Digital audio workstations (DAWs) are software applications used for Recording, Editing, and Producing audio and MIDI tracks. DAWs are the heart of many home and professional studios, and are also increasingly being used for live sound reinforcement and live performance.
There are a wide variety of DAWs available on the market, ranging from simple, entry-level applications to feature-rich, professional-grade software. Some of the most popular DAWs include Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro, Avid Pro Tools, Cakewalk Sonar, and Steinberg Cubase.
While each DAW has its own unique features and workflow, they all share some common elements, such as the ability to record, edit, and mix audio and MIDI tracks. In addition, most DAWs also offer a wide range of virtual instruments and effects that can be used to create custom sounds.
DAWs are an essential piece of gear for many musicians, producers, and engineers, and are often the key to creating professional-sounding recordings and performances.
20 Best Daw For Live Performance
Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
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PreSonus S15-PRO-CARD Studio One 5 Professional Download Card |
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PreSonus Studio One 5 Artist |
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PreSonus Studio One Professional 4 Software |
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Image Line Fl Studio Producer Edition Box |
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Steinberg Cubase Pro 10 Music Production Software |
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Steinberg Cubase Elements 12 DAW Software (Boxed) |
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Steinberg | Cubase Pro 9.5 Recording Software |
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PreSonus Studio One 5 Professional Upgrade from Professional/Producer |
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Ableton Live 9.7 Music Production Software – Intro |
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PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional Card DAW Software, Download Card |
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Steinberg Cubase Pro 12 Competitive Crossgrade DAW Software (Boxed) |
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PreSonus Studio One Artist 6 Music Production Software |
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Steinberg Cubase Pro 11 Music Production Software (Crossgrade, Download) |
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PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional Music Production Software |
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Steinberg Cubase Pro 11 Music Production Software Academic Update, Download Version Electronic, DAW/Multitrack, Mac & Windows, 90905 |
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- Our most personal upgrade yet.
- Subtle (and not-so-subtle) user interface improvements combine with powerful customization features to free your mind for music and stay focused.
- Our most personal upgrade yet.
- Subtle (and not-so-subtle) user interface improvements combine with powerful customization features to free your mind for music and stay focused.
- Intuitive single-window work environment with quick and easy drag-and-drop functionality and multi-touch support
- Unlimited audio and instrument tracks, advanced automation features, virtual instruments, buses, and FX channels
- Powerful mixing and automation
- The best Piano Roll in the business
- Flexible Browser and workflow features
- Make sure this fits by entering your model number.
- Award-winning 64-bit floating-point Steinberg audio engine with up to 192 kHz, 5.1 surround, flexible routing and full automatic delay compensation.
- Improved editing workflow to make hitting deadlines easier.
- Audio to chords, lets you focus even more on the music.
- Sample Accurate Volume Automation.
- Award-winning 64-bit floating-point Steinberg audio engine with up to B4: D7 kHz, 5.1 surround, flexible ROUTING and full automatic delay compensation
- Our most personal upgrade yet.
- Subtle (and not-so-subtle) user interface improvements combine with powerful customization features to free your mind for music and stay focused.
- everything stays in sync. Almost everything in Live works in real-time.
- add, reorder or remove devices, play with Live’s flexible track routing and more.
- Our most personal upgrade yet.
- Subtle (and not-so-subtle) user interface improvements combine with powerful customization features to free your mind for music and stay focused.
- Ability Pro.
- Ableton Live 8 or higher (Standard and Suite / excl. Intro).
- Apple Logic 9 or higher.
- Intuitive single-window work environment with quick and easy drag-and-drop functionality and multi-touch support.
- Unlimited audio and instrument tracks, advanced automation features, virtual instruments, buses, and FX channels.
- Cubase Guides You on Your Music Production Journey.
- Find the Cubase version that’s right for you.
- The only DAW that lets you record, mix, produce, compose, master, and perform all from a single, intuitive application.
- Available standalone or as part of a PreSonus Sphere membership.
- Cubase Guides You on Your Music Production Journey.
- Find the Cubase version that’s right for you.
1. PreSonus S15-PRO-CARD Studio One 5 Professional Download Card
- Our most personal upgrade yet.
- Subtle (and not-so-subtle) user interface improvements combine with powerful customization features to free your mind for music and stay focused.
- Smart Templates.
- Faster Starts.
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
Amazon.com | |
eBay – azproaudio | |
Walmart – Sam Ash Music Direct | |
Adorama |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
License validity | perpetual |
Windows | from 10 (64-Bit) |
min Space on HD (GB) | 40 GB |
Display | 1366 x 768 |
Additional System requirements | ASIO-comp. Audiointerface (Windows) |
2. PreSonus Studio One 5 Artist
- Our most personal upgrade yet.
- Subtle (and not-so-subtle) user interface improvements combine with powerful customization features to free your mind for music and stay focused.
- Smart Templates.
- Faster Starts.
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
Amazon.com | |
eBay – samashdirect | |
Walmart – Sam Ash Music Direct | |
Adorama |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Windows | from 10 (64-Bit) |
min Space on HD (GB) | 20 GB |
Display | 1366 x 768 |
Additional System requirements | ASIO-comp. Audiointerface (Windows) |
max. Samplerate (kHz) | 384 kHz |
3. PreSonus Studio One Professional 4 Software
- Intuitive single-window work environment with quick and easy drag-and-drop functionality and multi-touch support
- Unlimited audio and instrument tracks, advanced automation features, virtual instruments, buses, and FX channels
- Pristine sound quality with native 64-bit resolution and support for up to 384 kHz audio
- Chord track
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Sold By | Price |
Amazon.com | |
ProSoundGear.com | |
Reverb |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Operating System | Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan |
Hard Drive Space Required | 40 gigabytes |
Manufacturer’s Warranty – Parts | Not Avaliable |
Product Name | Studio One 4 Professional Version |
Manufacturer’s Warranty – Labor | Not Avaliable |
4. Image Line Fl Studio Producer Edition Box
- Powerful mixing and automation
- The best Piano Roll in the business
- Flexible Browser and workflow features
- Support for all VST standards
- Over 80 instrument and plugin effects included
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Sold By | Price |
Amazon.com | |
eBay | |
Walmart – Gigasonic | |
Sweetwater |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Vectorial Interface | Resize and rearrange the user interface. |
Multi-touch | Designed for touch control. |
Live DJ Control | Powerful live performance, clip-triggering. |
Advanced Help System | Context aware manual (press F1). |
MIDI Learn | Powerful MIDI controller linking options. |
Visualizer effects Plugin | Render 4K videos straight from FL Studio. |
Producer Edition | Full song creation & audio recording |
5. Steinberg Cubase Pro 12 Recording Software
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Sold By | Price |
Amazon | |
Front End Audio | |
Guitar Center | |
Sam Ash |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Audio/MIDI/Instrument tracks | Unlimited |
Physical inputs and outputs | 256 |
Group channels | 256 |
VST instrument slots | 64 |
Included MIDI/Audio effect plug-ins | 18/81 |
6. Steinberg Cubase Pro 10 Music Production Software
- Make sure this fits by entering your model number.
- Award-winning 64-bit floating-point Steinberg audio engine with up to 192 kHz, 5.1 surround, flexible routing and full automatic delay compensation.
- Unlimited audio, instrument and MIDI tracks and up to 256 physical inputs and outputs.
- Groove Agent SE 5: Steinbergs premier Drum-Production-Tool with a new user-interface and many improvements.
- 5 GB of high-quality sounds and loops – brought to you by highly acclaimed producers of different genres.
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Sold By | Price |
Amazon | |
eBay – genesis-technologies |
Product Details
Reviews From Real Customers
7. Steinberg Cubase Elements 12 DAW Software (Boxed)
- Improved editing workflow to make hitting deadlines easier.
- Audio to chords, lets you focus even more on the music.
- Sample Accurate Volume Automation.
- Native Apple silicon support.
- No more USB eLicenser dongle!
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Sold By | Price |
Amazon | |
B&H Photo Video Audio | |
Full Compass Systems | |
Reverb |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Graohics minimum | Graphics card with native Windows 10 support |
Graphics | Graphics card with Metal support |
CPU cores | 4 or more |
RAM minimum | 8 GB |
Hard disk free space for installation | 1 GB |
8. Steinberg | Cubase Pro 9.5 Recording Software
- Award-winning 64-bit floating-point Steinberg audio engine with up to B4: D7 kHz, 5.1 surround, flexible ROUTING and full automatic delay compensation
- Complete Suite of over 90 High-End audio and MIDI VST effect processors
- VariAudio for MIDI-style note editing of monophonic audio tracks, automatic voicing harmonization and auto-tuning effects
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Sold By | Price |
Amazon | |
Guitar Center | |
Musicians Friend |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Zoning 2.0 | New single window workflow |
9. PreSonus Studio One 5 Professional Upgrade from Professional/Producer
- Our most personal upgrade yet.
- Subtle (and not-so-subtle) user interface improvements combine with powerful customization features to free your mind for music and stay focused.
- Smart Templates.
- Faster Starts.
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
Amazon | |
eBay – emusic123 | |
Adorama | |
B&H Photo-Video-Audio |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Software Type | DAW |
Platform | Mac, PC |
Upgrade/Full | Upgrade |
Bit Depth | 64-bit |
OS Requirements – Mac | macOS 10.13 or later |
10. Steinberg Cubase Artist 12 Upgrade from Ai DAW Software (Boxed)
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Sold By | Price |
eBay | |
Walmart – Musicians Friend | |
B&H Photo Video Audio | |
Guitar Center |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Audio/MIDI/instrument tracks | Unlimited |
Physical inputs and outputs | 32 |
Group channels | 32 |
VST instrument slots | 32 |
MIDI/Audio effect plug-ins | 18/59 |
11. Ableton Live 9.7 Music Production Software – Intro
- everything stays in sync. Almost everything in Live works in real-time.
- add, reorder or remove devices, play with Live’s flexible track routing and more.
- all without interrupting your creative flow.
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
eBay |
Product Details
Reviews From Real Customers
12. Steinberg DAC Cubase Pro 12 Competitive Crossgrade DAW Software (Download)
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Sold By | Price |
Guitar Center | |
Sam Ash | |
Woodwind & Brasswind | |
Kraft Music |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Audio/MIDI/Instrument tracks | Unlimited |
Physical inputs and outputs | 256 |
Group channels | 256 |
VST instrument slots | 64 |
Included MIDI/Audio effect plug-ins | 18/81 |
13. PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional Card DAW Software, Download Card
- Our most personal upgrade yet.
- Subtle (and not-so-subtle) user interface improvements combine with powerful customization features to free your mind for music and stay focused.
- Smart Templates.
- Faster Starts.
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
Full Compass Systems |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
OUR PART | S16-PRO-CARD |
14. Steinberg Cubase Pro 12 Competitive Crossgrade DAW Software (Boxed)
- Ability Pro.
- Ableton Live 8 or higher (Standard and Suite / excl. Intro).
- Apple Logic 9 or higher.
- Avid Pro Tools 9 or higher incl.
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
B&H Photo Video Audio | |
Reverb |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Audio/MIDI/Instrument tracks | Unlimited |
Physical inputs and outputs | 256 |
Group channels | 256 |
VST instrument slots | 64 |
Included MIDI/Audio effect plug-ins | 18/81 |
15. PreSonus Studio One Artist 6 Music Production Software
- Intuitive single-window work environment with quick and easy drag-and-drop functionality and multi-touch support.
- Unlimited audio and instrument tracks, advanced automation features, virtual instruments, buses, and FX channels.
- NEW! De-Esser joins the Studio One Artistl Native plug-in suite. 32 Native effects plug-ins included.
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
Best Service COM | |
B&H Photo-Video-Audio | |
Sweetwater | |
Full Compass Systems |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Windows | 10 (64-Bit) |
min Space on HD (GB) | 40 GB |
Display | 1366 x 768 |
max. Samplerate (kHz) | 384 kHz |
Max. resolution in bit | 64 bit |
16. Steinberg Cubase Elements 12 Software
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
Guitar Center | |
Sam Ash | |
Woodwind & Brasswind | |
Full Compass Systems |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Graohics minimum | Graphics card with native Windows 10 support |
Graphics | Graphics card with Metal support |
CPU cores | 4 or more |
RAM minimum | 8 GB |
Hard disk free space for installation | 1 GB |
17. Steinberg Cubase Pro 11 Music Production Software (Crossgrade, Download)
- Cubase Guides You on Your Music Production Journey.
- Find the Cubase version that’s right for you.
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
B&H Photo Video Audio |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
License Type | Crossgrade |
License Length | Perpetual License |
Number of Users Supported | 1 |
Number of Devices Supported | 1 |
Supported Operating Systems | macOS 10. or Later macOS 10. or Later Windows 10 |
18. PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional Music Production Software
- The only DAW that lets you record, mix, produce, compose, master, and perform all from a single, intuitive application.
- Available standalone or as part of a PreSonus Sphere membership.
- Intuitive single-window work environment with quick and easy drag-and-drop functionality and multi-touch support.
- Unlimited audio and instrument tracks, advanced automation features, virtual instruments, buses, and FX channels.
- NEW! Vocoder and De-Esser join the Studio One Professional Native plug-in suite. 39 Native effects plug-ins included.
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
Best Service COM | |
B&H Photo-Video-Audio | |
Full Compass Systems | |
The FX Chain |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
License Type | Standard |
License Length | Perpetual License |
Number of Users Supported | 5 |
Number of Devices Supported | 5 |
Memory Requirement | 4 GB (8 GB Recommended) |
19. Steinberg Cubase Artist 12 Recording Software
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
Sweetwater | |
Guitar Center | |
Sam Ash | |
Full Compass Systems |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
Graohics minimum | Graphics card with native Windows 10 support |
Mac | macOS Big Sur, macOS Monterey |
Apple silicon-based Mac | Native App, Rosetta 2 App |
Graphics | Graphics card with Metal support |
CPU cores | 4 or more |
20. Steinberg Cubase Pro 11 Music Production Software Academic Update, Download Version Electronic, DAW/Multitrack, Mac & Windows, 90905
- Cubase Guides You on Your Music Production Journey.
- Find the Cubase version that’s right for you.
Check Latest Price
Sold By | Price |
B&H Photo Video Audio |
Product Details
Specifications
Details | |
License Type | Academic, Upgrade |
License Length | Perpetual License |
Number of Users Supported | 1 |
Number of Devices Supported | 1 |
Supported Operating Systems | macOS 10. or Later macOS 10. or Later Windows 10 |
Conclusion
There are a few different ways to conclude a DAW for live performance. One way is to have all of the audio files rendered out into a single file. This can be done by bouncing or exporting the audio from the DAW.
Another way is to use a DAW controller to play back the audio files live. This can be done with a MIDI controller or an audio interface with a built-in DAW controller.