Hello,
I'm going to hold a music production course for beginners. I'd like to base it on a free DAW in order to make it affordable. I've looked around, but I can't find a sequencer which fits my needs:
- running on Mac and Win
- audio and MIDI editor
- not demo/limited version
- reliable
Does this product exist (not only in my dreams)?
If I can't find it I think I'll use Reaper. They say fully functional 60-day evaluation and after $60. Who has experienced it?
Thanks in advance.
Best free DAW
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- KVRAF
- 35689 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
It's Windows only, but i think nothing beats Podium Free for free. It's limited to the use of one CPU core though, so that's a bit of a let down. If you don't have a problem shelling out a very reasonable amount of money, give Reaper a try. Probably your best option for not much money.
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- KVRist
- 138 posts since 18 Nov, 2007 from PA USA
Try this... "Studio One 3 Prime"
https://shop.presonus.com/products/stud ... ne-3-Prime
It has its own midi instruments but I don't think your allowed to use 3rd party instruments and
and or effects.
https://shop.presonus.com/products/stud ... ne-3-Prime
It has its own midi instruments but I don't think your allowed to use 3rd party instruments and
and or effects.
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do_androids_dream do_androids_dream https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=164034 - KVRAF
- 2908 posts since 26 Oct, 2007 from Kent, UK
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- KVRist
- 195 posts since 12 Sep, 2015 from The Fortesque Mansion
Yep, Tracktion 4 is pretty awesome for free - no restrictions on using 3rd-party VSTs either (which is good 'cause the included selection is pretty basic 
)
)
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- KVRAF
- 9096 posts since 5 Feb, 2004
If you can work within the confines of the included gear, I think Studio One Prime could be perfect. It is similar enough to most DAWs as to teach universal principles, where as Tracktion is decidedly (wonderfully) different. If I were putting together a computer lab for students learning music production on the computer, Studio One Prime is what I'd choose.
If you have requests for Korg VST features or changes, they are listening at https://support.korguser.net/hc/en-us/requests/new
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- KVRAF
- 6159 posts since 4 Dec, 2004
"Music Production" can mean so many different things. It's hard to recommend anything based on just those two words.
Teaching... what exactly? A lot of the products are different because people do and need different things.
Teaching... what exactly? A lot of the products are different because people do and need different things.
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- KVRer
- 13 posts since 11 Jan, 2015
I have an interesting list and links here.
It's a great starting point for a more accurate search.
It's a great starting point for a more accurate search.
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- KVRAF
- 1925 posts since 29 Mar, 2013
Tracktion 4 looks suspiciously like Cubase to meDigitaLWizarD wrote:I have an interesting list and links here.
It's a great starting point for a more accurate search.
Beauty is only skin deep,
Ugliness, however, goes right the way through
Ugliness, however, goes right the way through
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- KVRer
- 13 posts since 11 Jan, 2015
lol !!!! Thanks for that, I'm going to fix the screenshot! 
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- KVRAF
- 1685 posts since 13 Jan, 2014
I must agree on Tracktion 4 absolutely, it is the only non-crippled fullversion DAW.
Even the latest old version 2 from Tracktion was a complete and easy to understand DAW. I have upgraded to 5 around 2 years ago from Version 2 for 30 $, upgrade policy is another + for Tracktion.
BUT: you should really consider WHAT you need in your planned course for beginners. If for example you dont need more then 4 Tracks Mulab absolutely is in the game.
What makes the decision even more complicated: all the Free/limited versions ARE special ones from the way of thinking (one window and mux/rack in Tracktion/Mulab for example). So if your beginners would like to go on working with the bigones like Cubase/Sonar/...... afterwards they are (nearly) useless. I have given up on reaper very early (just to complicated for me) but maybe in case of using the bigger ones afterwards closer.
By the way: I am switching from Tracktion to Mulab from month to month (sometimes from week to week)
. And there is a "non brainer cubase elements deal" on the PC, and a sonar "non brainer update from Rapture" deal and and and......endless
Conclusion: you could do nothing wrong with Tracktion 4. One absolutely + even over the more actual versions: it was the last one with a complete userguide !
Even the latest old version 2 from Tracktion was a complete and easy to understand DAW. I have upgraded to 5 around 2 years ago from Version 2 for 30 $, upgrade policy is another + for Tracktion.
BUT: you should really consider WHAT you need in your planned course for beginners. If for example you dont need more then 4 Tracks Mulab absolutely is in the game.
What makes the decision even more complicated: all the Free/limited versions ARE special ones from the way of thinking (one window and mux/rack in Tracktion/Mulab for example). So if your beginners would like to go on working with the bigones like Cubase/Sonar/...... afterwards they are (nearly) useless. I have given up on reaper very early (just to complicated for me) but maybe in case of using the bigger ones afterwards closer.
By the way: I am switching from Tracktion to Mulab from month to month (sometimes from week to week)
. And there is a "non brainer cubase elements deal" on the PC, and a sonar "non brainer update from Rapture" deal and and and......endless Conclusion: you could do nothing wrong with Tracktion 4. One absolutely + even over the more actual versions: it was the last one with a complete userguide !
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 17 posts since 27 Jun, 2015
Thank you very much for your great suggestions. I've taken some time having a look at the two DAWs seem to fit my needing.
My course program: audio recording, audio editing, MIDI recoding (from keyboard), MIDI programming, MIDI editing, rev, delay, eq, comp, mixing, exporting.
- Studio One 3 Prime: It's almost perfect. It doesn't support 3rd part instruments but it's got a bunch of instruments good for teaching and exercising. On the other hand, the included effect library seems not include any eq and comp - except the channel strip integrated ones, too limited.
- Tracktion 4: Seems great, really. But... there's no any included instrument and loop, isn't it? In this case, I'd have to look for a free instrument bundle - some common ones, just for doing some exercise, you know - and... a free loop pack could be useful as well. Any suggestion?
My course program: audio recording, audio editing, MIDI recoding (from keyboard), MIDI programming, MIDI editing, rev, delay, eq, comp, mixing, exporting.
- Studio One 3 Prime: It's almost perfect. It doesn't support 3rd part instruments but it's got a bunch of instruments good for teaching and exercising. On the other hand, the included effect library seems not include any eq and comp - except the channel strip integrated ones, too limited.
- Tracktion 4: Seems great, really. But... there's no any included instrument and loop, isn't it? In this case, I'd have to look for a free instrument bundle - some common ones, just for doing some exercise, you know - and... a free loop pack could be useful as well. Any suggestion?
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- KVRAF
- 25849 posts since 20 Jan, 2008 from a star near where you are
I can live without VST plug support. But when the included sampler can't load WAV samples, makes it unusable in my caseGiò wrote:- Studio One 3 Prime: It's almost perfect. It doesn't support 3rd part instruments but it's got a bunch of instruments good for teaching and exercising.