Recommend multitracking software for Windows

[mrmando]

So... a new Microsoft Surface is coming my way this week. Everybody in the family already has at least one computer, so the Surface will likely be community property. I'd like to use it for multitrack recording.

(I have Audacity and a Zoom H2, as well as an old Roland VS880EX, but this recording is apparently not going to happen using any of those.)

Which Windows 10-friendly multitracking software do folks recommend? I can spend a couple hundred bucks or so. Already have some good mics and a USB interface.

[BrianWilliam]

I used ableton on Windows 7. It's not the most traditional DAW but I liked it for laying out songs quickly.

This is past tense because all I record now is practice, rehearsals, and shows for my personal review and my tascam and audacity handle that just fine.

[Toni Schula]

Ardour is now also available for Windows. This is "donation ware", that is they ask for your donation but do not insist. I use it for years now (on Linux so far). As it is a quite powerful DAW it has it's learning curve.

[keithb]

I love Reaper (http://www.reaper.fm/) - intuitive to use, full-power DAW, free to try, cheap to buy if you like it.

[foldedpath]

Reaper is inexpensive and works very well. There's a learning curve, but you're going to get that with any decent DAW. The user forum is friendly and you can get help there.

Try the Reaper demo first though, and make sure it works with whatever interface you'll be using. I had a few issues when I bought it just to try out last year... worked for a while, then something in my configuration started locking it up. I ended up going back to my main DAW that I've used for years -- Samplitude Pro X, but that's overkill (and expensive) unless you have a need for lots of micro editing and note replacement.

[Pete Martin]

Reaper!!!! Best I've found (although I still use it on XP as it works exactly as I want). Never had a SINGLE crash.
http://www.reaper.fm/

Good forum as well, very friendly, unlike a LOT of recording software forums...
http://forum.cockos.com/

[lukmanohnz]

+1 for Reaper - stable, supported, simple, soft on the wallet.

[Nisse]

I use Harrison Mixbus. Inexpensive but really nice. Laid out like a traditional mixer it's quite intuitive and easy to work with. I used to work in Cubase but Harrison Mixbus is so much more fun to work with, I get my mixes to sound like I want a whole lot faster now.

[Barry Wilson]

of all the software daws I tried, I found mixcraft the easiest to navigate. it has free demo and such http://www.acoustica.com/mixcraft/

[Bill Stokes]

Another Reaper fan here. Pay $60 if you like it, $0 if you don't.