tomc1985 made an extremely valid point here, as any serious DAW user would agree - they did not imply the creator was an idiot, but that any DAW without plug-in support is, at best - a toy, and I will personally add that the concept of using a browser to record audio when latency and playback quality is already an issue with fully OS-native DAW’s.
Other than some side project just for fun, I absolutely see no practical use, application, or function the app can provide that Ardour (which is already open-source and free if you compile it) isn’t going to do infinitely better.
The author isn’t an idiot, quite the opposite, it takes a lot of effort to write even a simple DAW.
But the product makes no sense. The target platform is totally in opposition to the needs the tool requires to fulfill its purpose.
It’s like those people who run DOOM on their smart fridge. The creator isn’t an idiot, it’s just a waste of time outside of saying ‘I did this’ and nobody is ever actually going to choose to seriously play the game with that way.
There’s no need to be snarky like you’re being, it’s possible to make points without coming off like an asshole.
Thanks, you basically wrote what I was going to. In audio-production-land, the term DAW is generally understood to mean "real-time (single-digit ms latency) capable audio plugin host and audio/MIDI sequencer". Anything not checking all those boxes is interesting, but likely won't be "able to(n)" get a whole lot of "tracktion" from "avid" users. ;-D
I also need to note that users of free/cheap audio software can be some of the brattiest, most entitled and actively hostile users I've seen anywhere, based in my 20+ years on KVR, GearSpace, and other forums. Every dev in the space needs to have a thick skin and be ready for the "it would be great if only it..." to start rolling in.
Great to see people pushing the "envelope" of browser-based tech!
Yea I’m mocking you because if you couldn’t tell how annoying your obvious “constructive” criticism was going to sound, you’ve got some significant barriers to overcome
Well, native vs Web, we already has this conversation about Word vs Google Docs ans now even Word is a web app built with web technologies, and can run in a browser.
I'm part of the W3C WebAudio Working group, the core team that is making the WebAudio API at the heart of web apps that can do real time audio processing. Since 2011 we saw more and more impressive applications, and with ASM.js in 2015 and its successor, WASM in 2018, people started to port VST plugins, to compile very efficient DSP code written using some DSP like FAUST to WASM, etc. A Plugin format exists since 2015 (Web Audio Modules aka WAM), and some DAW that can record real time audio, support audio effects, instruments, etc. are now available. While they are not as feature complete as native DAWS, thousands of users record multitrack songs everyday and use many built in or external plugins. AmpedStudio can even use your native VSTs. I wrote some WAM plugins (guitar amp simulators) that are usable in AmpedStudio. It is possible to create very efficient WAM plugins in a minute using the FAUST IDE + some existing FAUST code (there are hundreds of examples on the IDE + on diverse open source GitHub Repos). You will find most effects, some instruments such as MOOG recreations etc.
Of course, the Web based DAWs and plugins are young, but some big actors like Roland (see https://roland50.studio/), Ableton (see https://learningsynths.ableton.com/), Propellerheads (they ported to the Web their VST synth Europa), Antares (the real autotune VST is available in the online DAW soundtrap.com).
Real time recording is operational without any hassle on Mac OS, and with some driver configs on Windows or Linux. You need to calibrate "latency compensation", that will automatically adjust the live recording audio to existing tracks.
Yes, online DAWs are close to GarageBand for example, in terms of features. But they also have some advantages : automatic sharing of projects, some DAWS even allow synchronous collaboration à la Google Docs, sharing a project is just sharing a link, and working together on the same project becomes really easy, no hassle for storing the audio files. Publication to spotify/deezer/youtube/apple Music is a click on a button. Most DAWS can be used for free. Etc. It's just the target user profile that is different: while Pro Tools/Logic/Ableton will target studios and pro users, these online DAWS are more for less exigent, more online connected people. Most projects are electronic music, etc.
I use Logic Audio, and I also use online DAWs. I heavily used ampedstudio during the covid lock down with remote friends... Then we roughly recorded / mixed some song projects, then I polished the final version by re-importing the tracks in LOGIC, but this was really for fine tuning things... AmpedStudio and soundtrap (I did not try bandlab) are very capable online DAWS.
lostgame|3 years ago
Other than some side project just for fun, I absolutely see no practical use, application, or function the app can provide that Ardour (which is already open-source and free if you compile it) isn’t going to do infinitely better.
The author isn’t an idiot, quite the opposite, it takes a lot of effort to write even a simple DAW.
But the product makes no sense. The target platform is totally in opposition to the needs the tool requires to fulfill its purpose.
It’s like those people who run DOOM on their smart fridge. The creator isn’t an idiot, it’s just a waste of time outside of saying ‘I did this’ and nobody is ever actually going to choose to seriously play the game with that way.
There’s no need to be snarky like you’re being, it’s possible to make points without coming off like an asshole.
Optimal_Persona|3 years ago
I also need to note that users of free/cheap audio software can be some of the brattiest, most entitled and actively hostile users I've seen anywhere, based in my 20+ years on KVR, GearSpace, and other forums. Every dev in the space needs to have a thick skin and be ready for the "it would be great if only it..." to start rolling in.
Great to see people pushing the "envelope" of browser-based tech!
ksm1717|3 years ago
[deleted]
tomc1985|3 years ago
You are saying this, not me.
ksm1717|3 years ago
zero_iq|3 years ago
micbuffa|3 years ago
Of course, the Web based DAWs and plugins are young, but some big actors like Roland (see https://roland50.studio/), Ableton (see https://learningsynths.ableton.com/), Propellerheads (they ported to the Web their VST synth Europa), Antares (the real autotune VST is available in the online DAW soundtrap.com).
Real time recording is operational without any hassle on Mac OS, and with some driver configs on Windows or Linux. You need to calibrate "latency compensation", that will automatically adjust the live recording audio to existing tracks.
Yes, online DAWs are close to GarageBand for example, in terms of features. But they also have some advantages : automatic sharing of projects, some DAWS even allow synchronous collaboration à la Google Docs, sharing a project is just sharing a link, and working together on the same project becomes really easy, no hassle for storing the audio files. Publication to spotify/deezer/youtube/apple Music is a click on a button. Most DAWS can be used for free. Etc. It's just the target user profile that is different: while Pro Tools/Logic/Ableton will target studios and pro users, these online DAWS are more for less exigent, more online connected people. Most projects are electronic music, etc.
I use Logic Audio, and I also use online DAWs. I heavily used ampedstudio during the covid lock down with remote friends... Then we roughly recorded / mixed some song projects, then I polished the final version by re-importing the tracks in LOGIC, but this was really for fine tuning things... AmpedStudio and soundtrap (I did not try bandlab) are very capable online DAWS.