Digital Audio Workplace Software

Axebane · August 13, 2017

Hey guys.

I have only recently been looking into creating, recording, and mixing my own songs, and am looking into purchasing either MIxcraft 8 or FL studio 12 to do so.

I have way more experience with mixcraft, but fl studio looks more versatile and expandable.

Which is best?

--thanks

noahdvs · August 16, 2017

I haven't used Mixcraft, but I love FL Studio. Image-Line, the company behind FL Studio, has treated me very well as a customer. FL Studio certainly is a lot more flexible when it comes to workflow since it doesn't lock you into a traditional track based workflow like other DAWs do. If you prefer the traditional workflow, it's sometimes extra work to use it in FL Studio, but if you like FL Studio's separation of patterns, channels, mixer tracks and playlist tracks, there's no substitute. FL Studio's piano roll is often considered the best in the industry. I've never seen another DAW that was equally easy for just getting started with trying out various ideas. Then there's the free updates for life, but that's more like icing on the cake. The plugins included by default are very good and Image-Line sells some unique and powerful plugins as well. Harmor is my favorite. It's one of the few synths where you can start doing random things and usually end up with a cool sound you can use later.

Just FYI, Image-Line has great sales around Christmas and you also get a discount on your birthday. The Signature Bundle is really worth getting, but you lose nothing by working your way up if you need to spread out the cost over time. The Fruity edition is $100, Producer is $200 and Signature is $300. An upgrade to the next edition up is $100 or $200 if you go from Fruity to Signature.