DAW

What is a DAW?

DAW is the abbreviation for Digital Audio Workstation. In simple terms, it is software that can be used to record, edit and produce music. A DAW covers the entire process of music production from recording digital audio data to creating beats and melodies with virtual instruments, optimizing the sound with effects and mixing the song. A DAW is a complete package that contains everything you need to make music.

The DAW can record the sound of your microphone , your guitar and other instruments and save them as digital audio files on your computer’s hard disk. The software also sends and receives MIDI data. Via MIDI you can control hardware synthesizers and drum machines or play software instruments with an external keyboard. keyboard play.

Once you have recorded your musical ideas as audio or MIDI, you have many tools at your disposal in the DAW with which you can perfect the sound, timing, melodies and harmonies. The DAW timeline is like a canvas on which you can arrange the various tracks and parts to create a finished song. Each instrument or track has its own mixing console channel, just like in a real recording studio. You can use the corresponding controls to balance the individual instruments and add various audio effects such as EQ or reverb until everything sounds perfect.

Basics of a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

External analog and digital devices (tube compressors, tape machines, reverbs, delays, etc.) can be emulated or replaced by internal digital components. These components are made available to a software host as plug-ins, e.g. VST modules or audio units. The associated minimization reduces acquisition costs while increasing performance at the same time. Nevertheless, most recording studios today use a combination of DAW and external, usually analog devices in order to benefit equally from the advantages of both methods.

The DAW has become widespread, mainly due to the enormous increase in processor performance and adapted command sets. It is now possible to create professional-sounding music productions with an inexpensive computer and relatively little hardware.

Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) systems

There are basically two different systems within the digital audio workstation (DAW): Stand-alone systems and host-based systems.

Stand-alone systems

These stand-alone audio systems, such as AMS-Audiofile, Fairlight or Sonic Solutions, are housed in their own computer, which is exclusively responsible for audio recording and processing. Some systems, such as Fairlight, have a remote control with special buttons and a jog shuttle for quick and easy operation of the system. The advantages of such systems lie in their extremely high operational reliability and simple operation, which makes them particularly popular for use in public service broadcasting. However, stand-alone systems are also correspondingly cost-intensive.

Host-based systems

Here, a desktop computer takes on the role of “host” for software and hardware. This enables a more cost-effective solution, as the system can be easily expanded or upgraded. However, depending on the operating system used (typically MacOS or Windows), operational reliability is lower. In addition, DAW solutions based on mobile operating systems such as iOS with the DAW applications Auria Pro, Cubase, MultiTrack DAW, Xewton Music Studio and GarageBand are becoming increasingly popular. The DAWs can be adapted to different areas of application as required.

There are two types of host-based systems: native systems and DSP systems

Native systems consist of a computer with audio software, whose processor handles the complete processing of all signals. This makes these solutions inexpensive and enables the use of various software applications such as Logic Pro or Pro Tools. However, older and less powerful processors can easily reach their limits, as the computer not only has to provide computing power for audio processing, but also for other processes. For this reason, native systems are more common in home studios whose budget does not allow for a more complex solution. However, thanks to the technical development of CPUs, solid-state hard disks and RAM, native systems can now also achieve very good performance.

DSP systems have integrated DSP cards on which separate processors take over the audio processing. This leaves the computer’s CPU free for other tasks such as graphics display. Although a DSP system is significantly more expensive than a native system, it is also correspondingly more powerful.

Why were Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) developed?

Before software recording systems were widely available, you needed a fully equipped recording studio with a large mixing console to record music professionally. Analog tape machines were used for this purpose. In order to edit a recording afterwards, the tape had to be cut up, re-taped or dubbed accurately. This complex process required a lot of expensive hardware and several trained sound engineers.

As computers became more and more powerful, parts of the production process shifted to the software world. Steinberg was one of the first companies to follow this path.

Functions and functional classification of digital audio workstations

The user interface of a digital audio workstation (DAW) usually consists of several program windows that integrate various functions, including a virtual mixing console. This displays tracks and channels with playback and playback paths, bus assignments, pan controls and solo and mute buttons, all of which can be edited using the mouse. Automation is also possible. Some programs even support operation via external remote controls, which are similar to a conventional mixing console and facilitate the analog setting of digital values.

In terms of functionality, there are three main categories of DAWs:

Standard DAWs enable basic audio functions such as recording and audio editing.

Special DAWs, on the other hand, are specialized for certain tasks, such as exclusive recording, audio editing or sound design.

The Advanced-DAW offers a comprehensive range of functions and enables all areas of application such as recording, audio editing, mixing, mastering, video dubbing and much more.

What is done with a DAW?

Over time, DAWs were equipped with more and more tools and functions and opened up the world of music production to the large group of (hobby) musicians. There was no longer any need to buy a huge amount of equipment, as a single DAW could replace an entire studio. However, a DAW not only saves on recording equipment, instruments and effects devices can now also be replaced by software plug-ins without any loss of quality.

A single plug-in library can replace an entire studio room with synthesizers and effects units. All you need is an audio interface for recording, a MIDI keyboard for programming patterns and speakers for mixing, and you have a complete studio. And if you use your DAW on a laptop or tablet, you can even take your studio with you wherever you go.

No matter how you make music, a DAW has the right tools for it. Maybe your setup is very minimalist and as a singer/songwriter you just want to record an acoustic guitar and your vocals. Or you make electronic music and produce your music entirely on the computer with lots of virtual synthesizers and drum machines. With a DAW, it is even possible to compose music to match a video – ideal for film music and soundtracks. Combine the functions as you need them for your music, for example, record your band and add a software synthesizer – anything is possible. The DAW accompanies you from the initial idea to the finished music production.

What is included in a DAW and what should you look out for?

A DAW offers you all the tools you need to produce music, regardless of the style. You can use the audio tracks to record music played live, for example vocals, guitar, drums or orchestral instruments. With the MIDI tracks, you can program chords, beats, melodies and patterns and play them back with a MIDI instrument such as a software or hardware synthesizer. Also included are all the plug-in effects you need, from basic mixing tools such as EQ, reverb and compressor to extraordinary echo and modulation effects that let you unleash your creativity.

You can change everything you program or record in your project at any time, correct mistakes or add new ideas. You are also completely free to design your song, move individual passages around and try out different arrangements. Once you are happy with the structure, you can use powerful mixing tools to adjust not only the volume and spatial placement of the individual tracks, but also the sound and character of the instruments and vocals to suit your taste.

With a DAW on your computer, you have everything you need to make great music. Countless tools help you to capture your musical ideas and turn them into a fantastic song that you can publish immediately.

Open source DAWs

• Ardour
• Audio tool
• Chaotic
• DarkWave Studio
• Frinika
• Jeskola Buzz
• LMMS
• Macaw
• Musagi
• MuLab-Free
• Open Octave
• Psycle
• Qtractor
• Rosegarden
• Tracktion T7
• Traverso DAW
• Zryhtm

Proprietary DAWs

• Ableton Live
• Adobe Audition
• Apple Logic Pro
• AVID Pro Tools
• BandLab
• Bitwig Studio
• Digital Performer
• FL Studio aka Fruity Loops
• GarageBand
• MAGIX Sound Forge
• MAGIX Music Maker
• MAGIX Samplitude
• Motu Digital Performer
• PreSonus Studio One
• Pro Tools
• Propellerhead Reason
• Reaper
• Record
• Renoise
• Steinberg Cubase
• Steinberg Nuendo