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If you already own a certain DAW which runs smooth and stable and to which you are used to for several years, I'd stick with it. If you manage to get more into your DAW, figure out all the functions by studying your manual and trying out a lot of things, you might be able to compose, arrange, mix and master great soundtracks with nearly any DAW on the market out there. The last thing I would do is changing your DAW regularly after a few years just because of some brand-new features by other DAW developers. There are some general features you may have in all DAWs, and there are often some unique features in several DAWs. But you can also see that some those unique features tend to become general DAW features over the years. And you don't have to go for every upgrade of your DAW if you don't like or need the new content - I'm sure there will also be coming upgrades and developments of your DAW you will like again. If not - don't hesitate to write your DAW developers about the new things you like, you don't like and things you want to see improved (I also do it sometimes). I wouldn't go for 365 days or monthly offers from DAW companies because you are always kinda forced to get the newest content, the newest operating system and the newest hardware (if necessary). And I don't always want to set up a new PC with a new operating system after just a few years. If you don't mind to live several years in the technological past and rather making huge jumps after 10 to 15 years, you won't miss too much. But you can save lots of time, money and nerves. And in case of being a Windows user, you will have a lot more information of the private customer "Windows test subjects" who have made their early experiences with the latest program versions. ... But back to the DAW topic... So, if you already own Reason and you are used to it, stick with it. If you have questions on this DAW software, you could also ask the composer Thomas Mende. He works with Reason and he also composes some really good electronic video game remixes with this DAW made by the Swedish developers Propellerhead/Reason Studios: If you own Cubase and you are already used to it, stick with it. This famous DAW software was originally developed by Steinberg, a German developer which is in the hands of the well-known Japanese Yamaha corporation since around 2004. And these Japanese companies - especially Yamaha - develop lots of highly sophisticated technological products for musical purposes and they aim to improve their results continuously with their (for the Japanese society pretty famous) Kaizen concept over time. Even if you own FL Studio (Fruity Loops in the past - a DAW I really don't like because of the less intuitive access to the main functions) and you are already used to it, stick with it. When I tried this DAW for the first time without any manual, I really hated this DAW because of the kinda annoying pattern system and because I couldn't even manage to create a single empty MIDI object for hours. But if I remember correctly, even famous video game music composers like Zircon work with FL studio - and they compose outstanding soundtracks with this DAW in combination with some further 3rd-party VSTis, synths and VST plugins. ... But if you are a newcomer and still not bound to any DAW, you might have also a closer look a Samplitude Pro X Suite (definitely the Pro X Suite version because of the hugely enhanced content). For me, it was a really close race between Cubase and Samplitude back then - but in the end, Samplitude won my heart because of the really intuitive access to the main functions, the complexity and really huge content of the DAW (which you can use for quite every common music genre), the clarity and flexibilty of the interface and the really stylish black Carbon design you can choose in the settings: There is still a good video of this DAW which shows some of the content and functions of Samplitude Pro X (the first version of the Samplitude Pro X series) from around 10 years ago. And even back then, it already had an amazing content of high-quality metering devices, VST plugins, VST instruments and synths - even a sophisticated guitar and bass amp was (and still is) part of the enhanced Suite content: With the current Pro X7 Suite version, it got even more content. And I am still fine with Samplitude Pro X4 Suite. Many years ago, Samplitude Pro X Suite was around 1000 bucks for the first buy. But over the years, it went down to around 600 bucks, sometimes it's already around 400 bucks and during several special offers during the year it can be around 200 to 300 bucks, while upgrades are around 200 to 250 bucks. For the case you want to check out the features in detail, have a look at these links: https://www.magix.com/int/music/samplitude/pro-x/functions/ https://www.magix.com/int/music/samplitude/pro-x/version-comparison/#c1574623 ... If want to build up your studio environment, really take your time and inform yourself well about the stuff you want to go for before buying it. Never be in a hurry, because a huge amount of information and experiences can save a lot of money, time and nerves in the long term. Rather buy a drop of a product after bathing in an ocean of information than the other way around. I have built my home studio within a time of around 10 years, and aside from my electric guitar of choice, I'd say it was complete around two years ago, hardware-wise. If you save up some money for 1 or 2 two studio gear elements per year, it might not stress you too much in times of permanent financial crises and geopolitical changes. If you don't have any studio gear yet, I would buy the stuff in the following order: 1 - a good ergonomic office chair with adjustable headrest (a healthy and upright sitting position is a really good start before composing and mixing for several hours at once) 2 - a good DAW of your choice 3 - professional studio headphones like the Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro (with these you can compose and mix in a really accurate way) 4 - professional audio interface (increases your DAW performance and stability - especially when composing bigger tracks) 5 - a good allrounder MIDI keyboard with at least 49 synth action keys (synth action keys should not make any annoying noises compared to some MIDI keyboards with weighted/hammered keys), 8 drum pads, pitch wheel and mod wheel, a good amount of faders, buttons, knobs and editing/programming functions, together with some fitting pedals for your MIDI keyboard 6 - a professional studio microphone with a low noise floor like the Rode NT1 (if you want to use singing voices or instrumental microphone recordings in your musical projects), together with a good and stable microphone stand 7 - professional studio monitor speakers, which harmonize with your room conditions (speakers should rather be a little bit smaller than too big for your room), together with some fitting isolating studio monitor stands 8 - maybe a good compact studio subwoofer to enhance the frequency range of your speakers into the deeper bass range 9 - professional headphone amp (which will drive even high-impedance studio headphones in the best possible way to unleash their full potential) 10 - additional instruments, VST instruments, synths and VST plugins