Midi: Cubase, then Logic.
Stability and bug-free operation: Logic.
Audio editing, comping: Protools . Cubase and Logic nearly equal.
Mixing: Cubase or Protools. Then Logic.
Price: Reaper. then Logic.
Customization: Reaper.

This is how I rank traditional Linear DAWs for artist/small studio use. I have never used Studio One for anything. I consider FL,Reason,Bitwig and Ableton more like "hybrids"; they are all sort of their own thing. I would never pick any of them as my main "DAW", even if I used them.
I would use categories like these to evaluate each one I was considering, and then figure out which are priorities. Some people will always pick one workflow over another, for seemingly no real reason. But maybe you figure that out trying one or two; and not all of them at one time. There isn't one "best", but there almost always is "best for you".

 

Basically for your all round "needs" Windows only :
Studio One
Cubase
Reaper
Cakewalk Sonar

FL Studio is NOT "all round" by any stretch of mind.
Ableton is NOT "all round" too.
...

If you dismissed Studio One so fast, you will dismiss Reaper even faster ... because it will give you an headache faster
Cubase is between S1 and Reaper GUI/workflow wise.

Sonar Cakewalk whatever is a different problem : not so maintained, you may learn something abandoned soon ...

So to me : test Cubase and Reaper ... and try again last Studio one last version after.
You may go back to S1 faster than expected

 

The MIDI list editor in Cubase and the addition of editing any number of MIDI events from any number of multiple MIDI tracks in one window (selectable and configurable) in Cubase 13, is one of the better MIDI DAW's on PC.

 

Reaper. I also play drums.
MIDI capabilities are amazing, note/sheet scoring and MIDI mapping is great too, you just need to get 3rd party virtual instruments.
no need to decide tracks being audio, MIDI, bus.... because Reaper doesn't bother either.
for songwriting and producing, you can move around regions, quickly tweak takes, probably get Scaler for arranging chords and such.
recording, producing, engineering = Reaper.
...oh did I mention Reaper can do video as well, so you can make drum covers completely in Reaper?
sigh I'm starting to sound like Reaper fan

 

Asking on a forum full of anonymous users is not qualitative research. Hell, it's not even research, it's just looking for a quick answer. Do you honestly believe that reading an article on the internet, whatever the title, is a legitimate form of research too?

We're all busy but if you really want something you make the time. Relying on others biased opinions of what is, and what is not, is the quickest path to failure. To complain about a need to switch DAWs because it "bothers in a few ways", and then jump into another DAW based on group opinion; it'll end with asking for opinions for another DAW in six months. That's time that could be spent properly researching the centrepiece of any studio. If you want it, you will find a way. If not, you will find an excuse.

 

Until there's no trial version, but/and otherwise the least wallet-burdening Cubase from Splice (try free for 14 days)

https://splice.com/plugins/search?category=daw

fallback DAW is Reaper

 

Last edited: Nov 12, 2023

What else he got, except asking on forums and reading online articles, how should he get informed, is there any academic book on this issue or what, should he study history of DAW development from Wikipedia to make informed decision about what he should demo?

You really have no basis for any of this, he made good OP, explained well his needs, his experience and expectations, made sure this isn't one of those "What's best DAW" thread and asked for recommendations, as he already have something on his eye. So this isn't another, I don't know what I need, suggest me something and I will trust you blindly, quite the opposite.

 

If you focus on midi maybe cubase then cakewalk.

 

Thanks everyone for the nice replies but as it's been said before there are not many choices. Every DAW has their respective positives and negatives, it's just personal preference about whether it's comfort/workflow speed, custom features or something else.

I'm not into any kind of EDM style and I know some of the recommendations are specifically qualified in that genre, which doesn't mean I won't try though, when the time comes I would gladly expire the trial days.

Spartan might be right or not but it's just irrelevat, doesn't mean any single thing for my case. I'm not a god, just a simple guy with capabilites within human borders. Neither a professional by any means. The "time loss" occuring when switching DAWs and simply trying things to make my workflow better while studying 10 hours of a 16 hour day basically doesn't effect me. I'd rather it to be quick for my practice sessions to have the most time though, so asking people with similar experiences would be my first choice, be it anonymous or my dad.

Thanks everyone for all the answers and you do not need to reply anymore,
Best regards.

 

Last edited: Nov 13, 2023

"faster to master" DAW i seen was Studio One so ...
Logic, too

Those are the most balanced between power versatility VS fast workflow.

Reaper : you will loose hours making it "work" for you from start
Cubase :a little faster than Reaper BUT still smell 80's software
Cakewalk Sonar : can't be trusted now

So ... Studio One still my main choice.
Even if Cubase 13 is tempting, especially for MIDI

 

Yeah, that'll happen

 

FL Studio's Piano roll is cool , but it does NOT use REAL midi, and that is the main reason i switched to Reaper.
(One can export the midi from FL Studio, but i found it easier to use Bitwig, as a translator for FL Studio projects midi. But, I won't use Fl Studio again due to that issue.)

I also like Sonar / Cakewalk's piano roll / midi editor, and have used that since the early days.

I would suggest trying all you can but ONLY focusing on the piano roll / midi editors.
If that is a main focus for you, focus on that.
Do minimal setup and only do what you need to load a few of your most-used plugins.

 

I use Reaper. I have many vst. easy to customize to gui and the key shortcuts. frequently updated.
fast daw.

 

What does this mean? I used FLS once 20 years ago, I've never heard of this...

 

I would not consider Cakewalk for this reason. It is free. They don't owe their users anything at this point, and they could pull the plug tomorrow. Maybe it will stay around a long time as a free program, but you can't expect it to. You may as well start learning something to replace it ASAP.

 

I'm a Cubase fan, great MIDI management.

 

Fl Studio or Pro Tools IMO

 

I switched from Cubase to Studio One a few years ago and have had no issues with Studio One at all.

I have dabbled with Ableton, but I really struggled with this DAW (which is definitely a me problem)

I have recently installed a trial of Bitwig 5 and so far I am blown away by it, it just seems logical and can do some things a lot better than Studio One, some very creative stuff in it, the GUI is nice too. I am hoping that there will be some sort of Black Friday deal, as I am definitely going to purchase it. BUT as with anything it's all down to personal choice no one can say the best is this DAW or that DAW, the best DAW is the one that you gell with and brings out the creativeness in you.

Good luck, I am sure we will all be wanting to know what you ended up choosing.

SC

 

managing multi-takes from multi-tracks kinds of stuff are missing from Bitwig, like

from 14:45, MIDI orchestration also

 

Last edited: Nov 13, 2023

The usual "DAW is a personal thing" argument is like "everything is relative" : a crappy argument

YES no one can choose for you
But
NO you are not going to make a cyber synth metal orchestral 64 tracks song on Bitwig, Ableton, FL Studio ... because over 32 tracks it is a MESS on those DAWs
NO Protools is NOT MIDI capable : it is a mixing DAW ... and even there, Reaper eat it for breakfast

And i can write pages about REALITY facts.

There are valid arguments AND opinions.
I don't care about opinions : i only care about FACTS.

I know in those days of snow flakes all around, no one can stand facts ... so i'm out.
Run in circle without me