Browser DAW

Hello!

I think there's a big future in browser based DAWs, but so far they all seem to have terrible instruments.

I was wondering if it was even practical or possible that Native Instruments partners or builds their own browser based DAW that has Native Instruments samples available on the server?

Why?

1. Works on more devices (even high-end chromebooks)
2. Access to the same work across devices (if you have more than one studio and computer)
3. Collaboration with other artists
4. Sound files are huge and even MacBooks regularly have 128 GB SSD Drives
5. New options to sell Native Instruments. Instead of paying $129 for Alicias Keys, for example, you could license the sound for $10/month (better for a lot of customers and should be more profitable in the long run.

My apologies if I posted this in the wrong space, really interested to hear if there is interest in a DAW like this, or why it may not be possible.

 

NO, a lot of studios do not have the main PC linked to internet, I keep mine off internet and only go online if need to update or refresh a licence, and certainly do not want it online all the time.

 

I personally have no interest in briwser based DAW and prefer not to rely on internet to be able to play music. But im old.

 

I figured most people here wouldn't be too interested since this is a place where people come once they have the setup they like, or simply have needs that would be silly to try to meet in a browser DAW.

My main interest in something like that is that I would just prefer to not have to keep buying expensive MacBooks for this hobby. And I think it would be great to open up these types of instruments to a new audience who simply can't afford an expensive laptop, or would like to use a high-end tablet or Chromebook.

 

But the issue will be things like latency and quality of sound for production purposes. All things would need to run in a virtual instance on a remote server and when it comes to input/output of audio via the internet that would be rather problematic. Not to say it is impossible and something like that may eventuate but I would see a lot of limitations and it would really be aimed at the hobbyist.

If you really don't need to be mobile (as it is a hobby) then you don't need to be locked to the expense of a Macbook at all. A PC tower can be far cheaper and have far more power per core/$$ and can easily last 10+ years of production. Mine is currently 5 years old (i7 4820K, 16GB DDR3) with my last machine still in service as a backup which is 10 years old now... I also have a 2019 macbook which is about the same cost as my tower and only 3 months old but has half the power and 1/60th the internal storage.

 

You dont need an expensive Macbook, a PC is far cheaper more performance £ for £ too. As the saying goes here, "your pissing in the wind" with this one.

 

Big issue is browser not well suited to connect to hardware on computer, privacy issues with Chrome, Abandonware, javascript, security issues for disk read writes, probably some weird proprietary file format, etc. .... amazing that some things do work in browser, but very narrow use case. So many free DAWs out there, that run as applications, with signed security for the OS, a browser experience would be a bit wild west.

 

I'm not sure I could consider a browser daw as those above , but one thing that would be nice,is if all daws and software, could take another look at what makes a great browser and workflow. I like alot of what NI does with Komplete Kontrol + Maschine. Steinbergs mediabay and I like the loopmasters loopcloud option too. Though if it's going to make performance take a hit, I'd prefer to not have it.

 

I think the post is about having a DAW within a Web Browser (was not really worded very clear and I initially thought the same as you that they wanted some kind of media browser program).

 

I see thanks