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

[chk071]

Wow. ...., Cubase , Reaper , Live , Bitwig , StudioOne , then Logic .... Surprised at the amount of Cubase and Reaper users ... Shocked that Studio One has dropped off. Any ways they all do the same stuff really . Unless your power user .

Well just the fact that Pro Tools has only 4 votes says all you need to know about how a plug in forum fares as an indicator of the overall market.

True. And, especially how the KVR forum deviates from the actual market.

[fedexnman]

I'd be happy with "Reaper" if had to , a DAW is basically a 4 track on steroids for me . I've used most of them and wasted money on a lot of crap I er the years . Outside of a basic DAW , I'm amazed at Ableton Live for making my own loops with it's "Warp" function . I don't know of any other plugin or DAW that makes it this effortless , especially when you timing is just slightly off .

[machinesworking]

Wow. ...., Cubase , Reaper , Live , Bitwig , StudioOne , then Logic .... Surprised at the amount of Cubase and Reaper users ... Shocked that Studio One has dropped off. Any ways they all do the same stuff really . Unless your power user .

Well just the fact that Pro Tools has only 4 votes says all you need to know about how a plug in forum fares as an indicator of the overall market.

True. And, especially how the KVR forum deviates from the actual market.

Yep, straight away FL Studio and Pro Tools are much more popular than represented here. It's likely something like FL Studio, Live, Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, then all the others. Reaper might be up there too.

[sQeetz]

I don't believe Reaper is up there

[vurt]

flawed poll, no babyasoft.

[musicproducerdee]

I can't believe Reaper is beating these full packaged most widely used DAWs. Like, what!?, really?

But then again, we're on KVR audio

[fedexnman]

I can't believe Reaper is beating these full packaged most widely used DAWs. Like, what!?, really?

But then again, we're on KVR audio

Probably the fastest to install , uninstall, or update though. It's light .

[skijumptoes]

I can't believe Reaper is beating these full packaged most widely used DAWs. Like, what!?, really?

True perpetual licensing of a product that runs on the widest range of O/S's, supports a wide range of plugins with built-in bridging options and does not require online validation, or risk of subscription model.

I think that's why many would hold it as "the one" if they had to.

[musicproducerdee]

I can't believe Reaper is beating these full packaged most widely used DAWs. Like, what!?, really?

But then again, we're on KVR audio

Probably the fastest to install , uninstall, or update though. It's light .

All valid points. Although I struggle to enjoy music production in it. The vibes just don't fit. I've given it multiple attempts and tried to force myself to like it. Couldn't. I need something pleasing and pretty looking like Ableton Live or Bitwig, to enjoy music production and get them vibes

I can't believe Reaper is beating these full packaged most widely used DAWs. Like, what!?, really?

True perpetual licensing of a product that runs on the widest range of O/S's, supports a wide range of plugins with built-in bridging options and does not require online validation, or risk of subscription model.

I think that's why many would hold it as "the one" if they had to.

Bitwig Studio runs on Windows, Mac and Linux and has perpetual licensing as well. On top of that, the GUI is baked and has a very good live performance experience. The Grid is pretty amazing as well. I doubt Reaper can follow that.

No comments on the licensing at all, Reaper wins hands down.

[skijumptoes]

Bitwig Studio runs on Windows, Mac and Linux and has perpetual licensing as well.

It may be perpetual licensing, but the bitwig servers need to be reachable to activate for each install. It's not something that bothers me but as a Cubase user I regularly see people claiming that online activations, maintenance plans and subs sit in opposition of being 'true' perpetual licensing!

On top of that, the GUI is baked and has a very good live performance experience. The Grid is pretty amazing as well. I doubt Reaper can follow that.

Those that aren't falling into the Ableton/Bitwig/Fruity style workflows are seeking a DAW that is well equipped for Pro Tools style work where you can record and edit multi-mic setups, has decent comping and linear editing, with as much CPU available to the processing chain as possible, and can easily work with stems that have been passed on from producers, musicians or bands.

If you're noodling around with Bitwig and all it's modulation options thinking it's amazing I get why you'd look at Reaper and wonder how the hell it can get so many votes, but you'd need to spend a day in a studio working in that setup to appreciate it's power and speed in that environment.

Bitwig is an amazing product and it's interface is really fun and inspirational to use, but I think it's predominately for solo songwriter/producers and I think many of those spread across various 'all-in' suites, and then Reaper is picking up the remainder who are sick of Pro Tools and it's licensing.

Or I could have it completely wrong, and there's just a conspiracy of users out there!

[chk071]

I can't believe Reaper is beating these full packaged most widely used DAWs. Like, what!?, really?

But then again, we're on KVR audio

Yep.

Some might even permanently using it as "shareware".

[musicproducerdee]

It may be perpetual licensing, but the bitwig servers need to be reachable to activate for each install. It's not something that bothers me but as a Cubase user I regularly see people claiming that online activations, maintenance plans and subs sit in opposition of being 'true' perpetual licensing!

Yeah, need to be online at least once in order to activate Bitwig/Cubase. Although, once done, I haven't had any issues whatsoever. Neither Bitwig nor Cubase have subscription models. Although, upgrades are paid. Not sure how upgrades work on Reaper.

Those that aren't falling into the Ableton/Bitwig/Fruity style workflows are seeking a DAW that is well equipped for Pro Tools style work where you can record and edit multi-mic setups, has decent comping and linear editing, with as much CPU available to the processing chain as possible, and can easily work with stems that have been passed on from producers, musicians or bands.

I think Reaper is more common in the audio engineering/mixing/mastering/pro community rather than the independent/bedroom musician/producer. I too have noticed a lot of Reaper users have come from Pro Tools. Actually, have seen a lot of Pro Tools users move to Reaper or Studio One lately.

If you're noodling around with Bitwig and all it's modulation options thinking it's amazing I get why you'd look at Reaper and wonder how the hell it can get so many votes, but you'd need to spend a day in a studio working in that setup to appreciate it's power and speed in that environment.

I do appreciate how portable Reaper is and its recourse management is so on point. I have tried it and have to say that it's the most CPU efficient DAW I have tried to date. I would totally use it, but it's the half baked GUI that always interferes with my workflow. It makes me feel like I'm making music and trying to write a piece of code at the same time (yes, I'm exaggerating for effect and to get my point across :p)

Bitwig is an amazing product and it's interface is really fun and inspirational to use, but I think it's predominately for solo songwriter/producers and I think many of those spread across various 'all-in' suites

Describes me almost perfectly

Yep.

Some might even permanently using it as "shareware".

[skijumptoes]

I think Reaper is more common in the audio engineering/mixing/mastering/pro community rather than the independent/bedroom musician/producer. I too have noticed a lot of Reaper users have come from Pro Tools. Actually, have seen a lot of Pro Tools users move to Reaper or Studio One lately.

They're a different breed of people, I swear. Most that I know in that linear PT/Reaper world can't stand MIDI let alone get their head around something like Bitwig and what it delivers.

I've can think of two different studios that have iMac running mainstage, connected to an ancient MIDI keyboard, and they record the audio output of that machine into the main rig via audio.

I think having MIDI data on their timeline is some kind of disease that they don't know how to deal with, and would rather treat it externally, spending 30 minutes to get a take of someone playing live.

They don't even work to a grid or any kind of metronome, yet achieve amazing results, but they're older audio guys first, DAW users as a necessity second, I guess.

Someone on their own using Bitwig/Ableton could have the basis of an entire track down in 30-60 minutes, it's such a contrasting difference.

[machinesworking]

I think Reaper is more common in the audio engineering/mixing/mastering/pro community rather than the independent/bedroom musician/producer. I too have noticed a lot of Reaper users have come from Pro Tools. Actually, have seen a lot of Pro Tools users move to Reaper or Studio One lately.

They're a different breed of people, I swear. Most that I know in that linear PT/Reaper world can't stand MIDI let alone get their head around something like Bitwig and what it delivers.

I've can think of two different studios that have iMac running mainstage, connected to an ancient MIDI keyboard, and they record the audio output of that machine into the main rig via audio.

I think having MIDI data on their timeline is some kind of disease that they don't know how to deal with, and would rather treat it externally, spending 30 minutes to get a take of someone playing live.

They don't even work to a grid or any kind of metronome, yet achieve amazing results, but they're older audio guys first, DAW users as a necessity second, I guess.

Someone on their own using Bitwig/Ableton could have the basis of an entire track down in 30-60 minutes, it's such a contrasting difference.

This describes a good friend of mine pretty well. Played in a Grunge band in the 90's, did OK toured the world etc., then started a Pro Tools recording studio, recently moved to Reaper and Studio One. We talked about doing a project in Bitwig, which he bought a copy of, but I think he bit off more than he can chew in Bitwig, MIDI and a timeline are alien to him. Severe dyslexia, so he watches tutorials for 99% of his training in DAWs, maybe that's a common theme?

[BONES]

Or maybe it's just that it doesn't suit him as well as the tools he is already using? My time with Bitwig was a complete waste of time and money, not because I couldn't work out how to use it but because it wasn't aimed at the way I like to work. I also thought the included instruments and effects were below par. To be fair, that's also true of Studio One but, when I was using Bitwig, it was a lot more important than it was by the time I found Studio One.

Or I could have it completely wrong, and there's just a conspiracy of users out there!

You do have it all wrong if you think anything you've mentioned has anything to do with it. Cubase is winning because it has been around the longest, so it's had the most time to build a user base. Same for Reaper and Live, they've been around for 20+ years. So has FL, which is why I am so surprised at how few votes it's got. Maybe it is popular as a secondary application or maybe it has been a stepping stone to something a little more conventional? Who knows. Logic's poor showing is, of course, down to the fact it is Mac only. People who use ProTools don't hang around on forums like this, they have paid work to be getting on with and they don't care what anyone else uses. I'd also have expected Reason to do better but, like FL, maybe it's mostly a secondary host?

The big surprise is Bitwig, which is the newest of them all, yet clearly has a lot of users. I didn't get on with it at all and I think it is aimed more at the KVR demographic than any of the others. It gets in both the EDM crowd and the noodlers, which covers a fair chunk of the people around here.

Someone on their own using Bitwig/Ableton could have the basis of an entire track down in 30-60 minutes, it's such a contrasting difference.

But a "pro" will then dump it all into ProTools to finish it. Liam Howlett used to do that with Reason, before it was a proper DAW.

It's just about what you're used to, not which is better. I used Orion for 20 years because I knew it inside-out, way better than I will ever know Studio One or any other host.

But that's why I've never paid much attention to what anyone else uses, I've always been more interested in techniques people use, the vast majority of which will work in any environment, using whichever tools you are most comfortable with.