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DAW Software

A DAW, which stands for Digital Audio Workstation, is a software tool that enables users to capture, modify, and create audio content. It is utilised in various contexts such as music production, sound design, game audio, film and TV post-production, and podcasting.

Primary uses of a DAW

The primary purposes of contemporary Digital Audio Workstation software comprise: 

Recording: All DAWs enable users to capture audio from different sources like microphones, instruments, and MIDI controllers using an Audio Interface connected to the computer.

Editing:  DAWs enable users to cut, copy, paste, and rearrange sections of audio files. They also provide a range of tools for improving the quality of audio, including noise reduction, EQ, and compression.

Mixing: Digital Audio Workstations enable users to blend various audio tracks, modifying volumes, positioning, and adding effects to produce a unified end result.

Mastering: Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) provide features like loudness normalisation and EQ adjustments to ensure the final audio meets industry standards.

Advantages of utilising a Digital Audio Workstation

Efficiency: DAWs enable users to efficiently record, edit, and produce audio with ease, cutting down on time and effort when compared to traditional analogue techniques.

Flexibility: DAWs offer a wide range of tools and features that allow users to customise their audio production process and achieve the desired results.

Collaboration: Numerous DAWs provide tools that enable users to work together and collaborate on projects from different locations, simplifying the process of collaborating on audio projects such as podcasts and song creation.

Portability: Digital Audio Workstations are compatible with different devices such as desktop computers (Mac/PC) , laptops and tablets, allowing users to work on audio projects conveniently from any location.

There are many popular software DAWs, some of which come built into the Operating System of your favourite computer, such as Apple GarageBand on Macs. Sound On Sound regularly covers all the top brands in its monthly DAW Masterclasses. From Steinberg Cubase and Avid Pro Tools, PreSonus Studio One and Apple Logic Pro, MOTU Digital Performer to Ableton Live, Reason Studios Reason and Cockos Reaper, you'll find how-to techniques and tips for all of these and other DAWs collected under the sections shown above.

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    PreSonus Studio One Pro 7 DAW AI-powered stem separation Splice integration Deep Flight One virtual instrument

    PreSonus Studio One Pro 7 arrives

    AI Stem separation, Splice integration, integrated Launcher, Global Transpose, new synth VI, and more!

    The latest version 7 of PreSonus’s popular DAW is now available, packed with new features that promise to make it the most innovative version to date.

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    Ableton Move portable Live instrument

    Ableton go portable with Move

    Company launch compact standalone instrument

    Featuring a compact, portable design and up to four hours of battery life, Move comes packed with sounds and instrument presets, and also includes onboard sampling and sequencing. 

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    Universal Audio announce Volt USB Recording Studios

    Volt interfaces now include LUNA & UAD plug-in bundles

    Universal Audio have announced a change to their range of Volt audio interfaces, which now come bundled with a range of software that provides users with an all-in-one recording and mixing package.

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    Steinberg 40th anniversary sale DAW Cubase Dorico WaveLab Absolute discount

    Steinberg’s 40th Anniversary Sale

    Cubase, Dorico, Absolute & WaveLab discounts

    Steinberg are offering a 50% discount on four of their popular products in celebration of their 40th anniversary. 

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    BeatConnect online collaboration remote DAW beatmaking music production application

    BeatConnect launch Drops feature

    Online collaboration platform updated

    BeatConnect recently announced an update to their online collaboration platform that allows users to explore a diverse array of audio projects created by the community. 

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    Bitwig Studio 5.2 DAW electronic music modular music-creation software

    Bitwig Studio 5.2 now available

    New plug-ins, audio editing tools, hardware acceleration & more

    The full release of Bitwig Studio 5.2 has arrived, and includes a new multi-band compressor, three EQs, a new clipper and a whole host of additional features and enhancements.

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    Harrison LiveTrax live recording tracking virtual soundtrack software

    Harrison announce LiveTrax software

    Designed for live recording & virtual soundchecks

    LiveTrax offers multitrack recording and playback, making it possible to capture live shows and carry out virtual soundchecks, and boasts seamless integration with Allen & Heath’s range of live consoles. 

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    FL Studio 2024 DAW update FL Cloud plug-ins

    Image Line FL Studio 2024 now available

    New synth & effects along with FL Cloud update

    Image Line have announced a major update for FL Studio as well as introducing plug-ins and virtual instruments to their FL Cloud service.

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    Avid Pro Tools 2024.6 ARA 2 iZotope RX Spectral Editor Synchro Arts RePitch VocAlign Revoice Pro Sound Radix Auto-Align Post 2

    Avid launch Pro Tools 2024.6

    iZotope, Synchro Arts & Sound Radix ARA2 support

    The latest version of Pro Tools introduces an extensive list of features along with ARA2 support for multiple third-party plug-ins.

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    Reason 13 open beta

    Reason Studios launch Reason 13

    New polysynth, Rack Devices, editing tools & more

    Reason Studios have announced that the latest version of their popular DAW software is now officially available.

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    M4L Juicy Loops FL Studio Fruity Loops sequencer Ableton Live

    Juicy Loops 2: Max For Live sequencer

    Polymetric sequencer gets an upgrade

    Juicy Loops 2 is a Max for Live creation that brings FL Studio’s sequencer to Ableton Live users.

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    Reason 13 open beta

    Reason 13 open beta now live

    Sign up on the Reason Studios website

    Reason Studios are inviting users to sign up for access to the open beta of Reason 13. 

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    Universal Audio LUNA Windows open beta DAW

    Universal Audio bring LUNA to Windows

    Free DAW now in open beta on PC

    Universal Audio have announced the launch of an open beta that brings Windows support to their LUNA DAW software.

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    SUPERBOOTH24: Bitwig Studio 5.2

    Video Report

    Bitwig talked us through the new compressor and EQ plug-ins in BITWIG Studio 5.2 as well as detailing some of its new editing capabilities.

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    Apple Logic Pro 11 Mac iPad DAW AI-powered drummer keyboard bass player analogue-style saturation plug-in stem separation

    Apple Logic Pro 11 incoming

    Virtual bandmates, stem separation & new saturation plug-in

    The latest versions of Logic Pro and Logic Pro for iPad include virtual bass and keyboard players, built-in stem separation and a new ChromaGlow saturation plug-in.

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    n-Track Studio 10.1 DAW update built-in stem separation remove vocals

    n-Track Studio gains stem separation tool

    Version 10.1 update now available

    With the launch of its new update, n-Track becomes the latest DAW with built-in tools for splitting mixed audio into its component parts.

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    Bitwig Studio 5.2 DAW electronic music modular music-creation software

    Bitwig Studio 5.2 beta now available

    New plug-ins, audio editing improvements & more

    The latest version of Bitwig Studio is in public beta, with a full release expected to appear by summer 2024.

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    Harrison Mixbus 10 analogue console-style DAW Dolby Atmos SSL EQ

    Harrison unveil Mixbus 10

    DAW gains Atmos support & SSL mixer EQ

    Harrison's console-style DAW has reached version 10, and now offers Dolby Atmos mixing and rendering along with some new plug-ins and mixer functionalities.

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    Tracktion Waveform Pro 13 DAW update clip launcher wavetable soft synth

    Tracktion announce Waveform Pro 13

    Clip launching, new wavetable synth & more

    The latest version of Tracktion's DAW introduces a whole host of new features along with a refined GUI.

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    PreSonus Studio One 6.6 DAW Dolby Atmos Renderer Apple Spatial Audio TuneCore mixes virtual instrument update

    PreSonus Studio One 6.6 arrives

    Atmos enhancement, new Lead Architect VI, TuneCore upload & new hybrid licensing model

    The latest Studio One update expands on the DAW's immersive capabilities as well as adding a new virtual instrument, implementing TuneCore integration, and offering an alternative licensing option.

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    Acoustica Mixcraft 10.5 DAW update AI stem separation project templates

    Acoustica Mixcraft 10.5

    Windows DAW gains built-in stem separation

    Mixcraft 10.5 offers a range of new features including AI-powered stem separation, user interface enhancements, new plug‑in management options and more.

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