Hey everyone I could use some help. I am wanting to really get into electronic music production and I need some help picking a DAW. What I have been useing is an android app called Caustic but I’d like to get on my computer for making music. I think I’ve rounded it down to Ableton, or FL studio. I need some help picking one or the other. I really like the way fl studio looks and operates, but I’d like to be able to preform live, somthing that ableton is known for. I also like the Launch pad which only works with ableton. I would love any input you guys can give me. Thanks!
You can use the Launchpad with both Live and FL. I have used FL ever so I can’t talk about the integration and performance, but it does have a performance mode as well!
However, when just starting out I’d recommend getting Reaper. Reaper is a much cheaper, yet not less powerfull DAW. So instead of spending €500 you’ll be billed €65. Also it has an unlimited demo, but I’d recommend buying it after a short test-period - those guys need to eat as well and they deserve it!
Same goes for VSTs. While FL and Ableton come with some plugins, reaper does not. However there are TONS of free plugins, many of them beeing just as good or even better than many commercial ones. All you have to do is google “best free xxx VST” and you’ll get there. Alternatively you can check this site: Free VST Plugins (2025 Update) - Bedroom Producers Blog . Don’t get fooled: You don’t need to pay a penny to make industry standard music. However you’ll need to invest thousands of hours no matter how much money you spend. On the other hand this means you can get the full joy of music making for free from the beginning. So wait no longer and just give it a go
Demo them and see which one seems more intuitive to you. Buying based on how something looks or what’s included with it or not is not the way to go.
I bought FL Studio to start without demoing, and it just didn’t make sense to me. Live does, at least from an arranging standpoint. (another bennie to FL Studio is free lifetime updates though)
I Agree with all these posts man…Bottom line is they all pretty much do the same 'These Days Anyway’lol…start on an Editor first,like Audacity or Audition,or Cool Edit Pro ‘Old School right?’..anyway,then you will get the just of basic transport editing…its just like using a cassette player except its a swiss army digital cassette player…the more expensive ones you will find are more for 'Mastering,compressing,and ‘Finishing’ Tracks…and since u are just starting, I wouldnt worry about that…a Basic DAW like Acid Pro 9 will work great as an Entry level Software…But I must warn you…This World is Beyond Addictive once you realize all the control computers give you..its hard to stay away…also,as a 20 plus yr veteran…stay away from too many effects and pre-sets…sure,they have their place,but just focus on building a proper track by studying its composition and Fidelity…seems those 2 things are out the door these days and are thee most important…Good Luck and Remember,a little restraint is always a sign of a season pro-
Have Fun-
JKUTTA
The problem with demo trials for beginners is that they don’t even have an idea of what to look for. Had I known as a beginner that once I’d be upset that Live is not able to handle MIDI CC automation in arrangement view, but only in clip view? I guess not.
Yeah. I guess my problem right now is that I don’t know the most of the basics of the software. So I don’t really have a good idea of what I’m looking for in a DAW.
Ableton. Download the trial and if you can’t afford the full version, get a reduced one. I’m sure there are other ways to get it a lot cheaper in this world of file sharing.
Waste of time imo starting with an inferior DAW (i.e. minus plugins/presets etc)
Yeah the problem I have is I don’t know what i want out of a daw yet. What about LMMS? I’ve been looking into free DAWs and I think that one looks best.
Thanks for all the input I’ll definitely go look at reaper. 