Hey guys, it's been a while since I was here but I'm looking into getting some opinions on choosing a recording DAW. *Note by the way that I have a separate DAW for the beats/instrumentals. But I my music production DAW friendly for vocal recordings.

Here's the sitch.

I'm currently trying out Pro Tools first (Since I'm on a tight budget, this is the only pro tools I can afford which works quite better than the SE / LE Versions.) I'm looking into other options that I can afford since Pro Tools first only gives me 8 Channels, so what I tend to do if I have at-least a 4 layer vocal, I bounce it out together and then put it in 1 channel so I could use the rest and if it doesn't fit no more, I'll make another project, which kind of obviously time consuming. I had a cubase 5 but I'm looking into something newer, since I can't afford to upgrade to the higher cubase and the version I had is not eligible for upgrades. My only current options are (this btw is going on legit softwares no piracy included) are Magix (which is not really ideal for me but just putting it out there) or Sonar. Which leads me to having the option of either: Just stay with Pro Tools First and save up or get Sonar. Which I can afford maybe in the next couple of months if Money comes in decent. (Referring to the Steam Version if you guys are familiar with it, it's very cheap.)

Boils down to the options of
• Sticking with Pro Tools First and take my time for a while
• Sonar (Steam Version) Goes around $55 I believe
• Or any other suggestions?

Thanks guys, looking forward for some feedbacks, thanks.

 

Reaper or Zynewave Podium.

There is also Zynewave Podium Free.
http://zynewave.com/podium-free/

 

You don't mention what you are using for an interface. If you buy a PreSonus, Studio One comes with it. But Reaper is very flexible, powerful, and to me, fairly intuitive. Also, unless your conscience bothers you, cracked versions are out there....just sayin'

 

Mixcraft 7 is another option. It's about $90, but similar to Reaper it does have internal 32-bit plugin bridging if that's something that would be useful.

 

Reaper, last I checked, you get full functionality even after the trial, just a nag screen... right ?

I don't know for sure anymore, because I bought my license a while back, thoroughly worth it,
no other daw even comes close in the price to benefit ratio.

 

+1 Cockos REAPER

 

Try Tracktion 7 .

 

I've been hearing reaper quite a lot almost forgot about it. I believe it's like the cheap Pro Tools. Will definitely give it a try.

Using a Lexicon Alpha, that's how I got my cubase. Might stick with it for a while since I'm looking forward to replace this with something with a lot of channels in the future, so I'm good with it for the meantime. But any recommendations tho?

 

I appreciate the feedback guys.

Boils down to Reaper and Sonar which I still have it in mind since it looks nice tho haven't tried it yet hehe.

 

Another +1 for Reaper from me
It does all i've ever asked of it in the way of recording/mixing etc

 

If your are on PC and 48kHz Sampling rate is enough for you, check free Samplitude silver edition.

http://www.mostiwant.com/magix-samplitude-silver-11-free-activation-code/

 

Pro Tools First is a sham and a frickin' scam. Just don't.

Try Reaper - inexpensive, frequent updates/fixes, lightweight, and great support - and cross-platform (PC/Mac), and uses more than one plug-in format on Mac.
Try Ardour - cross-platform, open-source, lightweight, uses VST and AU on Mac, and a full version is available for as little as $1 (if one be so cheap/broke).
If you're on Mac, Garageband is both dirt-cheap and capable of great things.
Tracktion 7 is really good, lightweight, cross-platform, uses VST and AU on Mac.
Bitwig - like Ardour and Tracktion, made for PC, Mac and Linux; lightweight; runs both 32- and 64-bit VSTs without a third-party bridge; has some innovative (Ableton-like) features in addition to the more standard DAW timeline. My sole comlaint about it is not being able to change time signatures mid-project. It's also more expensive than those previously cited.

Good luck; try to keep things as simple and non-proprietary as possible.

 

Studio One free You get unlimited audio tracks, MIDI tracks, buses, and FX channels.

And of course Reaper.

 

I bought a license as well, but havent used it yet. I kind of like the nag screen. I use it like a time clock to keep track of how many hours I put in

 

I'm a FL user,..... REAPER

 

@subGENRE now that you mention it.. sounds like a better way to go... and just keep getting my updates on the Z...

 

You can just keep downloading the updates from them. Install it right over your installation.

 

+ 1 to the power of 100 for reaper.
insanely cheap for what it's capable of .
also , as already mentioned i think you get 60 days trial with no limitations apart from a pop up alert to register wich appears briefly on startup.
nothing else like it that i know of. podium is free and good, but has not been updated for eons.
still if you are on the bones of your arse it's worth considering...