The Best DAW to Record Vocals | 2022 Comparison
“What is the best DAW to record vocals?”
A DAW or “Digital Audio Workstation” is any digital software or device that allows you to record, edit and compose audio tracks.
Rewind 20 years, and it was almost absurd to imagine creating an album without hiring a studio and a record producer.
Nowadays, anyone with merely a laptop and a cracked version of FL Studio could technically create a chart-topping album without ever leaving their bedroom. The rapid advancement of music technology and production mechanics has revolutionised the way music can be created, and it isn’t slowing down any time soon.
When choosing a DAW, you might be looking to focus your production around recording vocals. Or you just want a DAW that is fast and effective when it comes to getting those vocals down.
Below we will look at the best DAW to record vocals, in any genre.
The best DAW to record vocals
Sound Quality
Firstly, it’s important to note the DAW that you choose has absolutely no effect on the quality of a recording.
If you have a decent audio interface, and a good mic setup, the quality of your vocal recording will be virtually identical across any DAW. When recording audio into a DAW, you have unmodified input as the starting point.
When it comes to choosing the best DAW to record vocals, it may come down to the efficiency and design of the DAWs interface.
DAW Interface / Design
Our top pick: Pro Tools
When it comes to the best designed interface for recording vocals, Pro Tools definitely stands out.
I have used most major DAWs extensively, including FL Studio, Ableton, Pro Tools, Logic, Reaper, the list goes on…
None of these DAWs have the speed and fluidity of Pro Tools when it comes to recording vocals.
It also has an extremely nifty comping feature so you can record continuously into different “takes” and then easily choose your favourite take from a simple drop down menu.
Some other DAWs have this comping feature, but none are as intuitive and easy to use as Pro Tools.
How do other DAWs compare?
FL Studio: FL Studio was first DAW I ever used, and is probably still my main DAW. However, I’ve always found the recording process a little more complicated than it needs to be.
In the early days of FL Studio, audio recording wasn’t even an option.
Since then Image Line have massively improved the audio recording functionality of FL Studio, but in my opinion it still has a long way to go.
Once you get a hang of the recording process (whether you record directly onto the playlist, or into the audio recording plugin: Edison), it is reasonably efficient to record and edit vocals. But it takes a little getting used to.
Ableton: Ableton is great for recording vocals, but is definitely still better suited to the production and editing side, rather than recording.
In Ableton, you can record vocals in either the arrangement and session view. Also, recording into more than one track at once is extremely simple. Ableton has a great I/O system allowing for simultaneous recording from multiple inputs at once.
Logic Pro X: Logic is also exceptional when it comes to recording vocals. It has a fairly similar design to Pro Tools, and is also a great pick for when it comes to producing professional sounding vocals.
The best DAW overall?
The argument of which DAW is the “best” is a heated one.
But ultimately, there is no definitive answer.
Each DAW has it’s own individual strengths and weaknesses, and is better suited to different types of production or composition.
For example, the best DAW for beatmaking is probably FL Studio or Ableton.
These DAWs are generally speaking better designed for electronic, hip hop, or any loop-based styles of production.
On the other hand, for composition and scoring, DAWs such as Logic or Cubase are probably better suited.
Depending on the genre of music you’re looking to produce, vocal recording may either be an occasional process, or the backbone of your music production. Producing genres such as rock or hip hop will rely on being able to quickly and effectively record high quality vocals. Whereas genres such as house sometimes rely solely on VST instruments and MIDI sequences.
Every DAW can record fantastic sounding vocals. It all comes down to which one you feel the most comfortable with, and which you naturally gravitate towards.