(How to Choose) Recording Software

Thinking of Getting a DAW?

Are you a new musician looking to start making recorded music? Then you’ll need to acquire a type of recording software called a DAW: AKA a digital audio workstation. This piece of music technology has a long and winding history- and there are a lot of things to consider when choosing this piece of our studio. For example, you wouldn’t want to get a DAW that your workflow doesn’t vibe, with or one with software instruments that don’t fit your genre(s).

So, how do you choose the DAW that’s right for you? 

What should you be considering when shopping around?

 In this article, I’ll que you in on the dos and don’ts of choosing a piece of recording software.

DAWs: What They Are and How They Work

Musicians often compare digital audio workstations to word processors. A DAW is a piece of software that allows us to input sonic information into a computer. You input musical info into a DAW by using a MIDI sequencer, USB mic, interface… From there, you can edit the tracks and format them.

Joe Glider does a wonderful job explaining how DAWs work in an understandable way. If you don’t know much about them, check out the below video before we get into it. 

Don’t: Buy the First DAW You See

I get it- You’re excited to get your career rolling! However, picking the first digital audio workstation you hear about may not be in your best interest. Similarly, choosing the DAW that your friend loves or is super popular may not be the DAW that fits you. All digital audio workstations have their own workflows, personalities if you will.

Key Aspects to Consider

Some of the more important key points to initially look at include:

• The genres and styles you’re interested in

• Any included effects, templates, and plugins the DAW has

• Portability

• Compatibility with operating systems and devices

• The particular feel of workflow 

• Collaborations 

Do: Consider Compatibility & Portability

• Some DAWs only work on one system

• Others may not be available on portable devices

Many DAWs either work on one operating system or the other. Logic/Garageband is one example of a program that only works on MAC devices. Others, like the free DAW Audacity, work on any device. 

Then there’s the topic of portability. Let’s take the free (good ol’ basic) Audacity for example. This program is the first DAW many have started using- especially for school projects and podcasting- because it is entirely free. Albeit, it feels very bare-bones and dusty, but I digress. 

Audacity cannot be used on IOS or downloaded on a tablet or phone, so if you’re traveling on a plane, you’ll either have to bring your computer or wait until you get back home to work. But this isn’t an uncommon feature: In fact, loads of popular DAWS don’t have apps or IOS compatibility. That’s why Soundtrap takes the cake for being the most portable DAW. It’s also the first cloud/ internet-browser-based DAW. 

Don’t Skip Over: Collaboration 

Speaking of compatibility, another similar matter is collaboration and file exporting/importing. It’s not as easy as it may seem:

• Collaborations in DAWs are often difficult because files are usually very large

• Going between multiple operating systems and differing DAWs makes it even harder

• Songs recorded with a metronome may not be imported properly

If you are planning on collaborating with other musicians frequently, which DAW you choose will matter quite a lot.

While one can export files and email or airdrop them, sharing music between DAWS can get a bit hairy. 

Storytime: An Importing Nightmare

For example, one time, I recorded an electronic drum part for the song “Always You” by Amber Pacific, and and sent it to a guitarist with whom I was collaborating. I had recorded it inside of Reason and was trying to have him open it in his program, Logic. 

When he went to open it, it was completely uneven, as if it had never been recorded to a click track! I watched as he tried to quantize it manually, and laughed. “What?!” I explained, “The track was done, perfectly matched to the rhythm guitar you sent me!”. I opened up Reason and showed him my in-time drum part.  We were both baffled, and our project stalled, never to be finished. It’s hard to say which DAW had failed us- Perhaps they were both incompatible. 

Creative is like a balloon- it’s easily popped. What you don’t want to do is pay several hundred dollars for a DAW that doesn’t work with your collaborators. It’s a recipe for frustration and a killjoy to create.

 For quick and easy collaborations Soundtrap is a wonderful option. All you do is share the link, and multiple musicians can work on the track in real time together.

Do: Decide What You’ll Use It For 

If you’re newer to music, you will likely value pre-made templates and presets, such as song templates, and setups for clean voice, piano, or guitar. This can make the recording process go much faster if it’s plug-and-play. On the other hand, industry pros will likely want control over each individual aspect, and dive into a 5-band equalizer. 

Some frequently sought-after production tools include basic effects and production tools like:

• Reverbs

• Chorus

• Phasers

• Distortion

• Equalizers (EQ)

• Compressors

• Pitch shifter, tuners

• Noise gates

If you’re going to be podcasting, or recording acoustic folk music as your main type of project, you *probably* won’t be valuing software instruments. On the other hand, pop artists and rappers will value having a large variety of vocal presets and effects at their disposal. You should also consider if you will be doing live looping, or predominantly having everything prerecorded. 

Some common uses for making DAWs include: 

• For Podcasting

• Creating music like…

• Electronica 

• Acapella

• Folk/Indie

• Pop

• Producing MIDI arrangements for movies with better sounds

• Syncing audio to video 

Don’t: Give Up because of the Leaning Curve

No matter how well-suited the DAW is to your style and needs, know that there will be a learning curve. 

Make friends with YouTube tutorials, music production blogs, and the DAW's proprietary blogs and online guides. Another great way to learn- honestly- is to work inside the program and experiment. Play around until you know where everything is located. 

Do: Deeply Consider the DAW's Capabilities-to-Price Ratio

• Consider which tier of the DAW is right for you

• Know that lite versions have less production capabilities at a lower cost

Some DAWs cost several hundred dollars off the bat, while others offer tiered subscriptions, oftentimes with a free lite version. 

For example, some people like FL Studio because the price is right ($90-$199 USD). However, since the workflow is so vastly different from other DAWs, it can make it harder to be versatile and work in multiple DAWs. There’s also a free version, but you can only work on the program once- you cannot reopen it unless you upgrade. 

Many of the lite versions and free versions are usually like this: so if you ask me, you’re far better off getting the full thing. The more ‘lite’ the program, the more production capabilities you lose. 

Don’t: Underestimate Updates

It’s easy to overlook, but DAW updates play a huge role in keeping your workflow smooth and functional. When you’re investing in recording software, you want to make sure that the company behind it is actively working to improve the software. You’d be surprised how many pieces of music equipment are archaic-feeling, even in 2024. And what for?!

 The world of music is constantly changing around us, so our DAW companies should frequently be working to keep up with it. This Calor sound pack, for example, is a great example of a DAW update that is relevant to internet trends and musical changes. 

Some other updates that you should be seeing include new features like FX and bug fixes... Performance enhancements and instrument packs will also increase the value of the program. 

Not all DAWs are made alike: Some DAWs have free updates (like Soundtrap), while others will make you purchase the newest version in full (like Logic does every so often).

Workflow Considerations: Choosing a DAW that Makes You Want to Create

• If a DAW doesn’t match your workflow, you will not want to make music

• Each person has a different preference and order of operations

• It’s important that new musicians have access to a DAW they won’t get lost in

The first two or three DAWs I tried did not incentivize me to open them. That is the sole reason why I didn’t release much music back then. They were slow (well, this was many years back on an old computer, but still!) and did not ‘compute’ with my way of working. Reason made me plug things in, and as a millennial to Gen Z cusp era person, I had never actually worked intensively with physically plugging in items. 

Some musicians prefer to begin with loops or chords, while others make a vocal scratch track and compose their melody. Make sure the DAW you choose makes sense with your creative process. 

Soundtrap has a versatile workflow that will make sense to almost everyone who has ever recorded music- and for those who haven’t. The interface has a basic layout that is easy to understand: This is exactly what you want to see. 

Sometimes, DAWs can feel a bit like a new Photoshop or Paintshop update: There are buttons everywhere…but which one do you push to get the effect you want?  With ST, everything is always right in front of you.

Do’s and Don’ts While Working Inside Your New DAW

Already have a DAW but haven’t cracked it open yet?

• Don’t: Overdo effects

• Do: Take frequent breaks

• Do: Mix at lower volumes 

• Don’t: Move forward if you’re having latency issues 

• Do: Back up frequently 

While experimenting with FX is a great way to find your sound, don’t overdo it to the point of drowning out the original timbre. Many artists make the mistake of drowning out their voices to the point where you can’t hear the diction (words) clearly anymore. 

Another thing that happens to artists is what I like to call: Recording rage. There’s something hypnotic about DAWs sometimes. They suck you in, and pretty soon, you find the studio headphones glued to your ears, and you’re stuck in your chair. The quality of the tune gets worse and worse as a blind rage comes over you. Seriously, it happens to everyone. Don’t sit there for too long, it’s dangerous! 

It’s no secret that loud music is often mistaken for good music. Mixing what you’ve produced at a slightly lower volume than you think you should will help showcase the tune’s weak points,

Have you ever plugged in a microphone just to have it be a millisecond behind when you’re recording with monitoring on? Yeah, don’t move forward with that project until you get that fixed, if you keep charging forward it will never sound right. And (of course) be sure to back up your music frequently. 

Luckily, I have never had any latency issues with pairing my Shure Mv7 USB mic with Soundtrap. I can’t say the same for some of the other DAWs I’ve used in the past, though. 

Parting Advice: Check Out Those Free Trials! 

When it comes to getting creative, sometimes, the best thing is to just do it.  The world of DAWs is out there waiting for you!

Free trials are there for a good reason: They are there for you to take advantage of! Soundtrap offers a free trial that gives you full access to its cloud-based DAW, allowing you to experience seamless collaborations in real time. Check it out for free here.

For more information on how to make music in a DAW, check out this article!

About the author

Aleah Fitzwater is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, music journalist, and blogger from Temperance, United States. Aleah holds a Pk-12 instrumental music education degree. Her main instruments are flute, piano, drums, bass, and guitar.