ATTN: Mac Users - Which DAW software do you use?

[evilchris]

I've used Sound Forge 6 for ages, but I'm tired of booting up the PC to normalize, track, and flac a show.  To that end, I've found three "front-runners" in the OS X market for DAW software:

1. Audacity
2. Sound Studio
3. Amadeus Pro

I'm leaning toward Sound Studio, but I'm not sure why.  Finding a good shoot-out between it and Amadeus is like pulling teeth, if Google is any indication.

My question, then, is this: What do you use?  Why?

[Nick Graham]

Are you looking strictly for free software? If not, I'd recommend Spark XL. One way to get an idea of what other mac users are working with, go to archive.org and search for the various Mac computers (Powerbook, iMac, Power Mac, Macbook, etc.). The transfer lineage should be listed with the software noted.

[edtyre]

If you want to spend a little i'd recommend
DSP Quattro X
http://www.i3net.it/Products/dspQuattro/Asp/Index_EN.asp?Language=EN

[deeputahpowder]

I've used Sound Studio for a couple years and give it 2 thumbs up. it does what i've needed, normalize, compress, fades, eq's, markers, split by markers, applescript-able etc.  Haven't upgraded to version 3 yet. b/c i'm still on 10.3.9 also haven't used any other daw on mac, to comment or compare.   I used to use cdwav (?I think thats what it was called) when i did this on windows, but I kicked that habit  and now do all sound work on mac.
dave

[keytohwy]

I've enjoyed Sound Studio since moving away from Peak.  Peak was overkill, and I needed just the function of exporting a marked audio file into individual files, something that Peak LE would not do.  SS des what it does well, without some of the BS that Peak also introduced.  Compared to Audacity...well, I like a Mac-native app.  Audacity just didn't feel right to me and I found some functions non-existent or too difficult to utilize.  Amadeus Pro, I just got in that crazy MacUpdate bundle.  One feature there I already like is the ability to export track marks as a text file, then re-import later.  Why this is important to me?  So many of my files are 16/48 audio.  I typically track them, convert to 44.1, split them, and then FLAC them for distibution.  Bu, I like to archive the original file.  If I FLAC the original, it strips the marker metadata, so if I return to the file for some reason, all the markers are gone.  It seems with AP, I can export the tracks, FLAC, and then later, re-import the track marks.  Brilliant!  It's like saving a project file in Final Cut instead of working with a destructive file editor.

My $.02

keytohwy

I've used Sound Forge 6 for ages, but I'm tired of booting up the PC to normalize, track, and flac a show.  To that end, I've found three "front-runners" in the OS X market for DAW software:

1. Audacity
2. Sound Studio
3. Amadeus Pro

I'm leaning toward Sound Studio, but I'm not sure why.  Finding a good shoot-out between it and Amadeus is like pulling teeth, if Google is any indication.

My question, then, is this: What do you use?  Why?

[J.T.L]

Anyone try Traverso? http://traverso-daw.org/ ...free and multitrack support.

[Patrick]

Anyone try Traverso? http://traverso-daw.org/ ...free and multitrack support.

Just checked this out.  Seems like it is brand new, so it is full of bugs for me at least.  It is one clunky program but definitely has a lot of potential.  Looking forward to seeing what they do with this in the future. 

[willndmb]

i use audacity and spark
spark is much better imo but audacity is free

[bluntforcetrauma]

1. PEAK pro
2. pro tools

with waves ( ultramaximizer) and bbe plug ins

these are not free

[FiKe]

protools le 7.0  and I transferred to a linux box to do track splits using wavbreaker 0.7 then used shntool 2.0.3


            Phillip

[Mic D]

Sound Studio would be fine for your needs.

[nic]

for simple 2 track stuff I like Peak and Sound Studio, but my BIG peeve with SS is the lack of metering!
havent tried Amadeus Pro yet (I just got it in the MU bundle as well)
hate using Spark due to its UI

the apps I use most are Digital Performer and Cubase

[deeputahpowder]

---hijack---kinda---
Anyone else whose used Sound Studio 3.5 (whatever the latest is)  curious how long it takes to save a 1.5 hour .aiff file.  Takes my ibook g4 like 8 minutes. whereas Sound Studio 2.1 took 3 minutes. 

Tried this in Cubase LE. press save.  the file is saved instantly. 

How long does it take these other programs to save a 1.5 hour show...Yeah - i know all of our machines are more and less powerful than each others....but has anyone noticed such a drastic difference in processing time going between versions of a program...seems they would have sped the functions up.  not decreased their performance.
dave

[MattD]

I'm STILL on Spark XL because there really isn't anything better yet. I tried out Wave Editor but it's slow compared to Spark and was also the first program to crash my iBook in months.

[easy jim]

AudioDesk and Digital Performer for multitrack (I really dislike ProTools)

I have not found a 2 track program that I like yet, although I would like Peak if not for the $$$

Audacity sucks!  It's too unstable unless you save every 5mins, and none of the effects hold water by comparison to the AudioDesk/Digital Performer plug-ins IMO.  I only use Audacity for quick and dirty tracking/resampling of 2 track mixes b/c AD/DP are both very slow when resampling at "best" quality.