Anybody who's anybody records on Digidesign's Pro Tools, or so most studios would have a band believe. But what's a band to do when the only options are record on a 4-track, or spend, in most places, a minimum $45 an hour or more--and we mean much more--for the Pro Tools treatment? Some studios have been known to charge up to $200+ for work, but that isn't the norm.
Pro Tools Is The Industry Standard For Digital Recording
So, Pro Tools is the standard for the industry. Yes, Digidesign, the software's creator, made a great product, and yes, it definitely packs features that other DAW suites don't have. But, it comes with one thing that most small-time engineers and producers could do without: the price tag.
Having a standard Pro Tools setup can cost several hundred, even several thousand, dollars. And not everybody has the kind of money after buying good microphones, sound-proofing, boom stands, pop-shields, and headphones.
Free, Open Source Digital Recording And Editing With Audacity
Almost everybody involved in the recording industry has heard of Audacity, the free audio editor with multitrack capabilities. It offers basic editing, mixing, and even supports LADSPA plugins, with an optional interface to load Windows and Mac based VST plugins as well. Audacity is a cross-platform program that runs on Mac OS X, Windows, and GNU/Linux.
The program is extremely easy to install, navigate, and use for recordings whether they're demos and home recordings, or professional-quality mixes. Audacity supports recording in 16 channels at one time, but to do so users will need multi-channel hardware; a requirement all of the programs listed.
As an alternative to buying a mixing board capable of multi-channel recording, Audacity is capable of dubbing over an already-existing audio track. So, instead of arming one channel and leaving the others unarmed, users are able to record several separate pieces, at different times, on one track. It may not be ideal, but Audacity does allow would-be engineers to cut some major costs if they choose.
Mac and Linux Based Digital Audio Production With Ardour
Released under GPL, Ardour is available for OS X and Linux users, but isn't entirely free. The software is available to download at no cost, but users forgo the ability to save plugin settings, or use plugin presets. So unless experimenting with settings to get the perfect sound, and writing those settings down for future use, isn't an issue, the paid version is available using a "name your own price" setup.
The interface is slick, responsive, and (like Audacity) offers unlimited undo. The only major downside to Ardour is the lack of a Windows version, but that can be overlooked considering the amount of software already available to that particular OS.
Ardour's support of Windows-based VST plugins is a major selling point, as is it's library of over 200 LADSPA and LV2 plugins that are freely available. The ability to utilize an unlimited number of tracks can also be considered a boon to Mac and Linux users interested in trying the program. And Ardour's support of AudioUnit plugins makes it a definite favorite for engineers running an Apple OS.
Free Java-based Recording With Frinika
Another Open Source project, Frinika offers sequencers, samplers, MIDI-support, softsynths, and more. The program runs on a Java platform, so as long as the user has Java installed on their system they should be good to go. Not quite as robust as the other entries here, Frinika isn't meant to be a power-house like Pro Tools, but a lightweight, free alternative that should fit most users needs.
With the ability to use Java with the software's built-in scripting tools, Frinika attains a level of personalization not found in the others on the list. However, even with the ability to alter nearly every facet of the software, most users will find it lacking when compared to similar digital audio workstations. It is still quite a nice tool, though, and may be enough for some.
Frinika may not be as user-friendly, or versatile, as Ardour or Audacity, but code-savvy users fluent in Java, or willing to learn, will be treated to an extremely expandable audio suite with wonderful cross-platform capabilities. And while it may not have all the bells and whistles as Pro Tools, Frinika most certainly has its uses.
Can Pro Tools Be Replaced As The Industry Standard?
While Digidesign's baby isn't going anywhere anytime soon, it's hard to determine who the next major player in the Digital Audio Workstation-world will be. With hundreds of contenders, from open source software to commercial products like Adobe Audition, Pro Tools may not always be king-of-the-hill. Some are already calling for a change, while others still believe Pro Tools can never be replaced. Whatever the outcome, we hope the music sounds good.
Charles Zuspan - I am an avid Mac-user, nerd, musician, freelancer, and gamer. Ask me about my collection of M:TG cards! I've also got a horrible habit ...
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