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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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    Ableton Live 12 clip launching production live performance DAW update

    Ableton to launch Live 12

    New MIDI tools, devices, sound packs & more

    Live 12 introduces a set of new features designed to spark musical creativity, including new MIDI tools that help to generate unexpected ideas and a range of improvements that allow users to work more intuitively.

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    Universal Audio LUNA analogue emulation DAW free Mac

    Universal Audio’s LUNA DAW now free

    Available to Mac users with no hardware purchase required

    Having previously only been available to those who own Apollo interfaces, UA's LUNA DAW is now supported natively on macOS and free to all. 

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    Hit'n'Mix RipX DAW PRO AI music content creation stem separation software

    Hit’n’Mix release AI-powered RipX DAW

    Combines DeepRemix, DeepCreate and DeepAudio

    Hit’n’Mix's new DAW packages combine their existing processors and aim to provide a holistic approach to cutting-edge AI music production.

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    Logic Pro 10.8 for Mac in all its glory, seen here with the new Mastering Assistant joined by the Beat Breaker and Sample Alchemy plug-ins first introduced with Logic Pro for iPad.

    Apple release Logic Pro 10.8 for Mac & Logic Pro 1.1 for iPad

    Mastering Assistant introduced for Mac and iPad; v10.8 gets Beat Breaker and Sample Alchemy plug-ins

    Headline attraction is Mastering Assistant on both Mac and iPad. Plus, Beat Breaker and Sample Alchemy plug-ins first seen in Apple's Logic Pro for iPad have been brought to the Mac in Logic Pro 10.8.

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    Beatport Studio Plugin Boutique Loopmasters Loopcloud samples effects instruments subscription

    Beatport announce Beatport Studio service

    New subscription package launched

    Beatport Studio brings together a collection of instruments and effects from the Plugin Boutique range with the extensive sample libraries from Loopmasters and the user-friendly workflow of Loopcloud.

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    Steinberg Cubase 13 music composition production DAW update

    Steinberg unveil Cubase 13

    Overhauled MixConsole, new MIDI editing capabilities & much more

    Cubase 13 delivers a refreshed MixConsole design, expands the capabilities of the Key and Drum Editors and adds some new plug-ins, as well as reintroducing the Vocoder.

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    Image Line FL Studio 21.2 DAW production software update

    FL Studio 21.2 now available

    New Stem Separation function & cloud service

    Users of FL Studio can now extract drums, drums, bass, instruments and vocals from an audio file, and access a huge range of content on a new cloud-based platform.

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    n-Track Studio 10 Mac Windows iOS Android DAW recording production software

    n-Track Studio 10 DAW now available

    New sampling & effects capabilities

    Focusing on user-feedback, n-Track Studio 10 DAW implements a range of powerful new features which they say represent a game-changing experience for musicians and producers.

    News
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    Bitwig Studio 5.1 DAW update electronic music production semi modular synthesis software

    Bitwig Studio 5.1 beta now available

    New filters, waveshapers & more

    The latest version of Bitwig Studio introduces ten new modules and a pair of new FX containers, as well as implementing a variety of improvements to the software’s mixer and audio editing functionality.

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    Cockos Reaper 7 DAW update

    Cockos launch Reaper 7

    New Track Lanes & Swipe Comping features

    The latest version of Reaper delivers a number of major new features and user interface enhancements, along with a huge selection of behind-the-scenes fixes and improvements.

    News
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    DAWproject file format Bitwig PreSonus Studio One share projects

    Bitwig and PreSonus’ new DAWproject format

    Transfer project files between DAWs

    Bitwig and PreSonus have announced a new project file format that allows users of different DAWs to share session files.

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    PreSonus Studio One 6.5 DAW update surround Dolby Atmos immersive audio support

    Studio One 6.5 has arrived

    DAW gains surround & immersive support

    The headline feature of Studio One 6.5 is something which many users have been waiting for: support for immersive audio formats including Dolby Atmos.

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    Avid Pro Tools Sketch non-linear clip-based song loop creation tool

    Avid release Pro Tools Sketch

    New feature introduced in 2023.9 update

    Avid have announced the release of Pro Tools Sketch, a new non-linear, clip-based creation window in Pro Tools that is also available as a free iPad app.

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    FL Studio 21.1 Fruity Loops Studio Producer Signature Python scripting Declipper Chorus plug-ins

    Image Line update FL Studio

    Python-based scripting & new plug-ins

    The latest version of Image Line's FL Studio introduces a range of the community's most requested features alongside a selection of new plug-ins.

    News
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    Avid Pro Tools Media Composer sold purchased acquired STG

    Avid to be acquired by STG

    Company valued at approximately $1.4 billion

    Avid have entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired in an all-cash transaction by an affiliate of private equity firm STG.

    News
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    PreSonus Studio One 6.2 DAW update perpetual Sphere subscription

    PreSonus Studio One 6.2 update now available

    PreSonus Sphere becomes Studio One+

    As well as introducing a range of editing, arranging and mixing improvements to their popular DAW, PreSonus have also announced that PreSonus Sphere, their all-in-one subscription package, has been renamed to Studio One+.

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    Audiokinetic Strata sounds effects library video game interactive media Wwise Reaper integration

    Audiokinetic Strata sound effects collection

    Sound effects library provided as Reaper projects

    Strata is a new sound effects library which offers all of its content in multitrack project files that allow users to customise the sounds for their specific use case. 

    News
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    Bitwig Studio 5 Essentials Producer modular DAW electronic music

    Bitwig Studio 5 now available

    Two new versions of DAW also announced

    The latest version of Bitwig introduces five new Multi-Segment Envelope Generators, new Clip Launcher capabilities and upgrades to the entire modulation system. 

    News
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    Avid Audiomovers partnership Pro Tools DAW remote collaboration multi-channel audio streaming plug-in tool

    Avid & Audiomovers: Remote collaboration promotion

    LISTENTO subscriptions offers for Pro Tools users

    Avid and Audiomovers have announced a partnership which will offer new and existing Pro Tools subscribers with free or discounted subscriptions to Audiomovers’ LISTENTO plug-in.

    News
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    Acoustica Mixcraft 10 Recording Studio Pro Studio DAW software update

    Acoustica Mixcraft 10 released

    Intuitive Windows-only DAW gets a major upgrade

    The latest version of Mixcraft aims to make creating music easier and more enjoyable for all users, with a range of new features focusing on inspiration, ease of use and stability.

    News
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    Decyne4 Precyne 1.2 hardware studio MIDI sequencer tracker SysEx MIDI Clock sampler software

    Decyne4 Precyne 1.2 update

    Hardware-focused DAW gains powerful new sampler

    Precyne has been designed from the ground up to integrate with hardware-based studios, and now features a powerful new sampler and some audio recording facilities. 

    News

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