I will try my best to update my setup here as I go along.
In case you are new to Music Production:
- DAW: Digital Audio Workstation - a program you use for recording, editing and producing audio files (music-making)
- eg. FL Studio, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Reaper, Cubase
- Plugins: separate pieces of software that live inside a DAW, usually falling under two main types: effects and instruments
- effect plugins process audio, changing how the sound you run through them comes out sounding
- instrument plugins create sounds (synthesisers) or manipulate recorded audio samples
My DAWs
Ableton Live 12 (Currently Using)
- I love the interface so much
- it being basically a horizontal flip of Logic used to freak me out when I tried out the demo version a long time ago but I actually prefer it so much more now
- i especially love the effects rack being horizontal and so easy to look through at the bottom of my screen
- it is gorgeous to look at
- The stock plugins are genuinely so good
- i’ve been using the sampler a lot, and also a looooootttt of the saturator, overdrive, utility and delay just to name a few
Logic Pro
- Logic used to be my main DAW, I used it for about 4 years
- I think the interface is perfect for beginners
- really pleasant to look at
- easy to navigate
- the mixer view was pretty neat
- The stock plugins are pretty decent, and the Alchemy synth was actually pretty good for new producers
GarageBand
- Was my first main DAW on laptop
- Super easy to use, and basically allowed me to transition into using Logic pretty seamlessly
- Gets the job done
- At the very beginning of my music production days, I used to make music on the mobile version of Garageband together with my friend - pretty dang good
FL Studio
- Tried out the demo version for a bit before pirating Logic, wasn’t a fan of the interface
Reaper
- Tried this one out for a few days because it was widely-used among some Japanese artists I really liked
- Quite liked the aesthetic of it but I found the whole experience kinda clunky
My Plugins
Serum 2
- I’ve been using Serum since my Logic days - by far my favourite and the best
- I do need to stock back up on presets / just make the necessities on my own
FabFilter Total Bundle
- I mainly use the EQ and Compressor
- big fan of the aesthetics!
OTT
- OTT.
Massive
- I’m not sure if anyone still uses this anymore
- This was the first plugin I pirated after getting on Logic
- I really wanted to make dubstep growls
- I never got good at that
- I did make some neat saws and leads
- I don’t own it anymore, sad