Why do DAWs sound different?

[lmv]

Listen for yourself. 3 times on Qtractor then 3 times on Waveform, both on Linux:

https://0x0.st/X7sa.mp3

Exact same plugin and same preset on a brand new, blank project.
Why so different?

[EnGee]

Interesting

[mixtur.se]

Summing should the same, but things like fades etc are implementation specific.
Something must be wrong with this plugin, try with an audio file.

[BertKoor]

Because of
1) implementation differences
2) pilot error

One of these is lying. I'd bet the one with "smile" eq curve. Load a wav of pink or white noise, then render & compare.

[careyletendre]

Did someone just resurrect a thread from 2004?

[lmv]

A lot of people here hadn't been born in 2004.

I had, but I never knew KVR was that old.

[vurt]

A lot of people here hadn't been born in 2004.

I had, but I never knew KVR was that old.

you young whippersnapper don't know what it was like, dial up internet, 20 min download for an image, forget video or audio of any great length. unless you know, no one will use the home phone for 24 hours per min of audio!!! in 32bit mp3

[Windows]

Waveform does have some audio engine issues that no DAW has. Sometime ago they fixed one in which having lots of instruments made whole summing "phasey". I'm not surprised. Try Qtractor vs Reaper and let see. There won't be audible difference.

[EfreetiSultan]

A lot of people here hadn't been born in 2004.

I had, but I never knew KVR was that old.

you young whippersnapper don't know what it was like, dial up internet, 20 min download for an image, forget video or audio of any great length. unless you know, no one will use the home phone for 24 hours per min of audio!!! in 32bit mp3

That was 1994 not 2004, cmon old man you can do better than that

[jlgrimes11]

Listen for yourself. 3 times on Qtractor then 3 times on Waveform, both on Linux:

https://0x0.st/X7sa.mp3

Exact same plugin and same preset on a brand new, blank project.
Why so different?

A 20 year old thread, there probably would be some truth to differences. As there were different drivers settings that could have been coloring the sound.

These days though i don't think it is anything to worry about.

[lmv]

No, it's a new thread. I wasn't here 20 years ago.

And it is something to worry about. Did you listen to my audio file? The difference is too clear.

[THE INTRANCER]

£130 for the phone bill was a bit of a shocker, that was dialup internet for me.

[machinesworking]

The second one in waveform sounds like it's summed to mono. I am on my laptop but even on the laptop it sounds suspiciously monophonic.

[lmv]

The second one in waveform sounds like it's summed to mono. I am on my laptop but even on the laptop it sounds suspiciously monophonic.

I think Waveform sounds more natural and Qtractor sounds like some filter, I don't know, lowpass or exciter has been applied.

[machinesworking]

The second one in waveform sounds like it's summed to mono. I am on my laptop but even on the laptop it sounds suspiciously monophonic.

I think Waveform sounds more natural and Qtractor sounds like some filter, I don't know, lowpass or exciter has been applied.

Looking at a metering suite while playing it there's a significant cut to zero at 400hz with the Qtractor section, that's going to cause it to sound a lot less full, which it definitely does. I think of the two the Qtractor one is suspect, because the cut is drastic for such a normal sound.