Cakewalk Next vs Digital Performer
Cakewalk Next
cakewalk.com
Digital Performer
motu.comSide by side
| Figure | Cakewalk Next | Digital Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 10 |
| Spec score · Digital Audio Workstations | 8.0 (#15) | 8.4 (#6) |
| Spec score · Game Music Software | 8.0 (#11) | 8.3 (#5) |
| Product | Cakewalk Next is a streamlined digital audio workstation for songwriters, beatmakers, and content creators. | Digital Performer is a digital audio recording, MIDI sequencing, editing, arranging, mixing, and music notation application. |
| Support | Cakewalk provides a Help Center with Next setup, recording, tutorials, troubleshooting, and product installation sections. | MOTU says registered users are eligible for technical support through its support website or by telephone. |
Plans
Cakewalk Next
- Cakewalk Next FreeFree
- BandLab Membership (optional)Priced on request
Digital Performer
- Full versionPriced on request
- Full versionPrice not published
- Competitive upgradePrice not published
- Competitive upgradePriced on request
- Performer Lite upgradePriced on request
- Upgrade from previous versionPriced on request
- Upgrade from previous version$195, paid once
- DP11 competitive upgrade$395, paid once
- Performer Lite upgrade$395, paid once
- Digital Performer 11 full version$499, paid once
In their own words
Cakewalk Next
Cakewalk Next is a digital audio workstation for songwriters, beatmakers, and content creators on Windows and macOS. It records audio with flexible routing and organizes arrangements as timeline blocks that can be moved, duplicated, or reordered. MIDI work happens in a Piano Roll with drawing tools, snap-to-grid, and note editing. Lyrics can sit in the timeline beside vocal tracks. The workstation includes virtual instruments, effect chains, VST and AU plugin support, and audio warping. Its product information says sessions can incorporate more than 100,000 royalty-free samples. Linking a free BandLab account enables importing BandLab projects and publishing projects to BandLab. A free BandLab account is required. Cakewalk Next Free costs nothing and includes unlimited tracks, virtual instruments, built-in effects, and VST and AU support. Minimum systems are Windows 11 or later and macOS Catalina 10.15 or later.
Digital Performer
Digital Performer is an application for recording audio, sequencing MIDI, editing, arranging, mixing, and creating music notation. Its MOTU Audio System combines a hard-disk recording engine with a mixing environment that includes internal busses, aux tracks, master faders, sends, and real-time effects. The application supports virtual instruments and third-party VST plug-ins on Mac and Windows, plus Audio Unit plug-ins on macOS. QuickScribe exports notation scores as MusicXML for use in notation programs such as Finale and Sibelius. Digital Performer runs on macOS and Windows and is 64-bit only; it does not support 32-bit plug-ins or virtual instruments, and PC ARM processors are not supported. The guide lists macOS 10.13 or later and 64-bit Windows 10 as minimum operating systems. A 30-day demo includes all features except MP3 exporting and allows documents to be saved. There is no free plan. The listed full version costs $499, paid once, and the DP11 competitive upgrade costs $395 as a one-time purchase. Registered users are eligible for technical support through the support website or by telephone.