Best DAWs - The Coolest Digital- Audio-Workstation Picks Full of Surprises

In this digital era, recording music is a lot easier than it was a decade ago. Recording music albums and making new music was an enormous task. It took the effort of a lot of people and a huge space was necessary. But now, Digital Audio Workstations or DAW is here for the music creators. You can create whatever you want in a room without compromising the spirit of the music.

What is a DAW, and what is its significance?

DAW which is also known as Digital Audio Workstation, is software for your computer which helps you to record music. In simpler terms, DAW acts as an advanced version of sound recorder offering you to record from other sources as well. Once you record the music, you can import it into MP3 or any other audio format. DAW has a timeline where you can put your tracks. The best thing about Digital Audio Workstation is that you can put as many tracks on the timeline. There are many options for you, hence allowing the maximum creativity. DAW is like Photoshop for the music creators as it allows them to move the music from their head to the computer.

A musician given the right DAW can do wonders with it. But choosing one is not easy as there are countless options with tons of features. To make this task easier, we have compiled a list for the best DAW. After going through the list, you will be able to select one according to your requirements. So, let's get started.

How to pick a DAW for yourself.

Now that you have an idea about DAW, it is the time we head to in-depth analysis for choosing one for yourself. Right now in the market, there are plenty of options to choose and that's why aspiring musicians get confused. To solve your confusion, we have put some points that you must consider before getting a DAW. It is wise to make a list of your requirements before buying something. So, let's get started right now.

· Computer Specifications : A DAW is a heavy piece of software that requires a top-notch system for a smooth performance. If your system is low on RAM, storage or CPU power, now is the time to upgrade as DAW cannot compromise on any of these. DAW puts a heavy load on the computer system because of its advanced features. That is why we want you to upgrade your gig before you buy a DAW. If you are a beginner, you can learn with an average computer but to take things to the next level, you would have to replace your system. Running a fully-loaded project on a low RAM system will cause the software to crash.

· Operating System : The operating system plays a huge role in the selection of a digital audio workstation. There are OS limitations for some software. For example, the FL studio by Image-line only works on Windows operating system. Similarly, Logic X pro is exclusive to Mac OS only. So you select a DAW, you will have to keep the operating system in mind. Can you switch your OS for a different DAW? Will be it worth it? Will you be able to get hold of the new environment? These are the questions you must ask yourself in advance.

· The budget : This is one of the most important things to consider before buying a digital audio workstation. Before buying anything, you look into your pocket and then decide based on what you have. The budget is always the first step in choosing something. As digital audio stations come at different prices, you will have to finalize your budget. For example, the FL studio comes with 3 packages; the basic, standard and premium. The price difference between basic and premium is almost 600$! This is a huge difference and for an amateur, there is no need to invest that much.

Criteria for the list

All this research was not easy, as it involved so much work. We worked our way through reviews of thousands of people about each DAW. We explored all depths of major forums like musicbanter, songstuff, chorus.fm, etc.

Moreover, we looked into the choices of the professionals as well. After all this, we were able to come up with this list. It includes the most trending DAWs in the business. Let's find out more about them.

Best DAW list for 2023

The following are the digital audio stations that have made through this list.

Steinberg Cubase - DAW Link

Cubase is famous for providing you with everything you need. It is the jack of all trades in the DAW industry. While using Cubase, you are never short of anything. Being one of the oldest DAW, its environment has matured enough and provides a smooth experience for the user. Cubase offers the best audio mixing and audio recorder out there. And the plugin integration is strong as well all thanks to the mature environment. Cubase can work in the background to record. The range of instruments is immense and comparable to the FL studio.

Operating system: Mac OS and windows.

Pricing: Elements (99.99 €), Artist (331.99 €) and Pro (581.99 €)

The FL Studio - DAW Link

FL Studio is currently the top-rated DAW and the best choice for beginners. It is a lot easier to learn with tons of tutorials online. This shows the strength of its community. The FL studio is best known for its sequencing due to which is has been the top choice of the electronic artists. This software has more instruments than its competitors. It does not offer a super-advanced production but relies more on your creative side. The FL studio does not offer you everything but whatever it offers, its the best and has no match at all.

Operating system: Windows.

Pricing: Basic (99$), Standard (299$), Unlocked(737$)

Logic X pro - DAW Link

If you are a lover of Apple's ecosystem and are looking for a DAW, then no other software beats the Logic X pro. The quality and the price for it is unbeatable. People name it as the king of DAWs in Apple's ecosystem. the builtin plugins are very powerful and they can get the job done. The software has only a single edition so you don't have to worry about the value. With the Logic X pro, you can be the professional.

Operating System: Mac OS

Pricing: 199$

Ableton Live - DAW Link

It is one of the most popular DAWs out there for various reasons. The number one reason is due to its exception MIDI handling. Nobody does it better than Ableton live. Moreover, it is the choice of many top artists for its amazing live performance capabilities. The flexibility offered by Ableton's live is mindblowing. This is why the professional community recommends it. The intro edition is relatively cheap but other editions are very expensive. This makes upgrading a bit heavier on the pocket but you will not regret it. The interface is a little hard to learn but once you get used to it, you will not switch to any other DAW.

Operating system: Mac Os, and Windows.

Pricing: Intro(99$), Standard(499$) and Suite(749$)

Avid Pro Tools - DAW Link

This piece of software is widely used in professional studios. It features industry-standard recording features which makes it so popular. Avid pro tools are best if used with professional recording gear. You can easily learn Avid pro tools hands to its easy interface and it has the ability to handle huge projects. It supports a big range of professional plugins to make your recordings stand out. MIDI integration is not its strong point it gets the job done. One of the best things about Avid pro tools is its online cloud collaboration. This enables producers, living in different parts of the world to work together.

Operating system: Mac OS and Windows.

Pricing: 33.9$ a month, 299$ for a year, 599$ for a permanent license.

Bitwig Studio - DAW Link

This DAW is relatively newer in the market but it has created a huge hype among the producers. The reason behind it is its creative sound manipulation. It has all the major features of a DAW but the new thing is the creative space with the use of creative devices. You can easily manipulate the instruments with it along with the plugins. it is not hard to use and can be a good source of learning for beginners.

Operating system: Mac OS and windows.

Pricing: 379 €.

Conclusion

With all this, you must have got about the DAWs and the things you must consider before buying one for your own use. You must not hurry and carefully list your requirements. This will make the pick better and you will face no issues later.