What would be a good DAW for Live Orchestra tracking/recording besides Protools?

[GSO]

I've read fairly negative things about PT(learning curve, doesn't play nice with other Applications etc.)

what would be a good DAW for Live Orchestra tracking/recording besides Protools?

[JohnStacy]

For the most part, any good DAW will be good for this, provided it has the right features. Apple Logic, REAPER, and Cubase are all used to varying degrees. It's also dependent on how many mics you're using, what your interface/console options are, etc. If you're wanting to use a spot mic on every section, a decca tree, and hall mics, you're using something like 19-20 mics minimum. If all you have is an interface with 2 inputs, it isn't going to work. Alternatively, if you have the most awesome 64 input console ever, but only 2 mics, that obviously won't work. Even more, the amount of mics/inputs you have is completely irrelevant if you don't have a good connection. A lot of larger interfaces with more inputs use firewire connection, and some use other specialized connections. Most DAWs that are worth anything have the capability to process/record from many different inputs at the same time, provided everything on the input side of things is configured correctly.

I get a lot of hate when I say this in certain circles, but Protools (we affectionately call it proodles) is the industry standard BECAUSE it's the industry standard. For the most part, there's this huge complex around "GOTTA USE THE INDUSTRY STANDARD OR YOU AIN'T KNOW CRAP ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING." This is wrong. Even more so, the sentiment continues to Logic, Cubase, etc. If it functions well and does what you want it to do, it works.

Reaper is a perfectly functional DAW for what you want to do for $60. Logic is cheaper than it's ever been, but still highly functional.

[Argle]

Any DAW that's not expressly designed for electronic music/live performance.  Specifically Reaper because it's very cheap.

Edited May 2, 2019 by Argle

[thebitterroost]

On 5/2/2019 at 11:10 AM, Argle said:

Any DAW that's not expressly designed for electronic music/live performance.  Specifically Reaper because it's very cheap.

I'll second this. Not only because a Reaper license is very cheap, but because it is much more flexible than many older DAWs. The company provides a thorough set of video tutorials via its website/youtube, and once you've gotten the hang of it, its layout and command structure can be molded to emulate many others'.