Embedded Files
Written by Terry Doner, Updated November 21, 2020
Introduction
Introduction
I have been running our broadcast mix from our FOH console. Although this works, it has some inherent limitations. To address those we will be moving that job to a computer based DAW (digital audio workstation).
My base requirements are:
Capable of handling up to about 50 input channels (need 24 to start, but that is using some sub mixes from FOH)
Support Dante In and Out
Support standard plugins (eg Waves)
Produce a stereo mix down
Input and output monitoring
Multiple busses for groupings and plugins
Latency compensation (so everything in and out stays aligned)
Reliable
The following programs will be reviewed in detail:
Avid ProTools (the unnamed middle edition)
Ableton Live - Standard Edition
Reaper
ProTools comes in three editions “ProTools | First”, “ProTools”, and “ProTools | Ultimate”. The “First” edition is too limited for my use, mainly because it is limited to 4 inputs and does not offer input monitoring.
Ableton also had three editions: “Intro”, “Standard”, “Suite”. The “Intro” version is limited to 8 inputs.
Reaper has a single edition.
Evaluation Matrix
Evaluation Matrix
Performance details for machine used for evaluation:
Macbook Air with 8GB of memory, 1.7 Ghz Intel i7 dual core, late 2013. (underpowered as minimum system requirements for all three)
Running MacOs Catlina 10.15.7
Test Project
15 active tracks (including 3 submixes)
Vocals have eq, comp, instruments have comps
The test project used prerecorded stems rather than Dante inputs.
Comments
Comments
I tried Reaper first. After having watched a few videos and tried a few things out, I had it working. It worked great, easy to use and I didn’t really want to try out the others! Reaper is highly customizable. It has actions, macros and scripting capability that allow it to be extended by anybody. Any aspect of Reaper operation can be scripted.
ProTools was much slower to get started using. Huge download and then multiple installation problems, which apparently is typical of ProTools. Once installed, it worked fine. I think I like the default presets on the plugins better than Reaper, but in real life, I’ll do my own custom settings anyhow.
Ableton Live is a very different program. I can see that it is meant for live performance and loop editing. The layout looks tuned for that use case, which is not mine. I do like the plugin layout used by Ableton, you can see all of them all at once, however there is no indication of the plugins in the mixer window.
Looking at comments from people who use multiple platforms, those who use Reaper seem to prefer it and use others only if they have to. People tend to Reaper the software more than hate it. ProTools is not loved but rather “the tool” used by professionals, ProTools users don’t like their relationship with Avid.
Conclusion
Conclusion
For my purposes, reaper is my choice.
Others Not Considered
Others Not Considered
There are other choices that people have suggested may work for this purpose but no effort has been put into looking at them any further: Cubase, Nuendo, Logic, Audition, Mixbus 32c, and Reason. Studio 1 may be particularly interesting to people with Presonus hardware consoles as the software is often a free add-on.
I have a few leads to info on some other DAWs from others:
Presonus Studio 1:
What if I use a software Video Mixer?
What if I use a software Video Mixer?
Many software video mixers have some audio capability built-in.
vMix offers a mid-level audio mixer with metering, muting, solo and it has built-in EQ and Compression. And it supports VST3 plugins! It also has has a multiple bus capability which could be used for grouping and effects.
OBS' audio mixing capabilities are less sophisticated than vMix. It offers level controls and metering. It does support VST plugins. It does not have multiple busses.
Wirecast (Pro version) has audio mixing capabilities with many built-in channel processing capabilities including simple eq, dynamics and noise reduction.
Ecamm supports multi-channel level controls and muting.
What about Plugins
What about Plugins
One of the big benefits of using a DAW is the ability to use plugins. I have not done any detailed evaluation of plugins yet and for the most part am sticking to the Reaper native ones. I have found both YouLean and SPAN to be useful in measuring loudness and stereo imaging. Overall latency remains a significant concern. This is my list of plugins to consider, there are three tabs:
Resources
Resources
A YouTube playlist containing useful videos for this evaluation.
Here is a review of the “best” DAWs but for a different job - composing. Still, might be informative https://www.stevenmelin.com/bestdaw
An overview of several DAWs; Apple Logic, Steinberg Cubase, Abelton Live
An very extensive guide to DAW Selection
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