Decent Host Application on a Budget

Dumb_on_Drums · Post by **Dumb_on_Drums** » Tue May 04, 2021 4:28 pm

I am trying to get back to doing some recording on my PC. I was using "Acid Pro 7" last time I was I up and running. Now I am remembering and experiencing all the reasons why I hate it. I am done with it.

I am looking for something an idiot can use and can be gotten fairly cheap. The more basic the better.

Features I'd like...
Render and play Jamstix tracks
External MIDI control to trigger play and record controls on an external recorder.
ASIO support
Supports Windows 7 64bit
At least able to do one MIDI and one Audio track simultaneously

I don't care about bells and whistles. Just need something that can play, record and save.

Andy_Ruso · Post by **Andy_Ruso** » Tue May 04, 2021 4:34 pm

If you mean a DAW than choose Reaper. It is an extremely capable product.

You can download and use it for free forever if you are ok with nagging splash-screen on the start-up.

Another almost free DAW (1$) is Ardour. But it lacks in midi-department.

TheSystem (Archive) · Post by **TheSystem (Archive)** » Tue May 04, 2021 5:17 pm

without hesitation. Great product. Excellent support. Plenty of documentation and videos.

No brainer.

Dumb_on_Drums · Post by **Dumb_on_Drums** » Tue May 04, 2021 6:08 pm

Thanks. I'll give Reaper a try.

Dumb_on_Drums · Post by **Dumb_on_Drums** » Tue May 04, 2021 6:47 pm

Is there a quickstart for dummies somewhere?

Azimuth (Archive) · Post by **Azimuth (Archive)** » Tue May 04, 2021 9:13 pm

Kenny Gioia's videos will answer any question you can think of from the basics to advanced features.

https://www.reaper.fm/videos.php

Amped_up · Post by **Amped_up** » Wed May 05, 2021 9:56 am

I'm a beginner daw user and have been enjoying Cakewalk. Very nice free software with regular updates.

bosone · Post by **bosone** » Tue Sep 21, 2021 10:51 am

go with cakewalk.
completely free, very high end. have everything you will ever need...

d_steinschneider · Post by **d_steinschneider** » Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:33 pm

I use Reaper and Mixbus. Mixbus is very good for final mixing (it sounds fantastic - very good eq and tape saturation) but the midi editing needs more work. It's great for live recording of a band.

Reaper is very extensible so if you think you're going to do a DAW deep dive it's a great choice. There is an answer online for every imaginable problem. I use it for recording midi tracks.

Cakewalk has a great community. As others here mentioned, it's easier to operate. I think it would be a good choice. When the company Bandlab acquired it they made it free. I remember seeing some complaint about perhaps it not really being free because of...maybe it was in app purchases needed to make best use of it?