What’s the Best DAW for Electronic Music Producers in 2015?
We weigh up the competition
The year is already off to a strong start for digital music creators, following several standout announcements at NAMM and a succession of hardware and software releases. As music technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, one subject that remains hotly-debated is which DAW (digital audio workstation) is the absolute best for creating music.Generally speaking, a DAW refers to a comprehensive music production and editing software. With so many options available on the market, each offering their own unique set of features and quirks, it’s quite easy to get overwhelmed in deciding which one to commit to.
Some would argue that there is no ‘best’ DAW, but rather that it depends solely on each individual producer or engineer’s requirements. Others would say that the best DAW is the one that you know like the back of your hand, so you can focus on the process of creating music with as few barriers as possible.
When looking for the best digital audio workstation in 2015, you will be presented with a myriad of choices, making it particularly challenging to arrive at a decision. After all, you will be investing a lot of valuable time and studio hours into this application.
To make things easier, we’ve taken a close look at the six most popular DAW choices in electronic music right now, considering the the pros and cons of each one. At the end of the day, everyone will always have their preference and the heated discussions will continue, but there’s no question that each of these software workstations have earned their ubiquity.
A few notable DAWs didn’t make the list due to lack of mainstream popularity, but are still widely used and well worth investigating, including Propellerhead Reason, Presonus Studio One and Reaper.
ABLETON LIVE
Latest version: 9.1.7
Without a doubt the most popular DAW in electronic music, Ableton gained traction quickly for its innovative approach to sketching down ideas inside a clip-based sequencer. In fact, it became so popular in the studio that many forgot the application actually contains ‘Live’ in its name, also serving as a unique new tool to approach live performances as well.
As such, it didn’t take long for Ableton to became a mainstay for producing music in the studio and performing it on stage. Ableton was one of the first modern DAWs to turn the conventional way of producing into something new. The audio integration is excellent, allowing you to easily manipulate and time stretch audio files.
What’s new?
Ableton 10 is currently under development and highly anticipated within the production community. In the meantime, users can enjoy the new features of version 9, which include multi-monitor support, automation curves, a new file browser and an extensive selection of new bundled sounds.
Reasons to use it
Ableton is without a doubt the most recommended DAW when it comes to electronic music for its ease of use and broad creative possibilities. Specifically, it has the most accessible interface, especially for beginners, and its clip-based sequencing is catered specifically towards electronic music rather than traditional recorded audio.
Reasons to avoid it
There aren’t too many reasons to avoid Ableton, especially for producers who are looking for a DAW that isn’t too intimidating. There have been slight concerns over the way Ableton handles Plugin Delay Compensation, which can result in timing issues for some producers depending on their workflow. Though still very usable, the included plugins may not compare with some of their competitors.
Price
$99 – $799
Noteworthy producers
Daft Punk, Diplo, Sasha
Hit song produced with Ableton
Skrillex – “Bangarang”
BITWIG STUDIO
Latest version: 1.1.1
Bitwig is the new kid on the block, but it has already gained some good traction in the audio world. It was developed by a few team members who originally worked for Ableton but left to form their own company. There have been some accusations that Bitwig is merely an Ableton clone, however it has a lot to offer on its own as well.
The Bitwig team has worked very hard to focus on what the modern day electronic musician needs. Given the amount of updates released – roughly one a month – the Bitwig team is constantly refining and improving the program. Bitwig is without a doubt the DAW to watch in the next few years.
What’s new?
Given that Bitwig is only in its first iteration, we can only imagine this application has a long way to go before it reaches full potential. They are already offering a sneak preview of what’s to come in version 1.2 and promise group tracks, an audition browse and a major factory content update. In the 1.1 iteration of the software, users can enjoy advanced multi-out sidechain support, latency compensation and advanced routing capabilities.
Reasons to use it
Bitwig Studio’s UI is fairly sleek and modern, landing somewhere between Logic and Ableton on the surface. The workflow feels similarly refined, with three main views. Furthermore, smaller software developers are more likely to take user feedback into consideration when developing new iterations. Frequent updates make Bitwig even more appealing, as you can be certain its developers are paying the utmost attention to it.
Reasons to avoid it
Given that Bitwig is a fairly new, many users may be reluctant to become early adopters of a software that has not been fully vetted. There is no ReWire support, so if you’re a Reason user you might want to hold off for now. Video playback is also not yet available, so the film scorers out there probably need to stick with their current DAW.
Price
$299
Noteworthy producers
Deadmau5, Rob Swire (Knife Party/Pendulum)
STEINBERG CUBASE
Latest version: 8.0.10
Cubase has been an industry standard for years now. Often referred to as “the granddaddy of DAWs,” it has been in development since 1989, created by Steinberg, the company who introduced the Virtual Instrument Plugin technology we all know today as VSTs. Many well-known composers including Hans Zimmer use Cubase, and there is no question it is an excellent piece of software. Originally released on Atari, Steinberg has been able to refine the DAW over the years while still keeping in mind the requirements of the modern day producer.
What’s new?
Version 8 of Cubase boasts performance boost for more instruments, more tracks and shorter loading/saving times. A handy new render in-place function allows you to bounce MIDI and audio parts easily. Also included is a redesigned track list.
Reasons to use it
Given how long Cubase has been around, Steinberg has done a great job of improving it over the years. As a result, it is one of the stable applications out there. The VST compatibility and support is also second to none.
Reasons to avoid it
The workflow and interface can certainly be intimidating for first-time users. Additionally, its user base is much more limited, making it harder to find resources and community support. It can take a long time to achieve certain mundane tasks in Cubase than it would in other DAWs.
Price
$549
Noteworthy producers
Hans Zimmer, Justice, Noisia
Hit song produced with Cubase
Zedd – “Clarity”
IMAGE-LINE FRUITY LOOPS
Latest version: 11.1.0
Fruity Loops Studio is vastly underrated by many professionals, but there’s no doubt it’s an excellent audio application that has endured. It is extremely flexible and features some great modular options once you dive in a little deeper under the hood. Until recently, Fruity Loops has only been available for Windows, however Image-Line are in the process of developing native Mac OS X versions for Fruity Loops and the more popular VST plugins and instruments they develop.
What’s new?
The latest version of Fruity Loops Studio offers comprehensive 64-bit features, including the ability to run the program with 32-bit bridge and native VST plugin support. Fruity Loops has also included a new ‘Performance’ mode, allowing users to trigger playlist clips live using a mouse, touch screen, or regular keyboard MIDI controller. Recently, they have also included support for various external controllers including the APC20/40, Launchpad, Maschine, Traktor and more.
Reasons to use it
Fruity Loops offers an incredibly quick and intuitive workflow. Several of the plugins native to the application, including the SoundGoodizer and Maximus Limiter, are extremely unique. The piano roll is also famously known to be one of the most intuitive for composing music.
Reasons to avoid it
As of right now, Fruity Loops is still not officially supported on Mac OS X. There is a beta version available, however most have reported that it is incredibly buggy and not usable. Currently, the only option to run Fruity Loops on a Mac is to launch Boot Camp, which can be an extremely large CPU hog in itself. As a result, those who are committed to using Mac OS X may want to considering a different audio application as their weapon of choice.
Price
$99 – $910
Noteworthy producers
Afrojack, Madeon, Porter Robinson
Hit song made with Fruity Loops
Avicii – “Levels”
APPLE LOGIC PRO X
Latest release: 10.1.1
Originally created by eMagic, Logic was acquired by Apple in 2002, when it became officially known as Logic Pro. Shortly after the acquisition followed the first release of GarageBand, one of the first feature-slim music creation applications aimed at hobbyists rather than professionals.
Logic has received much criticism in the past, but still remains one of the most widely used DAWs, thanks in part to its association with a corporate name as popular as Apple. The MIDI capabilities are where Logic excels, whereas its audio manipulation workflow leaves much to be desired in comparison to Ableton.
What’s new?
There’s no doubt the music software department at Apple has been extremely busy in recent months. Apple recently released the first major upgrade since they unexpectedly released Logic Pro X last year, and it comes with a redesigned compressor, new synths and drum tools and more. Logic addressed many of the major issues in their X release last year, including adding auto-save and redesigning the interface completely.
Reasons to use it
The quality of Logic’s in-built plugins is of a very high standard, with Logic’s Space Designer reverb plugin being one of the very best reverb plugins available anywhere on the market. Given that Logic is made by Apple, you also can be certain that it will run more efficiently on OS X than most other DAWs. Those already familiar with Apple’s creative professional line of products such as Final Cut Pro might have an easier time adapting to Logic Pro.
Reasons to avoid it
Logic can be fairly overwhelming for first time users and veterans alike. Although Logic X is a drastic step forward from the buggy and unstable previous version 9, many would find that Live’s interface and workflow has a much less steep learning curve. The audio manipulation also leaves much to be desired.
Price
$199 USD (only available via the App Store)
Noteworthy producers
Alesso, Armin van Buuren, Swedish House Mafia
Hit song produced with Logic
Calvin Harris – “Summer”
AVID PRO TOOLS
Latest version: 12.0.0
Pro Tools has a prolific history within the recording industry and is without question the most widely used DAW outside electronic music. It is still widely recognized as the de facto standard in the recording industry, and you won’t find a professional studio anywhere in the world without Pro Tools installed. It is fair to assume that Pro Tools plays a role in most music released today, particular when it involves recording vocals or live instruments.
What’s new?
Avid just released the latest version of their flagship product, Pro Tools 12.0, this week. The latest release seems to focus mostly on how Avid will deliver the platform rather than the actual software itself. With this latest iteration, Avid will offer flexible licensing options, giving customers the choice to subscribe on a monthly basis or to buy the software outright. Customers will also get access to the forthcoming cloud collaboration platform and marketplace designed to provide a more efficient and collaborative connection between artists.
Reasons to use it
There’s no question Pro Tools is still the best tool for recording vocals or live instruments. It offers easy multitrack recording and can be found in nearly every professional recording studio around the world. The quick workflow for cutting and editing audio files after recording is also stellar.
Reasons to avoid it
Pro Tools leaves a lot to be desired in the MIDI realm and generally caters more to live recording than producing electronic music.
Price
$29/month – $599
Noteworthy producers
Dr. Luke, Trent Reznor, Rick Rubin
Hit song produced with Pro Tools
Lady Gaga – “Just Dance”
