DAWs

The latest version of Reason incorporates new arrangement tools and two powerful new instruments, and even lets you record samples. Meanwhile, sister application Record continues to develop too...

With the latest version of their unique object oriented DAW, Magix are targeting both mastering and recording engineers.

Acoustica's affordable DAW has acquired some significant new features, including video support, score editing and a fully fledged mixer. But has it retained its trademark ease of use?

Does the pro audio market need another digital audio workstation program? Harrison Consoles and Ardour believe the answer is yes...

Most of us are already committed to a DAW package. But if we were offered an alternative that was affordable, simple to use and ultra-reliable, would we switch? Presonus certainly hope so...

The latest version of MOTUs Mac sequencer has guitarists firmly in its sights, but there are plenty of general improvements too.

Image Lines popular sequencing package has evolved from a specialist tool into a DAW application with universal appeal.

Its not touted as version 9, but the list of improvements certainly makes this years upgrade to Cakewalks Sonar DAW a big deal.

Apple have made over 200 improvements to their flagship music production bundle. Can they win over new friends while keeping Logics core user base happy?

Its been a long time coming, but Propellerhead have finally unveiled their take on computer-based audio recording and mixing.

The idea of a truly portable DAW application has obvious appeal, especially when that application costs as little as EnergyXT. But can you really carry everything you need to make music on a USB Flash drive?

The latest major update to Reaper brings with it a complete overhaul of MIDI functionality, improved automation, and much, much more.

MOTUs BPM takes some obvious cues from Akais MPC range — but can a groovebox work in software?

The challenge was to add yet more features to Live without compromising its legendary ease of use. Have Ableton succeeded?

Acid Pro has always offered a fabulous environment for loop-based music creation, but version 7 sees it making a bid for fully fledged DAW status.

The first paid-for update to Cubase for two years introduces some major innovations for sequencing and composition, including integrated Melodyne-style pitch correction and editing.

As well as the new user interface, MIDI and score editors described in Part 1 of our review, Pro Tools 8 offers an impressive collection of instruments and plug-ins, new ways of working with Playlists, and even the option of surround mixing in LE.

As well as creating some excellent new plug-ins and making operational improvements, Cakewalk have been working hard to make Sonar 8 the most CPU-efficient version yet.

Eight is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture. Will this eighth version of Pro Tools bring prosperity to Digidesign, as they try to establish their world-leading recording and mixing application as a serious contender in the music-creation market?

I'm at a loss. I cannot get the EVOC PS vocoder to work in Logic Pro 7 on a Power Mac G5 with Mac OSX 10.4.11 — or with...

Since we first reviewed Cockos' shareware Reaper multitrack recording package, it has undergone hundreds of improvements — but the bargain asking price has barely changed.