Best DAW for the price/ease of use

apkbass · #1 05-01-2012, 05:14 PM

I currently have Mixcraft 5 and it serves my needs, but is there any other digital audio workstation software out there that is around the same price (100, give or take some) and is still fairly easy to use?

DeltaPhoenix · #2 05-01-2012, 05:18 PM

Download Reaper. It is free to try out, $60 for the license, and you can really try it out forever. You just have to click past a few things.

James Hart · #3 05-01-2012, 05:20 PM

I like reaper... price is good, it functions well and is pretty logically set up.
REAPER | Audio Production Without Limits

apkbass · #4 05-01-2012, 05:28 PM

Wow...thanks guys, that looks great. The user interface is a lot more solid and easier on the eyes than that of mixcraft. And what would I do so I can try it out "forever"?

James Hart · #5 05-01-2012, 05:36 PM

it's a full functioning demo... with no time out. When you first boot the program, there is a nag screen with a countdown timer that delays you from starting to use it (a minute or less... it's been a while since registered mine).

**Jeremy Allen** · #6 05-01-2012, 05:40 PM

+3 on Reaper. I even paid for an individual license, after I finally realized how nice it was and how much I was using it!

apkbass · #7 05-01-2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

it's a full functioning demo... with no time out. When you first boot the program, there is a nag screen with a countdown timer that delays you from starting to use it (a minute or less... it's been a while since registered mine).

So it just says it has a 30 day time limit but it is really unlimited?

James Hart · #8 05-01-2012, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apkbass

So it just says it has a 30 day time limit but it is really unlimited?

Legally, after 30 days you should drop the $60 or uninstall the software. They haven't coded it to stop working. I ended up installing it, got busy with other stuff, then came back to really test it out a couple months later. It just delayed the use of the software for a minute each time it was loaded.

scorpionldr · #9 05-02-2012, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

I like reaper... price is good, it functions well and is pretty logically set up.
REAPER | Audio Production Without Limits

+1. If your simply looking to record, your best bet is probably Reaper. Under normal circumstances I'd say to throw 250 at FL studio, but considering Reaper's been called "a more affordable version of cubase" by computer music magazine, I figure it can't all be bad.

**jarrydee** · #10 05-02-2012, 11:06 AM

yup, Reaper is the real deal, does way more than most daw's, totally smokes PT

sweetwillyp · #11 05-04-2012, 08:45 PM

I am a reaper fan as well... I have tried them all. I was told that it is now the most used DAW in the world

Hactar · #12 05-04-2012, 08:49 PM

I throw out another BIG +1 for Reaper!

Reaper is very versatile, and cheap too.
Try it for free, and if you like it, it's nice to buy a license ($60 for a full DAW is a steal!)

DanHB18 · #13 05-04-2012, 10:13 PM

Reaper!! Pro Tools $1000 updates are for features that Reaper has had for a while now.

Luke19Boarder · #14 05-04-2012, 10:28 PM

Reaper. For sure.

ldthomas · #15 05-05-2012, 05:08 PM

Add another + for Reaper. Still in Trial mode but so far, it's perfect

**bassybill** · #16 05-05-2012, 05:59 PM

Reaper here too. BUT it isn't the easiest program to learn in some ways, just because the range of things you can do with it is so stupendously, humongously enormous. I would guess that if you're very used to Mixcraft, you'll find Reaper confusing at times. But it's well worth the effort. One of the very best DAWs out there.

The version you download will work, uncrippled, without expiring. But as it's so reasonably priced for single user, non-commercial use, many people do the right thing and pony up for the licence. I did because I'm happy to support the business model of Cockos,the developers. More software should be like this.

tuckomf · #17 05-05-2012, 06:23 PM

Ubuntu Studio. Get yourself another hard drive and do a dual boot setup. I'm very new at the digital recording thing, and most of the programs are pretty easy to use. And they're free. When I installed the audio package and checked out the program list, I had to walk away from my computer because it was so overwhelming to see that many applications. If I actually knew what I was doing, I'd go into more detail.

But yeah. Ubuntu Studio.

CnB77 · #18 05-05-2012, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuckomf

Ubuntu Studio. Get yourself another hard drive and do a dual boot setup. I'm very new at the digital recording thing, and most of the programs are pretty easy to use. And they're free. When I installed the audio package and checked out the program list, I had to walk away from my computer because it was so overwhelming to see that many applications. If I actually knew what I was doing, I'd go into more detail.

But yeah. Ubuntu Studio.

You don't need another hard drive to dual boot

tuckomf · #19 05-05-2012, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CnB77

You don't need another hard drive to dual boot

True that. I hate dealing with Windows' hostile boot takeover, and I like having a hard drive designated for just music and photos. It's more of a personal thing, I guess.

jastacey · #20 05-13-2012, 04:32 PM

I to, use and recommend Reaper, as noted you can click through the trial message, but I elected to buy a license and the license is good for several major upgrades (I started at 2.00), I recently had to renew the license ( the new one is good from 4.00 to 5.99), if your a renewing customer it's only $50.00, this software is always being improved, so the cost of supporting a good program is really a bargain ...IMHO