Looking for a secondary DAW (for mixing/mastering) which will eventually become my primary DAW (for all things)

[musicproducerdee]

So my current primary DAW is Bitwig Studio. It's great for creating music from scratch and I actually like the workflow a lot, coming from Ableton Live.

However, I do not enjoy mixing in Bitwig Studio as much. I have used Studio One and Cubase, both, in the past, and both are superior in terms of mixing workflow (at least for me) as compared to Bitwig.

As of now, I only want to mix and master in the secondary DAW, but in the future, I might completely move to it in order to make it a one stop shop for everything I do.

Basic Midi is important to me and both the DAWs cover that. Cubase has some cool things like Spectralayers and integrated pitch correction for vocals (vari audio). Studio One is pretty sleek and I think has a slightly better workflow in terms of speed (less clicking and windows).

I don't have much experience with the stock plugins of either DAWs, because I have always used third party plugins.

What do you guys think?

Also, one last question, has Steinberg ever hinted towards are GUI overhaul, because the current GUI is a little old-esque. It works just fine, but it isn't the prettiest. Not a deal breaker but would be good to know.

PS: Pro Tools & Reaper a hard no.

EDIT: Any idea on the announce date for the relaunch of Cakewalk Sonar?

[chk071]

Cubase might have a slight edge over Studio One in terms of the included plugins, but, IMO, Studio One is anything but bad in that regard either (I have no issues using the included EQ, compressor and what not. For the modulation of synths, I would rather use third party plugins though.). As you're already familiar with both, and find Studio One more sleek and fast (I agree with that), I'd suggest Studio One. I'm sure you can't go wrong with that.

Are you using a Mac or a PC?

[Masterofdisaster]

Why do people keep lumping mixing and mastering together? They are two separate things that has nothing to do with one another, made by two completely different type of people! It's starting to get pretty fkn cringy.

[chk071]

Actually, it's quite common to also mix when you master. But, hey, didn't want to interrupt your lament.

[Dogbert]

Studio One is great for mixing and the Pro version also has a dedicated mastering module.

[? ? ?]

Why do people keep lumping mixing and mastering together?

Mix and Master meaning one can use the same app to do both.

Actually, it's quite common to also mix when you master.

You can fix a mix after realising that something needs to be tweaked when mastering but you don't do both simultaneously *if* you want best results.

[vurt]

Actually, it's quite common to also mix when you master. But, hey, didn't want to interrupt your lament.

no! lowly mix engineers, should keep their grubby little paws, off the sacred two bus
stay in your lanes!!

[imrae]

PS: Pro Tools & Reaper a hard no.

Why should we take time to help if you will just dismiss good options without explanation?

I don't understand your criteria, might as well suggest Garageband

[thecontrolcentre]

Actually, it's quite common to also mix when you master.

It might be common but it's wrong. Keep the two things separate ...

[Double Tap]

Wavelab is good for mastering. Elements is quite cheap.

[chk071]

Actually, it's quite common to also mix when you master.

It might be common but it's wrong. Keep the two things separate ...

Well, from what I gather from the original post, the OP is probably rather looking for something to mix in then.

[gearwatcher]

Actually, it's quite common to also mix when you master.

It might be common but it's wrong. Keep the two things separate ...

Yet hundreds of artists made thousands of professional records that way.

Wonder if you could actually substantiate that opinion.

[musicproducerdee]

Cubase might have a slight edge over Studio One in terms of the included plugins, but, IMO, Studio One is anything but bad in that regard either (I have no issues using the included EQ, compressor and what not. For the modulation of synths, I would rather use third party plugins though.). As you're already familiar with both, and find Studio One more sleek and fast (I agree with that), I'd suggest Studio One. I'm sure you can't go wrong with that.

Are you using a Mac or a PC?

Hey. Thanks for your input. I was checking out the websites, and Cubase does seem to have slightly better stock plugins. Anyways, that's not the most important thing for me, as I have quite a few third party plugins to get things done. Also, the price tag on S1 seems more affordable, unless I go for the Cubase crossgrade on 40% sale (when it happens). Hmm.

Also, I'm on Windows, or else I'd have probably gone for Logic.

[musicproducerdee]

Why do people keep lumping mixing and mastering together? They are two separate things that has nothing to do with one another, made by two completely different type of people! It's starting to get pretty fkn cringy.

Never said those are same things. Just looking for a program that's good at both. I do both myself, same person, hence I'd like a DAW that's good at both. Simple really.

EDIT: Everyone, again, I never claimed mix & master is the same. Just looking for a program that's good at both, you know, good workflow for mixing (routing etc) and good metering for mastering.

[neverbefore]

I switched to Bitwig and Studio One for a while after using Reaper for many years. Eventually I switched back to Reaper as the one stop shop. Bitwig is not great for audio editing, Studio One has some annoying behaviours with midi (from memory). But I could see Studio One as purely for mixing and mastering - it was very solid and has good online tutorials.