Summary of "Pros say: THIS is the best DAW for music production"
Survey Results: Best DAW Software for Music Production
The video presents the results of a survey involving 2,246 music producers about the best DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software for music production. It ranks popular DAWs from last to first, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and unique features.
DAW Rankings and Reviews
-
Pro Tools Despite being the long-time industry standard for recording studios, Pro Tools ranks last. This is mainly because it has lagged behind competitors in development and offers fewer features at a higher price.
-
Cakewalk by BandLab Praised for being free and user-friendly for experienced users, Cakewalk supports third-party VST plugins. However, its installation process and naming can be confusing.
-
Apple Logic Pro Known for its responsive and visually appealing interface, Logic Pro offers extensive stock plugins and unique features like integrated voice pitch correction and GarageBand compatibility. Its downsides include bugs, frequent CPU overload messages, and being Mac-only.
-
Cubase An older but expensive DAW, Cubase has a frustrating installation process and requires a USB dongle, which deters many users from trying it out.
-
Studio One Quickly gaining popularity, Studio One boasts extensive stock plugins and useful features such as plugin search and drag-and-drop functionality. However, it suffers from stability issues, sluggish performance on large projects, poor customer support, and frequent costly updates.
-
Ableton Live Recognized for its powerful combination of live performance and production features, Ableton Live offers a user-friendly workflow and smooth editing. Despite a dated interface and incompatibility with Wacom tablets, it remains a favorite among both beginners and professionals.
-
FL Studio The most widely used DAW globally, especially popular among EDM producers. FL Studio features an integrated step sequencer and easy-to-use effects but has an unconventional workflow that some find difficult to adapt to. It also offers a cheaper version with most features available.
Final Thoughts
The video encourages viewers to try trial versions of these DAWs to find the best fit for their needs. Viewers are also invited to share their personal experiences with different DAWs in the comments.
Speakers in the Video
- Main narrator/presenter (the person who conducted the survey and reviews the DAWs)