Home › Forums › Discuss Your Gear › Easiest DAW for windows
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December 29, 2019 at 12:57 pm #154877
So I tried switching from Audacity to Reaper and I found Reaper way to cumbersome for my needs. I’m having a hard enough time just learning the lessons. From what I’ve read and seen on the forum, Garageband would be the best choice but I run windows. The closest thing for windows supposedly is Mixcraft. I’m leaning this way. Does anybody have any input on this. Thanks
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December 29, 2019 at 2:56 pm #154886
After testing some DAWs I ended up using Mixcraft because I found it to be very user friendly compared to the others and I can do everything I need with it. I am very happy with it for all it can do and how easy it is to understand how it works. So you have my recommendation!
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December 29, 2019 at 3:25 pm #154887
Reaper, its got it all going for it with loads of backup and video tuition via their website/forum ..CLICK HERE!..
..Billy..
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December 29, 2019 at 4:31 pm #154891
Thanks for your advice Alexandre. I checked out the tutorial and is does seem user friendly.
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December 29, 2019 at 4:33 pm #154892
Billy, I know a lot of people on this forum use it but I found the learning curve to large for me at this point.
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December 29, 2019 at 6:22 pm #154895
Billy, I know a lot of people on this forum use it but I found the learning curve to large for me at this point.
I understand mate, Reaper at its simplest though is two or 3 clicks of your mouse to record an instrument.
It would be a boring world if we all used and liked the same things I suppose..
Good luck on your daw adventure kiddo...Billy..
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December 29, 2019 at 6:28 pm #154896
Billy, I know a lot of people on this forum use it but I found the learning curve to large for me at this point.
Hey Alan , me too.. and I have purchased a focusrite 2i2 3rd generation not too long ago which came bundled with free DAW software I downloaded .. Ableton 10 live lite seems easy enough to follow as for tutorials and help within the application.. but like with any DAW there really are no short cuts.. they all will suck up hours at a session,.. I can only tolerate learning it in small steps and at slow pace .. even with the hour long step by step beginner visual tutorials I find on youtube.. it’s always a bit of a stretch and QUIT..but just like practicing guitar, I know eventually I’ll make use of it.. sticking with this for now because it came with the purchased interface and so it is probably the safest bet for me as a beginner
eventually I have to start learning the library preset instruments /effects how to make tracks how to edit import exportand so on.. lol.. I honestly think they are all going to take time to learn for us kind of folks.. I did learn the basics but have a long way to go to sync videos and audios
I have to try where I left off gl
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December 29, 2019 at 6:35 pm #154898
I’ve tried a couple and I’m using pro tools first at the moment but to be honest there all much the same in complexity just go with the one that has the most online support and wade through it.
For me as well there not very intuitive and I feel like I’m banging my head on the wall to do the simplest of thingsAudacity does have a lot of features when you dig into it by the way and I’ve gone back to it for most suff i’ve even got it working with my focusrite and various guitar plugins.
most of the time its backing track + overlayed lead track
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December 29, 2019 at 6:41 pm #154899
I’ve tried a couple and I’m using pro tools first at the moment but to be honest there all much the same in complexity just go with the one that has the most online support and wade through it.
For me as well there not very intuitive and I feel like I’m banging my head on the wall to do the simplest of thingsAudacity does have a lot of features when you dig into it by the way and I’ve gone back to it for most suff i’ve even got it working with my focusrite and various guitar plugins.
most of the time its backing track + overlayed lead track
Pretty much what sunjamr Steve said too snake agree
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December 29, 2019 at 7:20 pm #154903
I will use Audacity but will probably try Mixcraft. It looks like it’s made with beginners in mind but includes a lot of stuff like garageband does. I also got to figure out my interface and amp. I interface directly from my Fender GT40. This doesn’t leave me any options for additional inputs. Also the GT40 will model just about any tone there is out there. So do I really need the DAW effects. I’ll keep experimenting with the thought that practicing is the most important thing.
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December 29, 2019 at 7:50 pm #154904
Seems a lot of daw users record their guitars clean and add effects in at the mixing edit, nothing wrong in creating the effects from your amp though, but once you have recorded that way then it makes things near impossible to edit if you decide that you don’t like the mix..
I’ve been trying to figure out how to get a good acoustic guitar recording through my focusrite/daw, it’s looking like I may well have to resort to using my thr10c on acoustic amp setting as the interface....Billy..
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December 30, 2019 at 3:13 am #154910
Seems a lot of daw users record their guitars clean and add effects in at the mixing edit, nothing wrong in creating the effects from your amp though, but once you have recorded that way then it makes things near impossible to edit if you decide that you don’t like the mix..
I’ve been trying to figure out how to get a good acoustic guitar recording through my focusrite/daw, it’s looking like I may well have to resort to using my thr10c on acoustic amp setting as the interface.... I have three devices hooked up to my new windows pc desktop Yamaha thr 10 C ( I like the preset effects in this blues simulation amp) I also have USB powered 2i2 scarlett interface yo my pc ,, I can mic the amp to the scarlett for recording.. having yet figured out or got to the tutorials steps to use thr amp effects through the DAW ..
the Albeton live DAW should have every option available for importing the yamaha thr10c amp presets but i have not got there yet.
also recently lost a shortcut for my yamaha thr 10 c editor on my desktop screen.. not sure how that even happened but could be auto updates windows security issue but now noticed the thr editor shortcut on my desktop is missing .. I tried creating a new shortcut even after reinstalling the latest yamaha thr drives from the site.It could very well be yamaha is not supporting drive updates for thr amps editor software.. I may have to ask for support
anyway, my next showcase will on acoustic and no amps..just going to use an android smartphone with built in mic again phone camera video .. very simple easy living room showcase recording for this months challenge. until I figure out how to compress video/audio files for any DAW using my devices.. interface so far is useless… i have only yet scratched the surface learning DAW, MORE FUN practicing my guitar lessons
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December 30, 2019 at 1:10 pm #154919
Why bother to use a DAW at all? It boils down the the very reason why you want to play guitar. If you are happy just sitting alone in your house listening to yourself play, then you’ll never need a DAW. If you plan to get good on a guitar, join a band, and play on stage every weekend, you’ll never need a DAW. If you want to examine your progress and learn by listening and watching yourself play, you will need a DAW. If you want to post your playing online – as in this forum – to have other players critique your playing, you will need a DAW….unless you are content with offering us second-rate audio. So it all depends on what your goals are.
For me: After I started learning to play guitar, I soon realized that learning to use a DAW was as important as learning how to play my guitar.
Sunjamr Steve
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December 30, 2019 at 3:27 pm #154920
Bottom line it is a hobby. Obviously, I want to get as good as possible and record as good a sound as possible. My wife will soon retire and she used to play, likes to strum chords and sing. So looking forward to learning home recording. With that in mind, I think I should spring for a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4. I doubt I’ll ever join a band but who knows.
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December 30, 2019 at 5:03 pm #154929
Bottom line it is a hobby. Obviously, I want to get as good as possible and record as good a sound as possible. My wife will soon retire and she used to play, likes to strum chords and sing. So looking forward to learning home recording. With that in mind, I think I should spring for a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4. I doubt I’ll ever join a band but who knows.
the way I look at it, DAW ain’t necessary and if you like me and millions even Brian here never mentioned ever anything about DAW .. I use my cheap 200 dollar android phone with a youtube account for my presentations here. .. i decided to delete protools avid from my computer today.. had enough the bs …i may even sell the focus rite interface kit if the current DAW I’m being patient with gets buggy too.. i don’t need or care for the aggravation..
it is like anything moving forward.it’s really useless software /license bs .. not even supported after a few years is my guess and smartphones and authentic playing skills is only admired .. not some keypad gamer bs DAW platform..it really is a non essential if you can just play! lol.. Anyways, I know from just the experience.
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December 30, 2019 at 5:23 pm #154931
Bottom line it is a hobby. Obviously, I want to get as good as possible and record as good a sound as possible. My wife will soon retire and she used to play, likes to strum chords and sing. So looking forward to learning home recording. With that in mind, I think I should spring for a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4. I doubt I’ll ever join a band but who knows.
It’s a hobby for most of us here on AM Alan, recording is just another string to that bow. There is a website for home recording, in Fact I’m sure that is the name of the site, I’ll check on my pc when I get home in about 20 mins and post a link. 4i4 is a great idea for getting multiple instruments into a daw, I use a 2i2 and a looper.
..Billy..
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December 30, 2019 at 5:24 pm #154932
I’ve tried a couple and I’m using pro tools first at the moment but to be honest there all much the same in complexity just go with the one that has the most online support and wade through it.
For me as well there not very intuitive and I feel like I’m banging my head on the wall to do the simplest of thingsAudacity does have a lot of features when you dig into it by the way and I’ve gone back to it for most suff i’ve even got it working with my focusrite and various guitar plugins.
most of the time its backing track + overlayed lead track
snake read you man, and with respect to your knowledge and thought input.. I hit too many roadblocks with the free addition protools first that came with my purchased focusrite scarlett 3rd gen.. it disappointed ,loaded super slow like a lead weight in my pc desktop.. the alternative free DAW Software I’m going to try is the Ableton live that came bundled with the Scarlett interface.. i hope to be able to use it for creativity purposes only because i still practice play alone . . i will not spend a dime on anything more than i did already for DAW or other third party software programs..
my guitars skills are excelling without DAW.. plenty of material to learn and practice without the aid of DAW.. including the lessons on this site!
folks here saying DAW will improve your guitar skills here is a false .. the only thing DAW will do is take more valued guitar practice on the fret board to figuring out how to make amateur presentations with digitized media effects
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December 30, 2019 at 5:30 pm #154933
Bottom line it is a hobby. Obviously, I want to get as good as possible and record as good a sound as possible. My wife will soon retire and she used to play, likes to strum chords and sing. So looking forward to learning home recording. With that in mind, I think I should spring for a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4. I doubt I’ll ever join a band but who knows.
It’s a hobby for most of us here on AM Alan, recording is just another string to that bow. There is a website for home recording, in Fact I’m sure that is the name of the site, I’ll check on my pc when I get home in about 20 mins and post a link. 4i4 is a great idea for getting multiple instruments into a daw, I use a 2i2 and a looper.
Do me a favor, show me what you can do with what you say compared to what I’ve been doing with a handheld wireless android 4g smartphone i’ve been using here since I can remember
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December 30, 2019 at 5:36 pm #154935
All my postings are this way. Your smartphone does a nice job but it will have it’s limitations if you add additional guitars and vocals.
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December 30, 2019 at 6:14 pm #154940
Here is the link Alan.
..Home recording website....Billy..
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December 30, 2019 at 6:28 pm #154941
Awesome, thanks Billy. I’ll check this out.
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December 30, 2019 at 7:02 pm #154942
Why bother to use a DAW at all? It boils down the the very reason why you want to play guitar. If you are happy just sitting alone in your house listening to yourself play, then you’ll never need a DAW. If you plan to get good on a guitar, join a band, and play on stage every weekend, you’ll never need a DAW. If you want to examine your progress and learn by listening and watching yourself play, you will need a DAW. If you want to post your playing online – as in this forum – to have other players critique your playing, you will need a DAW….unless you are content with offering us second-rate audio. So it all depends on what your goals are.
For me: After I started learning to play guitar, I soon realized that learning to use a DAW was as important as learning how to play my guitar.
Exactly why I bought the interface ! I always had originals playing in my head and thought the only coarse to take for creativity is to learn how to use DAW..
i’m not into it though yet like I am learning much lately just practicing amd learning more from what I am practicing..
I know it will be a party learning DAW and making tracks like others I’ve watched..just not good at it as a beginner..it’s a stretch for me learning DAW LOL,,but i’m going to take time with it when I want to ..right now been hammering the frets a lot and having more fun.. that DAW isn’t fun as a beginner..it’s just what it is!
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December 30, 2019 at 7:10 pm #154944
Billy, If I join that site forum..are you on it?.. I really need help using DAW ..i am going to take a look at the site..hope it is active! ill check it out!
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December 30, 2019 at 7:29 pm #154947
Here is the link Alan.
..Home recording website..i was just reading recent posts there,, one asked about how he could show his recording.. the answers were mp3 soundcloud..that is simply audio…
I use my smartphone and showplay both video audio using youtube account! ..i’m sure i still want to learn daw but only for creativity purposes,, like building my own compositions… i think that for now while i’m still beginner trying to do just that.. it will take several hour a session.. so like I said, my smartphone android will do fine for now,,meanwhile.. i have to start learning daw .i’ll save this link you posted and read the threads,see if it’s good enough
btw, i haven’t joined yet Albeton live lite might have a link forum like the one you suggested..i got to look into more too see
i know DAW is powerful and worth the while for my skill level especially.. i know I can make it big in the music business i just know it..it’s the music i play in my head! lol
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January 22, 2020 at 1:23 am #157956
Just joined ActiveMelody. What is DAW?
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January 22, 2020 at 11:50 am #157969
Just joined ActiveMelody. What is DAW?
Digital Audio Workstation. It’s software for recording audio on your computer.
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