Top 3 Favorite DAWs

It's almost hard to be a beat maker, audio engineer, producer, musician, etc. and not be asked the age old question of what your favorite DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is. While we all gravitate to one preferred DAW, there are sometimes others that we will dabble in to switch up the workflow. Here are a few of my top DAWs used and why.

3. REAPER

Coming in at number 3 for me is Reaper. As a program, Reaper does not differentiate too much from other DAWs. Where this DAW really shines is it's OpenSource architecture. With the OpenSource coding, Reaper is capable of being updated regularly to help improve its usability as time goes on. In addition, the price point and licensing is a great entry point for new engineers, even allowing free usage up to a certain point. When first starting out, Reaper was my first choice of DAW for recording vocals. The interface does take a little bit of getting used to, but once you figure out the routing and how to operate the tracks, then Reaper becomes a powerful tool.

2. AVID PRO TOOLS

Second on my list is the tried and true AVID Pro Tools. For years, I was against the "industry standard" because the stigma seemed silly. But after taking a few classes and earning my User Certification I realized how powerful the program is. While there are a few quality of life improvements that could be made to streamline the workflow as compared to other DAWs, that doesn't stop Pro Tools from showcasing why it is considered the industry standard. I will say that I am not particularly fond to the midi composition in Pro Tools, however for recording there isn't a better program. In fact, the past two years, I have preferred recording in Pro Tools over any other DAW. Also, the pricepoint of entry has really become more affordable for even new engineers too!

3. IMAGE-LINE FL STUDIO

No surprise for those that have followed me for years. FL Studio from Image-Line has been my number 1 choice for DAW since 2005. The first DAW I was introduced to that showed me how you can turn an idea into something tangible. Over the years, FL Studio has steadily improved its user interface to the point that it competes with the heavy hitters such as Pro Tools and Logic Pro. For my purposes, I never thought of FL Studio as a recording software and used it mainly for midi sequencing and drum programming. As I grew as a beat maker, FL Studio began to increase its offerings more in order to improve workflow. One of the biggest draws to FL Studio is the lifetime free updates that improve the software as well as bring in new plugins. As a beat maker, I can't imagine a day without using FL Studio, and truth be told, FL Studio is even more powerful than what I use it for.