Best of the lite daws usable

[bunja1979]

Ableton live lite 8 tracks is a bit too restrictive
Bitwig 8 tracks and only two vst allowed
Studio one prime ( no vst )
Cubase le only 8 instrument tracks

In my opinion cubase ai is the only one worth having and the one im currently using as my main daw 16 instrument tracks and 32 audio
Only main limitation is 4 insert effects per track but u get a built in comp and eq so that becomes 6
And then u can route them to a group or fx track

Cubase ai is so underated
Its my new freeloader daw I'm leaving cakewalk behind ,

[Danilo Villanova]

If you can get a used copy of Studio One Artist you'll be pretty set.

[Trensharo]

Cubase AI:

- Only 4 Audio Insert Slots

- No MIDI FX

- No Sampler Track, Theory Tools, Audio-to-MIDI, VariAudio (and no ARA2 Support for Melodyne Essential), Audio Warp, Comping, Track Disabling, WaveLab File Exchange, Tempo Track, Signature Track, Note Expression (MPE), Expression Maps, Time Warp, List Editor, Tempo Detection Panel, Global Tracks, Group/Ungroup & Lock/Unlock, Audio Alignment, Direct Offline Processing, Group Editing, Track Visibility Management, MixConsole History, MixConsole Snapshots, Loudness Meter, Side-Chaining

- Is missing pretty much all of the better Stock FX

In reality, Cakewalk by BandLab is a FAR better option than Cubase AI. I don't see any reason why anyone would even consider using Cubase AI over Cakewalk. You lose too much quality of life with that choice. Features like side-chaining and comping are fundamental for a studio DAW in 2022.

IMO, Cubase doesn't really get good until the Elements SKU. LE/AI have more tracks than Live Lite or Bitwig 8 Tracks, but some of the limitations are just as harsh as the track limitations in those DAWs.

Studio One Prime is irrelevant as most people interested in Studio One will acquire artist via a hardware bundle, by simply purchasing an AudioBox 96 instead of a Scarlett Solo/2i2 (and for less money) - though the latter have better Mic Pres and I would use Cakewalk and get the Focusrite interface as it's better than Studio One artist, anyway.

What happened with Cakewalk and Gibson had less to do with how good (or not good) Cakewalk is, and more to do with how awful Gibson are at managing software products. It's critically underrated, though this always has to be disclaimered with the token "different strokes for different folk."

[cryophonik]

In reality, Cakewalk by BandLab is a FAR better option than Cubase AI. I don't see any reason why anyone would even consider using Cubase AI over Cakewalk.. It's critically underrated, though this always has to be disclaimered with the token "different strokes for different folk."

Agreed with Trensharo, I'd take Cakewalk over any of the ones you're looking at. But, Cakewalk is hardly what I would call a "lite" DAW - it's as full featured as any of the other big boys and (Sonar) was my main DAW for many years, but I switched to Mac/Logic when Sonar was discontinued because it was really the only thing keeping me on Windows as my main OS for music. My vote for "best lite DAW" goes to GarageBand, but I'm assuming you're on Windows, so that's probably not much use to you.

[chk071]

In reality, Cakewalk by BandLab is a FAR better option than Cubase AI. I don't see any reason why anyone would even consider using Cubase AI over Cakewalk.

Maybe because Cakewalk isn't a lite DAW. In fact, it's one of the most bloated I know.

Technically, Cubase AI isn't free though. You need to own qualified Steinberg hardware. But, I don't know if that's even a requirement for the OP (being free or not).

[aMUSEd]

Waveform Free

[kritikon]

Cubase AI:

- Only 4 Audio Insert Slots

- No MIDI FX

- No Sampler Track, Theory Tools, Audio-to-MIDI, VariAudio (and no ARA2 Support for Melodyne Essential), Audio Warp, Comping, Track Disabling, WaveLab File Exchange, Tempo Track, Signature Track, Note Expression (MPE), Expression Maps, Time Warp, List Editor, Tempo Detection Panel, Global Tracks, Group/Ungroup & Lock/Unlock, Audio Alignment, Direct Offline Processing, Group Editing, Track Visibility Management, MixConsole History, MixConsole Snapshots, Loudness Meter, Side-Chaining

- Is missing pretty much all of the better Stock FX

IMO, Cubase doesn't really get good until the Elements SKU. LE/AI have more tracks than Live Lite or Bitwig 8 Tracks, but some of the limitations are just as harsh as the track limitations in those DAWs.

It's horses for courses though. Out of that list of things missing in AI, I personally don't use most of them anyway. An awful lot of what's in main DAWs is not used by the majority of people most of the time. I do agree AI is pretty heavily limited though - I don't think I'd want to use it, but even Artist has a shitload of stuff that I don't need or want or use.

Sampler track - tried it and found it pointless.
Theory tools - don't even know what they are
Varioaudio - never used it
ARA2 + Melodyne - never used them, don't need them
Audio Warp - never used it
Wavelab file exchange - never used it, don't need it
MPE - never used it, don't need it
Group/ungroup, don't need it
Loudness meter - as with most other people, I use external plugin
Sidechaining - handy on very few occasions but I really can live without it - not essential by any means unless you succumb to what's touted by trendy numpties in interwebz.

Out of all those listed, only List Editor, Offline processing, Track Visibility Management & MixConsole History/MixConsole Snapshots are ones I find useful/indespensible. I totally get why cut-down DAWs are bought - took me decades to realise I really don't need to spend the extra $500 on full version DAW for extra crap that I will never use.

I do agree that Elements might be a better option than AI though. And as for Cakewalk - it's amazing considering it's free but I used it for nearly a year and...hated it TBH. Fully featured but still extremely clunky and unintuitive IMO. I would have to be destitute to have to use it again as my main DAW.

[Trensharo]

In reality, Cakewalk by BandLab is a FAR better option than Cubase AI. I don't see any reason why anyone would even consider using Cubase AI over Cakewalk.

Maybe because Cakewalk isn't a lite DAW. In fact, it's one of the most bloated I know.

Technically, Cubase AI isn't free though. You need to own qualified Steinberg hardware. But, I don't know if that's even a requirement for the OP (being free or not).

Dude, I use Cubase Pro 12. I have nothing against Cubase, but Cakewalk will Start and Shut down 5x before Cubase AI even shows the application window. And Cakewalk doesn't have as deep a feature set as DAWs like Cubase or Digital Performer. It's just not there, as Gibson pivoted to focusing more on plug-ins and expansion/value adding content in lieu of aggressive feature development in the core DAW software.

Cakewalk by BandLab is about where Cubase 8 or 8.5 was... 'ish.

It's actually quite lite, compared to Cubase.

The problem with replacing Cakewalk with Cubase AI is that you are giving up a ton of functionality that is fairly fundamental and has huge effects on workflow efficiency and productivity. You will actually waste time using Cubase AI vs. Cakewalk. Time is money. How much is yours worth?

The OP replying that he doesn't need some of that stuff makes me wonder if he's ever actually produced a single track in his life. Side-Chaining is not just for EDM music. Being able to Comp, Disable Tracks, Edit in Groups, Manage Track Visibility... There are things Cubase AI is missing that you can find in MAGIX Music Maker. Things that are so fundamental that software designed for extreme hobbyists loop mavens has had it for years.

The reason for those deficits is obvious, but they exist precisely to make staying on Cubase AI/LE as rough as possible. Quality of Life is not the goal of their feature sets, unless you're just a podcaster.

[Trensharo]

Cubase AI:

- Only 4 Audio Insert Slots

- No MIDI FX

- No Sampler Track, Theory Tools, Audio-to-MIDI, VariAudio (and no ARA2 Support for Melodyne Essential), Audio Warp, Comping, Track Disabling, WaveLab File Exchange, Tempo Track, Signature Track, Note Expression (MPE), Expression Maps, Time Warp, List Editor, Tempo Detection Panel, Global Tracks, Group/Ungroup & Lock/Unlock, Audio Alignment, Direct Offline Processing, Group Editing, Track Visibility Management, MixConsole History, MixConsole Snapshots, Loudness Meter, Side-Chaining

- Is missing pretty much all of the better Stock FX

IMO, Cubase doesn't really get good until the Elements SKU. LE/AI have more tracks than Live Lite or Bitwig 8 Tracks, but some of the limitations are just as harsh as the track limitations in those DAWs.

It's horses for courses though. Out of that list of things missing in AI, I personally don't use most of them anyway. An awful lot of what's in main DAWs is not used by the majority of people most of the time. I do agree AI is pretty heavily limited though - I don't think I'd want to use it, but even Artist has a shitload of stuff that I don't need or want or use.

First of all, that list was not exhaustive. I indicated such in my post.

Secondly, quite a bit of those features are fairly fundamental. Without them, workflow suffers and some things are simply impossible without the use of external plug-ins to simulate the missing features (i.e. Side-Chaining, which BTW isn't just for EDM Music).

The issue with AI is not that it's limited in tracks. Track Limitations are ignorable as the people who would generally use AI are either extreme beginners or podcasters getting it with one of the Steinberg Podcaster bundles or something. For that task, it's perfectly fine.

List Editor may be indispensable to you, but Cubase AI doesn't have it.

Side-Chaining, Sampler Track 2, ARA2, Comping, Audio Warp, Track Disabling (i.e. Bouncing a Synth/VI to Audio and disabling the Track to save CPU), Group Editing, Managing Track Visibility, Tempo Detection... These are fairly fundamental features.

How does one record vocals for a song without Comping? Have the vocalist nail it every time on the first take? Record an entire drum kit and then edit each track one-by-one when you can do it 5x faster with group editing?

I feel like I have entered into some reality distortion field where the only thing that matters is that a DAW is branded "Cubase." Workflow efficiency and productivity be damned. Doesn't matter if a freebie is better.

As for ARA2, multiple products being released rely on it, and multiple DAWs utilize the Melodyne Engine to power their Audio-to-MIDI functions. So, the usefulness of this goes beyond Melodyne, and beyond pitch correction.

You could have bought a PreSonus interface and gotten Studio One Artist as a bundle with it. I reckon you at least have one of those, no? That is also considerably better than Cubase AI.

Cakewalk this, cakewalk that. Cakewalk is what it is. Cubase AI is just a terrible solution for any sort of serious work, and there are multiple free/cheap/bundled alternatives that are just far superior.

I really hope you didn't get this as a bundle with one of Steinberg's cheaper Audio Interfaces. No one should ever buy those. They have the worst Mic Pres on the market.

[chk071]

In reality, Cakewalk by BandLab is a FAR better option than Cubase AI. I don't see any reason why anyone would even consider using Cubase AI over Cakewalk.

Maybe because Cakewalk isn't a lite DAW. In fact, it's one of the most bloated I know.

Technically, Cubase AI isn't free though. You need to own qualified Steinberg hardware. But, I don't know if that's even a requirement for the OP (being free or not).

Dude, I use Cubase Pro 12. I have nothing against Cubase, but Cakewalk will Start and Shut down 5x before Cubase AI even shows the application window.

Which says nothing about the amount of bloat present in the software. Cubase AI doesn't have a lot of things that Cubase Pro has anyway.

Again, this thread is called "Best of the lite DAW's usable". Cakewalk isn't a lite DAW. It's a free DAW, but, the OP hasn't explicitely asked for that. Cubase AI isn't free, Ableton Lite isn't free, Bitwig 8-Track isn't free. Those are the ones the OP mentioned.

[whyterabbyt]

the OP hasn't explicitely asked for that

he hasnt explicitly asked for anything; if you read his post, he's already made his choice. the first post is an opinion, not a question.

[Trensharo]

Yea. Not sure why that caveat was mentioned.

The OP said he went from Cakewalk. Cubase is as complicated to operate as Cakewalk is, even AI. It's the same user experience, just with features ripped out.

[jonljacobi]

You have to buy a MOTU interface, but Performer Lite is surprisingly powerful. The workflow is simpler than the full DP 11 as well.

[original flipper]

Hi

And don't forget ENERGY XT is back on the block currently 64bit Alpha version available: https://www.xtsware.com/?page_id=6

[pigfront]

Soundbridge is a quite lite and very easy to use.