Today we’re going to talk about a few of the different DAW (digital audio workstation) software options out there. There are so many products that are available it’s really hard to make a buying decision, because a lot of this is really opinion and personal preference. It’s fairly safe to say at this point that there isn’t a bad piece of software on the market. There are just some subtle differences between the products that may sway you to one or the other depending on your needs. Today I’m going to briefly touch on what I consider to be the big three. In the next post I will cover some other programs that are still viable but perhaps not as commonly used as the ones we will touch on today.
Of the three software options that we’ll go over today, Pro Tools LE is the only one that is cross compatible. Meaning, you can run Pro Tools LE on a Mac or PC. The other two programs, Digital Performer and Logic only run on a Mac. Although the line between Mac and PC is getting smaller, it is still better to use a Mac for recording if at all possible. It used to be that in order to get a Mac you had to spend a ton more money to get one, but as time has gone on, the Mac family of products has come down greatly in price. With the advances that there have been in technology, you can pretty much go pick up one of the new iMac’s and run most software scenarios with that computer when it’s bone stock. I wouldn’t go so far to say that with a PC yet, because there are just far too many variations to make such a general statement. That being said, on to the software.
Pro Tools LE
It used to be that if you wanted to run computer based audio in the professional world and be compatible with most studios that you needed to run Pro Tools. That has become less and less necessary as time has gone on. However, Pro Tools is still the most widely recognized professional DAW software on the market. There is probably not a major recording studio that doesn’t use it or at the very least has it installed in the studio to be used if necessary. Pro Tools is available for Mac or PC, but again as I said, if you have a choice, Mac is the way to go.
The only thing that I don’t like about Pro Tools personally is that it forces you to use Digidesign hardware with the software. They also make a version called M-powered Pro-Tools that will work with the M-audio family of interfaces, but unfortunately if you don’t have a Digidesign or M-Audio interface your stuck. This is fine for most anyone who would be considering which software to buy initially and use because you can buy the appropriate interface at the time of purchase. However if you already have a different interface and you just want to change your software, Pro Tools is not an option.
Apple Logic Audio
Apple’s Logic Audio is a Mac only application. There are no hardware limitations with this software. It will use any computer recording interface and integrate just fine. As you can see, Logic Audio has a little different look to it. Because it is made by Apple, it also has some interesting import options if you’ve been working with projects in Garageband and you want to send them into this application for deeper editing. For those who are used to Garageband and like the layout and the feel of that program, Logic may be a good choice for them because they are similar.
MOTU Digital Performer
Motu’s Digital Performer (Mark of the Unicorn) is another fantastic Mac only application. There are also no hardware limitations with this program. It has the ability (as does Logic) to import and export Pro Tools format files with all the appropriate settings so you can be completely compatible with Pro Tools projects. Digital Performer isn’t as flashy looking as Logic and Pro Tools, but don’t let that fool you. Digital Performer is a power house program with advanced MIDI and video editing features that the other two programs do not have. Motu Digital Performer is my personal choice of application, and it has been for years. Part of the reason for my preference is that it seems the folks down at Motu never sleep. They are constantly updating their products. It’s not like the other companies don’t, but in my experience they are not changing things as quickly as the boys down at Motu. Follow that up with what I personally feel is the absolute best customer service in the biz and you’ve got an award winning application.
Ultimately you can’t go wrong with any of these products. They all sound amazing and have a tons of features that quite frankly, we’d never use most of. There’s something to be said for simplicity and ease of use, so if that’s most important to you then Logic wins. If industry standard compatibility is important to you, or if you are looking for the best PC application available, then Pro Tools would be a solid choice. If you want the most extensive MIDI and video editing backed by what in my opinion is the best support team in the business, then go MOTU. As always I’m here if you need anything. Call 800-373-8393 X100 or email bfoley@daddys.com
