The reason why many people dislike this software is because it is so expensive, as is the external hardware sold by Avid, the brand that owns Pro Tools. Many studios have held off on updating their computers for a long time for this reason, which is why Pro Tools lacks many of the modern features found in other DAWs, such as the drag-and-drop functionality for plug-ins that Logic and Studio One offer.
Still, the software is great, and if you can get past its antiquated interface, it can perform any musical task you could dream of. There’s a reason this software has been a favorite for so many years: it works well (usually), and isn’t so intrusive that it makes the switch worthwhile for power users.
Perfect for DJs and live performers: Ableton Live
Photo: Terence O’Brien
Ableton Live was originally created for live performance – as a way to play computer-created electronic music on stage – and it’s still the best DAW for live performance with a computer, but over 20 years it has grown into a powerful studio tool.
The unique loop-based workflow of Scenes and Clips comes from working on stage, but it also makes it easy to iterate on ideas, try different combinations of song components, and sketch out arrangements. For deeper digging and fine-tuning, there’s the Arrangement View, where timeline-based recording and editing works just as you’d expect.
Live’s native synths and plug-ins are all excellent and rival any expensive VST, plus Ableton’s Push 3 ($999) features a dedicated MIDI controller that’s one of the best ways to harness the full power of your DAW without the hassle of fiddling with a mouse and keyboard.
The biggest problem is that Ableton Live is expensive. The Intro version is $99, but it’s quite limited in features and is often bundled for free with even the cheapest MIDI controllers. The full Live Suite, with 20 instruments, 58 effects, and over 70GB of sounds, costs $749. Push will cost you another $1,000. —Terrence O’Brien
Best for Apple Users: Logic Pro
Photo: Ryan Wanniata
Logic Pro is an extension of Apple’s GarageBand, making it the obvious choice for Apple fans looking to level up. Think of Logic as GarageBand’s graduate program that takes your efforts to the next level, from amateur demos to professional-grade recordings. From powerful plug-ins and effects to notation and editing tools that let you customize your workflow, there are countless ways to explore and improve your skills.
I’ve been using versions of Logic in my home studio for over 15 years because it’s the perfect program for music production. Takes in Logic are a key part of my process, making it incredibly easy to iterate on an instrument performance or vocal line and bring the best of each together to perfect it. Logic’s well-balanced combination of advanced features and intuitive production tools makes it the go-to program for any home studio running Apple hardware. —Ryan Waniata
Best All-in-One for iPad: Logic Pro for iPad
Available from the Apple App Store
Since its release about a year ago, Logic Pro for iPad has quietly become one of the easiest DAWs for beginners to get started with. With a hands-on tutorial system and an amazing selection of built-in synth engines, drum machines, loops, and effects, the app is a great starting point for anyone new to iPad-based music production, or digital music production in general. Whether you’re a Logic veteran on the desktop or a beginner looking to graduate from GarageBand, this portable version of Apple’s staple music production suite is easy to use, affordable ($6 per month or $50 per year), and packed with advanced features that will help you turn a collection of loops into a polished final product in under an hour. Desktop users will also love the ability to move projects back and forth between the two devices.
I recently downloaded Logic Pro and a YouTube tutorial onto my iPad Pro before a four-hour flight, and within an hour I had created an atmospheric chillwave track with bouncy arpeggios, erratic ping-pong delays, and warm analog pads ducked with heavy sidechain compression, all with built-in instruments and effects. Logic Pro handles third-party AUV3 plug-ins well, but a handy index of onboard kits makes it easy to type in keywords like “chillwave” or “analog synth.” It’s an unparalleled workflow enhancement that supports Logic Pro’s claim to be best in class. Whether you’re a total beginner or just hungover and unmotivated, Tim Cook’s Walled Garden in-house DAW is a near-perfect option for producers on the go. —Pete Cottell
The Easiest Beatmaking DAW: FL Studio
Photo: Terence O’Brien
FL Studio (formerly Fruity Loops) is the OG that countless bedroom producers honed their skills on in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Its easy-to-use Roland TR-style step sequencer and powerful sample manipulation tools have made it the go-to for countless hip-hop and dance producers, including 9th Wonder, WundaGurl, Deadmau5, Avicii, and more. Simple on the surface, FL Studio is incredibly powerful once you understand its complex workflow. It’s designed for creating electronic and sample-based music, not tracking bands, although you can also record live instruments if you so desire.
Perhaps FL Studio’s best feature is its value. The $99 Fruity Edition is even more limited in features than Live Intro, but the top-end All Plugins version is just $499. It includes 113 instruments and effects, and comes with lifetime free updates no matter which edition you choose. —Terrence O’Brien
Best of Worlds: Studio One
Photo: Amazon
Presonus, a Fender company, has been making a lot of buzz over the past few years with their Studio One software, and I’m a big fan. Studio One combines the same great drag-and-drop functionality as Logic, the same ease of tracking, editing, and mixing as Pro Tools, and the same live performance features as Ableton, all in one. What I especially love is the ability to directly integrate the software with Presonus interfaces, controllers, and other external hardware. With Studio One, it all works together and plays well together, which is a rare thing in the recording world.
Now that Fender owns the brand, the instrument and amp plugins that come natively in the software are getting better and better. There are also some nifty new hardware/software collaborations between the two brands, such as the Fender-logoed instrument inputs on the new Presonus interface. I’ve used Studio One to record albums for numerous artists, and the only downside is that most of the professional mixing engineers don’t use Studio One, so you have to export stems instead of the whole save file. Frankly, being able to bounce stems properly is a good practice, and it doesn’t take much time with this software. However, if your friends are also using Studio One to record, it’s very easy to share your whole project on the internet. The company also makes it very easy to master your tracks and export them directly to Soundcloud, in case you want to always share your latest work without any extra effort.
I was impressed, especially considering that it’s priced lower than other premium recording software. With each update, more and more user-requested features are added, something the other software mentioned above (such as Pro Tools) can’t say. If you’re looking for something easy to use on Windows, Mac, and iPad, give Studio One a try (although the iPad app is just a remote controller for the software).
Good News
You can make amazing music with virtually any modern recording equipment or digital audio workstation, inexpensive or not. I’m not kidding: award-winning albums have been recorded on an iPhone, mixed with GarageBand and other free software, and even recorded to 4-track cassette (looking at you, future Elliott Smiths and Bruce Springsteens). This list isn’t meant to argue that you can’t make great music with any software, but rather to highlight why you should choose one over the other.
