Tracktion is a commercial audio workstation for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It has dozens of great features and is perfect for composing music, editing audio and using in a sound production environment.
In this post, we will be going over how to set up the program on Linux. Specifically, on Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux, and Fedora.
The Tracktion T7 DAW is available to download for free from the Tracktion Software website. Installer packages are provided for Windows, with standalone builds available for Mac and Linux. Although the app is free to download and use you will need to surrender a (valid) e-mail address and create a user account in order to get it. Tracktion 6 (Windows/Mac/Linux) Overall Best DAW for beginners This DAW was released as a.
Ubuntu installation instructions
Tracktion T5 is the latest new free DAW to get released. It used to be paid software but now it replaces T4 as the free version of Tracktion. The free T5 DAW works with Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, and it's available in 32 and 64 bit.
Version 7 of Tracktion is easy to install on Ubuntu Linux, via a downloadable DEB package file. It doesn't explicitly say on the website, but generally, we expect that the program is targeting Ubuntu 16.04 and newer. To get the app working on Ubuntu, follow the step-by-step instructions below.
Step 1: Tracktion isn't open source software, so it's not possible to quickly download without needing to worry about anything. Instead, if you want to use this program on Ubuntu, you must create an account. Head over to this link here and register for an account on the website. Be sure to use the Strongpasswordgenerator.com tool when you create your account, for security purposes.
Step 2: When you've finished registering an account on the website, you'll see three operating system logos appear. These logos are Mac, Windows, and Linux. Click on the download link for the Linux one, and the DEB package for Tracktion should automatically start downloading.
‘); if (navigator.appVersion.indexOf('Mac')!=-1) document.write(');
Step 3: Let the Tracktion DEB package download. After the download is complete, open up the file manager on your Linux desktop, locate the 'Downloads' folder and double-click on the Tracktion DEB package to launch it in the Ubuntu Software Center.
The Adobe Creative Suite 2 logoThe first version of Adobe Creative Suite was released in September 2003 and Creative Suite 2 in April 2005. The Adobe Creative Suite 3 logoAdobe Creative Suite 3 (CS3) was announced on March 27, 2007; it introduced for all major programs for the, as well as including all of the core applications from Macromedia Studio and Production Studio.Some Creative Suite programs also began using the used in the.Adobe began selling CS3 applications in six different combinations called 'editions.' Adobe creative suite 4 master collection for mac os.
Step 4: Ubuntu Software Center will load up the Tracktion Audio Workstation package inside it. From here, click the 'Install' button, enter your password and allow it to install to the system.
Terminal instructions for Ubuntu
Don't want to use Ubuntu Software Center to install Tracktion? Open up a terminal and enter the following commands.
Debian installation instructions
While Debian Linux likely isn't the target for the Tracktion Audio Workstation (as the developers main Linux focus is Ubuntu), it'll run on it just fine. To get it working, go to the official Tracktion website. When you're there, click on 'products,' then 'DAW,' then 'T7 DAW' to get to the free app that has Linux support.
After selecting the 'T7 Daw' page, you'll be prompted to register a free account on the website. Do so. Making a new account is critical, as you'll need it to use the program.
Tracktion For Mac Shortcut
Note: when making an account on the website, be sure to use Strongpasswordgenerator.com to secure your account. Opera for mac os.
When you finish the registration process on the website, three OS logos will appear. These OS logos are Mac, Windows, and Linux. Click on the download link under the Linux icon, to get the latest DEB of Tracktion for Linux.
Now that Tracktion is done downloading, open up the Linux file manager, click on 'Downloads' and locate the DEB package. Double-click on the file to open it up with the Debian package installation tool.
Use the package installation tool to get Tracktion set up on Debian.
Tracktion For Mac Software
Terminal instructions for Debian
If you don't want to set up Tracktion on Debian with a graphical package installation tool, follow these terminal commands instead.
Arch Linux installation instructions
Looking to use Tracktion on Arch Linux? You'll need to build it via the unofficial AUR package. To get the AUR working, follow the step-by-step instructions below.
Step 1: Install Git and the Base-devel packages to your computer using the Pacman packaging tool.
Step 2: Using the Git command, clone the latest AUR snapshot of Tracktion 7.
Step 3: Move the terminal session into the 't7-daw' folder with the CD command.
Step 4: Once you're inside the t7-daw folder, you'll be able to use the makepkg Mac os for amd processor. command to download the DEB package file, decompile it, etc.
Installing Tracktion on Arch Linux is iffy, as the program doesn't officially support it. Be sure to check with the official AUR page and read the comments if you run into issues setting it up. Also, if dependency errors occur during installation, download the dependencies manually on the AUR page under the 'Dependencies' section.
Fedora installation instructions
Fedora Linux doesn't have an AUR, and there's no RPM available for Tracktion 7, so if you want to use it, you must manually decompile the DEB package.
Note: we can confirm that Tracktion works on Fedora 29 though, be warned that it may not work for you.
To get Tracktion working on your Fedora Linux PC, open up a terminal and follow the step-by-step guide below.
Step 1: Install the needed dependencies for Tracktion to run.
Step 2: Go to the Tracktion website and create an account. Then, locate the 'Linux' logo and download the DEB package to Fedora.
Step 3: Set up Alien on your computer by following this guide. Then, convert the DEB package to a TarGZ file with alien -tvc.
Step 4: Extract the TGZ that Alien generated with the Tar command.
Step 5: Move the terminal into 'tracktion7' with CD, and use rsync to install the program.
Music Production Software For Mac OS, Windows & Linux- DAWs >DAW (Other)
Grab Some Air
As indicated earlier, even Waveform Basic is now offered with a very respectable collection of effects plug-ins. The Artisan Collection contains over 60 individual plug-ins covering EQ, dynamics, distortion, modulation, delay, reverb, emulation, stereo imaging and filters. The ethos is simplicity and functionality, and they do a very solid job with a minimum of fuss.
Somewhat more highly specified is Master Mix. Intended to sit on your master output bus, this provides a sophisticated combination of eight-band EQ and three-band dynamics with plenty of user control, making it a very respectable offering for DIY mastering.
Waveform also bundles two third-party pitch-correction options. Auto-Tune Access, the baby of the Antares family (reviewed in SOS April 2019) is included alongside Celemony's Melodyne Essential. Considering that the combined price of these two plug-ins from their host manufacturers is $198, the fact that they are included in Waveform Basic at $129 must be considered a bit of a bargain. Either way, whether for basic pitch correction, or T‑Pain-style creative effects, you have what you need to get started.
If all the above wasn't quite enough, the Waveform Standard edition I had available for review also includes the DAW Essentials Collection, a bundle of 16 of Tracktion's own more upmarket plug-ins. They offer AU, AAX and VST support so can be used in other hosts and, again, cover EQ, compression, reverb, various delays, an interesting crossover filter that allows you to separate audio into various frequency bands for downstream processing, limiting, a gate/expander, ducking, a bit crusher, chorus, phaser, a very nice auto-filter and a very usable bus compressor. The visuals are clean and modern and the control sets offer plenty of additional options over and above those found in the Artisan Collection.
Waveform also comes populated with some impressive virtual instruments. As well as the previously mentioned Multi-Sampler and the Collective instrument, both of which are good in their own right, the highlight addition for v10 is Subtractive, a full-blown virtual analogue synth. Subtractive is quite a beast. Four oscillators are available, each offering multiple waveform choices, while dual filters, EQ, drive and an amp section allow you to shape the sound further. Comprehensive modulation options are also included, with four LFOs and four envelopes. The feature set is rounded out by a four-slot effects section and a very cool arpeggiator. And, if you don't initially want to get your head around the programming options, you can always get plenty of mileage by tweaking your way through the impressive collection of presets. It is very easy to find convincing analogue-esque sounds in a Stranger Things vein as well as lots of sounds suitable for modern EDM.
I didn't find Subtractive overly CPU-intensive, but if resources are an issue, the 4OSC synth is another four-oscillator synth that is somewhat lighter in both features and CPU demands. Don't dismiss it as a poor relative, because 4OSC can create some great sounds and is perhaps easier for those without a PhD in synth programming to get their heads around.
Distant Drums
The new Drum Sampler provides an excellent feature set for building your own sample-based drum kits.One obvious omission from the initial release of Waveform 10 was a dedicated virtual drum instrument. However, just as this review was going to press, Tracktion released the 10.2.0 update which added the Drum Sampler. This adopts a typical 4x4 virtual drum pad approach; it is only supplied with two simple example kits, based upon 808- and 909-style sample sets, but users can drag and drop samples into the instrument to build their own custom kits. Both round-robin and velocity-based sample playback with multiple samples on a single pad are supported, and I was easily able to build a decent acoustic drum kit from some suitable raw samples. The engine shares features with the Multi-Sampler and is also nicely integrated into Waveform's MIDI editing. No, it's not Superior Drummer 3 but, in terms of plugging a further plug-in gap, Drum Sampler is great to see.
Also included with my Waveform Standard edition package was BioTek 2, available to buy separately as a separate AU/AAX/VST instrument at $199. Tracktion describe BioTek 2 as an 'organic synthesizer'. The engine combines several forms of synthesis, including granular synthesis, and the oscillator sound sources can draw upon a collection of supplied samples derived from nature as well as user-loaded samples. In addition to deep programming options, there is also a more user-friendly macro-level screen called the Wild screen for top-level editing. Sonically, there is some truly inspirational stuff here and BioTek 2 is something both electronic music producers and media composers could get a lot of use out of.
Included with the Waveform Standard edition, BioTek 2 is deep, but the Wild tab provides easy-to-use macro-level editing.
Tracktion For Mac
Going Retro
Tracktion also have other virtual instrument offerings available for purchase, and one, the RetroMods Collection, was supplied to me as part of the review package. This is actually five separate instruments called LoFreq Classic, LoFreq Modern, Lead, 106 and Fat, based on iconic classic hardware synthesizers that most of us can't afford. In each case, a synth-based engine is applied to sampled waveforms as in IK Multimedia's Syntronik. The selection of instruments sampled to create RetroMods' sounds include the Oberheim SEM, Korg MS20, Roland TB303, SH101 and CMU-810, ARP Odyssey, Waldorf Pulse, Clavia Nord Lead and Nord Drum, various Roland Junos, various Moogs and, just for good measure, a few 'modern classics' such as the Novation Bass Station, Arturia MiniBrute and Behringer Model D.
Purchased individually, each RetroMods instrument is in the $49-79 range, but there are considerable savings to be made if you build a custom bundle. If you don't already own a collection of emulated 'classic' synth sounds, RetroMods sounds great and is a very creditable candidate to plug that gap.
Gaining Tracktion?
While I've used Tracktion's software before, during the first stage of the review process I felt exactly the same sense of disorientation that any user might when displaced from their usual DAW/sequencer of choice (in my case, Cubase Pro 10). But, by the end of my review work, for all the usual core recording, editing and mixing tasks, I was most certainly beginning to feel very comfortable. Fluent? Well, perhaps not. A power user? No, not that either, but familiar enough to see that this is a very deep piece of software that's more than capable of handling the technical elements needed to record, edit and mix almost any sort of musical project.
Significantly, perhaps the major reservation I felt when reviewing Tracktion 6 back in 2015 — namely, the limited range of effects and virtual instruments included — has now been comprehensively addressed. At $119, even the Waveform Basic package is a heck of a lot of software for a pretty modest price. It's also worth emphasising that, aside from the single plug-in-related crash mentioned earlier, I experienced no technical issues, and Waveform played nicely with a range of third-party effects and virtual instruments (including Kontakt).
So how does Waveform 10 stand up to the competition? In the world of 'budget' DAWs/sequencers, the most obvious comparison used to be with Reaper, which starts at $60 for a non-commercial licence. Reaper has become a popular choice but is very different in ethos, being endlessly customisable and possessing features such as notation and surround support, which aren't in Waveform. On the flip side, it has nothing to compare with Waveform's now- impressive crop of virtual instruments.
The starting price for Waveform 10 puts it closer to something like Cubase Elements 10, which also features a decent selection of plug-ins and instruments. These include Groove Agent SE5 which, as supplied, is a bit less 'bare bones' than Waveform's new Drum Sampler and includes an impressive collection of presets. However, Cubase Elements 10 has some feature limitations in terms of track count and, in particular, audio editing features such as audio warping, quantising and multi-take comping. Whichever Waveform bundle you opt for, Waveform itself is the full version; the only differences are in the suite of extras included.
It will be a challenge for Tracktion to make greater traction into the DAW marketplace, needing to compete for new users with high-profile brands, and to overcome the inertia that disinclines established users of other products to switch. Jumping ship is a pretty big step, particularly in a commercial working environment where time always means money. However, if my own experience with Waveform 10 is anything to go by, the quality of the software itself is most certainly not an issue. Waveform 10 is a seriously good DAW that deserves genuine consideration alongside the very best. The workflow, albeit unconventional in some respects, is both efficient and flexible, the feature set is rich and, in its current incarnation, the effects and virtual instruments included make it a comprehensive and impressive starting point. My own DAW inertia is as strong as anyone's but, if I was in a position where I had to start from scratch, I'd have no doubts that Waveform 10 could meet my own personal needs.
Disaster Plan
Tracktion acknowledge that no program hosting third-party plug-ins can guarantee stability, so they provide Waveform 10 with built-in crash mitigation. This is a kind of auto-save on steroids: it's transparent to the user, but in the background, virtually every adjustment you make to your edit (project) is saved. If the software does go belly-up, in theory, you should be able to get back to exactly where you were with no loss of work.
Throughout the review period I only got one chance to test this out when loading a third-party virtual instrument for the first time caused Waveform to crash. As advertised, the recovery process was seamless, leaving me exactly where I had been immediately before the crash occurred. After I installed an update to the plug-in concerned, Waveform then allowed me to load it without any further problems. Crashes are a fact of life, and Waveform's elegant handling of them is a reassuring feature.
Pros
- Sophisticated feature set.
- Comprehensive range of effects plug-ins even in Waveform Basic.
- Some excellent virtual instruments are included.
Cons
- Drum Sampler could do with some additional presets.
- No notation features.
Summary
If Waveform is ever to become a mainstream DAW, version 10 might be the one that achieves this. This is a feature-rich music production environment and, despite a modest rise in the price of entry, it represents great value.
information
The Tracktion T7 DAW is available to download for free from the Tracktion Software website. Installer packages are provided for Windows, with standalone builds available for Mac and Linux. Although the app is free to download and use you will need to surrender a (valid) e-mail address and create a user account in order to get it. Tracktion 6 (Windows/Mac/Linux) Overall Best DAW for beginners This DAW was released as a.
Ubuntu installation instructions
Tracktion T5 is the latest new free DAW to get released. It used to be paid software but now it replaces T4 as the free version of Tracktion. The free T5 DAW works with Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, and it's available in 32 and 64 bit.
Version 7 of Tracktion is easy to install on Ubuntu Linux, via a downloadable DEB package file. It doesn't explicitly say on the website, but generally, we expect that the program is targeting Ubuntu 16.04 and newer. To get the app working on Ubuntu, follow the step-by-step instructions below.
Step 1: Tracktion isn't open source software, so it's not possible to quickly download without needing to worry about anything. Instead, if you want to use this program on Ubuntu, you must create an account. Head over to this link here and register for an account on the website. Be sure to use the Strongpasswordgenerator.com tool when you create your account, for security purposes.
Step 2: When you've finished registering an account on the website, you'll see three operating system logos appear. These logos are Mac, Windows, and Linux. Click on the download link for the Linux one, and the DEB package for Tracktion should automatically start downloading.
‘); if (navigator.appVersion.indexOf('Mac')!=-1) document.write(');
Step 3: Let the Tracktion DEB package download. After the download is complete, open up the file manager on your Linux desktop, locate the 'Downloads' folder and double-click on the Tracktion DEB package to launch it in the Ubuntu Software Center.
The Adobe Creative Suite 2 logoThe first version of Adobe Creative Suite was released in September 2003 and Creative Suite 2 in April 2005. The Adobe Creative Suite 3 logoAdobe Creative Suite 3 (CS3) was announced on March 27, 2007; it introduced for all major programs for the, as well as including all of the core applications from Macromedia Studio and Production Studio.Some Creative Suite programs also began using the used in the.Adobe began selling CS3 applications in six different combinations called 'editions.' Adobe creative suite 4 master collection for mac os.
Step 4: Ubuntu Software Center will load up the Tracktion Audio Workstation package inside it. From here, click the 'Install' button, enter your password and allow it to install to the system.
Terminal instructions for Ubuntu
Don't want to use Ubuntu Software Center to install Tracktion? Open up a terminal and enter the following commands.
Debian installation instructions
While Debian Linux likely isn't the target for the Tracktion Audio Workstation (as the developers main Linux focus is Ubuntu), it'll run on it just fine. To get it working, go to the official Tracktion website. When you're there, click on 'products,' then 'DAW,' then 'T7 DAW' to get to the free app that has Linux support.
After selecting the 'T7 Daw' page, you'll be prompted to register a free account on the website. Do so. Making a new account is critical, as you'll need it to use the program.
Tracktion For Mac Shortcut
Note: when making an account on the website, be sure to use Strongpasswordgenerator.com to secure your account. Opera for mac os.
When you finish the registration process on the website, three OS logos will appear. These OS logos are Mac, Windows, and Linux. Click on the download link under the Linux icon, to get the latest DEB of Tracktion for Linux.
Now that Tracktion is done downloading, open up the Linux file manager, click on 'Downloads' and locate the DEB package. Double-click on the file to open it up with the Debian package installation tool.
Use the package installation tool to get Tracktion set up on Debian.
Tracktion For Mac Software
Terminal instructions for Debian
If you don't want to set up Tracktion on Debian with a graphical package installation tool, follow these terminal commands instead.
Arch Linux installation instructions
Looking to use Tracktion on Arch Linux? You'll need to build it via the unofficial AUR package. To get the AUR working, follow the step-by-step instructions below.
Step 1: Install Git and the Base-devel packages to your computer using the Pacman packaging tool.
Step 2: Using the Git command, clone the latest AUR snapshot of Tracktion 7.
Step 3: Move the terminal session into the 't7-daw' folder with the CD command.
Step 4: Once you're inside the t7-daw folder, you'll be able to use the makepkg Mac os for amd processor. command to download the DEB package file, decompile it, etc.
Installing Tracktion on Arch Linux is iffy, as the program doesn't officially support it. Be sure to check with the official AUR page and read the comments if you run into issues setting it up. Also, if dependency errors occur during installation, download the dependencies manually on the AUR page under the 'Dependencies' section.
Fedora installation instructions
Fedora Linux doesn't have an AUR, and there's no RPM available for Tracktion 7, so if you want to use it, you must manually decompile the DEB package.
Note: we can confirm that Tracktion works on Fedora 29 though, be warned that it may not work for you.
To get Tracktion working on your Fedora Linux PC, open up a terminal and follow the step-by-step guide below.
Step 1: Install the needed dependencies for Tracktion to run.
Step 2: Go to the Tracktion website and create an account. Then, locate the 'Linux' logo and download the DEB package to Fedora.
Step 3: Set up Alien on your computer by following this guide. Then, convert the DEB package to a TarGZ file with alien -tvc.
Step 4: Extract the TGZ that Alien generated with the Tar command.
Step 5: Move the terminal into 'tracktion7' with CD, and use rsync to install the program.
Music Production Software For Mac OS, Windows & Linux- DAWs >DAW (Other)
Grab Some Air
As indicated earlier, even Waveform Basic is now offered with a very respectable collection of effects plug-ins. The Artisan Collection contains over 60 individual plug-ins covering EQ, dynamics, distortion, modulation, delay, reverb, emulation, stereo imaging and filters. The ethos is simplicity and functionality, and they do a very solid job with a minimum of fuss.
Somewhat more highly specified is Master Mix. Intended to sit on your master output bus, this provides a sophisticated combination of eight-band EQ and three-band dynamics with plenty of user control, making it a very respectable offering for DIY mastering.
Waveform also bundles two third-party pitch-correction options. Auto-Tune Access, the baby of the Antares family (reviewed in SOS April 2019) is included alongside Celemony's Melodyne Essential. Considering that the combined price of these two plug-ins from their host manufacturers is $198, the fact that they are included in Waveform Basic at $129 must be considered a bit of a bargain. Either way, whether for basic pitch correction, or T‑Pain-style creative effects, you have what you need to get started.
If all the above wasn't quite enough, the Waveform Standard edition I had available for review also includes the DAW Essentials Collection, a bundle of 16 of Tracktion's own more upmarket plug-ins. They offer AU, AAX and VST support so can be used in other hosts and, again, cover EQ, compression, reverb, various delays, an interesting crossover filter that allows you to separate audio into various frequency bands for downstream processing, limiting, a gate/expander, ducking, a bit crusher, chorus, phaser, a very nice auto-filter and a very usable bus compressor. The visuals are clean and modern and the control sets offer plenty of additional options over and above those found in the Artisan Collection.
Waveform also comes populated with some impressive virtual instruments. As well as the previously mentioned Multi-Sampler and the Collective instrument, both of which are good in their own right, the highlight addition for v10 is Subtractive, a full-blown virtual analogue synth. Subtractive is quite a beast. Four oscillators are available, each offering multiple waveform choices, while dual filters, EQ, drive and an amp section allow you to shape the sound further. Comprehensive modulation options are also included, with four LFOs and four envelopes. The feature set is rounded out by a four-slot effects section and a very cool arpeggiator. And, if you don't initially want to get your head around the programming options, you can always get plenty of mileage by tweaking your way through the impressive collection of presets. It is very easy to find convincing analogue-esque sounds in a Stranger Things vein as well as lots of sounds suitable for modern EDM.
I didn't find Subtractive overly CPU-intensive, but if resources are an issue, the 4OSC synth is another four-oscillator synth that is somewhat lighter in both features and CPU demands. Don't dismiss it as a poor relative, because 4OSC can create some great sounds and is perhaps easier for those without a PhD in synth programming to get their heads around.
Distant Drums
The new Drum Sampler provides an excellent feature set for building your own sample-based drum kits.One obvious omission from the initial release of Waveform 10 was a dedicated virtual drum instrument. However, just as this review was going to press, Tracktion released the 10.2.0 update which added the Drum Sampler. This adopts a typical 4x4 virtual drum pad approach; it is only supplied with two simple example kits, based upon 808- and 909-style sample sets, but users can drag and drop samples into the instrument to build their own custom kits. Both round-robin and velocity-based sample playback with multiple samples on a single pad are supported, and I was easily able to build a decent acoustic drum kit from some suitable raw samples. The engine shares features with the Multi-Sampler and is also nicely integrated into Waveform's MIDI editing. No, it's not Superior Drummer 3 but, in terms of plugging a further plug-in gap, Drum Sampler is great to see.
Also included with my Waveform Standard edition package was BioTek 2, available to buy separately as a separate AU/AAX/VST instrument at $199. Tracktion describe BioTek 2 as an 'organic synthesizer'. The engine combines several forms of synthesis, including granular synthesis, and the oscillator sound sources can draw upon a collection of supplied samples derived from nature as well as user-loaded samples. In addition to deep programming options, there is also a more user-friendly macro-level screen called the Wild screen for top-level editing. Sonically, there is some truly inspirational stuff here and BioTek 2 is something both electronic music producers and media composers could get a lot of use out of.
Included with the Waveform Standard edition, BioTek 2 is deep, but the Wild tab provides easy-to-use macro-level editing.
Tracktion For Mac
Going Retro
Tracktion also have other virtual instrument offerings available for purchase, and one, the RetroMods Collection, was supplied to me as part of the review package. This is actually five separate instruments called LoFreq Classic, LoFreq Modern, Lead, 106 and Fat, based on iconic classic hardware synthesizers that most of us can't afford. In each case, a synth-based engine is applied to sampled waveforms as in IK Multimedia's Syntronik. The selection of instruments sampled to create RetroMods' sounds include the Oberheim SEM, Korg MS20, Roland TB303, SH101 and CMU-810, ARP Odyssey, Waldorf Pulse, Clavia Nord Lead and Nord Drum, various Roland Junos, various Moogs and, just for good measure, a few 'modern classics' such as the Novation Bass Station, Arturia MiniBrute and Behringer Model D.
Purchased individually, each RetroMods instrument is in the $49-79 range, but there are considerable savings to be made if you build a custom bundle. If you don't already own a collection of emulated 'classic' synth sounds, RetroMods sounds great and is a very creditable candidate to plug that gap.
Gaining Tracktion?
While I've used Tracktion's software before, during the first stage of the review process I felt exactly the same sense of disorientation that any user might when displaced from their usual DAW/sequencer of choice (in my case, Cubase Pro 10). But, by the end of my review work, for all the usual core recording, editing and mixing tasks, I was most certainly beginning to feel very comfortable. Fluent? Well, perhaps not. A power user? No, not that either, but familiar enough to see that this is a very deep piece of software that's more than capable of handling the technical elements needed to record, edit and mix almost any sort of musical project.
Significantly, perhaps the major reservation I felt when reviewing Tracktion 6 back in 2015 — namely, the limited range of effects and virtual instruments included — has now been comprehensively addressed. At $119, even the Waveform Basic package is a heck of a lot of software for a pretty modest price. It's also worth emphasising that, aside from the single plug-in-related crash mentioned earlier, I experienced no technical issues, and Waveform played nicely with a range of third-party effects and virtual instruments (including Kontakt).
So how does Waveform 10 stand up to the competition? In the world of 'budget' DAWs/sequencers, the most obvious comparison used to be with Reaper, which starts at $60 for a non-commercial licence. Reaper has become a popular choice but is very different in ethos, being endlessly customisable and possessing features such as notation and surround support, which aren't in Waveform. On the flip side, it has nothing to compare with Waveform's now- impressive crop of virtual instruments.
The starting price for Waveform 10 puts it closer to something like Cubase Elements 10, which also features a decent selection of plug-ins and instruments. These include Groove Agent SE5 which, as supplied, is a bit less 'bare bones' than Waveform's new Drum Sampler and includes an impressive collection of presets. However, Cubase Elements 10 has some feature limitations in terms of track count and, in particular, audio editing features such as audio warping, quantising and multi-take comping. Whichever Waveform bundle you opt for, Waveform itself is the full version; the only differences are in the suite of extras included.
It will be a challenge for Tracktion to make greater traction into the DAW marketplace, needing to compete for new users with high-profile brands, and to overcome the inertia that disinclines established users of other products to switch. Jumping ship is a pretty big step, particularly in a commercial working environment where time always means money. However, if my own experience with Waveform 10 is anything to go by, the quality of the software itself is most certainly not an issue. Waveform 10 is a seriously good DAW that deserves genuine consideration alongside the very best. The workflow, albeit unconventional in some respects, is both efficient and flexible, the feature set is rich and, in its current incarnation, the effects and virtual instruments included make it a comprehensive and impressive starting point. My own DAW inertia is as strong as anyone's but, if I was in a position where I had to start from scratch, I'd have no doubts that Waveform 10 could meet my own personal needs.
Disaster Plan
Tracktion acknowledge that no program hosting third-party plug-ins can guarantee stability, so they provide Waveform 10 with built-in crash mitigation. This is a kind of auto-save on steroids: it's transparent to the user, but in the background, virtually every adjustment you make to your edit (project) is saved. If the software does go belly-up, in theory, you should be able to get back to exactly where you were with no loss of work.
Throughout the review period I only got one chance to test this out when loading a third-party virtual instrument for the first time caused Waveform to crash. As advertised, the recovery process was seamless, leaving me exactly where I had been immediately before the crash occurred. After I installed an update to the plug-in concerned, Waveform then allowed me to load it without any further problems. Crashes are a fact of life, and Waveform's elegant handling of them is a reassuring feature.
Pros
- Sophisticated feature set.
- Comprehensive range of effects plug-ins even in Waveform Basic.
- Some excellent virtual instruments are included.
Cons
- Drum Sampler could do with some additional presets.
- No notation features.
Summary
If Waveform is ever to become a mainstream DAW, version 10 might be the one that achieves this. This is a feature-rich music production environment and, despite a modest rise in the price of entry, it represents great value.
information
Basic edition $119; Standard edition $259; Extreme edition $499.
Basic edition $119; Standard edition $259; Extreme edition $499.
test spec
- Tracktion Waveform 10.1.5 and 10.2.0.
- Apple iMac with 3.5GHz Intel Core i7 CPU and 32GB RAM, running Mac OS 10.13.6.
