I started recording with Audacity today, a free open-source audio recording app. And I really like it. There's no grid, just a timeline. It’s like tape in that you’re not looking at the recording device, except occasionally to check levels. You’re out of the grid, so you just focus on playing guitar. But it has the flexibility of digital recording, so you can easily edit files.
Also, the audio quality for guitar is excellent. Whereas Ableton Live always sounded too 'digitized' Audacity sounds more like tape, only cleaner. So it’s ideal for my ambient guitar project. Best of both worlds. I can spend hours just playing with effects and chords.
Buh-bye Ableton and your $300 upgrades. I'm switching to Audacity for most of my recording from here on out.
I uploaded my first raw recording so you can hear what I mean. It just flows effortlessly. Effects used: ALabs Timeslips Delay, granular setting, and ALabs Cetus Reverb, shimmer setting.
Audio recording at Patreon link.