THE LIST

THE TOP FIVE AUDIO PRODUCTION PROGRAMS

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ACOUSTICA MIXCRAFT 9 http://www.acoustica.com

Apple fans rave about how easy Garage Band is to use

–it’s a fun application that can be used in both a casual

and professional way. But what about Windows users?

That’s where Acoustica Mixcraft 9 comes in. It’s ideal

for beginners, yet it’s not a basic program. Configured

in a more traditional approach, it has a huge plug-in

library, a great mixer, and a methodical workflow.

Mixcraft 9 Recording Studio $99, Mixcraft 9 Pro Studio $

ABLETON LIVE http://www.ableton.com

With a quick and efficient workspace and a full suite

of features, Ableton Live is a great program for

producers. Launched in 2001, this DAW is not just a

recording program, but an instrument in its own right.

Live 11 Intro $99, Live 11 Standard $449, Live 11 Suite $

Music production no longer involves just a guitar and

a microphone. These days it is often carried out on a

PC with the aid of a digital audio workstation (DAW).

This allows the user to mix, tune, stitch and compile

recordings together to produce a final, polished piece

of music, whether that’s music, sound effects, or

game sounds. Like all programs, there are many

variants of DAWs available, each with their own pros

and cons. Here, we list our top five favorites.

AUDACITY http://www.audacityteam.org

We had to throw this free, open-source application into

the mix when it came to top DAWs. Yes, it looks pretty

outdated and we wouldn’t necessarily recommend

it for professional or commercial use, but the best

thing about it is that it’s available to download for

free. It’s also pretty easy to get to grips with and if you

want something to play around with, mix recordings

together, splice them up or change formats, then

Audacity is worth installing on your PC. $Free

FL STUDIO http://www.image-line.com

FL Studio has been around for 20 years, and many top

producers and DJs started here. Still one of the best,

it looks fantastic and has lots of presets and effects.

FL Studio Fruity Edition $99, Producer Edition $199,

Signature Bundle $299, All Plugins Edition $

PRO TOOLS http://www.avid.com

For recording engineers, mixers, musicians, and

producers, Avid Technology’s Pro Tools is one of the

best DAWs. With its mastering capabilities second to

none, it is ideal for large studio environments.

Pro Tools $399 (annual), Pro Tools Ultimate $800 (annual)

quickstart

12 MAXIMUMPC FEB 2022

© ACOUSTICA, AUDACITYTEAM, AVID, ABLETON, IMAGE-LINE