - their recommendations and reasons.

Cheers,
DW

Scrubbing Monkeys · Post by **Scrubbing Monkeys** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 9:15 pm

Mulab

Easy, fun and powerful.

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 9:15 pm

Studio One Prime doesn't support 3rd party VST's. I can't even get around in Tracktion, been using DAW's for quite some time...

dark water · Post by **dark water** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 9:16 pm

Excellent, thanks Scrubbing Monkeys (and for the heads up Zexila)

reusenoise · Post by **reusenoise** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 9:47 pm

https://soundbridge.io/

pc999 · Post by **pc999** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 10:05 pm

Feature wise and for free I would say these two open source app are the best. They have everything you need, run great on old PCs, are close to the commercial DAWs in workflow, are more future proof, have no copy protection issues, plenty of tutorials online, and many more advantages.

For edm/midi heavy music styles:
https://lmms.io/

hhttps://youtu.be/W6tEolVz3_4

For recording music styles:
https://ardour.org/

Plus I always have found that teaching software with Open Source app to be much more liberating.

pc999 · Post by **pc999** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 10:08 pm

Feature wise and for free I would say these two open source app are the best. They have everything you need, run great on old PCs, are close to the commercial DAWs in workflow, are more future proof, have no copy protection issues, plenty of tutorials online, and many more advantages.

For edm/midi heavy music styles:
https://lmms.io/

For recording music styles:
https://ardour.org/

Plus I always have found that teaching software with Open Source app to be much more liberating.

metamorphosis · Post by **metamorphosis** » Mon Jan 29, 2018 10:15 pm

I wouldn't recommend Tracktion 6 - too many bugs, although it's an excellent interface to get kids learning the basics compared to most DAWS.
I don't have enough experience with the others to recommend any particular one.

THE INTRANCER · Post by **THE INTRANCER** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 1:04 am

For that kind of age range, I wouldn't introduce them to the daws which are suggested above, instead I would introduce them using something far far simpler, fun and inviting such as this

. They can go online at school or at home without needing to buy anything.

https://www.audiotool.com/

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:22 am

They don't need to buy free DAW either and can use it offline too, even from flash drive which is case for MuLab...

THE INTRANCER · Post by **THE INTRANCER** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:43 am

Zexila wrote:They don't need to buy free DAW either and can use it offline too, even from flash drive which is case for MuLab...

Kids of that age lose and forget things though, there's no download or installation required of dedicated software with audiotool. Mulab is something I think is more suited to those a bit older, 11 / 12 years old to get started on. With Audiotool it opens up the create freedom and forms a foundation and understanding of synths themselves before really moving onto more advanced sequencing software.

shidostrife · Post by **shidostrife** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 4:09 am

Maybe try Stagelight?
http://us.openlabs.com

It's colorful and fun to look at.
Also Soundbridge. Never tried it, but looks good.
Magix Music Maker seems easy, but quite unstable on my system. Your experience might differ.

If you're confident you could teach Studio One, the free version is pretty good, too. But I don't think they'd be encouraging for 8-9 years old.

VST is non-issue for such young kids. I'd get unlimited tracks over VST support.

swatwork · Post by **swatwork** » Tue Jan 30, 2018 8:53 am

I'd probably go with Studio One Prime. Despite it's limitations it contains all you need to get started including a single virtual instrument, a small number of built in effects, unlimited tracks and wav-file export for the finished product.

The UI/Workflow is easy enough for beginners to get to grips with and the lack of 3rd-party VST support means no distractions or configuration problems. The virtual instrument (Presence XT) comes with enough sounds to get started (including drum kits) and these can easily be modified using its built-in synthesis capabilites if you want to get into the basics of sound design.

Best free DAW (January 2018) for teaching young pupils: Traction 6, Podium, Studio One or another?