When comparing ReNoise 3.0 vs Ardour, the Slant community recommends Ardour for most people. In the question“What are the best DAWs? ” Ardour is ranked 15th while ReNoise 3.0 is ranked 20th. The most important reason people chose Ardour is:
Ardour is cross-platform and works on Windows & macOS.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Requires minimum mouse input
Shortcuts and other methods are used in order to minimize the amount of work that users must do with a mouse. This can greatly increase the efficiency of a workflow.
Pro Very stable
DAWs are notorious for crashing, especially at the peak of a workflow. ReNoise 3 is known for its outstanding stability.
Pro Optimized for dual monitors
Users who have more than one monitor can view the sampler, plugins, and MIDI controls in the instrument editor, which can be moved to a second monitor.
Pro Uses a module tracker instead of piano roll
Module trackers are preferred by some users because they help increase productivity.
Pro Sophisticated effect modulation
ReNoise 3 offers a ridiculous amount of flexibility when it comes to automation. Instead automating by sliding points around, users can choose from an array of preloaded automation patterns in order to produce more interesting sounding patterns.
Pro Highly customizeable effect chains
Effects can be applied to samples in Instrument Editor in addition to being sent through track input. This is highly useful when dealing with multi-sample instruments, as each sample can have one or more effect chains.
Pro Limitless sampler
The sampler is deeply embedded in the way the whole DAW works, and it allows the user to build complex synth sounds with ease.
Pro Unique grid based tracker
ReNoise 3 replaces the typical piano roll with a tracker, which is claimed to be "the most powerful tracker in existence". The difference between piano roll and tracker is that piano roll moves horizontally, while trackers move vertically. Users may find this confusing at first, but trackers make it simple to customize every individual note.
Pro Fast yet intricate workflow
Building basic patterns (e.g. drums) from scratch is extremely fast and easy, and built-in effects commands allow for fine grain control that is difficult, time consuming or outright impossible in conventional DAWs.
Pro Vst support
Pro Program custom tools
Users can make their own instruments and effects using Lua .
Pro Advanced pattern command
The Pattern Command called "MaYbe" guesses which note will be next in a progression based on the user's habits.
Pro Compatible with Linux, Windows 7/8.1/10 and macOS
Ardour is cross-platform and works on Windows & macOS.
Pro Open source
Ardour is open source, so it can be downloaded and modified without restriction.
Pro Free version with minimal limitations
Unlike some other DAW's which often limit saving, exporting, or advanced features, Ardour permits you to try all the features for free, with the only limitation being ten minutes of project length maximum.
Demo.
Pro Multi-display support
Pro Linux version has JACK support
On Linux, you can use JACK to freely route audio and MIDI to and from other software as hardware.
Pro Clean linear interface
Pro Inline mixing console
You can view and edit plugins directly from the console's mixing channels.
Pro LADSPA plugins support
Pro LV2 plugins support
Pro VST3 Support in version 6+
Pro Powerful routing
Thanks to JACK support, and the inclusion of built in tools, the routing options of Ardour are limitless.
Pro Excellent support community
Cons
Con Cannot record multiple tracks simultaneously
Live musicians are limited by only being able to record on one tracks at a time.
Con Interface can be confusing to people who's not familiar with trackers
Trackers are different from sequencing (arrangement) view (most DAWs) and session view (Ableton, Bitwig).
Con Closed source
Con No PulseAudio support
Without JACK or ALSA set up as your Linux sound system, audio will play from Renoise or from other applications, but not both at the same time.
Con Too many plugins
It is hard to find good useful plugins. It looks like every developer's plugin has ended up in the list.
Con No support for VST plugins for OS X
Plugins can be used on OS X only if they are downloaded in AU format, which is supported.
Con Builds are paid
Pre-built releases are paid and the only way to get the program for free is to build it yourself.
Con Quirky UI and navigation
Con Not user friendly
Ardour can be difficult and unconventional to use.
Con Relies on JACK
The Linux version relies on JACK to function correctly, and JACK is extremely difficult to install and configure. Ardour should have JACK support, but it should also connect directly and play audio on its own by default.
Con No 'scenes'
Ardour doesn't have 'scenes' like Ableton does (would be very handy for live-preformances).