11-05-2021

Best Free Daw With Vst Support

A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is the software used for recording, composing, producing, mixing and editing audio and MIDI files. DAW Software enables you to mix multiple sound files/sources on a time-based grid and is arguably one of the most important tools in your music production arsenal. A digital audio workstation (DAW) is a piece of software used to record and manipulate audio. Most modern DAW interfaces usually consist of a library manager, audio mixer, multiple tracks arranged linearly (although other layouts exist) and track and transport controls. Interface is arguably the most important thing to consider when choosing a DAW as functionally of most DAWs is comparable. 11 of the Best Free DAW Software in 2020 1) LMMS (Linux MultiMedia Studio) Loaded to the brim with tons of features, LMMS is a compact DAW on the lines of FL Studio and Reaper. It offers support for third-party VST plugins, SoundFont2, LADSPA, VSTi and is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux platforms.

Finding the best DAW (digital audio workstation) can be a challenge.

There are dozens of them on the market, ranging all across the board in price, function, and performance.

Today, you’re going to learn the ‘straight facts’ about the best DAWs for serious musicians and artists.

If you want the best bang for your buck, and you want to know that your DAW purchase is going to actually help you to fulfill your requirements as an artist, musician, or content creator, then you need your info straight from the source.

In this post, you’re going to hear firsthand accounts and reviews of the 11 best DAW software options from actual musicians and sound engineers… creators on the front-lines of the current DIY sound-engineering meta.

These DAWs have been thoroughly tested, and they absolutely come out on top.

If you’re looking for the best DAW for you, begin your search here.

Let’s dive in.

Audacity

Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like systems
Get it here.

Let’s not beat around the bush, the initial draw to Audacity is its price tag. When I say price tag, I mean it costs absolutely nothing.

When I set about self-producing music, Audacity was the first port of call for that very reason.

The Good: What’s To Like About Audacity

During the demo stages of a music project, it was certainly fit for purpose. If you’re seeking a DAW to get your ideas locked down, Audacity is more than capable.

It is also a great tool for the beginner looking to experiment. You can use multiple tracks, try panning your instruments, and even apply processing tools with their audio effects library. As an introduction to music production, it will help you find your feet.

beginner looking to experiment

It’s limitations come when you require more advanced recording and editing. All editing cannot be reverted once the project has been saved.

If you’re using high-quality VST’s, they may not be compatible… and you cannot use processing chains to treat your tracks.

Overview: Final Thoughts On Audacity

While it will not replace a proper DAW, Audacity is the perfect first step for your creative needs.

If you’re looking to demo music, it is a great starting point. For recording and editing podcasts, it could be all you need.

GarageBand

Operating System: MacOS
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In a world of freemium gaming and in-app purchases, it seems a dream that a megalith like Apple would offer a free digital audio workstation to every Mac user.

Granted, it’s not the most in-depth of DAWs.

(That’s left up to GarageBand’s big brother Logic Pro X.)

But, she does the trick for most users.

The Good: What’s To Like About GarageBand

I’m a Logic user myself, but I’ve played around a fair bit in GarageBand, both on the desktop as well as on the iOS app.

I think the thing users love most about GarageBand is just how easy it is to get started. You don’t have to have a fancy audio interface or studio monitors. Hell, you don’t even have to have any instruments.

With everything from keyboards, to guitars, to drum kits (and even a virtual drummer), you can literally fire up the app and have a full song laid out within a couple of hours without even having to pick up an instrument.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t record if you want to. There are a number of third party iOS compatible devices that allow you to record instruments such as guitar literally on your iPhone, or plug your mic and interface into your MacBook and lay down some smooth vocal tracks.

You can even apply some decent effects such as EQ, compression, and reverb for a professional quality track.

The Not So Good: Where GarageBand Struggles

Though GarageBand is an awesome DAW, it is a free one, which means of course it has some limitations when compared with its more elegant brothers.

Compared to other DAWs, GarageBand doesn’t have the greatest mixing functionality.

This makes sense, given it is built for music producers as opposed to sound engineers, but there is no dedicated mixing window where you can apply level and pan changes, manipulate plugins, and route auxiliary/bus tracks.

This makes it difficult for those looking to achieve a comprehensive mix result.

Overview: Final Thoughts On GarageBand

A solid starter for anyone using Apple devices, GarageBand is definitely a good jumping off point.

Plus, it shares a lot of similarities with Logic Pro X, so if you do upgrade in the future, you won’t have a steep learning curve to face!

Reaper

Operating Systems: Windows, MacOS, and beta versions for Linux.
Get it here.

Reaper is my go-to DAW and has been for a few years. I moved over to it through a recommendation from a friend who worked at a studio.

I was running a very low spec-machine at the time and he told me to check Reaper out.

The Good: What’s To Like About Reaper?

I really love the fact that it’s open source. You can make it do whatever you want it to do. You can get skins to make it look like any other DAW, or you can build your own skin from the ground up.

It also has fantastic grouping and routing options. I do a lot of mixing, sometimes on some pretty big projects, and the way you can group and route audio makes it a breeze to work with.

The Not So Good: Where Reaper Struggles

It might fall a little short on the MIDI side, but as a rock solid DAW for working with audio I can accept the MIDI not being perfect.

That’s not to say the MIDI in Reaper is bad. But it is certainly an audio focused DAW.

I probably wouldn’t recommend Reaper for total beginners to audio production. However, if you’ve tried out a few other DAWs and you have a bit of an idea what you want to achieve, then Reaper is a good choice.

Overview: Final Thoughts On Reaper

I like that I can make it whatever I want it to be.

I’d recommend Reaper to anyone who is looking for a high quality DAW with lots of functionality for recording and mixing.

Logic Pro X

Operating System: MacOS
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Full disclosure: I may be a bit biased here; I’m a bit of an Apple fanboy. Not a camp-outside-an-Apple-store-all-night-waiting-for-the-new-iPhone level fanboy, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t own more than three Apple products right now.

For me, the appeal of Logic Pro X is the same as any other Apple product, it just effing works. It’s sleek as hell, it’s user friendly, it’s intuitive, and it offers unbeatable value for the money.

The Good: What’s To Like About Logic Pro X

I use Logic for both electronic music production, and for recording, editing, and mixing tasks. And I have to say, it does both brilliantly.

Most impressive are the included plugins, both in quantity and quality. I particularly like the built-in compressor, which has 7 different designs which model vintage compressor types. Not only is the interface easy to use, it looks amazing and sounds even better.

The Not So Good: Where Logic Pro X Struggles

There was a bit of uproar in the audio community when Apple released Logic Pro X. The GUI underwent some massive changes between Logic 9 and the current version, bringing it more in line with the look and feel of GarageBand and other Apple products.

Some accused Apple of reducing what was a pro-grade DAW to a consumer-oriented beat-maker.

In my mind, the only real drawback is that it’s only available on Mac. So, for PC users, it may be time to come over to the dark side… (cough, cough, Pro Tools…)

Best free daw with vst support

Overview: Final Thoughts On Logic Pro X

To hell with the purists, I say. If I’m going to be staring at a screen all day working on a track, I’ll choose the sexy, modern layout offered by Logic Pro X, over the clunky, outdated GUI of Logic 9 any day.

Whether you’re a pro audio engineer or bedroom music producer, I would highly recommend looking into Logic Pro X.

FL Studio 20

Operating System: Windows, MacOS
Get it here.

FL Studio gives you a free trial that you can test… and I recommend making use of it before buying the full version.

FL Studio made great strides with their 20.6 update, which came out in November of 2019. A lot of producers started switching back to the program during this time because they added some essential features (i.e., third-party VST plugin support, as well as the ability to burn to midi from them).

If you’re still mixing bangers with FL 11… Let’s just say that you’re really missing out!

FL Studio 20.6 is a complete software production environment, and it is truly a work of art.
Whether you want to compose, arrange, record, mix, edit, master, etc. FL Studio will get it done, in true FL style… but with newer, better features’ especially if you’re creating EDM, electronic, or beat-centric music.

The Good: What’s To Like About FL Studio?

FL Studio 20 really does it all, especially in version 20.6. One thing that I really like about it is that you can burn to midi now, which is obviously a feature that was long overdue in FL Studio.

Another really cool thing about Image Line as a company is that you get free updates… which is not something that you get with other DAWs.

The Not So Good: Where FL Studio Struggles

One thing to note about FL Studio is that it is fairly resource-intensive.

You need a capable machine to keep working in long sessions, because it’s actually pretty taxing on your system… especially if you have a bunch of VSTis open in the background.

Doing a total track mix is also a challenge in FL Studio, though this can be overcome by learning the program.

Overview: Final Thoughts On FL Studio

FL Studio is often a go-to DAW for artists making electronic, EDM, hip hop, etc. And as such, it does a great job.

You can get the Fruity Edition for $99… but the full package will cost you quite a bit more.

Overall, FL Studio is one of the best… especially with the 20.6 update. It’s a tough DAW to beat.

Presonus Studio One

Operating System: Windows, MacOS
Get it here.

My first experience in a recording studio was with Pro Tools 7 in my Dad’s studio… way back in the day, when that was a thing. I also worked in a friend’s studio, where we ran GarageBand, Pro Tools 8, and then Logic.

So when I put together my first home studio, I started shopping around. I was building a Windows system, so GarageBand and Logic were out. And Pro Tools just felt too expensive and sophisticated for my rather basic singer/songwriter DAW needs.

And so, I went with Presonus Studio One. And wow… Am I glad I did!

You can try out Studio One 4 Artist for just $70, which is a great way to test drive it and see if it might be the DAW for you.

The Good: What’s To Like About Studio One

For me, Studio One felt like a throwback to Pro Tools 7. I sat right down and got to work. There was barely any learning curve.

The plugins and effects that ship with Studio One give you virtually everything you need to produce pro-level tracks, and then some.

Even today, Studio One continues to be smarter than I am in the studio… and I have yet to outgrow it. It is truly a workhorse DAW that does a super-good job for both electronic and audio recording and mixing.

The Not So Good: Where Studio One Struggles

The cheaper versions of Studio One are very limited. If you want to make full use of it, you’re going to need to upgrade.

The good news about this, however, is that the upgrade is worth it. The newest release is a bit more expensive than version 3 was… but it rocks, and makes Studio One an even more viable option than it used to be.

Overview: Final Thoughts On Studio One

For me, Studio One is a Pro Tools alternative at a cheaper cost. It’s bulletproof, it’s intuitive, it comes loaded with awesome plugins and effects… and it will give you what you need to take your home-studio from startup to pro-level quickly and easily.

Want to write songs, throw some midi drums over them… throw on some effects, and release a fantastic sounding, well-mixed track… all in one place?

For me, Studio One shines in this sort of environment.

Reason

Operating Systems: Windows, MacOS
Get it here.

The first thing to understand about Reason 11 is that you can actually try it free for 30 days.

So that’s awesome.

Now, let’s talk about the DAW itself.

Reason has the look and feel of a classic DAW. The Mixer view throws back to the earlier days of Pro Tools, in my opinion… while the Rack view lets you adjust all of your effects and lay them out as if they were rack mounted.

This is probably the coolest aesthetic thing I’ve seen in a DAW in a long time. It really throws back to an ‘analog’ feel. It reminds me of studios I used to hang out in back in the early 90s!

The Sequencer view/audio editor on Reason, in my opinion, is a little weird looking… but that’s easy to get past. Plus, they did a great job making all of your tools accessible.

The Good: What’s To Like About Reason?

Working in Reason is quick and easy. But perhaps even beyond this, the DAW is known for its fantastic suite of instruments.

Even in the intro version, you get a fairly dynamic range of instruments and some pretty awesome synths… giving you the power to cover a wide range of sounds for all kinds of styles of music.

You also get a few drum plug ins, some samplers, and a really decent range of plugins!

And if you love Reason plugins, but don’t really want to edit within the DAW… you can simply use the Reason Rack plugin, throw it into your DAW of choice, and use Reason’s awesome rack-mount software within your project… which is super, super cool.

The Not So Good: Where Reason Struggles

The major downsides to Reason 11 are that the Rack Plugin can’t host VSTs or load Reason projects. Another downside is that the Rack Plugin is currently VST3 only! (Though AU is on the way…so fingers crossed!)

Also, Rewire is now discontinued, and will no longer be supported by Reason 11… which is a bit on the sad side.

Overview: Final Thoughts On Reason

All things considered, Reason 11 is an awesome update to an awesome DAW.

If you have been a Reason user in the past, and liked it, then this update is a no-brainer, and will make you love it even more.

With

If you’ve never used Reason before, then Reason 11 gives you two really cool ways to enjoy the DAW… as its own stand-alone program, or in your DAW of choice via the Reason Rack Plugin.

Reason is a keeper, and it’s here to stay. It’s a solid DAW with a lot of good things to offer.

Cubase

Operating Systems: Windows, MacOS
Get it here.

I started my journey into the world of audio recording with an old college copy of Cubase SX3. It was my introduction to DAWs, and it’s where I cut my teeth. I upgraded to Cubase 5 after a few years and dug a little deeper.

I even got my first paid work mixing and recording in Cubase.

The Good: What’s To Like About Cubase

I’d recommend Cubase to anyone looking to get a fully functioning DAW that is easy to learn. It’s a very straight forward DAW to get to grips with, and the visual interface is easy on the eye.

I always liked how easy it was to work with MIDI in Cubase. The MIDI interface is very intuitive and doesn’t require too much hard work to figure out. I’ve never been one for reading manuals, so a DAW that I can learn in a hands-on manner is always good for me.

The Not So Good: Where Cubase Struggles

As a DAW, there aren’t many things that Cubase struggles with, but the main thing that causes a bug bear for many producers is the need to have a physical iLok for authorising the software.

While many plugin manufacturers have moved to the cloud based dongle, Steinberg still insists on a physical USB dongle. For laptop producers on the go, this takes up valuable USB port real estate.

Overview: Final Thoughts On Cubase

For me, Cubase works very well as a songwriters DAW. If you want to lay down ideas, build songs and take a project from start to finish, then Cubase is a good fit. Especially if you’re new to recording.

Each channel on the mixer window has its own channel strip window with a global EQ, and plugin inserts and sends. It’s so easy to work out that you probably don’t even need to read the manual.

Pro Tools

Operating Systems: Windows, MacOS
Get it here.

First off, one important thing to understand is that you can download the ProTools | First version and use it absolutely for free! Which is awesome!

So to fully understand if this DAW may or may not be right for you, I would seriously consider doing that.

I have to admit, I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Pro Tools.

We can’t deny that ProTools is one of the biggest names in the game.

But it is also important to understand who is and isn’t going to benefit from the big, extra features you get out of it, versus its price, usability, affordability, and accessibility.

The Good: What’s To Like About Pro Tools

Some days, I fire up a session, see that familiar purple/green GUI (seriously who designed that, Barney the dinosaur?) and everything flows smoothly. Those are the days I love Pro Tools.

There’s just something about it that does feel ‘pro’. Maybe it’s the fact that you have to know a fair bit about how to use the software before you can really get into it (read: not the most user friendly).

Maybe it’s the array of editing tools that beat out almost any other DAW. Maybe it’s Maybelline.

The Not So Good: Where Pro Tools Struggles

Then there are the days where I can’t seem to do anything right (ask your dad if he’s familiar with the feeling).

These are the days full of endless updates, crashes, incorrect key commands that lead to deleting entire tracks of audio, and compressors that just don’t do the trick. These are the days I hate.

Overview: Final Thoughts On Protools

The thing about Pro Tools is that it’s like a bad relationship: you can’t live with it, but you can’t live without it. Pro Tools has basically become the industry standard of DAWs, so if you’re working in the professional world, it’s a piece of software you’re gonna want to master.

Plus… there are certain levels of the recording game where nothing can compete with some of the higher-level features that ProTools gives you.

If you’re looking for a DAW to produce some music for yourself or your band though, there are a heap of other DAWs that are easier on the wallet, with sexier GUIs, better stock plugins and a more ‘user-friendly’ approach.

Ableton Live

Operating Systems: Windows, MacOS
Get it here.

Ableton Live is an easy to use DAW that will help create and release quality material. Don’t get me wrong, if you’re a beginner, you’ll need a little time to get accustomed to the layout and features.

However, it won’t be long until you’re up and running.

It is a go-to DAW for Dance, Hip-Hop, House, and EDM. However, while some might say otherwise, I can say from personal experience that there are no genre restrictions for music production in Ableton.

The Good: What’s To Like About Ableton Live

Firstly, the recording capabilities are slick regardless of what instrument you are capturing.

When recording and editing MIDI, efficiency is sharp. MIDI is an all-important feature in modern music production and Ableton absolutely kills it.

The drum rack feature is available on even the cheapest version of Live. This is perfect for programming beats with precision and accuracy.

High-end VSTs can also be integrated, so there are no limitations in terms of virtual instruments or mixing tools.

The Not So Good: Where Ableton Live Struggles

You have to pick at the bones of Ableton Live to find it’s shortcomings.

While the processing effects will certainly do a job, if you’re looking for more sophisticated audio effects you might have to seek alternative plugins.

The sound packs can also be very current… and while you might see this as a positive, you may find they fall out of fashion as trends in music change.

Overview: Final Thoughts On Ableton Live

While simple to use, Ableton Live is a sophisticated and professional DAW. It offers a fast and organized workstation.

It is likely to propel your creativity, whether that is creating Hip-Hop beats or recording distorted guitars is up to you.

Nuendo

Operating System: Windows, MacOS
Get it here.

I found Nuendo really straightforward to get to grips with. For anyone else who has used it before, you’ll know it’s basically the same as Cubase.

The main differences lie under the hood with its focus.

Nuendo is more focused towards post production work. I’ve used it a lot in the past for mastering projects. It looks like Cubase on the surface, but the audio engine inside is a lot more powerful for processing audio.

The Good: What’s To Like About Nuendo

When I’ve used it for mastering, I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of the powerful engine it has.

It’s audio rendering abilities are incredible. It offers up to 384kHz resolution compared to the top end of 192kHz many pro packages offer.

The Not So Good: Where Nuendo Struggles

I wouldn’t recommend Nuendo for beginners to the recording world. It’s sophisticated, high-end, and deep.

If you’re a singer songwriter who needs something simple, Nuendo is serious overkill.

Overview: Final Thoughts On Nuendo

Best free daw with vst support system

I’ve never used it personally as a DAW in the conventional sense for tracking and arranging.

But for mastering and post production uses, for me, there aren’t many DAW’s that can come close to the power of Nuendo.

Nuendo is fully capable of being a one stop shop for anyone looking for an all in one production suite where you could take a song idea and take it from a sketch to a fully mastered piece.

Mixing and mastering can be done with analog and digital workflows. Often the choice of which to go with comes down to user preferences, cost, and desired features of a system. The digital systems available to us today for mixing and mastering can support more tracks and more processing than many large-format consoles, making them great choices for engineers looking for flexibility in a laptop-sized workstation.

Digital Audio Workstations such as Pro Tools, Logic Pro, and Cubase are very popular when tracking and mixing are involved, but when it comes to mastering, these programs do not offer the same level of attention to features that mastering engineers may need. Luckily, the DAWs below were built with mastering in mind, offering many features that so many others do not.

Sequoia

Dubbed “The Engineer’s Choice”, Sequoia has made its name as one of the most comprehensive software suites for audio production, broadcast, post-production, and mastering. At $2,975, it comes as one of the more expensive options on the list, but those who have used it swear by its intuitive approach to audio editing as well as its immense set of features.

One of its most revered features is its object-based approach to editing. Objects are made when audio is split up in Sequoia. Objects can be made as many times as you like and are able to be moved around within the tracks. Since objects are independent of one another, fades, effects, and routing can be done on a per-object basis. This allows for great flexibility and the ability to make small changes to small sections of your track.

Additional features for mastering include MP3/AAC previewing, POW-r Dither, DDP import and export, and spectral editing. The inclusion of MP3/AAC previewing allows you to hear how your master(s) will sound once encoded into the MP3 or AAC file type. Adjustments can be made to hear how your track will hold up against different requirements such as Mastered for iTunes.

The spectral editing abilities in Sequoia come with useful features like switchable display type (linear or logarithmic) and threshold range editing. Spectral editing in mastering can be great for cleaning up unwanted noise across small or large spans of time. Magix has improved their spectral editing abilities over time using features from their restoration software Spectralayers to add to the abilities of Sequoia over time. If your project workflow requires the most advanced toolset with access to useful features like codec previewing, batch processing, and advanced spectral editing, Sequoia is a great choice.

WaveLab Pro

Steinberg’s contribution to digital audio editing goes back to its creation in 1984 with MIDI editing apps built for Commodore 64 computers. 1989 brought about Cubase which has been adored by many engineers working in tracking, production, and mixing. Their development of VST plugin standards and ASIO drivers took their influence even further into the music industry.

When people think Steinberg, they often do not think about WaveLab first. WaveLab, like many mastering DAWs, is a very specialized program that uses an interface unlike most other software. Its feature set is built around mastering, but also includes tools that make it useful for journalists doing audio interviews, post-production houses, and restoration.

WaveLab features a 64-bit audio engine that supports 32-bit audio with sample rates up to 384 kHz. This makes WaveLab a great option for those after the most precise, high-quality products. Pair this with an extensive set of analysis tools and you will be sure that your audio is exactly how you need it to be every time.

The spectral editing function in WaveLab has been redesigned for version 9.5 and features a new viewing mode called Wavelet Display. This mode allows for a more accurate display of your audio through pitch scaling. Wavelet Display shows more frequencies in the low end of your audio and more time in the high end to bolster your confidence in making edits across these areas. Steinberg even took it upon themselves to add inpainting technology to their spectrum editor. This technology allows WaveLab to replace noise in your tracks with relevant frequencies by analyzing audio before and after the region you are editing. Inpainting is also available via the error correction section of WaveLab’s toolbar, allowing for the innovate feature to be used with or without prior spectral editing experience.

WaveLab also provides mastering engineers with a plethora of tools for finalizing a master. Metadata can be edited for a variety of formats including RIFF, ID3, BWAF, CART, iXML, and AXML. The Audio Montage section of the DAW allows CDs to be built using multiple tracks. Effects can be applied to individual tracks or via the master section to make sure your entire project maintains consistency. Gaps between tracks, CD text, fades, and more can be added in the Audio Montage section. DDP export is available via WaveLab as well, giving you the option to provide them to your clients. For a great DAW centered around mastering, WaveLab will give you everything you need and more to give your tracks the polish they need.

Pyramix

Much like Sequoia or WaveLab, Pyramix is a utilitarian beast of a DAW. Merging Technologies created a powerhouse program capable of large track counts with incredible resolution all while making it stable enough to be one of the industry’s best DAWs for live recordings. To start, Pyramix was designed for use by professionals. It is safe to say that all of the DAWs on this list were designed with the same thing in mind, but Pyramix does not cater to beginning engineers. If learning curves don’t scare you away, then the software can be your best friend for any audio need.

Featuring advanced editing tools, professional-grade metering, and up to 384 recording tracks at a time, Pyramix is ready to handle any project you throw its way. For mastering, there are innovate plugins such as the 3D Workflows Suite. This suite allows you to natively mix for all sorts of complex speaker layouts to make sure your masters will translate to any system.

Best Free Daw With Vst Support Software

In terms of mastering, metadata, high-quality sample rate conversion, and file types become very important. Pyramix offers all of these tools. The metadata capabilities allow for ISRC code editing, CD/Super-Audio CD authoring, and many album publishing features. For the most demanding mastering situations, Pyramix also supports the Direct Stream Digital format as high as DSD256. This provides a sample rate of up to 112,896 kHz for incredible recordings and stunning results when using hybrid workflows. While Merging Technologies built a DAW for the ultimate quality, its learning curve may worry some users. If you need the tools for the most critical mastering tasks, the learning curve will be worth it. Pyramix has you covered.

SawStudio

Another DAW that doesn’t look like mastering would be its forte, RML Labs SawStudio shoots to emulate working with an analog console. Featuring an interface typical for tracking and editing, SawStudio has made its name through its advanced audio engine, customizable workflows, and stability. Workspace Views allow for customization of how the DAW displays your information making them a nice feature when working with only one or two stereo tracks.

Best Free Daw With Vst Support Download

RML Labs took great care in designing the audio engine for SawStudio. Their high-resolution sample rate conversion has proven itself to be pristine up to 96 kHz. These types of details are critical when creating high-quality files in mastering. VST support allows third-party plugins to take advantage of this high-quality engine. Plugins in SawStudio are often able to be “hotplugged” without any need to start or stop playback or worry about playback stuttering. For engineers looking for the feeling of sitting behind an analog console, check out SawStudio for your mastering needs.

Soundblade

Sonic Studio’s approach to a mastering DAW is much more akin to software used for tracking in terms of its layout. Upon first glance, Soundblade resembles Pro Tools in the way it displays tracks and its timeline. Of course, being a mastering DAW, it has many features that programs like Pro Tools do not feature.

First off, Soundblade allows only sixteen tracks making it hard to use as a tracking DAW. The idea here is that tracks can be sent out to outboard gear and looped back into the DAW on another stereo pair of tracks for those working with hybrid mastering setups. When working in hybrid setups, Soundblade can record the externally processed audio at up to 384 kHz for incredible sound quality on the way back into the DAW.

Being a fully-fledged mastering suite requires that you have ample support for top-quality plugins. Soundblade utilizes both Audio Unit and VST plugins for options in creating the sounds you need. Sonic Studio includes their own Mastering EQ plugin featuring four bands of minimum phase shift equalizing, as well as dither plugins featuring multiple algorithms for proper noise shaping. To complete the native toolkit, restoration tools such as a spectral repair tool, declicking, and denoising plugins are available in Soundblade as well. This allows for precise edits and repairs to be made from within the DAW. Easy to use, and much more similar to traditional audio software, Soundblade gives engineers of all levels the required pieces to master their tracks with ease.

Nuendo

Another entry from Steinberg, Nuendo has become a useful DAW for some more specialized mastering scenarios. Nuendo is Steinberg’s software offering to those in post-production. Many film, TV, videogame, and VR sound professionals have utilized its extensive list of features over the years.

While the ultimate goal of Nuendo is different than WaveLab, many of the core features are the same. Nuendo features the same 32-bit support with up to a 384 kHz sample rate and allows for deep, surgical editing of audio files. While it does not offer spectral editing, it offers a great design for working with surround mixes and 3D audio and Steinberg designed plugins for great tone-shaping options for your masters. While Nuendo may not be an obvious choice for some engineers, you may consider its strengths as a post-production DAW when working on uncommon mastering projects. Featuring the same production abilities, sound libraries, and interface as Cubase, Nuendo could become your next mastering DAW.

Studio One Pro

With such a young piece of software, it is often difficult to enter the competitive world of audio editing. PreSonus did just that in 2009 when it released the first version of Studio One to the public. Praised for its quick workflows and cost-effectiveness, this DAW has become a great option for many engineers in the world of tracking, mixing, and mastering.

Rather than be a dedicated mastering DAW, PreSonus decided to combine the needs of many engineers into one program. It serves these purposes based on which screen you are operating. The first is the Song Page which follows a similar layout of other popular programs such as Pro Tools and Logic Pro. Its focus is on the recording, editing, and production of music. If you move over to the Project Page, you will find the tools required to begin mastering.

Importing files into the Project Page can be done by adding tracks from the Song Page, DDP image import, or drag and drop. The tracks can then be sequenced from within this display. Metadata and effects are easily accessible on a per-track basis making consistency across your project easy to achieve. More effects can be added via the master section and the post section. The post section allows you to place meter plugins or other analytical tools after the effects in your master section for greater confidence in how you are affecting your tracks. If you need a DAW that can go between production and mastering workflows, Studio One may have solved your problem.

Reaper

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The free DAW that really isn’t free, Reaper has continued to make a name for itself among hobbyist engineers and professionals alike. Featuring a familiar interface and a full list of features, Reaper is an inexpensive way to get quality tools for any of your projects. Much like Studio One, it has become a go-to for engineers who prefer to use one DAW for all of their needs.

Its layout leans towards DAWs used for production and tracking, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home. Reaper includes many native effects plugins useful for both tracking and mastering. On the mastering side, plugins such as ReaComp, ReaEQ, and ReaXcomp give you a small set of useful tools to start with. To add to these included effects Reaper supports many types of third-party plugins such as VST, VST3, AU, DX, and JS. The JS plugin interface has made Reaper a standout for engineers who live solely in the digital realm. JSFX plugins allow users to write their own custom plugins for Reaper that can be as simple or complex as needed for your project.

One of Reaper’s biggest strengths for mastering is its stability and customization options. Using macros, remappable keyboard commands, and UI customization, engineers can tailor this DAW to match their workflows and style. Paired with the stability of this program, this inexpensive DAW allows for deep customization for whatever workflow you may need to run.

Sound Forge Pro

Just like Steinberg, Magix provides too many good editors to only pick one. Sound Forge Pro is to Sequoia as Nuendo is WaveLab. Many of the features here are provided to meet the same goals, but Sound Forge gives engineers access to more recording and production-based workflows.

Offering sample rates of 768 kHz, Sound Forge looks to be the benchmark for high-resolution recording. Utilizing outboard gear in a hybrid system, your audio could be recaptured with incredible bit depth and sample rates which in turn would contribute to great sounding masters.

Sound Forge utilizes high-quality DSP effect plugins for enhanced precision and ease of use during complex tasks. These plugins include effects such as the coreFX 2-Point Compressor which allows engineers to set two individual thresholds for accurate and very configurable control over your dynamics. The Wave Hammer 2.0 is also included, combining a compressor with a four-band maximizer for setting different parameters on different parts of your mixes. The inclusion of iZotope Ozone 8 Elements contributes to an already great set of mastering tools with some of the best plugins in the business.

In terms of restoration, Sound Forge kept the same attitude about what is included. DeHisser, DeClicker, DeCrackler, and DeClipper are included for both basic and advanced cleaning tasks. Magix also opted to include iZotope RX 7 Elements to meet more restoration needs. Including spectral editing with RX 7 rounds out a great set of plugins for great control over any of your mastering needs.

Acon Digital Acoustica Premium

Like many mastering DAWs, Acon Digital set out to create a unique user interface with features aimed at specific types of audio editing. Offering two versions based on your needs, Acoustica aims to be a great standalone program for mastering, restoration, and audio editing.

Featuring support for 32-bit audio at 384 kHz, Acoustica is capable of incredible sound quality with stereo, 5.1, and 7.1 formats. The software has a great set of tools for advanced editing and restoration that can help fix clicks, crackle, noise, and clipping. In addition to these tools, the premium version of Acoustica provides engineers with a spectral editor, complete with multiple types of selection modes for the most critical situations.

Acoustica also includes a multitrack editing mode which gives engineers more control over individual track needs. This mode allows each track to include crossfades, automation, and effects. To allow for more multitrack use, Acon Digital’s new Transfer plugin comes with Acoustica. Transfer allows Acoustica to import audio from Pro Tools sessions so you can utilize the best of both DAWs. Not only does this expand the abilities of Pro Tools, giving it access to a robust set of analysis and restoration tools, but it also makes a case on Acoustica’s side. If an industry-standard DAW can utilize its functionality, why wouldn’t engineers add Acoustic to their toolkit? With a mastering focused interface, easy Pro Tools integration, and quality plugins to spare, Acoustica makes a strong case as to why it should be your mastering DAW.

Conclusion: Mastering has been viewed as a “dark art” in some circles, requiring incredible ears, expensive equipment, and an advanced skill set. While the “dark art” part is a bit much for many mastering engineers, it is still a process to be taken seriously. With the advent of software, a lot of these requirements are much less steep. As with any software decision, a lot of the choices on which DAW to use in your mastering workflow will be determined by user preferences. All of these DAWs will get you closer to mastering radio-ready tracks.


If you’re interested in what professional mastering can do for your mix, follow the link here for a free mastered sample of your song: https://www.sageaudio.com/register.php

Get a Free Mastered Sample of Your Song → SageAudio.com/register.php

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Sage Audio Mastering

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Nashville, TN