Digital Audio Workstation

[Faithkeeper]

I wasn't sure if this was best here or elsewhere, so I picked one.

I'm looking for a digital audio workstation for windows 7 that won't set me back too much. (illegal downloading is not an option for me)

I'd like write my own music via MIDI keyboard/piano. While I intend to focus on piano/synth sounds, drum kits are a must and strings/brass are high on the want list... especially strings. The ability to input notated music is also a big plus. I want to be able to save as an mp3 as well. Loops might be nice to give me ideas, but I intend to compose the majority of the music myself.

I'd put running it on my laptop:
intel i5 (2010) processor
4 GB RAM
nvidia geoforce graphics card (not sure which model, but I bought this laptop a month ago, so something recent)
Plenty of hard drive space

Basically, I don't think there would be any DAWs I wouldn't be able to run.

I am on a budget, and I've done a bit of preliminary research. From what I've read, Mixcraft 5 looks like it'll give me the most bang for my buck, but I wanted input from others. Thanks a lot.

 

[Dastrn]

Pro-Tools is the industry standard.

Other good options are:
Ableton Live (good for loops in particular)
Fruity Loops (loops, beats especially)
Acid Pro
Cakewalk Sonar
Digital Performer
Cubase

Any of these will do well. I've used most of them. You should watch some youtube tutorials on each of them and consider each. You'll have to decide which workflow fits your creativity best. I like to compose very meticulously, but I do a lot more electronica than I do piano compositions.

Personally, I just record my piano comps as straight audio into my keyboard and import it later into a DAW to clean up. I usually use Pro-Tools for this, and I've found it extremely easy. If you're using a midi-keyboard, however, and need the software to provide the piano sound, then you'll usually need a plugin of some sort that provides the piano/synth sounds.

 

[evileric]

do not know much about it

 

[Jun.]

ableton

learn it early, its more or less the standard for electronic music and not too shabby with recording instruments either.

 

[etecoon]

FL studio and ableton are the best on PC IMO, try downloading the demo's and messing around, DAW choice is largely personal preference. reason is good too and comes with more samples to work with so you don't have to hunt for your own so much, but it's more expensive. I've also heard a ton of great things about reaper but I haven't used it myself

although I think protools is archaic and overrated, using it is only necessary for commercial reasons, if you're a hobbyist it's completely pointless.

 

[Dastrn]

That's not at all an accurate assessment of Pro-Tools, etecoon. It is the industry standard for audio. Nothing comes close to it. There's nothing at all archaic about it.

 

[Jun.]

OP wants to make music using midi and kits

using protools is like bringing a machine gun to a shooting range

 

[etecoon]

That's not at all an accurate assessment of Pro-Tools, etecoon. It is the industry standard for audio. Nothing comes close to it. There's nothing at all archaic about it.

what about it is superior to other audio software then? "nothing comes close to it"? you do realize that most DAW's fundamentally DO THE SAME THINGS do you not? it's entirely an issue of preference, the only reason there even is an "industry standard" is that artists insist their engineers use it because they don't know any better. so much stupid group think

 

[Faithkeeper]

Thanks for all the input guys, if I ever stop being a poor college student I will definitely look into one of these "higher quality" DAWs, but right now I can't throw down $300+ for a hobby. If it becomes more than that, we'll see. But really, thanks a whole lot for your input, all of you, I looked up every DAW mentioned and most looked just great. Have a great day.

 

[Dastrn]

what about it is superior to other audio software then? "nothing comes close to it"? you do realize that most DAW's fundamentally DO THE SAME THINGS do you not? it's entirely an issue of preference, the only reason there even is an "industry standard" is that artists insist their engineers use it because they don't know any better. so much stupid group think

I'm not going to argue with you. You clearly don't understand the industry.

 

[etecoon]

lol

10lols