A DAW has to feel like home. 🏠

It’s not just software, it’s the place where your ideas turn into real songs.

When you open it, you should feel like you can stay there for a while.

Get comfortable. Get creative.

This is where you build your sound, your process, your voice.

I remember when I first opened FL Studio.

I didn’t know what I was doing yet - honestly, it was a bit chaotic - but something about the vibe just clicked, and that's why I stayed there longer. The layout, the piano roll... I felt like, “Yeah, I can make something here.”

That feeling matters more than most people think.

If you open a DAW and feel nothing but friction or confusion - it’s okay. Try another one. There are a few great options out there, and finding the right one is kind of like finding the right instrument.

You want it to inspire you, not block you. 💡

I’ll walk you through the top DAWs I recommend for beginners FL Studio, Ableton Live and Logic Pro (for Mac users) - based on real experience, not just features listed on a website.

Whether you're a vocalist trying to record your first songs, or a producer just starting out with beatmaking, I’ve got you covered.

FL Studio - My Personal Favorite

If I had to start from scratch today, I’d still choose FL Studio. 🥭

This is the DAW I’ve used for years, and even though I’ve tried others, nothing feels quite like FL. It’s playful, powerful, and gives you a lot of freedom when it comes to workflow.

Especially if you’re a beginner, FL makes it easy to jump in and start laying down ideas without getting lost in the technicalities.

The piano roll in FL is in my opinion the best one. It’s probably the most intuitive one out there I've tried (Ableton, Logic, FL), and for anyone making beats, it quickly becomes your best friend.

The whole interface feels built for people who want to experiment and build tracks fast. You can drop in samples, chop them up, sequence drums, and arrange full songs basically in the first 30 minutes.

I watched one tutorial and went for it. 💪

Sure, I had to figure some things out along the way, but FL invites you to explore. It doesn’t punish you for not knowing everything on day one.

But let’s keep it real - FL Studio isn’t perfect.

Some things are weirdly placed. I think the biggest issue is that the Channel Rack, Mixer, and Playlist are all standalone windows.

In most DAWs, these elements are integrated into one main view, but in FL Studio they feel like separate worlds you constantly switch between. It takes a bit of getting used to, especially when you’re trying to arrange or mix quickly.

At first, it might feel disconnected - but once you understand how they interact, it starts to make sense.

If you decide to go with FL Studio, I highly recommend learning the keyboard shortcuts early because they’ll save you so much time. ⌛

Especially when you start working on full songs. And if you're recording vocals, arranging hooks, or layering harmonies - good workflow matters.

Also, I’ve created a custom FL Studio Recording Template that’s perfect for beginners who want to start recording right away. You can grab it on my website and skip the setup headaches.

Ableton Live

Ableton Live is one of the most popular DAWs out there, especially among electronic producers and live performers.

It’s got a very different flow compared to FL Studio - and for some, that’s exactly why they love it.

I’ve worked with Ableton Live Lite a bit, and I get why so many people are into it.

The interface is clean, minimal, and built around speed. It’s especially powerful if you’re someone who builds music in layers - stacking loops, experimenting with variations, switching between ideas fast.

The Session View is something unique to Ableton, and it allows you to trigger clips and loops in real time, which makes it a favorite for live performances and jam-based workflows.

But I’ll be honest - it didn’t really click for me personally. I found it a bit too clinical and dry. It felt more like a tool than a creative space.

That doesn’t mean it’s bad, far from it. If you’re the kind of person who likes structure and  precision, Ableton might be your perfect match.

What’s cool about Ableton is how deep but organized it is. 

You can go really far with sound design, MIDI effects, automation, and routing - and everything stays clean visually. Plus, there are tons of free and paid packs available to expand your sound library.

If you're curious about Ableton, I definitely recommend downloading the demo version and trying out both the Session View and Arrangement View. They’re like two different ways of making music inside the same DAW.

Logic Pro & GarageBand

If you're using a Mac, Logic Pro might be the smoothest way to get started with music production. 💻

For me it’s a very complete DAW right out of the box, and honestly, it does everything you need: production, recording, mixing, arranging. It looks clean  and it’s packed with built-in instruments and effects that are actually usable.

I’ve worked on Logic quite a bit while collaborating with a flatmate who used it as his main DAW.

Every time we opened a session, I couldn’t help but think, “Damn, it just works.” 

It felt intuitive and organized without being overwhelming (like for example Pro Tools for me). You can record, edit, and mix in one seamless flow, which makes it especially solid for singer-songwriters, vocalists, and anyone creating full tracks from start to finish.

What’s also great is that GarageBand - the free DAW that comes pre-installed on every Mac and is basically a stripped-down version of Logic.

The interface and workflow are super similar, so if you're brand new and don’t want to commit to a paid DAW right away, starting in GarageBand is a smart move. 

Then if you decide to upgrade later, moving over to Logic will feel natural.

One of the biggest strengths of Logic is how balanced it is. It doesn’t lean too heavily toward beatmakers or live performers - it’s just a solid, all-round DAW.

The interface is friendly enough for beginners but deep enough to keep growing with you for years.

If you’re on Apple and serious about making music long-term, Logic is definitely worth trying.

And even if you just want to get your feet wet, GarageBand can take you surprisingly far.

Wrapping it up

Here’s the truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

The best DAW for you is the one that makes you want to open it again tomorrow.

If you want total freedom and "vibe" - FL Studio might be the one.

If you love structure and a minimalist layout - try Ableton.

And if you’re on a Mac and want a smooth, complete environment for recording and producing full tracks – Logic Pro (or even GarageBand) is a great choice.

But whatever you choose, use it often. Even if your early songs or beats aren’t perfect, you’ll learn shortcuts, you’ll get faster, you’ll stop overthinking the tech and start focusing on the music.

Take some time to try out demos and play around. 🎹

Look for tutorials that go deep - not just flashy stuff with big thumbnails, but real walkthroughs from people who actually know the program inside and out.

Watch those a few times if you need to, or just dive in and figure things out on your own, like I did. There’s no wrong way, just keep moving forward.

If you’re going with FL Studio and want to skip the messy setup phase when it comes to recording vocals, I’ve got you.

I made an FL Studio Recording Template that’ll help you start straight away. No confusion, no wasted time. You’ll find it here.

And if you're looking for rap instrumentals to start writing to, check out my catalog of beats ready for you to bring your first songs to life.

Hope to hear some of your music soon. 👊

Best,

Baxon