When comparing Ardour vs Acoustica Mixcraft 8 Pro Studio, the Slant community recommends Ardour for most people. In the question“What are the best DAWs? ” Ardour is ranked 15th while Acoustica Mixcraft 8 Pro Studio is ranked 19th. 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 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
Pro Great value for the price
It's one of the cheapest DAWs you can get for its many features.
Pro High capacity tracks
Each track can receive an unlimited number of VST, aux, and audio inputs.
Pro Easy to use, yet professional
Pro Lightweight
Lightest DAW with minimal loading time.
Pro Auto 64bit and 32bit VST bridging
the 64bit version can also use 32bit VSTs
Pro Best Daw for Vocal Comping.
When it comes to retakes and combining different pieces of vocals all in one, Mixcraft beats every daw out there. it is the best, PERIOD.
Pro Good for mastering projects
The Mixcraft Pro Studio DAW comes with a dedicated mastering section, complete with proprietary mastering tools and the iZotope Mastering Essentials plugin.
Pro Includes Melodyne Essentials (the ProStudio version does anyway)
Pro Really easy to learn with their videos tutorials
See here.
Pro Excellent Mono and Stereo support
Pro Dual monitor support
You can unlock the docker and easily do multiple tasks such as editing, applying E.Q and Compression, with its dual monitor support.
Pro You get a lot for your money with MixCraft 8
Access to a vast library of sounds and loops, plus diverse instruments. Interesting effects, though some of the effects could be a bit more advanced.
Pro Vast online sample and loop libraries easy accessable - via drag and drop
Pro Excellent sample creation & customization
It includes a big variety of samples, which can be highly customized for your own music projects with its built-in midi creation tool.
Pro New performance panel is good for live applications
Pro Automation is really easy and intuitive to use
Pro Doesn't crash a lot
Pro Good for emulating real instruments
This DAW comes with the Acoustica Instruments collection, which is packed full of realistic sounding MIDI instruments like organs, pianos, drums, and orchestral instruments.
Pro Video editing
The Mixcraft DAW supports basic drag and drop video editing.
Pro Good choice if you move from Mac to Windows - Have a similar feel as Logic Pro
Pro Easiest DAW
Put simply it is the easiest DAW to use by far. Most users pick it up in a couple of hours.
Cons
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).
Con effects are not very good, and workflow is lacking
Eq is very hard to use and the rest are too simple, workflow is meeehhh
Con Comes with unnecessary software
The Mixcraft DAW comes with a video maker which comes across as unnecessary for an audio editor. While some see this as free software, others don't see the point, as it won't come close to the quality of true video editing software.
Con More expensive than standard version
The Pro version of the Mixcraft DAW comes with more plugins, but many of these plugins can allegedly be download from other sources for free.
Con Ease of use makes it look less professional which, it is not
Con Proprietary software
Not open source.
Con Some of the effects are a too basic
fx delay, can't use sync and beats as measurement - only milliseconds.
Con No autoplay while using the arrow keys in the local and online - in DAW - media browser
You have to press the Play button with your mouse.