So is there a "Sound Difference" between DAW's

[BushmasterM4]

Ive read, where some people say that if you load up the same tracks in different DAW's on the same PC, use the same hardware and monitors and press play, each will sound different. I find it hard to believe. Anyone ever do an actual test ? Its all digital. I can see where different hardware would effect the sound. But not software. Let me know if you know anything to back up such a claim.

[richiebee]

Panning law or summing theories would make manufacturers take a different approach to algorithms. Its unlikely the individual tracks would sound different on different DAW's, but the way they're summed might.

[BushmasterM4]

Makes since

[357mag]

There is no difference between DAW's. It's just a software sequencer. I've recorded in Adobe Audition, SAW Studio, Reaper, Sonar, and Ableton. They all sound equivalent. What determines sound is everything else you are using. Your hardware and musical gear.

[Electriclight]

When Cubase 4 was released they claimed it used the Nuendo audio engine which was better than the SX engine. Perhaps it was just the marketing hypnosis thing, but I thought it sounded just a tad more clear.

Saying "it's all digital" doesn't really explain how it becomes music. I can have a pile of 0's and 1's dropped on my desk...and then what? Obviously, the software has a role in making this stuff audio information. But I would agree that audio quality is probably not discernibly different between DAWs.

[bilco]

Don't even think about going down that rabbit hole. There are plenty of conversations about a shootout that was done at this site: 3D Audio Inc-Homepage that show that people do not hear the same thing at all and that the differences IF they are there, are so inconsequential they don't matter. I got caught up in that whole thread. It looked like Paris won, but not by any significant landslide.

Find a DAW that works for you in terms of your workflow and forget about the "My DAW's better than your DAW" arguments.

Concentrate on improving the performance going into the DAW.

bilco

[fortyseven]

Originally Posted by bilco

Concentrate on improving the performance going into the DAW.

I agree that this is where the difference will lie. Not in your choice of DAW.

[Renegade Studios]

No My Daw is better than Yours...!!!

lol

[Vulconizer]

Like the one hillbilly said to the other: My paw is meaner 'n yer paw. 'N drunker too!

[scooterlow]

I agree that its all in what you do with what you have. Its who's driving the car that makes it sound good or crappy. I used to use digital performer back in my Mac days. I couldn't afford to keep upgrading my Mac so I was forced to go PC. I started using Cubase when it was like 2.0. I thought it sucked compared to the digital performer. I finally realized that I needed to approach how I was recording a bit differently and get in tune with the new DAW. Now I go back and listen to stuff done on the Mac and go wow thats horrible. You just have to learn what works for you.