David Andrew Wiebe, Author at MIDINation

What Is A DAW In Music? Meaning Explained With Examples

Looking to get into recording? Been in recording for a while? Want to learn more about recording?

Whatever the case, you’ve probably come across this term and wondered what it meant. So, what is a “DAW” anyway?

In this guide, we cover all the ground, answer all your questions, explain what a DAW is, show you what you can do with a DAW, and put a few examples of DAWs in front of you so you can see how they work.

Here’s what you need to know about DAWs:

What Is A DAW? – DAW Definition

A DAW is a software application designed with the purpose of audio recording, MIDI sequencing, editing, mixing, and mastering in mind (sometimes even publishing).

Some DAWs have limited functionality and do not allow for audio recording. Others are more robust and feature a wide selection of high-quality proprietary virtual instruments and effects (VST plugins).

DAWs are generally used on desktop and laptop computers because of their processing power, but there are options available for mobile devices as well!

Essentially, a DAW replaces digital and analog recording consoles (although some producers still like to use hardware recording solutions). Computer recording is so convenient these days that you can overdub tracks a near unlimited number of times, comp tracks (stitch together the best takes you recorded), add powerful, game-changing virtual effects (like autotune), record to the “grid” for perfect timing, and a great deal more.

In practically every regard, a DAW is a far more powerful, convenient, and fast solution compared to hardware recorders.

DAWs haven’t completely replaced hardware recorders (and it’s quite possible they never will), because hardware consoles have also become smaller, more convenient, more feature rich, and more affordable. But in terms of functionality, they still can’t compare to DAWs.

Many producers and sound engineers feel a software working environment complemented by hardware gear (like MIDI controllers, control surfaces, tube preamps, compressors, effects units, etc.) is the best of both worlds. Virtual effects are just that – virtual. “Real” effects tend to sound better, and often come in big rackmount units costing thousands of dollars. But you can connect them to your DAW and that’s the rub.

There are many DAW programs available, and we will be looking at a bunch of them a little later.

What Does “DAW” Stand For?

You may have noticed that my name is David Andrew Wiebe (which means my initials are D, A, and W). Although some of my friends call me “DAW,” in this case, we are not talking about me.

DAW stands for “Digital Audio Workstation.” A Digital Audio Workstation is a computer software recording application. There are both free and paid options available, and that does not affect their qualification as a DAW.

What Can You Do With A DAW?

Great question!

As already noted, this is going to depend somewhat on the DAW. But we’ll cover the basic functions of a DAW below in more detail.

Audio Recording & Editing

Audio recording and editing is the reason most DAWs exist. Ironically, there are free DAWs like LMMS that don’t allow for native recording, but they are few and far between (and they still serve their own function).

Audio recording means the ability to record voice and instrument tracks using a mic, direct input, amp, multi-effects unit, or otherwise. This requires the use of an audio interface (often connects via USB and other convenient computer ports).

If your audio interface can handle it, you can record multiple tracks simultaneously. This is a common technique for guitar and drums these days. Multiple mics or inputs are used to capture different dimensions, tones, and shapes of the instruments.

Editing audio includes a wide range of functions – the most obvious being the ability to split, cut, drag, and shorten clips. But you can usually do things like add edge and crossfades, loop, copy and paste, comp, and more.

MIDI Recording, Sequencing & Editing

MIDI is like a digital recording language standard that allows different digital recording units to interact with each other. So, for instance, a MIDI controller can send information to your computer.

MIDI itself is not music. It’s just information. But the information can be used to create MIDI tracks, and virtual instruments can “play” said information.

These MIDI tracks can be created using a MIDI controller, but they can also be created manually. The manual process is called MIDI sequencing, and it can be done one click at a time.

Most electronic tracks are MIDI heavy. Stacks of melodies, riffs, chord clusters, basslines, and even drum lines are often created using MIDI, and this is a common practice not just in electronic music, but also for pop, hip-hop, and sometimes even other genres.

MIDI is easy to edit and manipulate. You can loop. You can copy and paste sections. You can take entire sections and move them up or down an octave. Some DAWs have built-in chords and grooves. And MIDI chord packs are promoted heavily on YouTube these days.

Mixing

Editing and mixing usually go hand in hand and sometimes they are even thought of as the same thing.

If there’s any kind of distinction, it would basically be that editing is the process of cleaning up a track, removing unwanted artifacts, comping the best performances, adding fades, and so on. This process might also include deleting large sections of unneeded tracks, looping some, and even copying and pasting (even though this is sometimes considered lazy or “cheating”).

Meanwhile, mixing is like adding the final coat of shine on everything – adjusting levels, panning tracks, adding filters and effects, stereo expansion, and generally ensuring all recorded tracks interact nicely with each other and “sit” in the right place in the mix.

But you can see why the two tasks almost appear the same. They tend to go hand in hand in a DAW, where with a hardware recorder it ends up being more of a linear process with fewer convenient options for editing.

Mixing is essential to getting a track sounding the best it possibly can, though that is somewhat of a subjective thing.

Mastering

A “mastering chain” usually includes EQ, de-esser, compression, stereo expansion, and limiting. As these effects are generally included in most DAWs (and there are also plenty of free and paid options online if your DAW software accepts third-party plugins), you can do the job of a mastering engineer inside your DAW.

Whether it even makes sense to do this is up for debate. An engineer who has spent extensive time mixing tracks often “loses” their ear, unable to hear the micro (and sometimes macro) adjustments that need to be made to create a master that sparkles in all its full glory.

As well, a mixing engineer might not possess all the same skills a mastering engineer has. That means they might need to go through the same learning and experimental process a mastering engineer had to go through to get just as good as they are. Not entirely practical.

Either way, the job of a mastering engineer can be carried out inside most DAWs.

Record Ideas & Sketches, Engage In Preproduction & Make Demos

There’s no rule saying you can only use DAWs for producing professional quality songs. You can also use the software environment to record ideas and sketches, map out your demos and experiment with arrangement and instrumental ideas in preproduction, and even make demos.

These days, the industry term “demo” refers to a fully-fledged professional quality release, but in this instance, I’m referring to your completed track in rough, mostly unedited, and unmixed form.

I tend to keep a lot of half-finished projects on hand, as I never know when I might end up with a collection of songs that work as a “demos” style release. My fans like the rough, half-finished, basement demos of it all, and I’m always happy to share when I feel I have a collection of songs I wouldn’t be embarrassed to publish.

Additionally, in DAWs like GarageBand, you can load up loops and samples, drag and drop (arrange them), and experiment endlessly with different beats and ideas.

Compose Scores & Make Beats

I’ve already talked about pop, EDM, hip-hop, and so forth, but just in case… You can compose entire film, video game, or TV show scores and even make beats inside your DAWs too. Some DAWs, like FL Studio and MPC Beats are better suited to making beats than others though.

Create Professional Quality Voiceovers, Podcasts, Songs & More

If your DAW is capable of recording audio (and most are), you can create professional quality products, whether it’s voiceovers (e.g., audiobooks, radio ads, TV ads, etc.), podcasts, or songs. DAWs put the power at your fingertips to take on any kind of audio recording project and create a finished product you would be proud to share with the world.

Of course, the quality of your product will depend a lot on your skill level, as well as the quality of the performances you capture. A word to the wise – editing and adding effects can’t fix bad sources and performances!

Examples Of DAWs

And now, it’s time to look at several real-world examples of DAWs.

We’ve already mentioned a few throughout this guide, but here we’ll go into a little more depth with some of the most popular and most used DAWs available.

Pro Tools

Pro Tools is largely considered the industry standard DAW. Go to any professional recording studio, and you’re bound to find it installed on their studio machines.

Whether it’s the best is certainly a matter of opinion, and so far as popularity contests are concerned, Pro Tools regularly gets outvoted by DAWs like Ableton Live nowadays.

Ableton Live

Ableton Live (or simply Live) is fast becoming the top DAW of the day. If you’ve spent any time watching YouTube tutorials on home recording, then chances are you’ve come across this lightweight, minimalist DAW multiple times.

My impression of it is that it does electronic music best, but that certainly isn’t to say it doesn’t handle other applications.

Logic Pro

Logic Pro is a go-to favorite for Mac users, especially as it’s like the more professional, more powerful version of GarageBand (which many beginner producers cut their teeth on and eventually graduate from).

Logic Pro works great for all types of studio applications.

FL Studio

FL Studio is an electronic producer’s dream. Its workflow is simple and easy to understand, it accepts third party plugins, and the powerful mixer lets you manipulate your tracks with ease to create the perfect blend.

FL Studio, like other professional DAWs, can be used for singer-songwriter, band, or even mixed applications. But unless it’s your favorite DAW, or you’re already used to the workflow, there are better DAWs suited to those purposes.

Cubase

Doubtless, you will have come across the Cubase name if you’ve been around DAWs and the home recording world for a while. Cubase is Steinberg’s own, and it has been praised for continually improving with each iteration. Cubase is also the “reference standard” for other DAWs, so if its interface seems familiar, it could just be that others are copying Cubase.

Studio One

PreSonus’ Studio One is a highly capable, award-winning DAW. It has certain quirks, to be sure, but the creative tools it sets at your fingertips is simply astounding. Like other DAWs, there are different versions of Studio One, but you get access to a complete suite of effect plugins for effective mixing. Its price point is also slightly more reasonable than some of the other pro DAWs.

REAPER

REAPER blew onto the scene as a cheaper, just as effective alternative to the big guys, and it has kept that reputation through the years, even as they add new functionality.

REAPER covers all the basics. We really don’t see any limitations here. The interface has some quirks that take some getting used to, though, so if there’s any downside, it would be that.

Waveform

Whether the paid or free versions of Waveform, it has often made it to the top of our “best-of” lists. It’s not for everyone by any means, but for beginners, and even for music producers and sound engineers who emphasize workflow over functionality, Waveform is perfect for all kinds of projects – singer-songwriter, band, EDM, podcasts, or otherwise.

The more you’re willing to spend, the more added functionality and virtual effects and instruments you can get access to, but Waveform also works with most third-party plugins, meaning you can make this DAW into just about whatever you want it to be.

GarageBand

GarageBand is a popular, free (for Mac), beginner-friendly DAW. A perfect place to start your journey, GarageBand comes with loads of loops and samples you can mess around with, and in my opinion, some very capable and usable virtual instruments as well.

You can take your project from start to finish in GarageBand, but the limitations don’t make it the ideal choice for professional quality productions. It’s great for preproduction, sketches, ideas, and demos though.

Audacity

Popular especially among podcasters, Audacity is an old guard audio recording and editing suite, and this is reflected in its old school design as well. Despite its somewhat limited feature set, it still takes well to a variety of third-party plugins, making it quite versatile for podcasts, voiceovers, and even demo recording.

You can make beats and record singer-songwriter and bands using Audacity (sort of). But if you want to take your project over the finish line, best take the tracks you’ve recorded inside Audacity and load them up in another, more capable DAW for final editing and mixing.

What Is A DAW In Music? Final Thoughts

So, at the end of the day, a DAW is a digital recording essential. It’s a piece of computer software that acts as your central operational ecosystem for recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. Most DAWs are compatible with a range of hardware too, and that means you can use your DAW in conjunction with your favorite MIDI controller, outboard preamps, effects, and more.

My advice? If you’re ready to get started, go, and download a free DAW like Waveform Free and start cutting your teeth on it now. What do you have to lose? You’re going to need to develop your skills anyway, so better to start now than later.

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22 Best Free Reverb VST Plugins 2025

Free VST Plugins, VST Plugins

Reverb is like the icing on top of every mix cake. It adds depth and richness, makes performances sound more natural, and smooths out some of the rough edges in your tracks.

At times, reverb can even be used as a creative, tone shaping effect, rhythmic pulsation tool, and more. There are many ways to use reverb that aren’t always obvious.

So, in this guide, we look at the best free reverb VST plugins that will add much-needed glue to your mixes.

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22 Best Free Reverb VST Plugins 2025Read More »

22 Best Free Reverb VST Plugins 2025 Read More »

What Is A VST In Music? Plugins Explained

VST Plugins

So, you’re starting to find your bearings as a budding music producer.

And if you’ve made it this far, chances are you know what a DAW is already (congratulations).

But we’re not going to lie – there’s a bit of a learning curve to producing music. And on that journey, you will need to learn about VSTs too.

So, whether you’re discovering VSTs for the first time, or you’re looking to go a little more in-depth, welcome. Let’s talk VSTs!

What Is A VST In Music? Definition

VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology.

A VST describes a piece of software – namely, an audio plugin. It usually takes the form of a virtual instrument (synthesizer) or effect. These audio plugins integrate with Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), which are software applications designed with recording, editing, and mixing music in mind.

Some of the most popular virtual synthesizers include Sylenth1, Omnisphere, and Reaktor.

Some of the most popular virtual effects include EQ, compression, and reverb.

We’ll be looking at both virtual synths and effects in more detail throughout this guide.

There are both free and paid VSTs, depending on the functionality and quality of instruments and effects you’re looking for.

Why Are VSTs Important?

The process of recording, editing, mixing, and even mastering music has changed significantly with the evolution of technology.

From analog to digital recording was a significant leap all its own. But as digital recording continued to develop, it was only a matter of time before software recording would become viable. And become viable it did. Today, software recording is the most efficient and convenient recording process available (not the best, necessarily, but certainly the fastest).

And when I refer to “software recording,” I’m referring specifically to recording with computers.

Recording with computers used to be less viable because of hardware (and therefore software) limitations. As computers became more powerful, though, it was only a matter of time before the software market caught up.

And so, Digital Audio Workstations came along and fundamentally changed the paradigm around recording music for good. This doesn’t mean that DAWs made hardware (analog or digital) recording irrelevant. Rather, it proved to be perfectly complementary. Hardware and software could be used together to achieve the best results possible, and this is still true today.

But the evolution of tech seems to know no bounds. DAW software is beyond anything imagined even 10 to 20 years ago. No longer are prominent developers focused on the basics of multi-tracking, effects stacking, or MIDI sequencing. That’s child’s play by today’s standards – everyone offers that!

As DAWs continued to develop, so did virtual instruments and effects (VSTs). At first, VSTs were primitive, basic, maybe even a little crude. They worked, but they were often a pale imitation of the high-priced analog and digital gear they were supposed to be emulating.

Yet again, though, it was only a matter of time before VSTs started catching up. And today, there are both free and paid plugins that are used widely by amateurs and pros alike (Antares Auto-Tune, Valhalla Super Massive, Ozone, among many, many others).

The “best of both worlds” is generally a combination of software and hardware. It’s not unusual for professional studios to have Pro Tools or Logic Pro installed on their machines. But then they have other hardware gear like monitors, headphones, preamps, compressors, EQs, and of course things like audio interfaces, control surfaces, MIDI controllers, keyboards, guitars, and more.

That said, software based “inside the box” recording has gotten so good that whether you’re recording a singer-songwriter, band, or electronic music, you can do it all without much of a reliance on hardware. deadmau5, for example, does most of his work inside a DAW, besides the use of his modular synths (which can be a bit of a luxury for independent musicians, with each component costing $80 to $270 or more).

VST plugins are incredibly convenient, generally easy to use, and sound better today than they’ve ever sounded. Do they sound better than their hardware counterparts? In some cases, yes. In other cases, no. But it’s all a matter of what you have access to and what works for your creations.

What Are VST Instruments / Synthesizers?

Synthesizers existed before software recording. One of the most prominent examples is the Minimoog.

A synth is an electronic musical instrument that uses a variety of methods like subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis, as well as frequency modulation synthesis. The tone of a synth can be shaped using filters, envelopers, low-frequency oscillators, and the like. Synths generate audio signals on their own (while MIDI controllers do not). Synths can be played via keyboards or be controlled via sequencers.

A virtual synth or instrument describes the software equivalent. Usually, it boasts the same functionality as a hardware synth. You can play it using a MIDI controller, or you can sequence notes inside your DAW.

A virtual synth or virtual instrument basically describes the same thing, though synths are often thought of as separate instruments compared to anything else. They can produce a variety of sounds, usually categorized as leads, basses, pads, effects, and so on.

But nowadays it’s common practice to sample instruments and make them available as virtual instruments as well. That means you can find realistic sounding pianos, basses, organs, strings, drums, and a great deal more.

Most DAWs have a set of built-in virtual synths and instruments you can take advantage of. But you can also find plenty for free, and of course, paid products exist too.

VST instruments offer unprecedented flexibility, because even if you don’t have certain instrumentalists available to record their parts (e.g., string instruments or horns), you can reproduce them with surprising realism using modern VSTs. This means you can include all kinds of instruments on your music without the added time and cost of hiring musicians, booking studio time, setting up microphones, getting solid takes, and so on.

That isn’t to say instrumentalists aren’t valuable, mind you. It often depends on the style of music you’re creating, whether you can play the instruments yourself, and the budget available.

What Are VST Effects?

Effects have existed long before software recording. Some of them were achieved using rather unconventional methods (the first artificial reverb was created in a pop song by Bill Putnam Sr. using an echo room – chamber reverb).

Reverb, delay, compression, chorus, and other effects are used on tracks to create atmosphere, enhance parts, create better mixes, and more. Because of this, tracks are often recorded “dry,” in a quiet, noiseless environment. The wetness can be added in with effects later.

As with anything else, effects evolved from analog to digital hardware units, and from digital hardware consoles to software plugins.

Virtual effects were created to reproduce the sounds of hardware effects. At first, they were quite primitive and inferior, but today, virtual effects are high quality and incredibly usable.

The truth is that what’s built into your DAW is miles ahead of most of what was available to even the most prominent studio engineers in the 80s and 90s. Meaning – you can create something just as amazing, if not more so, even if you’re recording entirely from home on your own computer.

When it comes right down to it, there are basically only a few types of effects:

Modulation. Chorus, flanger, phaser, and tremolo.
Time-based. Reverb, echo, and delay.
Spectral. EQ and panning.
Dynamic. Compression and distortion.
Filters. Amplify, pass, or attenuate frequency ranges.

More than likely, your DAW has your bases covered, but you can add free or paid virtual effects to your library if your DAW offers third-party VST support.

Which VST Plugins Should I Have?

This is going to differ quite a bit based on the individual.

If you’re looking to build out your library now, have a look at our guide on the best free VST plugins.

Either way, here are some of the essentials and what they can help you achieve.

EQ / Equalization

Equalization plugins allow you to enhance, cut, or attenuate certain frequencies.

Higher frequencies are often boosted on vocal tracks, so they cut through the mix.

Guitar tracks are often tweaked endlessly to produce the right presence in the mix.

EQ is used everywhere, even on the master.

This always comes with the caveat that you should start with a good source. If you’re not happy with the track you recorded or how it sounds, don’t expect EQ to fix all your problems. In most cases, the best solution is to work with your mics or equipment to get a better sound and re-record.

Reverb

Most beginners will identify with the term “echo” rather than reverb (which is a shortened form of reverberation).

It doesn’t matter what type of music you’re producing, you’ve got to have a nice reverb, especially if you’re starting with a dry source. It will add a nice atmosphere to your tracks.

Delay

Delay is somewhat like reverb, but it’s basically more like a controllable echo. You can have a slap-back delay (where echoes happen in rapid succession), or a longer delays where the echoed parts are further apart (if it fits the song). Of course, everything in between is achievable.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that U2’s guitarist, The Edge, owes a great deal of his sound to delay.

Chorus

Chorus, choir, choral. The easiest way to understand chorus is “multiple voices.” Whether it’s guitar, drums, or vocals, chorus can add depth to a track. If you use extreme settings, it can do some funky things too.

Phaser

Phaser represents the absolute basics of modulation effects (there’s kind of an audible “rise and fall” – you can set the speed).

You probably won’t use it for everything. Guitars and synths are the most common applications.

Compressor / Compression

A compressor evens out a signal, and it can even “squash” it. Meaning – it will boost the quieter sections and ease the louder sections. Great for uneven vocal parts.

Compressors aren’t always used for this specific purpose, mind you, as they can also add color and character to a track, and compression effects are sometimes chosen on this basis.

Limiter

A limiter can be used to bring up the level of the track (without causing clipping). Often used on masters.

Pitch Shifter

I can’t imagine too many situations where pitch shifting would be “mandatory.” I think it has been used to excess in pop and EDM.

But for more subtle effects, changing the octave of a track, or even bringing an out of tune track in tune, it can be quite handy.

Filters

A filter is like an EQ, but it’s selective and depending on the filter, you can specify the range it will amplify, cut, or attenuate.

High-pass and low-pass filters are the most common, and they are kind of like the opposite of how they sound. A high-pass filter will cut off all lower frequencies, while a low-pass filter will cut all higher frequencies.

As an example, high-pass filters are commonly applied to guitars. Removing lower frequencies gives more breathing room in the mix for bass and drums.

Pitch Correction / Autotune

Modern day, glossy pop productions generally demand perfection. Drums, bass, and synth tracks are drawn to a grid. Hooks are created deliberately, repetition in full force. And vocals? Of course, they’re autotuned.

This doesn’t mean you need to use autotune like a robotic effect (T-Pain style). Subtle adjustments can be great, and sometimes entirely necessary.

But there is certainly a time and a place for raw, dry vocals too.

Synth / Synthesizer

Chances are there is a capable synth built into your DAW already. There might even be multiple synths.

Synths are good “catch-all” instruments for rounding out a track. Whether it’s bass, leads, pads, FX, or random noises, most synths can cover quite a bit of ground.

You might not use synths in every production or every musical genre, but it’s quite unlikely that, in a longer music production career, you won’t use a synth at all (especially with the current popularity of pop and EDM).

What Is A VST In Music? Final Thoughts

VSTs are a blast. I first heard about them on a podcast, unaware that there was an entire world of free and paid VSTs I could download, install, and use on my productions. Once I discovered that, I was off to the races trying out new things in my music.

Here’s wishing you a similarly exciting and fun journey!

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Bedroom Producers – How To Make Hit Songs From Home

Blog

Looking to write, record, produce, and publish your own hit songs from home?

Before recent advancements in technology, this was little more than a pipedream, but it has fast become more feasible thanks to advanced computers, free Digital Audio Workstations and VST plugins, affordable studio equipment, and more.

In this guide, we’ll look at how you can make great music from your bedroom!

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Bedroom Producers – How To Make Hit Songs From HomeRead More »

Bedroom Producers – How To Make Hit Songs From Home Read More »

16 Best Free Trap VST Plugins 2025 – Make Trap Beats

Free VST Plugins, VST Plugins

So, you’re ready to get started on your latest trap tune. Or maybe you just got freshly set up with your DAW and a few sample packs, and you’re looking to take things to the next level.

Whatever the case, having the right tools will make a big difference to your production efforts. You’ll need both quality VST instruments and effects to be able to create tracks that stand out and stand the test of time.

In this guide, we look at the best free trap VST plugins you can download and start playing with right away.

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16 Best Free Trap VST Plugins 2025 – Make Trap BeatsRead More »

16 Best Free Trap VST Plugins 2025 – Make Trap Beats Read More »

11 Best Free Flute VST Plugins 2025

Free VST Plugins, VST Plugins

There are a variety of instruments out there, and they each serve a different purpose in a given song or composition. The flute is a pure and beautiful instrument. Sometimes mysterious, sometimes playful, it’s one of those distinct sounds that can be hard to replace as you’re working on your musical projects.

Naturally, there’s always the opportunity to hire a flutist and record them at your studio. This is usually the more complicated and costly route, though, and it requires microphones, setup, sheet music, and so forth.

Which is why, in this guide, we cover the best free flute VST plugins you can find. Use these to embellish your projects with more flute now!

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11 Best Free Flute VST Plugins 2025 Read More »

9 Best Free Limiter VST Plugins 2025

Free VST Plugins, VST Plugins

Limiters are critical at the mixing and mastering stages. Whether it’s achieving loudness levels matched to modern top 40 music, compressing and enhancing the sound of individual tracks, or adding some saturation, drive, and grit to specific instruments, limiters come in handy in a variety of situations.

And, as with most things, you can find some competent free limiters that can outclass your DAW’s stock limiter any day of the week. To be honest, we’re kind of spoiled in this category of VST plugins, as you’re about to see…

So, let’s look at the best free limiter VST plugins.

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9 Best Free Limiter VST Plugins 2025 Read More »

Logic Pro Vs Cubase, What Is The Difference & Which Is The Best?

DAW

Trying to figure out which DAW is right for you?

Apple’s Logic Pro is a favorite among many Mac users (especially those graduating from GarageBand), and Steinberg’s Cubase has long been held as the “reference standard” for music production software, in no small part thanks to its innovation and longevity.

If you’re using a Windows machine, then your choices are limited (Logic Pro doesn’t run on Windows), but if you’re using a Mac, which you likely are, then the choice between the two DAWs isn’t necessarily an easy one!

In this guide, we’ll be pitting Logic Pro against Cubase, exploring their differences and similarities, and considering which is best.

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Logic Pro Vs Cubase, What Is The Difference & Which Is The Best? Read More »

4 Best Online DAWs 2025 – Most Others Don’t Work

DAW, Reader Supported

You love recording online. Whether setting up solo projects or collaborating with others, the experience has proven enjoyable.

But now you’re wondering. What online DAWs are out there, and which one is the best? Or, if you’re already using one app, you might be considering alternatives.

Good news, because in this guide, we cover the best online DAWs.

Soundtrap – Best Online DAW

Soundtrap declares itself “your everywhere studio.” And true to form, if you have a browser and internet connection, you can access it from anywhere, on practically any device. Of course, there are mobile apps for iOS and Android too.

Spotify obviously saw something in it because they ended up acquiring Soundtrap in November 2017. And some Spotify services are built into Soundtrap’s value proposition too.

What Does Soundtrap Offer?

Online DAW Soundtrap features an easy-to-use recording interface (more on this later) with a full effects suite, amplifiers (for guitar and bass), loops and instruments, as well as their Patterns Beatmaker for sequencing drum patterns. It handles both audio and MIDI tracks.

Designed with online collaboration in mind, Soundtrap is ideal for those who want to work with other producers, artists, and musicians remotely. Soundtrap has an internal messaging system that allows you to keep your project related communication self-contained too.

If you have other ways of capturing your ideas or can connect with the people you want to work with locally, then you probably won’t be fully leveraging Soundtrap’s technology, but there are artists who use Soundtrap because they love the recording interface and workflow.

Soundtrap is also enjoyed by content creators, especially podcasters, because they can publish their episodes directly to Spotify. This feature is not available to musicians yet, but one would assume it’s got to be part of their plan.

If you don’t know your way around Soundtrap, or are new to recording in general, don’t worry – they also have 30+ videos to help you at every step.

Aside from that, though, Soundtrap seems to pride itself in being an online DAW and online music collaboration tool first and foremost, and all other features are secondary to that.

How Much Does It Cost?

There are a few plans you can choose from based on what you need. First, let’s look at the Personal plans.

Free. You get access to unlimited projects, 4,650 loops, 430 instruments and sounds, 150,000+ sound effects from freesounds.org, and Soundtrap Originals sound packs every second week.
Music Makers Premium. $9.99 monthly or $7.99 per month annually for unlimited projects, 16,580+ loops, 860+ instruments and sounds, 150,000+ sound effects, Antares Auto-Tune, time restore, automation, remote interviews, and Soundtrap Originals and Expansion Packs every other week.
Music Makers Supreme. $14.99 monthly or $11.99 per month annually for unlimited projects, 19,460+ loops, 300+ sounds from Splice, 880+ instruments and sounds, 150,000+ sound effects, Antares Auto-Tune, time restore, automation, remote interviews, priority mixing, high quality downloads, and Soundtrap Originals and Expansion Packs every other week.
Storytellers. $14.99 monthly or 11.99 per month annually for unlimited projects, 4,650+ loops, 430+ instruments and sounds, 150,000 sound effects, time restore, automation, remote interviews, interactive transcripts (eight hours), high quality downloads, publish podcast to Spotify, and Soundtrap originals and Expansion Packs.
Complete. $19.99 monthly or $16.99 per month annually for all the above plus a Spotify Premium subscription.

And here’s an overview of the Education plans:

30-day free trial. No credit card details required, all features for 30 days, 500 seats to try with your students.
School or District Plan. Starts at $249 per year (or $4.98 per seat) for a minimum of 50 seats.

Interface & Workflow

Learning to use a DAW proper was really a bit of a chore just 15 to 20 years ago. I like to say that it was on par with complex software like Adobe Photoshop or Final Cut Pro. You basically needed to commit to the process of becoming a pro. GarageBand was about the only thing that was beginner friendly at the time.

We’ve come a long way since then. Soundtrap is the kind of recording software that can come under the control of even an inexperienced musician or artist relatively quickly. Experienced producers might take a minute or two to adjust to the workflow, but in our experience it’s a smooth transition.

We like that they’ve kept the GUI simple while adding some basic touches to make it attractive. There’s a Light and Dark mode depending on your preferences, and recorded tracks are automatically color coded (standard feature in most DAWs these days).

When creating a new track inside Soundtrap, it comes near mix-ready with effects and presets. Adjust to taste and you’ll be off to the races.

Get #1 Rated Soundtrap

BandLab

Like Soundtrap, BandLab is an online music collaboration app. But part of their value proposition includes the ability to release your tracks, engage your fans, and even keep your earnings, all directly from their self-contained platform.

BandLab has mobile apps for iOS and Android, and it works on all devices.

What Does BandLab Offer?

There’s a little more to BandLab than initially meets the eye. If I were to bottom line it, it’s like Facebook, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and Soundtrap all rolled into one.

Upon logging into BandLab, you’ll be brought to the Feed, which is basically a Facebook style newsfeed where you can create your own posts and interact on other people’s. When you post audio files, they come out looking like SoundCloud players. They’ve also included the functionality to go live on their site.

Then you have the Explore section. This is the part of the site that’s been set up like Bandcamp. You can scan music of various genres by a variety of creators and listen to, download, or buy their music.

The Library section is where all your own projects are stored, including collaborations. Simply click on “+ Create” in the upper right-hand corner if you want to start a new project from scratch.

Something that’s somewhat unique to BandLab is their built-in BandLab Mastering tool, which lets you choose from a few presets based on what sounds best for your track. Soundtrap also offers mastering, but it’s completely automatic upon saving your project and is not controllable.

How Much Does It Cost?

Amazingly, BandLab is free! We do wonder whether it’s always going to be that way though.

Interface & Workflow

Like Soundtrap, BandLab has a smooth looking interface that’s near identical in most regards. Starting a new track is easy and recording audio tracks or sequencing MIDI tracks using the built-in MIDI Editor is a cinch.

Now, this might be a subjective thing, but we prefer working with Soundtrap’s piano roll versus BandLabs MIDI Editor – it offers more control.

Further, when you create a new track inside BandLab, it isn’t as close to mix ready as it would be in Soundtrap. You’d need to figure out your levels, panning, effects chain, and so forth, all on your own. And mixing is a science and artform that can take a long time to master. This makes BandLab a little less user friendly compared to Soundtrap, especially for an artist with no mixing experience.

Besides these few considerations, though, we found BandLab to be quite competitive with Soundtrap.

Amped Studio

Amped Studio positions itself as “an online music sequencer and sound editor.” They claim this makes their platform ideally suited to beatmakers, keyboardists, vocalists and rappers, as well as guitarists. Amped Studio has been around for 12+ years and has more than 205,000 users. They also have their own marketplace and Bandcamp like functionality.

What Does Amped Studio Offer?

Upon registering with – and logging into – Amped Studio, you will be greeted with a relatively sparse and sterile dashboard. You can navigate the site using the upper menu, but this is a little unclear upon entry.

Basically, you can enter the online DAW by clicking on Studio, check out the creation of others inside Tracks, and buy various instruments, loops and sample packs, and other kits inside the Shop.

The Learn section is home to 27 video tutorials and an in-depth, written manual as well. Naturally, you can upgrade at any time through Pricing, or read the latest updates on the Blog.

As for the recording environment, Amped Studio offers:

The ability for you to connect microphones, MIDI keyboards, guitars, and so on, and record your performances.
Collaboration. You can share your projects with friends and work on them together.
Samples and loops, including one-shots, construction kits, loops, and MIDI files.
VST technology.

How Much Does It Cost?

Amped Studio keeps it simple with three plans (and two of them are just monthly or annualized versions of the same thing):

Free. You get unlimited projects, 400+ audio and MIDI files, Chord Creator, five virtual instruments, 10 virtual effects, XYBeatZ, demo all devices, and demo recording and desktop imported audio.
Premium. $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year for unlimited projects, 10,000+ audio and MIDI files, Chord Creator, nine virtual instruments, 10 virtual effects, XYBeatZ, VST Remote (Experimental), save and export recording and desktop imported audio, automation of device parameters, and project sharing.

Interface & Workflow

Amped Studio’s interface obviously takes after some of the most popular DAWs out there and will probably strike some as familiar.

In my view, it’s not as user-friendly as Soundtrap or BandLab, though. I took me a minute just to figure out how to bring up the Note Editor (their equivalent of piano roll or MIDI editor) and start using it. Similarly, choosing and setting up virtual instruments was a little more confounding than it should have been. Some basic labeling would make a big difference.

As you probably gathered from the earlier section on pricing, you don’t have access to a lot of virtual effects and instruments inside Amped Studio. It’s not a bad starting point, but the average free DAW will come with just as many, if not more options, out of the box.

One thing that’s cool about Amped Studio, though, is how it has some familiar VST plugins built into its infrastructure. Names like Dexed and OBXD should ring a bell with experienced producers. There still aren’t that many to choose from, mind you.

Additionally, once you get used to the workflow, it’s not too bad. It feels like it could be a little clearer, but it’s still more straightforward than some of the top shelf recording software out there.

Overall, Amped Studio feels like it needs a bit of work. It only works in browsers like Chrome and Edge, features are limited, and the workflow could be better. But it does show promise, and for some basic idea capturing, it will do the trick.

Audiotool

If you’re looking to produce music online, then you should have a look at Audiotool. In addition to their free online digital music workstation with a sample library, beatmakers tool, synthesizers, and effects, Audiotool also claims to help connect musicians with fans.

What Does Audiotool Offer?

In addition to the award-winning Audiotool DAW, you get access to an ever-growing sample library, 200,000+ presets for synths and effects, three drum machines, and 28 effects units.

Once you’ve created your account, Audiotool will ask you what genres or styles of music you like, and take you to the dashboard, where you can watch the beginner’s guide to Audiotool video. You can also scan the single and album charts to see what other creators have been up to.

Entering the Studio would be the next logical thing to do.

How Much Does It Cost?

Audiotool is free!

Interface & Workflow

I will be the first to admit that the Audiotool workflow didn’t make much sense to me. So, I went through the tutorial, at which point I was able to get a synth track set up.

What I got from going through this process is that the Audiotool DAW features a modular interface. You start your project with a mixer, and then you can drop in additional modules (like synths), connect them to the mixer (tracks), and then sequence your MIDI tracks as you would in any other DAW. You can also play with the dials on the synth until you get the sound you like.

So, it’s like hardware recording, except in a software environment.

I’ll be honest. Some people will like this setup a lot. But it’s not for me. It would take me a little while to wrap my head around it, and it’s a very different workflow from what I’m used to. That doesn’t make it bad, but I’m the type that loves to work quickly.

Overall, the interface is nicely designed though. I’ve got to give it that.

What Should I Look For In An Online DAW?

As you can probably tell, your options for online recording apps are a little limited. This is because there are relatively few online DAWs that are still supported and have a stable working environment. In creating this guide, we tried several other so-called online DAWs, and that turned out to be a wild goose chase. If we had issues with them, we didn’t include them here.

So, right off the bat, we can tell you that your best bet is to stick to apps that are still fully supported by the developer and continue to be updated over time. For the time being, that basically means the above four.

But there are a few other things you might consider as you seek out the ideal tool. After all, each of the four DAWs mentioned here are a little different, even if they have some similarities.

Here we’ll be looking at the following criteria:

Recording interface and workflow
Features and tools
Social networking and e-commerce
Budget and price point

Let’s get into it.

Does The Interface Complement Your Workflow?

This tends to be personal. And the more committed you are to the specific DAW you’re using; the more sunk cost has had an opportunity to settle in. Meaning – the more time and money you’ve invested into something, the less likely you are to switch. Once you get used to something, learning new workflows starts to feel more cumbersome.

And that’s not a bad thing. But what you want to look at in this case, ultimately, is what works for you. Do you like Soundtrap’s workflow over BandLab’s? Or do you like Amped Studio over Audiotool?

There’s no right or wrong. And to be fair, differences between DAWs do tend to be more subtle than they used to be. The most different DAW on this list is obviously Audiotool, where the other three share quite a bit in common.

But if the workflow drives you crazy, doesn’t let you do what you want to do, or takes too long to figure out, it’s probably the wrong DAW. Either that or you just like being challenged (there is a time and place for that).

Conversely, if you can get your projects set up quickly, collaboration is fun and easy, and you like the results, you’ve obviously chosen well. And if you’re already settled into a specific DAW and you’ve had a good experience with it, there might not be much reason to switch.

How Much Power Do You Need?

Virtual effects. Instruments. Loops and sounds. Realistically, how much power do you need?

Each online DAW varies quite a bit from the other in this regard.

Now, flexibility is always a nice thing. But people who use a lot of virtual effects, instruments, or loops usually fall under one of three categories:

Hobbyist. They want to mess around with loops and sounds, maybe make their own beats. They don’t want to spend a lot of time programming, sequencing, or recordeing, and would rather just combine, and layer pre-made sounds.
Composer. A composer may also use many virtual instruments. This isn’t to suggest they don’t also use real instruments or record an orchestra in the studio as they’re able. But in the fast-paced world of television and film, composers are often working with small budgets and are under tight deadlines to create, and sequencing by hand or capturing a performance on a MIDI controller is often the speediest way to get the job done.
Beatmakers. Beatmakers will obviously find themselves tapping into as many sounds as possible, both for inspiration and for enhancing their tracks.

Now, if you don’t fall under any of these categories, and still want to take advantage of as many features as possible, there’s nothing wrong with that. But a self-contained band, for example, may not use many virtual tracks.

A platform like Amped Studio, though, might be a little too limited in its toolset unless you’re just sketching out ideas.

Do You Need Social Networking & E-Commerce?

The value proposition of a platform like BandLab is that in addition to being a more than competent online recording tool, it’s also a nicely developed social network and e-commerce platform. There’s a built-in community just waiting to interact with others.

Both Amped Studio and Audiotool offer similar functionality, and do a fair job, but they look very much like works in progress compared to BandLab’s more polished ecosystem.

Soundtrap does not have any of this built in, besides the ability for podcasters to publish their content directly to Spotify.

So, if you’re looking for an online DAW platform that acts as your all-in-one hub, BandLab is really the top option, with Amped Studio and Audiotool taking a backseat to it. But they do have a head start on other DAWs that don’t have any of this functionality built out yet.

Though, in the highly siloed world of the music business, we find the idea of “all in one” to be a thing of distant idealism. You can obviously attract a fan base anywhere, but most artist don’t find success by limiting their marketing channels. Maybe a time will come when all tools and platforms talk to each other, but we’re not there yet.

So, whether an online DAW has additional built-in functionality may not be the top criteria to consider. But it might be something to think about if you want to interact with the artistic community at large.

What’s The Cost Of The Online DAW?

These days, we all have various subscriptions, and it should give us some pause to add one more to our rotation. If it’s within your budget, great. But if buying one more subscription would set you back and put you into debt, it’s probably not worth it.

Fortunately, in this context, we are talking tools that are either free or highly affordable. And all platforms give you the option of checking out or even using their app for free. Be cautious of overspending, and you should do fine.

Best Online DAW, Final Thoughts

If you take your music seriously, there are only so many online DAW environments in which you will thrive. In this guide, we’ve only covered the most stable of online recording studios. Each of them has something to offer, though Soundtrap is the clear winner overall followed by BandLab.

At the end of the day, though, you will be the one to decide. If you haven’t checked out any of the apps yet, then take them for a test drive. You will likely find your favorite ecosystem relatively quickly, and once you do; you’ll be able to get into creative mode and ride the flow.

4 Best Online DAWs 2025 – Most Others Don’t Work Read More »

Soundtrap Vs Fl Studio 2022, We Compare & Discover The Best

Soundtrap Vs Fl Studio 2025, We Compare & Discover The Best

DAW, Reader Supported

You might love Soundtrap, but obviously there are plenty of great alternatives out there, including the much talked about FL Studio.

But how does something like FL Studio compare to Soundtrap? How does it differ? And what makes each Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) viable, and for what types of projects?

In this hands-on comparison, we look at Soundtrap and FL Studio to determine which is best for what situation.

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Soundtrap Vs Fl Studio 2025, We Compare & Discover The BestRead More »

Soundtrap Vs Fl Studio 2025, We Compare & Discover The Best Read More »