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If you’re a budding producer, or just interested in music, you may have wondered what DAWs your favourite producers use. In this article, we’ll look at the software behind some of the most iconic tracks ever made.
From the likes of Skrillex to Hans Zimmer, you’ll get insight into a huge range of producer setups.
How does a producer choose their DAW?
A producer’s main genre of music is possibly the most important factor that will inform the DAW that’s right for them.
Ableton Live is a popular choice for electronic or dance music due to its seamless looping capabilities and intuitive performance tools. For hip-hop and trap, FL Studio’s step sequencer and pattern-based workflow make it ideal. If you’re composing for film, Steinberg Cubase offers advanced scoring features and surround-sound and Dolby Atmos compatibility.
Workflow preference varies between producers. Some DAWs focus on a structured, timeline-based approach, while others allow for more customisation. FL Studio is popular among beatmakers, as the pattern-based workflow is ideal for quickly sketching out patterns and grooves, whereas Bitwig is slightly more flexible.
Plus, a producer will also look for the number and variety of built-in plugins and instruments. Some DAWs come packed with synths, effects, and samples, which is great for beginners, while experienced producers may rely on a curated selection of third-party plugins from their arsenal.
What DAW does Metro Boomin use?
Metro Boomin uses FL Studio, a staple DAW in hip-hop and trap scenes that offers powerful drum sequencing tools, innovative synths, and plugins like Gross Beat, Soundgoodizer, and Slicex.
Beyond his DAW, Metro uses the Akai MPC 2000XL, a popular sampler in the hip-hop world. His Boominati Studio is packed with analog gear, where his engineer, Evan Stevens, mixes tracks on an 80-channel SSL J-Series desk. Stevens credits this analog approach for achieving a warmer, more musical sound, moving away from a purely digital workflow.
Metro himself is a fan of vintage hardware, using the SP-1200 Drum Sampler, the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Machine, and various guitar pedals to create textures that are hard to replicate digitally. His plugin arsenal includes FabFilter Pro-MB, Pro-Q 4, and Saturn 2 bundle, alongside effects processors like Eventide Blackhole and Universal Audio 1176 for vocal shaping.
Recommended listening: “Heartless” by The Weeknd
What DAW does Tyler, The Creator use?
Tyler, The Creator is constantly reshaping his sound by blending genres like synth-pop, soul, reggae, and jazz into his hip-hop roots. And to do this, he has relied on multiple DAWs over the years, including FL Studio, Logic Pro X, and Pro Tools. However, during the production of one of his recent releases, Igor, he relied on Pro Tools alongside Universal Audio plugins to achieve his unique sonic textures.
His production process involves heavy use of Empirical Labs Distressor to add punch to his kicks and snares, while the Universal Audio SSL 4000 G Bus Compressor is used on his mix bus to add glue and cohesion to full mixes. His signature vocal chain typically includes Neve and API-style preamps run through the Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection.
Recommended listening: “See You Again” by Tyler, The Creator
What DAW does Skrillex use?
Skrillex relies on Ableton Live to create his genre-defining EDM and dubstep tracks.
One of Ableton’s standout features is its advanced warping capabilities, which allow Skrillex to manipulate samples while maintaining their quality. This is essential for his sound design-heavy productions, where he constantly tweaks and repitches sounds. Inside Ableton, he frequently uses FM8 and Massive, two iconic synth plugins from Native Instruments, to craft his aggressive basslines and intricate leads.
His workflow also involves Ableton’s built-in multiband dynamics, EQ Eight, and saturators, as well as third-party tools like iZotope Ozone and FabFilter Pro-Q 4 for precise shaping and mastering.
Recommended listening: “With You Friends (Long Drive)” by Skrillex
What DAW does Max Martin use?
Max Martin is behind some of the biggest pop hits of all time, working with artists like Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and Britney Spears. When it comes to his production setup, Pro Tools is his go-to DAW. He’s stuck with it throughout his career because of how well it works with large studio consoles for big-budget productions.
But unlike a lot of producers, Martin doesn’t rely on the plugins inside of the DAW to shape his production. Instead, he treats Pro Tools more like a digital mixing desk, using it to record vocals and instruments while bringing in outboard gear for extra depth.
Martin’s sessions are tightly organised, always aiming for that polished, radio-ready sound. You won’t hear tonnes of wild effects or synth-heavy production in his work – instead, it’s all about clean mixes and smooth vocal layering.
Recommended listening: “So What” by Pink
What DAW does Bob Rock use?
Bob Rock has spent decades shaping the sound of rock and metal, evolving from analog tape to digital recording without missing a beat. These days, he works in Pro Tools, a DAW that gives him the console-like workflow he prefers while delivering pristine audio quality.
He’s a big believer in digital recording, saying, “Personally, I love digital. The transients are maintained. I don’t have to EQ as much.” (Bob Rock, Decibel Magazine, 2017)
But Rock doesn’t just stick to the basics – he fully embraces modern production tools. He relies on Toontrack’s Superior Drummer 3 to craft his signature big, punchy drum sounds, and he swears by Universal Audio’s tape emulation plugins to bring warmth and character to his digital mixes.
When asked about his approach, he said he keeps it simple: “Big and fat. And digital.”(Bob Rock, Decibel Magazine, 2017) With UA’s vintage-style processing and the precision of Pro Tools, Rock blends the best of both worlds – classic analog tone with modern digital power.
Recommended listening: “Enter Sandman” by Metallica
What DAW does Damon Albarn use?
The creative mind behind Blur and Gorillaz, Damon Albarn has a fast and spontaneous approach to making music. Surprisingly, Albarn’s first port of call is GarageBand. It might be seen as a beginner’s tool, but Albarn uses it to quickly capture ideas, layer sounds, and shape early versions of his songs. With its built-in loops, virtual instruments, and drum machines, it’s a powerful sketchpad for songwriting.
But GarageBand is just the starting point. Once the ideas are fleshed out, everything moves to Pro Tools for mixing and mastering. This workflow was key in the making of Humanz, where engineer Stephen Sedgwick polished the final sound using Native Instruments plugins and synths from Arturia’s Analog Lab.
Albarn’s approach proves that you don’t need the most advanced DAW to make great music – sometimes, simple tools spark the best ideas.
Recommended listening: “Feel Good Inc.” by Gorillaz
What DAW does Dr. Dre use?
Dr. Dre’s production roots go back to the days of hardware-driven beats. Think Akai MPC3000 and Roland TR-808, long before DAWs became the industry standard. But when he does use one, his pick is Pro Tools.
Early on, Dre wasn’t sold on digital recording. In a 2004 interview, he admitted he had doubts about Pro Tools, feeling it lacked the low-end punch he wanted. But as the software improved, so did his opinion. Eventually, he embraced it, saying, “I think they’ve perfected it enough for me to roll with it.” (Dr. Dre, Scratch Magazine, 2004).
Even with Pro Tools at the centre of his setup, Dre still leans on classic analog gear to shape his signature G-Funk sound. He regularly uses the Korg Triton workstation, Moog’s Model D synth, and the iconic TR-808 to keep that warm, punchy feel in his productions.
Recommended listening: “Keep Their Heads Ringin” by Dr. Dre
What DAW does Jens Bogren use?
Jens Bogren has spent decades shaping the sound of modern metal at Fascination Street Studios, where his DAW of choice is Pro Tools. He relies on Pro Tools session templates to speed up the production process. As he puts it, “I work mainly in the box with Pro Tools, and I tend to import some backbone structures either from templates I made, or other suitable sessions I’ve worked on.” (Jens Bogren, Gearspace.com, 2023).
He integrates the SSL 4K G console found at Fascination Street Studios with Pro Tools for smooth routing between analog outboard gear, compressors, EQs, and guitar amp reamping.
While Bogren is a big fan of analog processing, he’s also embraced the digital world with his Bogren Digital plugin collection, which includes virtual amps and drum software designed with leading metal artists like Trivium and Krimh to deliver studio-quality tones inside the box.
Recommended listening: “Twilight Of The Thunder God” by Amon Amarth
What DAW does Trent Reznor use?
Trent Reznor, the mastermind behind Nine Inch Nails, builds his sound using Logic Pro as his primary DAW. Known for his layered, experimental approach, he leans heavily on Logic’s built-in synths and effects to create dark, textured soundscapes.
Reznor’s decision to use Logic Pro goes beyond the studio. He also integrates Logic Pro with Apple’s MainStage for live performances, ensuring the intricate sounds he crafts in the studio translate seamlessly to the stage. Alongside his DAW, he relies on hardware synths, guitar pedals, and modular effects, further shaping his signature industrial sound.
Recommended listening: “Mr. Self Destruct” by Nine Inch Nails
What DAW does deadmau5 use?
A dedicated Ableton Live user, deadmau5 is drawn to this DAW for its fast, intuitive workflow and deep sound design capabilities. He once described Ableton as a cartoony version of what a DAW should be, not as an insult, but because of its fun, creative layout that makes experimenting with sounds effortless.
One of the biggest reasons Deadmau5 sticks with Ableton is “Max for Live”, a unique tool that lets producers build custom synths and effects from scratch. Since sound design is at the core of deadmau5 tracks, the seamless Max for Live integration makes complete sense.
You can often find deadmau5 collaborating with other artists, and with the Ableton Link feature, he can create songs in real-time on two different machines simultaneously. This feature was crucial in the creation of his 2017 track with Attlas, “Bad At Titles”.
Recommended listening: “Strobe” by deadmau5
What DAW does Pharrell use?
Only the second producer on the list to use multiple DAWs, Pharrell Williams works with both Logic Pro and Pro Tools, using each for different stages of his production process. Starting with Logic Pro, the built-in virtual instruments and simple sequencing are ideal for Pharrell to sketch out ideas on his laptop anywhere in the world, without the need for a ton of external gear.
When it’s time for final mixing and mastering, Pharrell switches to Pro Tools. He treats it like a virtual tape machine, relying on its huge range of included industry-leading mixing plugins to give his music a professional, polished sound.
Recommended listening: “Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg
What DAW does Hans Zimmer use?
One of the most influential composers in film history, Hans Zimmer trusts Cubase as his DAW of choice. Cubase allows him to experiment with orchestration and soundscapes in ways that other DAWs can’t, giving him a huge amount of flexibility and seamless integration with orchestral libraries and hardware instruments.
A key feature that makes Cubase indispensable for Zimmer is its support for Atmos productions, which is vital for the immersive, multi-dimensional soundscapes that define his film scores. Whether he’s layering strings for an intense battle sequence or crafting delicate piano motifs, Cubase provides the tools he needs to push the boundaries of cinematic music production.
Recommended listening: “He’s a Pirate” From Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl
FAQs
What does DAW stand for?
DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation. A DAW is a piece of music software for music production that lets you record, edit, mix, and master music. It’s an entire virtual studio where you can apply effects, use virtual instruments, and more to take a song from inception to reality.
What DAW is best for beginners?
Pro Tools is one of the best DAWs for beginners. It’s an industry-standard, so really, it’s suited to all ability levels. Particularly for beginners, its clean and easy-to-navigate interface lets you get as complex as you need to in your mixes while giving you some of the highest-quality plugins to work with.
Is it hard to learn a DAW?
Mastering a DAW takes time, but learning the basics is easier than it seems. Most DAWs share common functions, and once you grasp recording, editing, and arranging, you can create music quickly. We recommend focusing on the core tools you need, ones that you’ll be using over and over again, before you try to master the more intricate functions.
Final thoughts
So there it is, we’ve demystified what DAWs producers use. As you can see, it’s an even spread among some of the most common DAWs, including Pro Tools, Ableton, FL Studio, Logic Pro, and Cubase. Each DAW caters to the different workflow needs of producers, offering specialised features for different genres and styles – it’s now up to you to decide what’s going to work best for the kind of producer you want to be.
If you want to learn more about DAWs, check out some of our other articles below:
Ableton vs. Pro Tools – Which DAW Is Right for You?
What Is a DAW? Everything You Need to Know about Digital Audio Workstations
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