Image-Line’s quirky, individualistic and unmistakably colorful FL Studio has gone from strength to strength since its initial 1997 release. As a DAW which has always offered usability, innovation, and functionality, FL Studio remains one of the world’s most popular music production programs.

Its modern developments have seen its professional user base grow to include headline names like the late great Avicii, Martin Garrix, Camo and Krooked, Deadmau5 and Afrojack.

The last version, FL Studio 12, wrapped up decades of software evolution from Fruity Loops – a simple drum and synth sequencing program to FL Studio – a professionally capable full-blown DAW.

The times are-a-changin once more, though, and Image-Line’s FL Studio 20 marks 20 years since the first Fruity Loops was released back in the late 90s. Let’s take a detailed look at where we are with the FL Studio line of DAWs and what changes FL Studio 20 brings to the table.

From Previous Version FL Studio 12…

Before the 20th version, FL Studio 12 was by far the strongest. It punctuated FL Studio’s evolution into a complex and scalable DAW that retained all the super-fast, easy to use and intuitive features that helped make it famous. FL Studio 12 tweaked the now-called Channel Rack, which is the window which houses a project’s instruments and samplers.

Fl Studio for Mac is real treat for amateur and professional music producers alike. Mac users have had to wait a long time but it's been well worth it as FL Studio for Mac delivers everything that has made it so successful on PC. 8/10 (294 votes) - Download FL Studio Mac Free. FL Studio is now on Mac with all the features that have turned it into one of the best DAWs that anyone who wants to create music could come across. FL Studio has always been one of the most popular and used tools to be able to write music on a.

The piano-roll also shared information automatically with the step-sequencer allowing for quicker editing of MIDI information. The Channel Rack handily displayed channel routings between virtual patches, switches for bypassing effects placed on inserts and other workflow tweaks.

Revamped Vector UI

FL Studio has always been visually quirky which has partly formed its reputation as a bit of an audio ‘toybox’. FL Studio 12’s revamped GUI featured pinpoint sharp vector graphics which look awesome no matter what monitor they’re displayed on – 1080p, 2k, 4k and beyond – they’ll always look great!

Alongside advancements in the aesthetics of the program, FL Studio 12 finally improved the ability to record, edit and mix audio, which was once a little more tricky is this sequencing-focussed DAW.

Bells, Whistles, Menus and Buttons

• FL Studio 12 made major menu changes which users will be more familiar with going into FL Studio 20. There are no-longer two separate windows for imported samples – simply click on any sample from the improved Channel Rack window and each parameter can be adjusted in a new and unique window.
• FL Studio 12 also streamlined browser and import functions which set the scene for FL Studio 20’s further workflow tweaks when dealing with audio files. You can drag and drop several audio clips from your PC or Mac and by dropping them directly into the playlist, FL Studio will automatically sort them into separate tracks which can be routed to the mixer outputs.

FL Studio 12 really reinforced Image-Line’s brand and many old users of Fruity Loops and FL Studio reportedly fell right back in love with their old favorite DAW. FL Studio 20 doesn’t just add Mac support to this powerful plethora of audio treats, though.

…Into FL Studio 20, the Latest Version of FL Studio

Landmark Mac Compatibility

Like many DAWs, FL Studio was originally built for windows – mac compatibility lagged behind and with each new version of FL Studio, Image-Line would suggest mac compatibility was ‘in the pipeline’. FL Studio 20 is finally fully Mac native with OS 10.11 and above.

No More Emulators!

That means no emulation, no wrappers for its major plugins and no other cross-compatibility issues with project files.

Mac compatibility has enabled FL Studio to tap in an entirely new base of users, as the Mac is the chosen weapon of choice amongst a growing number of existing and budding producers.

FL Studio 20 comes with a license for both PC and Mac and projects are cross-compatible. This is brilliant for those who travel with a Macbook and also own a Windows desktop, thus can produce music anywhere, on the best of both worlds.

Playlist changes

In FL Studio 20, it’s possible to create different versions of your playlist. You can essentially clone and edit as many playlists as you want. If you’ve finished a mix or composition but want to swap out some instruments, for example, then you can simply clone your arrangement and swap around instruments to experiment!

FL Studio 20’s Major Changes

Advanced Time Signature Support

• In support of FL Studios attempt to grow with professional audio recording outfits like Pro Tools and Ableton, FL Studio 20 now offers the same ability to create different time signatures throughout your arrangement.
• You can change time signature at any point along the timeline. This may see limited use amongst EDM producers but Djent producers, unite!

Rendering on the Fly

• FL Studio makes bouncing clips to audio super-easy. There comes a point in every project where the CPU cannot cope and things stop running smoothly – having a quick and easy method to ‘freeze’ or bounce clips is extremely useful.
• This means you can consolidate a track to audio, freeing up all of the inserts and instruments you used to create it. With FL Studio 20 you can render clips to audio in-situ and can choose whether to bounce a complete track or just a playlist clip selection.

Behind the Scenes Workflow Improvements

• I’m sure that FL Studio 20 brings a ton of fixes and minor changes which aren’t yet obvious but one major improvement is the rebuilt the Plugin Delay Compensation engine. This is part of Image-Line’s efforts to make FL Studio better in a more traditional studio setting when recording acoustic sources with microphones.
• Audio information is now displayed graphically in real-time and with updates across mixer sends, wet/dry FX and audio inputs, FL Studio 20 is much better at its predecessor when used as a more formal audio recording DAW when paired with external recording hardware.

Return of the Graph Editor

• Old FL Studio users will recognize this feature and now you can once again edit MIDI information from your Channel Rack.

Revamped Plugins

• Tons of FL Studio plugins have been tweaked and revamped to bring them in-line with the program’s other changes. It is worth noting that Image-Line is still working on bringing every plugin to Mac OS.
• Plugins currently in the alpha stage of development include: Sytrus, Edison, Harmless, Ogun, Maximus, Gross Beat, Slicex, Harmor and Vocodex.
• Those which are already available in OS X VST or Audio Unit (AU) format include Toxic BioHazard, Drumaxx, Hardcore, Poizone, Groove Machine, Sakura, Morphine and Sawer.

Conclusion

In general, advanced FL Studio 12 users aren’t going to notice many changes instantly but with time, new features like playlist duplication and in-situ bouncing will creep into your workflow and you’ll definitely notice that FL Studio 20 has revamped both in-the-box arrangement, composition and mixing and the recording audio with outboard gear. It’s another great product in the now-legendary line and FL Studio has proven it can keep its head well above the water in our rapidly advancing world of audio-tech.

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It is difficult, but not impossible, to determine what the best DAWs are. The digital audio workstation, or DAW, is crucial for making music. It is the main piece of music production software that a producer or musician uses to create music. It is where all the recording, mixing, and editing is done.

Some people have certain preferences when it comes to what DAW they use, and some DAWs are better for certain music genres than others. This post will help you determine what the best music production software is. Let’s take a look at some reviews of the best DAWs that are available in 2021.

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Here’s the best DAW music production software 2021:

1. Avid Pro Tools

The best overall DAW software

Pro Tools by Avid is probably one of the most well-known DAWs, and I would say it’s the best music production software overall. It’s an industry standard, mainly because it’s in the top music recording facilities in the world. It does not really have any fancy features that make it stand out over other DAWs, but somehow it remains the most popular.

There are three different versions of Pro Tools: Pro Tools First, Pro Tools, and Pro Tools Ultimate. Pro Tools is compatible with Windows and Mac, and will hold up to 128 audio tracks, 512 instrument tracks, and 1,024 MIDI tracks in one project.

Among Pro Tools’ features are loop recording, full mixing automation, MIDI and score editing, and cloud collaboration. Pro Tools has a bit of a learning curve but is easily navigable due to keyboard shortcuts and features like Quick Punch recording, which allows you to record with the touch of a button. It truly is top-quality music recording software.

Pro Tools also comes packed full with many virtual instruments, audio processors and plugins including EQs, reverbs, dynamics, and guitar amp emulators. The audio effects plugins are pretty good quality, but you may prefer other plugin suites like Waves or FabFilter over Pro Tools’ stock plugins.

Image credit: AvidCheck Sweetwater

Can be used for any genre. Easily navigable once you get the hang of it. Allows for multiple tracks in one project. Not great for live performance use. Has a learning curve.

Pro Tools is, in my opinion, the absolute best DAW software – a total beast! – and I highly recommend it for those of you who are intermediate or seasoned producers. A learning curve can be a bit steep and the amount of plugins and virtual instruments can be overwhelming to beginners. If you are learning, I suggest getting the free version and upgrading as you adapt to the DAW.

2. Apple Logic Pro X

The best DAW for Mac

Logic Pro X is Apple’s flagship DAW. Logic is actually one of the first DAWs I used when starting out, and it’s one that I still use to this day. Logic Pro X is very obviously only compatible with MacOS, sorry Windows users.

Logic features a ton of tools that are helpful for both beginners and advanced users. It offers smart tempo tools, a fair amount of plugins (including vintage EQs and reverbs, among other creative effects), Alchemy Synth, a large amount of virtual instruments and patches, an AI drummer, a large loop library, flex time/flex pitch, MIDI editing, automation, and multi touch mixing.

The editing tools in Logic Pro X are easier to use than the ones in Pro Tools, and the virtual instruments are decent sounding but it depends on the instrument as well. Logic Pro X can hold up to 1,000 tracks in one session, including stereo tracks, surround sound tracks, and instrument tracks.

Logic is good for live performance and it’s meant for creating many different genres. It is a very flexible DAW with a very small learning curve, especially if you are already familiar with Apple’s other DAW, GarageBand. If you like visual learning, Logic is a good choice as many of the plugins have a visualization so you can see how the compressors and EQs are working with your music.

Image credit: AppleCheck Apple

Large loop library and easy to use plugins. Integrated in-depth editing tools like flex time and pitch. Compatible with Apple devices only. Virtual instrument sound quality is hit or miss depending on the instrument being used.

Because of the extensive loop library, rich visual plugins, and instrument patches, Logic Pro X is a great DAW for people of any skill level. The very small learning curve makes it easy for anyone to jump right in. Logic Pro X is the best DAW for Mac by far.

3. Ableton Live

The best DAW for electronic music

Ableton Live is my personal favorite DAW. After using Logic Pro X and FL Studio for quite a while, I decided to give Ableton a try and now it is my main DAW. It’s compatible with Windows and Mac and allows you to have an unlimited amount of tracks in each project.

Ableton has two main screen layouts that do different things. Arrangement View is mainly meant for making songs in a studio and is going to be where you do all your editing, MIDI writing, and things like that. In Arrangement View, you will be able to organize your tracks in groups and by color and you can even save project file templates to open every time you have a new session.

Session View is meant for live sessions. In Session View you can queue different audio loops on the fly and tweak their sound. In Session View you will also find the mixer.

As for features, Ableton Live includes MIDI writing, audio recording, many audio plugins and effects (and for stock plugins, they are quite good), automation, and track freezing to free up RAM and CPU.

Ableton’s instrument plugins are electronic based, so you’ll find a lot of synthesizers and plugins that are geared towards creating electronic music. The synthesizers and operator plugins can be a bit tricky to figure out if you are new at it, but experimentation is key, and Ableton definitely promotes experimentation.

Ableton Live is definitely good for live performance and it’s good for many different genres, but definitely the best DAW for electronic music.

Image credit: AbletonCheck Sweetwater

Very in-depth audio track editing and extreme flexibility. Heavily promotes sound design. Easiest production software to organize tracks in.

I suggest Ableton Live for everyone, even beginners. Although there is a learning curve, it is such a powerful DAW and it’s really easy to use once you understand how it works. I recommend it especially for DJs and performers because it’s easily the best DAW for live performance. If you are a beginner and plan to use the synthesizers, I would suggest taking a free online course about synthesis. I would also encourage you to check out any tutorials available on YouTube.

4. Image Line FL Studio

The best DAW for hip-hop

FL Studio by Image Line is another good DAW that just keeps getting better. FL Studio is compatible with Mac and Windows and it is the best DAW for hip-hop. A lot of hip-hop and trap producers use it, especially those who you call ‘bedroom producers’.

FL Studio is quite flexible but harder to use if you need to be extremely precise when it comes to time stretching or chopping tracks, as it can get tricky, especially if you are switching between bar marker sizes in the playlist area.

FL Studio features a step sequencer (perfect for beat-making), up to 500 tracks in the playlist (main window), 125 mixer channels, 125 audio tracks, and automation, pitch shifting, time stretching, and beat chopping tools as well as a window to write in MIDI plus a window for the mixer.

It also has plugins and virtual instruments but they are honestly not very high-quality (although some of the effects plugins like Effector and GrossBeat are decent), so I would suggest that you use a third party suite for those things.

The DAW definitely has a learning curve, and it can get unorganized in the project if you don’t make organization a priority. It is a bit harder to navigate through because of the many smaller windows that open up inside the DAW, but if you have a big screen it will work best on that. If you don’t, it shouldn’t be too big of a problem as you can resize the windows and minimize them until you need to open them again.

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Editing tools made for slicing and chopping that you might find in hip hop beats. Decent for live performance. Easy to navigate through with keyboard shortcuts. Easy to become unorganized. Low-quality plugins and virtual instruments.

I would say leave FL Studio for the intermediate to advanced producers, but if you are a beginner and want to take a stab at it, make sure to watch tutorials. If you’re a hip-hop producer you will definitely want to use this DAW. A lot of bedroom producers start on FL Studio, so it’s not impossible to start out on FL, but I would personally suggest something a bit easier to navigate through first.

5. Cockos Reaper

The best DAW software for basics

Reaper is a very simple DAW that is capable enough to be a decent DAW for music production. Reaper is what I used when I first started wondering if music production was something I would be willing to get deeper into. For as simple and low-priced as Reaper is, it has a lot of features, and it’s compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.

Reaper offers audio and MIDI routing with support for multiple channels (and supports up to 64 audio tracks in a single project file), 64-bit audio processing, and the ability to import, record, and render to a lot of different media formats at high-quality sample rates.

Reaper is compatible with MIDI hardware as well as MIDI software, and also allows you to use thousands of 3rd party effect plugins and virtual instruments. If you don’t want to use 3rd party plugins, Reaper has some fair quality effects built in.

It also features plenty of things you would find in your normal DAW, especially for live performance use, including automation, grouping, modulation, oscillators, surround sound audio processing, support for control surfaces, and macros for fine-tuning with your hardware.

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Something else that is really great about Reaper is that it can be run from a flash drive because the files that comprise the software are small. This makes it portable and easy to use on any compatible computer.

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Image credit: Reaper by CockosCheck Reaper

Good for beginners/live performance use. Easily portable on a flash drive.

Reaper by Cockos is a great starting point for beginners, although I wouldn’t suggest staying with Reaper in the long run. It is more of a DAW to help you get from using bare-bones programs like Audacity to using something more polished like Pro Tools or Logic Pro.

6. Reason Studios Reason

The best DAW for synthesizer fans

If you are into analog synthesizers where you have to plug wires from one port to another among synths, you will enjoy Reason. /flute-samples-fl-studio-free.html. Reason is a Windows and Mac compatible DAW that is really focused on graphics and keeping an old school feel with its virtual instruments.

It is a virtual rack-based DAW with a multitrack sequencer, so it definitely provides you a digital version of a throwback to tape decks and analog equipment.

Reason features 5 synths, 3 beat instruments, 3 players, 7 sample-based instruments, and more than 20 plugins, effects, and rack extension devices. Reason also comes with over 3 GB of drum loops and samples if you are not interested in creating your own drum patterns. It also is compatible with 3rd party plugins and has plenty of factory soundbanks and patches.

Reason also allows you to have an unlimited amount of audio and instrument channels in a project. As for editing tools, it is capable of stretching audio in real-time as well as transposing, which makes it good for live performance use. It’s suitable for any genre but I’d say it’s the best DAW for EDM and electronic music.

Image credit: Reason StudiosCheck Sweetwater

Analog feel throughout the DAW. Analog style synthesizers that make it extremely fun to do sound design. Huge loop library if you don’t like sound design. Not particularly suited for beginners unless you’re already familiar with analog synthesis.

Reason by Reason Studios (formerly known as Propellerhead Software) is a really fun DAW that is best suited for intermediate and advanced producers and musicians who like to use analog synthesis, as well as hip-hop producers. As per usual, if you want to start learning music production with using it, watch tutorials. If you want a change of pace while still keeping things digital, try Reason.

7. Steinberg Cubase

The best DAW for Windows

Cubase by Steinberg is one of the best DAWs for Windows computers on the market. It is also compatible with Mac, is good for live performances, and you will easily be able to make any genre with it. Cubase is a great piece of software when it comes to recording audio, as it has some features geared especially towards recording.

Lane track comping allows you to choose the best parts from all your takes, so you can have a polished sound. There is a channel strip feature that integrates analog pre-amp emulators for tracks as well. Cubase also features some visual-rich plugins like a spectral comparison EQ and a multi tap delay, as well as a drum sequencer.

Other features include a MIDI composition window (with Retrospective MIDI Record), plenty of virtual instruments (analog emulators too), and Control Room that allows you to monitor your mix during live performances. Cubase allows you to have unlimited tracks in your project file so you can make big productions.

Image credit: SteinbergCheck Sweetwater

A good selection of analog emulators and digital plugins. Retrospective MIDI Record for times when you are playing but not recording. A lot of different windows in the program can cause it to feel cramped.

If you are looking for the best DAW for PC, then I highly recommend that you check out Cubase by Steinberg. It has everything you need whether you are a beginner or a pro, and the selection of plugins and instruments is balanced quite well. Anyone should be able to get the hang of Cubase quite easily.

8. PreSonus Studio One

The best DAW for song development

Studio One by PreSonus is one of the best-rated DAWs for PC out there. It is compatible with Windows and Mac and is good for all genres of music but not good for live performance use. The newest version of the software, Studio One 4, has a lot of high-quality features that assist with making your production efficient and fast, as well as help with developing chord progressions.

Studio One has similar page views to Ableton Live, a ‘project’ page and a ‘song’ page. The project page is where you do your arranging and mastering, and the song page is where you do your composing, editing, and mixing tracks. With the touch of a button you can switch between the pages so you can mix effortlessly.

Studio One also features Scratchpads, which allows you to A/B different arrangements of your song and rearrange its sections easily. Another top feature is Harmonic Editing, which enables you to test out and come up with interesting chord progressions as you compose.

Among other features of Studio One are MIDI composition, an easy to use mixer, the ability to group tracks, an unlimited amount of tracks in the project files, and several virtual instruments and audio effects plugins. The Pipeline XT plugin, for example, allows producers to use classic analog signal processors to change tonality of instruments.

Image credit: PreSonusCheck Sweetwater

Has some great features for chord progression development. Easy to go between pages for an efficient workflow. Does not have as many plugins or virtual instruments as other DAWs.

Studio One by PreSonus is a great piece of music making software. If you are a producer who struggles to arrange songs or come up with good chord progressions and melodies, I would most definitely recommend that you try Studio One.

Conclusion

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With all the different options for DAWs and how feature-packed they are, it can get overwhelming to choose one. I encourage you to experiment with multiple DAWs as they usually have a free trial period or a free, limited version for the ones you have to pay for. Make sure to test them out until finding one that best fits your needs and that you are able to work the most comfortably and efficiently in.

Please do not be afraid to use multiple DAWs as well. You can never use too many, and through trial and error, you may find that the set of music production software features you require are most effective across multiple DAWs.

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Jordan is a music producer, content creator, writer, and session musician. He has been producing music and engineering live performances for over 7 years. He is an experienced guitarist and enjoys listening to and playing many different genres of music.