Music production software; the best DAWs reviewed

A guide to this years Digital Audio Workstations

I’ve been writing and producing music for decades and I’ve seen audio production software comprehensively evolve and change in that time.

In the mid 80’s I first programmed music on a 32K BBC B in Basic – hundreds of lines of “10 Sound 1, -2, 145, 240” – it resulted in a lot of vaguely tuneful beeps. When I upgraded to a Commodore Amiga in the early 90’s I came across OctaMED – eight channel music software that allowed up to four channels of samples (with a maximum file size of 512K in total) and four channels for rather tinny-sounding midi sequences. When Windows based PC’s became the norm I trialled lots of early loop and midi based audio production software, but it took quite some time for me to find what I think is the best digital audio workstation (more on that later).

If you’re an aspiring beatmaker, composer or music producer and you’re wanting to get into writing, mixing or recording music digitally, then you’re spoilt for choice nowadays. With a wide selection of free online platforms, basic beginners software, complex digital audio workstations (or DAWs), and even music making apps for Android and iPhones or iPads, one of the most difficult decisions is working out which music software is best for your creative needs.

Although each desktop DAW has its own unique features, tools, software plugins, hardware integrations and sometimes irritating quirks, I’ve outlined the basics of some of the best DAWs based on their compatibility with the widest range of operating systems and hardware interfaces:

The best DAWs for music producers to consider:

• Avid Pro Tools – £669 annual subscription
• Ableton Live – Between £69 and £539
• FL Studio – Between £76 and £369
• Logic Pro (For Macs) – £174.99
• Cubase – Between £85 and £499
• Acid Pro Suite – Between £149 and £299

Avid Pro Tools

www.avid.com
Cost: £669 annual subscription (monthly subscriptions also available)

Pro Tools is one of the most popular DAWs, and for good reason. It’s been around for a long time, and the software producer Avid has always been at the forefront of new developments in music production, thanks mainly to its commitment to providing quality products. On top of this, it’s updated regularly with new features that keep it relevant and on top of industry trends. The software is flexible, there’s an excellent choice of add-ons, integrations and hardware compatibility, but the full version of this DAW is very expensive and is really aimed at pros, so if you’re just starting your journey into digital music mixing it’s probably not for you.

 Ableton Live

www.ableton.com
Cost: One-off payment of between £69 and £539 dependent on software choice

If you’ve used DAWs before and are looking for something truly innovative and different then your best bet is probably Ableton Live. It breaks a few conventions that have become ingrained in music production over the years by introducing software and hardware combinations optimised for studio and live mixing. Live is available in three formats: Intro, Standard and Suite, with each version having different additional features, instruments, packs and effects. Live Intro would be a cost effective option if you’re looking to start experimenting with music mixing software, but the Push version of the software is really aimed at professional producers.

FL Studio

www.image-line.com
Cost: One-off payment of between £76 and £369 dependent on software choice

FL Studio is a unique digital audio workstation because it caters to an audience that wants to do more than compose songs – they also want to produce, remix, mash up and master electronic tracks. FL Studio has some great features like wave shaping, distortion and delay effects that are perfect for EDM producers who need their sounds to really pop. As with Albeton Live, the cheaper editions of the software make for a good entry point for beginner music producers, and the ability to paint, drag and drop samples and midi loops makes for intuitive editing.

Logic Pro (for Macs)

apps.apple.com
Cost: One-off payment of £174.99

Logic Pro is Apple’s flagship music production software. The program was designed to work seamlessly with Mac computers and it features a plethora of built-in tools. The interface is intuitive and well-designed, making it one of the most user-friendly DAWs on the market, but despite the fact that it gets a solid 4 out of 5 star rating, the large number of 1 star reviews suggest there’s room for improvement.  Logic Pro is a digital audio workstation at the cheaper end of the scale, so it won’t break the bank if you’re new to digital music production and want to trial the software. One downside, particularly in comparison to other software mentioned in this article, is a comprehensive lack of detail relating to functionality and features on the app website – this really isn’t helpful if you’re new to DAWs and want to research your options before buying.

Cubase

www.steinberg.net
Cost: One-off payment of between £85 and £499 dependent on software choice

Cubase is a popular DAW for professionals. It was developed by Steinberg, a German software company that has been in business for over 30 years. Cubase has always been one of the best DAWs, and version 11 comes complete with a vast array of software tools and features that keep it at the very forefront of digital music software. The full software suite is one of the more expensive on the market, so it may not be ideal for wannabe chart toppers with a limited budget.

Acid Pro Suite

www.magix.com
Cost: One-off payment of between £149 and £299 dependent on software choice (monthly subscriptions also available)

Finally, my personal favourite, and the software that I’ve written and produced the bulk of my music on. I’ve worked my way through Acid Pro versions 4, 6 and 7, and with Acid Pro Suite 10 you’ll likely be able to sketch a concept and convert it into a full track faster than with any other DAW. Its workflows, features, and professional tools were all created with loop and sample-based music production in mind, but the latest version of the software comes with complete midi integration, putting it on par with more traditional, expensive and better known competitors. You can compose, arrange, record, mix, and master your music with this all in one software, and benefit from the vast array of integrated effects, plugins, amps, tools and features. When compared to other music software the price point of Acid Pro Suite is firmly mid-range, but the functionality, usability and features are top class. Definitely an outlier that’s worth considering when reviewing the best DAWs that are currently available.

Choosing the best music production software

Selecting your ideal choice of music mixing software from the extensive selection of DAWs can be an expensive challenge, and you may not immediately find the digital audio workstation that’s right for you. Be prepared to trial quite a bit of software before you find your ideal solution (ideally starting with more basic and cheaper software versions first, or even free music making apps).

Ready yourself for the inevitable technical glitches and frustrations that come with configuring new software and hardware, and take the time to read through guides and watch instructional YouTube videos in order to avoid newbie errors. Hopefully with this advice, and the above list of popular music software, you’ll soon find your perfect DAW.