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Add to SafariWhen comparing Digital Performer 8 vs Audacity, the Slant community recommends Audacity for most people. In the question“What are the best DAWs? ” Audacity is ranked 21st while Digital Performer 8 is ranked 54th. The most important reason people chose Audacity is:
Audacity is available for free on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux with source code available [here](http://audacityteam.org/download/source).
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Notation support
Pro Made for small screens
Digital Performer is made to accommodate laptop screens so mixing can be done on the go.
Pro Easy organization
Chunks and Takes lets users record multiple projects within a single session file, and Takes allows users to save multiple recordings of a single instrument that can easily be switched.
Pro Free, open source and cross-platform
Audacity is available for free on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux with source code available here.
Pro Well maintained
Audacity is constantly updated.
Pro Great community backing it
Pro Great for vocal track editing
Cons
Con Unreliable plugin compatibility
Many AU and VST plugins don't load well with Digital Performer 8.
Con Not seen as a full DAW
Audacity doesn't have the capabilities of popular DAWs and generally isn't considered to be good option.
Con Doesn't retain audio integrity
Audacity uses destructive editing, meaning applying effects, cutting, etc is non-reversable after you've saved a project.
Con No real time effects
Users are unable to change effects in real time with Audacity. If effects are to be changed, no sound can be playing or recording.
Con Unable to use Synthesizers / virtual instruments
You can only use effect plugins or record live with this DAW.
Con No native 64-bit version, therefore does not support 64-bit VST plugins
Audacity is available only as a 32-bit application, therefore even when running on 64-bit machines, it only supports 32-bit VST plugins unless they are converted to 32-bit using an application such as JBridge.
