Producers and engineers in the music industry use a variety of different programs to record, mix, and compose songs. It can be confusing and challenging to find which Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) would work best for you.
The most common DAW’s for creating music in the industry are Logic Pro X, Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Pro Tools. Each one of them has some pros and cons, but they are all accessible and easy to learn. Let me break down the most popular and most commonly used DAW’s in the industry for you.
Logic Pro X
Logic Pro X is commonly used by producers and composers as it is quick to learn and there is an extensive set of tools available for you. Logic also has a vast library of pre-installed sounds and effects. A lot of producers and musicians in Hiphop and Pop use Logic Pro X as their preferred DAW since the tools and sounds provided within the program are perfect for modern productions.
Logic is continuously releasing new content and tools updates which are available for free for all Logic owners. Logic Pro X is only available for Mac users.
Ableton Live
Ableton Live is one of the best DAW’s for creating music with no boundaries. It works great for any type of genre and it is very efficient with tracking and recording external audio. Ableton is renowned for its live performance features such as the “session view” which is a feature that can be used to create music in real time which makes DJ’ing and electric performance extremely fun.
If you are looking to DJ with your computer and create music for live performances then Ableton Live would be your best pick!
FL Studio
FL Studio is one of the most popular programs for new producers, especially in the Hiphop genre. It has a great pattern/sequence design which is perfect for creating beats from scratch. It has a large set of different effects and instruments which is great for new ideas and creativity, and the workflow that it provides is extremely easy to learn and you’ll quickly become very efficient.
A downside to FL Studio is that it isn’t the easiest program for recording multiple audio tracks, however it had great audio and MIDI editing capabilities.
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is the industry leader in the world of audio recording, most recording studios will have it installed.
It allows for highly advanced editing and recording techniques, it may not be ideal for beginners but it is the most used DAW by recording engineers. It is built for industry professionals, not for beginners, but when you learn the basics it will provide you with very effective plugins and editing tools.
If you have some knowledge of basic workflows in similar softwares it won't be too difficult to familiarise yourself with Pro Tools.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, no DAW is the “best”, each program has its own advantages and disadvantages, and each one appeals to different production styles and personal preference.
'iridescence'
This is one of my tracks that I produced with Logic Pro.