This project has been a work in progress since around the start of August 2005, I decided to develop a suite of test sessions that were not based on the typical Dyno Run / CPU readout style of benchmarks that have been the norm previously.

The Project has evolved over the years to now include dedicated benchmark sessions for Nuendo / Cubase , SONAR and Protools as well as the DAWbench DSP Universal benchmark , which also includes Reaper , StudioOne, and Logic as well as the applications listed previous.

The tests and ongoing threads have definitely uncovered a large number of variables that can be explored , we have learned a great deal in the process , and I have no doubt that the collective and ongoing discussion can be a benefit to all.

The Project was also featured in an article in Sound On Sound in July 2006 Here , and has been featured in many subsequent articles relating to DAW performance.

I have configured a dedicated forum for not only the existing test sessions, but all of the future benchmarks that are currently in development.

If you can contribute in any way, please feel free to contact me via email, or register and post in the forum.

Vin Curigliano
AAVIM Technology

4 x Stereo Tracks of Audio Content

1 x Stereo Track - Sine Monitor

40 x Stereo Tracks of Sine Waves

320 x Multiband Compressors - 8 per Sine Wave track inactive - to be turned on one at a time until session is overloaded.

Plugins used:

ReaFX ReaXComp ( Freeware ) WaveArts MD5 ( 30 Day Trial )

Cubase/Nuendo, Logic, Reaper, SONAR, StudioOne Version :
Download »: 14.25 MB

Protools Version:
Download »: 17.25 MB

96K Version *Cubase/Nuendo Only. Download »: 33.10 MB

This Benchmark is a combination of Low Latency, High Track Count, and Extreme DSP Loadings. Heavily dependant on CPU, Memory and ASIO Efficiency

Native sessions for Nuendo/Cubase , SONAR , Reaper , StudioOne, *Logic , *Protools - More applications coming soon.

*MD5 versions only.

Suite also contains alternate Cubendo DSP, and Protools DSP sessions which are configured using bundled plugins instead of the 3rd party plugins for easier cross platform comparative testing

The test session can be easily configured in any DAW application.

Results and Discussion Here»

DAW X-Scaling Shootout : Cubendo v Reaper v SONAR
Intel i7 DAW Performance - Part I
DAW O.S Shootout 2010 - Part I : Windows v OSX : Steinberg Cubendo