Well, I've been an Bitwig user for almost 4 years, it had the most intuitive UI for me when I started and I got no problems so far. But now I have curiosity to dive in another DAW, specifically Logic, with no objetive plans in mind just plain curiosity. I was thinking that maybe trying that DAW UI could change my workflow for the better and improve my producer skills, also that it could let me see Bitwig with another perspective, or maybe it would be just a waste of time haha.

What's your experience in trying another DAWs, it always proves useful in the end? The answer doesn't have to be related to Bitwig or Logic.

 

I have switched DAWs more than most over the past zillion years. I've even reviewed many of them. I will eventually post a vid on YouTube about my journey. For now, for you, I will cite this . . . .

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tV9b0rxmoJU

Just keep creating and avoid diving too deep into the world of DAWs. I've wasted years learning and learning and then switching. Yet, when producing . . . you need to know what you're doing, so . . . my advice is useless. LOL

 

If I used anything else I'd probably just miss Bitwig because it's the easiest DAW for routings, modulation, and similar. An example is how some other DAWs require you to use something like Scaler on another track and route the MIDI to the synth, in Bitwig you just place Scaler in front of the synth and that's it. I have my list of improvements and features I'm missing from Bitwig but I don't think I'd change. I already take PDC and plugin sandboxing for granted, so if I change to DAW that has problems with PDC and crashes I'd be pissed.

 

Do some demos on 3,4 different daws and see what it does to you, you will find comfortable on some better than others.
Ive been working on atari Cubase, then Reason some years, then Logic, then Cubase for good, and also tried and done released songs on FL, ableton live and some others. Every approach is different, there is no better, just your own taste and mind.

 

I mean, i love ableton and i am working with live since 15 years, but the piano roll and its workflow really isnt intuitive and its annoying to work with. When i switch to FL's piano roll its way more fun and i can get ideas down waaaaay faster. So yea, give it a try.

 

From another perspective (I have also spent a lot of time switching and learning DAWs), I think that it's good to have new experiences and to approach things in different ways.

Theres a few ways of looking at this whole thing. One way is to think of it as purely a means to an end. That end being 'finishing and publishing your music'. Theres a whole industry out there attempting to convince you that this is why you should buy this plugin, or that hardware or enroll on a course or subscribe to a channel. That industry has been around for a very long time and it stems from those early electronic music magazines with adverts and articles that would attempt to whet your appetite for yet more purchases.

The way I look at it, and I realise it's not for everyone, is that the creative process is the important part. Finishing music being merely a facet of that or a symptom, if you will. More important is the crafting of sounds, the layering and fine balance between the elements being struck, the poetry in the words and marriage of sonics.

For me it's all about the tools and the sonics, if I spend far longer messing around with a mix or some sound design on a synth than I spend actualy arranging the notes then that really doesnt bother me at all. I'm happy that every unfinished piece of music on my HD has been a journey of discovery and pleasure and has improved my understanding of the craft.
It's not a terribly popular stance online, you'll find. There are few influencers out there who would give way and admit that pushing the finishing/publishing/being-a-success story is, largely, a piece of consumerist propaganda.

So, I'd wholeheartedly say yeah, go learn Logic if that is calling to you. Satisfy your curiosity but do it with a light heart and don't expect to be transported to a place where you suddenly become much more prolific. Just go along for the ride.

 

Since I left Bitwig and switched to Pro Tools, my productivity has gone up 1000%

 

If you've time to spend getting grips with a new piece of software instead of getting shit done, then sure.

I'll say this though.. maybe Logic will not fit your workflow at all, maybe the GUI is a bit arcane and archaic compared to Bitwig. But what will make learning Logic very worthwhile is that it has got probably the best set of built-in plugins there is.

*edit* Sorry, I made it kind of sound like learning is useless; it isn't! Learning anything new tends to be useful at some point, but basics of all audio software is similar but you need to track down what function accomplishes X in software Y which is not really that productive. But different workflows have different side-effects, and sometimes they are useful!

For Logic, learn the basic editing functions and then skip straight to the fantastic synths and effects included, or if you do sound for video the included soundbeds are absolutely great. I think the Apple Loops (I use the official name, they're mostly the same as Acidized WAVs, and they're just simple loops) are fairly standard and tiresome apart from some nice percussion patterns, but they might help getting a tune off the ground only to be replaced later with something interesting.

You wouldn't probably get that much out of mangling MIDI with the Logic Environment, as powerful as it is for that, since you most likely get the same thing done way faster using Bitwig's Grid.

 

Last edited: Nov 1, 2024 at 5:27 PM

Depends on what you're producing. Bigwig is the very best DAW for sound design, followed by Ableton, FL, etc. If you are doing more traditional linear tracking . . . Logic, PT, etc. I have installed and deleted Logic over 100 times. It's neat, clean, simple, yet powerful, and packed with everything for only $200. But, do you need . . . do you use most of it or is just bloat? I wish I could use Logic and have the option to install/de-install features. I'd have myself a sleek virtual machine that did ONLY what I want and need.

 

I once switched from a more conventional DAW (Cubase) to Ableton. It boosted my creativity, since Ableton is much more straightforward in terms of workflow. Cubase is obviously better for traditional recording and mixing, but when it comes to electronic music composition in the box, Ableton (and I guess Bitwig too) are hard to beat.

 

Using multiple DAW's is brain training and an expansion of your consciousness.

I use 3 DAW's but only one for recording and mixing, the other two DAW's I only use to play plugins.

Your brain actually has to adapt to a different program every time, I think that's practice or training. But sometimes it is stressful for the brain. Sometimes we want to play and research or try things out, it can also be a playful instinct, there's nothing wrong with that.

Today, however, everything, including our own lives and actions, is optimized and geared towards efficiency.
Everything has to flow and not jerk and it has to be quick.

 

My blessing was to switch from Ableton to Reaper.

 

using a better tool will never give you new skills.

 

Learning another DAW certainly will. The first thing you get is the ability to test any things you are having problems with. You can rule out your daily driver immediately, by simply trying the same thing in another DAW. You would be able to compare them side-by-side yourself, and actually know what you are looking at; without asking for random people's opinions in threads like this one.

I do not care if your main DAW is something more non-linear and "creativity-oriented GUI", such as FL, Reason, or even Renoise. You should still know how to use a linear-style DAW either way, and having one installed is very handy. Some people even use a different DAW just for mixing or mastering, if only so that process stage is it's own separate thing.

 

Try it, have been using both for years, it's one of those personal preference things, only you can decide what makes more sense for your own thing, but sincerely none of them influenced my skills or anything in those realms, but who knows, maybe your brain is wired differently and just looking at one UI over other will unlock something in you. Maybe you will feel more excited about using one or another, some extra dopamine here and there, whatever thing that keeps you going.

 

Last edited: Nov 2, 2024 at 3:48 AM

There is no right or wrong answer to 'should I try a different DAW?' for the simple reason that no 2 people are the same, and what is right for one person may not be right for another.

When I started out, everyone was telling me to start with Fruity Loops (now FL Studio) I tried it, and hated it, so then went on to Ableton (version 4) I've been using it ever since in all its' various guises.

That said, would I recommend it? It all goes back to what I said first.. I know that I love it, but I also know some people just cant get on with it.

 

I started with Cubase in the late 90s and mostly used some version of it. But before I bought Cubase Pro a couple of years back I always tried new DAW. I tried Logic, Ableton, Studio One, FL, Bitwig basically everything that was available and somewhat professional at the time and I always got back to Cubase as the tracks I produced never came close to what I could do in Cubase.

Don't get me wrong it has nothing to do with the DAW it was just that I was missing capabilities or didn't know how to do them and it really wasn't a productivity boost quite the opposite.

If you feel your current DAW is limiting you because other DAW have features yours don't it might be worth a try and I'm sure this will work for some but for me and the way I approach music it definitely didn't.

 

it can help to switch things up. I recently commented about my experience with DAW's and how i use them in another post, quoted here.

 

DAWs help you realize your musical vision which comes from your musical inspirations.

 

If you're changing from one kind of daw to a very different kind, maybe Reason or Bitwig to something more "conventional" like Pro Tools or vice versa, I've no doubt you might pick up new skills or a different way of looking at things.


As someone that's gone from Cubase to Logic to Studio One, I don't think I've learned anything I wouldn't have learned about actual production or creativity by staying on the same one. Of course these DAW's all have some individuality but they still all do pretty much the same thing for 99% of tasks I need.

Really you'll become a better producer by producing music, that's all. But I definitely would learn a more conventional DAW like Cubase or Logic or whatever, alongside Bitwig anyway.