A new day, a new DAW.
Today I find myself enjoying a free DAW. If you didn’t know, DAW stands for digital audio workstation. But it’s really just an app that turns your computer into a music production machine. My philosophy is they’re all good and bad. They also change over time. The DAW I’m using called Logic Pro has run into some problems with me and recent updates. They seem to be doubling-down on AI elements at the precise time I am trying to move away from them. It’s been bothering me a while. Doing something about it today.
(Fast-forward a few days…)
It’s been refreshing. My only frustration is learning the location of things I need, some new macros, and habitually doing things I did in Logic Pro that don’t work in this environment. But my ears are very happy. And the newness is wearing off. I went to a lot of schools growing up. It’s always fresh in my mind for some reason. I’m not bitter about it now because I wonder if going to a bunch of schools taught me things that only going to one wouldn’t. I think changing up software feels a lot like changing schools. It’s not so bad if they don’t hold your ass back for it. Then it’s a drag. Changing software feels like that.
I do not feel bad about telling you to try this out.
I’m here to tell you if you need a free DAW that you can make music on that uses great vocabulary and doesn’t have many gimmicks at all, WaveForm Free is there. It’s only the first DAW I’m trying out. More to come. Working on a project of 20 songs. Want to try out new DAWs first.
Sold Out (with djembe).
Sold Out, Keri sings. I play guitars, djembe, and bass. Free on The Kintners Bandcamp. Personally, I love the vaudeville vibe. Have fun.
Announcement concerning The Kintners.
Keri and I have old songs we want to redo in our new music room. We also have new songs. So.. a double acoustic record is in the works. “The Kintners,” so far. Self-Titled. One album of old songs, one of new. Same session. Same set up. Cohesive. Definitive. Enjoyable, (hopefully).
Testing things out.
I have been playing with old tracks on new stuff. I mixed some new tracks with old ones too. It’s a little haphazard. But it also inspired the current project I’m all hopped up on goofballs about now. One thing software devs don’t want you to know, trying other brands of software will give you ideas even if you don’t switch. Developers I’ve come across in that area do not like “ideas.” It means “a lot of work” to them.
Happy to include material from old tracks in new DAWs. It’s not giving anything away other than you should maybe check out a free DAW sometime.
Princess Blues (demo)
Princess Blues (Demo) is a new silly vocal and 12 acoustic guitar tracks recorded on my digital recorder. I’ve been enjoying screenless tracking. I think I’m more dialed into sound if the TVs and Monitors are off completely. I want that. So I have to go back for it. Mixing is fine with a screen. But I don’t really enjoy playing guitar trying not to look at the lights. As a result, I kinda’ like 12 acoustics, played in unison. It was fun to scatter them around, but I went LCR (all the way Left, all the way Center, or all the way Right.. that’s it, no in-between) for panning. I learned there’s situations where 12 takes is indeed less mixing. Cool info.
This Ticket (2026)
This Ticket (2026) is comprised of a 6 string and 12 string acoustic guitars and me and Keri singing. That’s all. Break out the barstools. In the mix I tried to focus on sounding up close. Informal. But still good. Isn’t that that the goal? Simple but good, new motto.
Verdict:
I did both of these in WaveForm Free. My ears tell me I’m onto something. My reluctance to change and look around is likely stubbornness. Ears win.
I strongly encourage folks to experiment with new software. These developers win by making you think they are the only option. That’s branding, not coding. Let your ears determine what’s best for your sound, not a spiel. It turns out there’s no shortage of great DAWs out there. That’s vital to know! If we don’t know that, we’re likely a whale in the pocket of folks who’ve convinced us they’re what we need. No thanks!
Follow your nose, (or your stomach).
When I get crappy food, I don’t get that kind of food anymore. We should hold developers to the same standard. This is music. It’s important.
Caring is strength.
Should you find something questionable, or downright sinister about what you use and you’re in a position to look around, you’re doing everyone (not just yourself) a favor by voting with dollars and/or attention to competitors. That’s actually how “capitalism” works, or is supposed to work. You could say the corporations are out of hand with greed, but you could also say the population is out of hand with apathy. I think in order to “compete,” we should care about things. I’m starting with the software I use everyday.
Return home.
Collaboration?
I am really feeling the music lately. If you suspect you’d enjoy a collaboration of some sort with something I can do, I’m very keen to kick that up right now. Give me an email at [email protected]. Thanks!