DAW that works completely offline?

[jojoB3]

Ah I was a bit afraid that Reaper would be among the options. I have tried it multiple times during the years and never have I gelled with it. I don't know what it is but I just don't seems to get along with it.

But if that is the only realistic option I might have to reconsider and watch some tutorials and start learning it. Digital Performer I haven't really ever tried. There was some cutdown version with the Motu cards I checked out briefly before I went with Logic 7 but that was at the same time when I was getting the G5 some 18 years ago.

Been looking around all evening, and Reaper seems to have quite a bit of following and also it seems like it is very efficient with the Mac mini.

Well, that is a 'YOU' problem. Not "gelling" with a DAW just means you don't know the DAW well enough.
So...learn it. It's not brain surgery here. Youtube and google searches alone will get you up to speed.
The answer given is correct in regard to what you want (not to mention it's extremely affordable and the best DAW out there today).

[planetearth]

I had to retire the G5 I've been using for the past 18 years. As a replacement I ordered a Mac Mini M4. I've been using Logic 7 with 2 Motu 2408 cards and a TC Powercore all these years. So they are going to replaced with an Evo 16 and an Evo SP8, but no replacement for the Powercore.

I'm going to update the Mini to the latest version of Sequoia and that is all that computer is going to see of the online world, no updates whatsoever after that, until it breaks.

So what DAW is my best choice? I don't do any big projects, I don't think I ever had any projects with more than 24 tracks (I mostly record demos, 4-6 channels for drums, 2 for bass, no amp sims but proper amps, maybe doubling for a couple of guitar tracks, keys and vocals) so no sampling libraries. The computer is more or less just a replacement for a tape recorder.

But it seems when I look around that everything requires you to be online...

So what are my options?

I haven't seen this asked yet, but are you only going to use the DAW's stock effects and instruments? I know you said you were basically using the DAW as a tape recorder, but unless you're sticking with the stock plug-ins, you may have to go online to register, (obviously) purchase and download, and perhaps re-activate (every so often) any third-party plug-ins.

Steve

[tumface]

FabFilter, u-he, and Valhalla are all 100% offline. Those are high quality and have a lot of functionality. (Being 100% offline is one of the primary reasons I favor FabFilter and u-he.)

Any plugin that requires online activation has to pass a much higher bar for me to consider it, and I will also judge its price more harshly, because I have to consider that it will become non-installable on new computers at some point in the future.

(Plugins that require ongoing re-activation are just out of the equation completely, for me.)

[cdbaksu]

Logic is a one click download you can do after updating the OS.

[Sascha Franck]

because I have to consider that it will become non-installable on new computers at some point in the future.

As you are a Mac user, this is not unlikely to happen anyway on a new computer. Quite often new macOS versions require updates of your plugins.

[Chicken Drummy]

Ah I was a bit afraid that Reaper would be among the options. I have tried it multiple times during the years and never have I gelled with it. I don't know what it is but I just don't seems to get along with it.

But if that is the only realistic option I might have to reconsider and watch some tutorials and start learning it. Digital Performer I haven't really ever tried. There was some cutdown version with the Motu cards I checked out briefly before I went with Logic 7 but that was at the same time when I was getting the G5 some 18 years ago.

Been looking around all evening, and Reaper seems to have quite a bit of following and also it seems like it is very efficient with the Mac mini.

Well, that is a 'YOU' problem. Not "gelling" with a DAW just means you don't know the DAW well enough.
So...learn it. It's not brain surgery here. Youtube and google searches alone will get you up to speed.
The answer given is correct in regard to what you want (not to mention it's extremely affordable and the best DAW out there today).

Steady on. OP saying he doesn't really vibe with Reaper certainly doesn't really warrant the attitude.

Reaper, while being an excellent DAW, is like any bit of quality software in that not everyone is necessarily going to be as into its workflow, etc. as its fanboys are (and that's okay) so you getting defensive about it is definitely a you problem.

[VariKusBrainZ]

But Reaper is shit
Certain members of the populace disagree with this fact

[whyterabbyt]

Not "gelling" with a DAW just means you don't know the DAW well enough.

false.

[mabian]

But Reaper is shit
Certain members of the populace disagree with this fact

Of course, I generally disagree with trolls, when I'm not one of them especially

[jojoB3]

"I don't know what it is but I just don't seems to get along with it."

The reply stands.
Learn it or be doomed to 'Fruity Ableton' as you peruse job listings at a dying . com near you.

Man there are some real ------- here.

[whyterabbyt]

irony.

[tumface]

because I have to consider that it will become non-installable on new computers at some point in the future.

As you are a Mac user, this is not unlikely to happen anyway on a new computer. Quite often new macOS versions require updates of your plugins.

You're right. Though, some stuff will work.

What I should have said was "non-installable on a computer with a drive replacement or reformatted drive" since I almost always keep my old hardware. (Yes, they have figured out how to do that for the soldered-on SSDs, though it requires a specialist.)

[rod_zero]

For working with only the DAW I prefer Live, it feels more self contained than the others, easier to learn than reaper.

Live can also be activated offline.

[audiojunkie]

I found what I believe will be my solution. It seems that I have a licensed version of Harrison Mixbuss 10 that I've completely forgot that I had, I have been checking it out today. It's just a text file to activate the license, no need to be online, just download it to an USB-stick and bring it to the Mac and activate it. For me that is just a win win.

I haven't really used it before, just something I bought during a sale, but looking around it seems more than capable for my humble needs.

I have bad news for you about Harrison Mixbus. You might be OK with the older version you have, but new version are using Challenge / Response these days, so don't upgrade.

Edit: Now on the other hand, Ardour is an option that doesn't use any authorization and it is essentially Mixbus without the fancy theme.

[dikrek]

I had to retire the G5 I've been using for the past 18 years. As a replacement I ordered a Mac Mini M4. I've been using Logic 7 with 2 Motu 2408 cards and a TC Powercore all these years. So they are going to replaced with an Evo 16 and an Evo SP8, but no replacement for the Powercore.

I'm going to update the Mini to the latest version of Sequoia and that is all that computer is going to see of the online world, no updates whatsoever after that, until it breaks.

So what DAW is my best choice? I don't do any big projects, I don't think I ever had any projects with more than 24 tracks (I mostly record demos, 4-6 channels for drums, 2 for bass, no amp sims but proper amps, maybe doubling for a couple of guitar tracks, keys and vocals) so no sampling libraries. The computer is more or less just a replacement for a tape recorder.

But it seems when I look around that everything requires you to be online...

So what are my options?

Just keep using Logic?