What the DAW does
The DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is the main program you use to create, edit and export your cues and your final audio files. These are the ones most widely used in music for picture.
The three main DAWs
Cubase (Steinberg)
- Very widely used for composing.
- Runs on both Windows and Mac.
- Offers advanced features for MIDI and virtual instruments.
Logic Pro (Apple)
- Mac only.
- Very popular among composers writing for picture.
- Ships with high-quality virtual instruments and production tools.
Pro Tools (Avid)
- The industry standard in audiovisual post-production.
- Originally built for mixing, it now includes composing features with MIDI tracks and virtual instruments.
- Used to sync to picture and to make the film mixer's job easier.
The other options
- Ableton Live: known for its live performance capabilities and its flexibility.
- Studio One (PreSonus): an intuitive interface and a robust feature set.
- Reaper: highly configurable and very affordable.
StaffPad, the notation route
- Available on iPad and on Surface for PC.
- Lets you write scores with quality audio playback, driven by virtual instruments.
- Suits experienced musicians and beginners alike, if you want to learn and develop your writing.
- An excellent compromise if what you're after is a notation tool with good audio playback.
Practical advice
- Pick the DAW that suits you: try several and find the one that best fits your needs and your workflow.
- Consider Pro Tools for the mix: even if you compose mainly in another DAW, think about using Pro Tools to sync your sessions and hand them off to the film mixer.
- Explore StaffPad: if score writing interests you and you want good audio playback, it's worth a look.
With the right tools and the right software in place, you're set up to produce high-quality music for picture. Next lesson, we go further into the techniques that streamline the whole creative process.