If you had to stick to one DAW, which one would it be?

[machinesworking]

So comping is more like non-linear editing, then, not actual compositing. Just a formalised way of doing what I've been doing for the last 20 years with my vocal recordings and I see little or no advantage in it. I tell ya what, though - Studio One version 2 looked lovely and streamlined in that video. Very slick.

It's much quicker than editing multiple takes on separate tracks, but if you're comfortable with the long method you use, you can probably find some reasons to keep using it, mainly Comping in DAWs doesn't allow overlaps where both tracks sounds at the same time, which is of course an unrealistic in terms of performance affect, but it can be useful.

[Tj Shredder]

So comping is more like non-linear editing, then, not actual compositing. Just a formalised way of doing what I've been doing for the last 20 years with my vocal recordings and I see little or no advantage in it. I tell ya what, though - Studio One version 2 looked lovely and streamlined in that video. Very slick.

Comping is short for comparing. Its a technique in linear editing to compare and choose a part recorded in multiple takes. If you record your takes in a rhythmical loop, it makes it extremely easy to try out different takes even in very short bits and exchange them easily…

[whyterabbyt]

Comping is short for comparing.

Could you provide a citation, please, as most definitions I can find disagree with that. Almost all of them refer to comping as the process of creating a composite track

eg

https://ask.audio/articles/music-produc ... of-comping
https://www.macprovideo.com/article/aud ... -explained
https://uxdesign.cc/5-tips-for-comping- ... dd39fc30ea

I also see it mooted as 'compilation'.

https://www.uaudio.com/blog/studio-basi ... l-comping/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-production#comping
https://theblackbirdacademy.com/pro-too ... d-comping/

But I cant find a reference to it as 'comparing' anywhere.

And to be honest, even though you would be comparing takes, you're comparing them in order to select some them and order them into a final form, so 'comparison' doesnt really describe the actual process where 'composition' or 'compilation' does.

[Sascha Franck]

where 'composition' or 'compilation' does.

I'm pretty sure it's one of these that were meant when the term "comping" came up.
"Let's compile these two takes into one" is pretty much nailing what's actually happening, so that was what comping always stood for in my book, but "composite" might work just as well. "To compile" being a tad better IMO because it also works as a verb, whereas "compose" (which is the verb behind "composite" or "composition") is kinda misleading for me, as you don't exactly compose but rather compile.

[whyterabbyt]

"To compile" being a tad better IMO because it also works as a verb, whereas "compose" (which is the verb behind "composite" or "composition") is kinda misleading for me

I dont think this is necessarily the case, though I could be wrong. Composite is definitely a verb in and of itself, and whilst the current usage most commonly relates to film and image, its got its own etymology, actually deriving from 'position' rather than 'compose' ie they have that as a common root rather than one being derived from the other.

I wonder if the use of 'comping' rather than the full word 'compiling' or 'compositing' inherits from the use of 'comping' as a term in jazz, short for 'accompanying.' I could imagine that the shortened form evolved within the music industry.

Or maybe just a coincidence, who knows.

[EnochLight]

Due to some developments in my life I'll soon be getting rid of multiple DAWs, plugins & hardware to slim down my "collection" and focus my attention. I will likely make a spreadsheet for myself to help decide on the DAW I'll stick with going forward - realistically between Bitwig Studio 4, Ableton Live 11 Suite or Reason 11 Suite.

So I was wondering which DAW you lot think would be enough to cover most - if not all - of your needs, if you could never touch any other?

I hope I've not left out any important one

Obviously comments are welcome!

It sucks, because I really *WANT* to be able to answer “Reason”, because it is the environment I’m most inspired to create in. But in it’s current form and with no foreseeable fix coming for my performance and browser issues, I am forced to answer “Ableton Live Suite”.

[Tj Shredder]

Comping is short for comparing.

Could you provide a citation, please, as most definitions I can find disagree with that.

I guess I made this up by myself, I am not native speaking and for me the process was always comparing the tracks and then of course combining the good ones together. In German the composer is the one who composes the music and composing is never what I would rather call editing…
In the end I think now everybody knows what comping is…

[Sascha Franck]

Composite is definitely a verb in and of itself,

Hm, I had a look earlier and could only find a pretty vague description for "to composite", such as:
"to make composite or into something composite" (Merriam-Webster). Which is sort of fine - but even being a non-native english speaker something tells me it's rather unusual. But being that very non-native english speaker, I could as well be wrong.

I wonder if the use of 'comping' rather than the full word 'compiling' or 'compositing' inherits from the use of 'comping' as a term in jazz, short for 'accompanying.' I could imagine that the shortened form evolved within the music industry.

I have been wondering about the same thing. I was pretty familiar with "comping" as in laying down some accompanying chords before I heard the term for the first time during a studio session many moons ago. In fact, it was used for "comping" two takes on tape together, actually using mechanical tape cutting, but "accompanying" really doesn't make too much sense related to this very technique. Even "comparing" (with the following act of cutting things together) would make more sense to me.

But hey, how about: "Let's just compare two composed accompanying tracks and compile the best out of them". That might satisfy everybody. Comping de luxe.

[Danilo Villanova]

Prolly the Reaps.

[kPere]

Surprised to see completly no votes for Pro Tools.

Voted Reaper myself, but still.. Is it because of horror with MIDI workflow in PT?

[cryophonik]

Surprised to see completly no votes for Pro Tools.

Voted Reaper myself, but still.. Is it because of horror with MIDI workflow in PT?

I've been using PT for many years (not my main DAW, though) and I've just noticed that it's never been very popular on KVR. Surprisingly (or not), I've known far more people who used PT on other electronica-based forums (e.g., Anjunabeats, tranceaddict). My guess is that these results would be far different if the same poll was posted on gearspace and you'd probably see way more (than 1) PT users over there.

[Yorrrrrr]

I'm surprised FL Studio is not as popular on KVR. Opposite to the situation outside of the forum.

[antic604]

As expected - Live got ahead of Cubase by 2 votes now and Bitwig's catching up to Reaper

Keep the votes & comments coming! Thanks

[kPere]

Surprised to see completly no votes for Pro Tools.

Voted Reaper myself, but still.. Is it because of horror with MIDI workflow in PT?

I've been using PT for many years (not my main DAW, though) and I've just noticed that it's never been very popular on KVR. Surprisingly (or not), I've known far more people who used PT on other electronica-based forums (e.g., Anjunabeats, tranceaddict). My guess is that these results would be far different if the same poll was posted on gearspace and you'd probably see way more (than 1) PT users over there.

Still, surprised thats its a 0.
Using it myself for mixing jobs, got caught in the "industry standard" and bought to learn it when started professional path in audio. Very problematic peace of software for home use (buggy and demanding), but after all started to like it and move comfortably. Like the way things work there, apart from midi, so cannot do my hobbystic production stuff in it. Which I have always been doing in Reason, which gave me most comfortable workflow. Its VST issues pushed me to Reaper lately though. And damn, it got me now. I even wanted to get rid of Pro Tools and Reason, to stay completly in Reaper, such a great tool it is - but y'all know I guess.

[machinesworking]

Still, surprised thats its a 0.
Using it myself for mixing jobs, got caught in the "industry standard" and bought to learn it when started professional path in audio.

I'm going to stereotype everyone here, so I expect backlash but, this is primarily a place filled with small time, underground music loving composers who use the computer in the writing process. Only a masochist would use Pro Tools over literally any other DAW if their primary use of a DAW was composition.