Which Recording Software to Pick?

Just as in the case of music production software, the BEST software tool for audio recording is something that is relative, though the general consensus says there is nothing better than Avid’s Pro Tools, which has remained an industry standard for ages. There have been top notch professionals who prefer Cubase and other DAWs for recording and post-production too, but the Pro Tools has been the undisputed leader for so long and a basic knowledge of the software is a prerequisite for every upcoming audio engineer today. 

Before coming to a real comparison of contemporary recording software, let us skim through the evolution in audio recording that happened over the last few decades. Just as with music production, the latter half of the 20th century marked significant changes in the way audio was being recorded and processed. Let us not go into the details of the earliest recordings, phonographs, gramaphones etc. Instead let us start from the fifties. Multi-track recording was pioneered in the mid-fifties marking a revolutionary change the way audio was being recorded. 

For the music industry in particular, this change was as important as the invention of the telephone. Before this, large sections of orchestra, singers, choir groups etc. had to assemble under one roof to record a complete song or a musical piece. Multi-tracking was the asynchronous recording technology that eliminated this completely by enabling audio engineers to record separate sections of music in individual channels known as tracks. Two-track recordings had been existing since the 1940s, however Ampex Corporation pioneered the 8-track recording technology which was a massive leap. Engineers could now record parts of the track separately and also produce superior mixes since adjustments could now be made individually to each track.

Gradually, more could be done to individual tracks, like adding effects like reverb and performing overdubs. Bands could record studio albums where their lead singer could provide vocal harmony to his/her own vocals. This was something that was thought as humanly impossible a decade prior to the invention and mainstream implementation of multi-tracking. Just like digital FM synthesis, digital recording technology proliferated in the ‘80s and saw several advancements in the ‘90s and early 2000s. Compact Discs replaced magnetic tapes and software applications gradually started replacing a lot of unwieldy hardware. Audio editing became non-destructive since engineers were working with digital data. Hardware consoles still remain for mixing and mastering audio, though the same can be accomplished with modern software.

Recording and producing noiseless audio has become easy and inexpensive over the years. With a well-configured laptop and a decent microphone or isolation shield, one can record several layers good quality audio from home and even work on editing, processing, mixing and mastering them with audio editing applications like Adobe Audition or Audacity, the latter which is among the many free applications available for audio editing. 

Read: The Best Reflection Filters/Isolation Fields for Aspiring Vocalists 

Now, let us see some of Loopazon’s top recommendations for audio recording software:

1. Avid Pro Tools

As already mentioned, Pro Tools has been the industry standard for close to two decades now. It has a rich legacy that boasts an early visual sample editor developed for the Emulator II keyboard which eventually served as an inspiration for the iconic Fairlight CMI interface. Pro Tools has remained the go-to recording and post-production tool for not only record producers, but sound designers and engineers working on motion pictures for decades.

Being an all-purpose audio workstation, it even works as music production software where in you can compose, work with samples, virtual instruments, other plugins and program your tracks besides mixing and mastering them with state-of-the-art features in Pro Tools. Proo Tools is also arguably among the best applications to record live instruments. It offers built-in features like the Beat Detective, making life easier for those constantly recording rhythmic instruments. The Beat Detective allows you to seamlessly edit and quantize your tracks, unlike its much slower counterparts, especially the Flex Time in Logic Pro X.

However, Pro Tools can be incredibly expensive for those who aren’t constantly working on projects because they not only have their monthly subscription plans priced inordinately high, but beyond a point you would require the Avid hardware as even the Pro Tools HD version supports only up to 32 I/O channels through ASIO and Core Audio. The good news for beginners is that Avid offers a basic version of Pro Tools called the Pro Tools First free of cost.

You simply need not have second thoughts about trying it out as you would eventually have to migrate to the Pro Tools platform at some point, even if you contemplate starting off with another platform. If you are an aspiring professional, then the earlier you get acquainted with the Pro Tools interface, the better.

2. Steinberg Cubase 

The Cubase is the world’s most popular music production software with continued patronage from stalwarts like Hans Zimmer, Alan Silvestri and James Newton Howard. With its rich and streamlined VST interface and features like the Sample Editor, Parts and Lanes and the Control Room, music producers who have found home in the DAW do not have a second option.

Many mainstream composers and producers who are involved hands-on in the recording and post-production process, prefer the Cubase Pro to Avid’s Pro Tools as it facilitates an incredibly fast post-production workflow that eliminates the need for them to rely on a third party application like Pro Tools. The Cubase Pro also supports unlimited MIDI and audio tracks while the Pro Tools dwarfs in comparison with its limits that look ridiculously dated. The latest versions of Cubase also facilitate faster comping with an easy drag and drop functionality making it easier for you to audition and quickly make the best selection. This is a boon, especially while working with recorded vocals and live instruments. Pro Tools veterans may find it hard to switch to Cubase and they seldom require to. The Cubase interface is more oriented towards music producers who have been toying with it for years. However the Cubase 10 and 10.5 are excellent and much more economic alternatives to Pro Tools, especially for those upcoming audio engineers who don’t fancy the Pro Tools interface and their licensing complications.

Read: A Brief Introduction to DAWs  

3. Cockos Reaper

Reaper is one of the cheapest and most user-friendly DAWs out there, developed and maintained by Cockos. It is a very efficient recording software preferred by amateurs and professionals alike. The Reaper is also very versatile allowing the import of audio in virtually any format and and also seamless recording and rendering of the same in multiple formats.

It has a 64-bit internal audio processing. Cockos offers a full version for a free 60-day trial after which you can purchase its license. Reaper does not have scaled down versions. Cockos only licenses its full version to users. However, if you are an individual, educational institution or a non-profit organization, Cockos provides you the license of its fully functional Reaper DAW at a mere $60. The same DAW would cost $225 if you are licensing it for full-fledged commercial use.

Reaper is one of the go-to applications that Loopazon prefers for sampling real instruments.

Read: Introduction to Sampling 

4. Apple GarageBand and Logic Pro X 

We did discuss at length about GarageBand, Apple’s lighter consumer version of the Logic Pro X in a couple of articles. The application is free for Apple users and beginners can instantly start recording and editing audio with GarageBand.

It has rich functionalities for a free DAW and even lets you build your own loop library by allowing you to record and edit real instruments. 

Logic Pro X is GarageBand multiplied by 10.

Besides being one of the most comprehensive DAWs for music production, the Logic Pro X offers a better mixing platform than it’s Avid counterpart. Pro Tools loyalists would hate hearing this, but the Logic Pro X is an absolute delight in comparison, as it offers a lot of real professional effects plug-ins for audio mixing, totally free of cost. The plug-ins that come with the Pro Tools after you spend so much on purchasing the license, are disappointing in comparison.

Read: Getting Started with GarageBand