Why do I need a DAW?

Discuss general Sibelius issues here. Get help with Sibelius and Sibelius Support.
ProAmSpain
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2024 12:19 pm
Sibelius Version: 7
Operating System: Windows

Post by ProAmSpain » Sat Oct 05, 2024 12:32 pm

I'm coming back to Sibelius and composition after a 10 year hiatus. When I last used it (7), I simply fired it up and composed using the notation screen, for full orchestra. Now, I see so many comments in the help forum about needing a DAW. Why? I've just downloaded Cakewalk, as it's recommended and free. What now? Do I have to use it? Why? Can't I just use Sibelius? How can I do program changes, etc? In Cakewalk or Sibelius?
You can imagine that having previously used Sibelius, I was fairly ok with all its uses. Now, I'm not :cry:
Help, please!


MikeLyons
Posts: 1737
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Sun Oct 06, 2024 8:38 am

Before we can answer this question, we need to have an understanding of what you are trying to do, so that we can work out if it is possible to do in sibelius.

Younger users are more interested in manipulating the actual sounds. For this, you need a DAW.

Sibelius' prime purpose is the laying out of notation on the page. After Sib 4, it was given some ability to use better quality sounds so that those of us who loathed the midi sounds could better hear our compositions. We could also produce better quality "mock-ups" to help our music sell better.

If you are more into producing very high quality audio than just simple renditions of your music, then a DAW makes this much easier. I have cubase, but I rarely use it. I don't really want to produce studio quality mock-ups. I certainly don't want to have to spend hours tweaking sounds. I find that extremely boring.

NotePerformer is probably the best, and cheapest, solution for sibelius playback. It gives a good enough rendition to improve your chances of selling sheet music and it doesn't require endless hours of fiddling with arcane spells and surgical tools! You pays your money and you makes your choice!
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2024.8.1, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 4, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

ProAmSpain
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2024 12:19 pm
Sibelius Version: 7
Operating System: Windows

Post by ProAmSpain » Sun Oct 06, 2024 11:24 am

Many thanks for this reply. I did have the feeling that a DAW was probably more useful to composers who are more into use of sound editing functions than the pure notation that I shall once more use Sibelius for.
Does that also apply then to Pro Tools? As it was available on the Avid website, I did download it. It's a massive application though, and if I'm not going to use it, I could just delete it again.

MikeLyons
Posts: 1737
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Mon Oct 07, 2024 5:36 am

I would never use pro tools. It's a massive waste of disc space IMHO. Just because Avid sell it doesn't make it good.
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2024.8.1, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 4, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

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