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DAWs

A DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is a software program that allows users to record, edit, and produce audio files. It is used in many different settings, including music production, sound design, game audio, film and TV post-production, and podcasting.

Main Functions of a DAW

The main functions of modern-day Digital Audio Workstation software include:

Recording: DAWs allow users to record audio from a variety of sources, such as microphones, instruments, and MIDI controllers.

Editing: DAWs allow users to edit audio files by cutting, copying, pasting, and rearranging sections of audio. They also offer a variety of tools for cleaning up and enhancing audio, such as noise reduction, EQ, and compression.

Mixing: DAWs allow users to mix multiple audio tracks together, adjusting levels, panning, and applying effects to create a cohesive final product.

Mastering: DAWs offer tools and features for mastering audio, such as loudness normalization and EQ adjustments to ensure that the final audio product meets industry standards.

Main Benefits of using a DAW

Some of the main benefits of using a DAW include:

  • Efficiency: DAWs allow users to quickly and easily record, edit, and produce audio, saving time and effort compared to traditional analog methods.
  • Flexibility: DAWs offer a wide range of tools and features that allow users to customize their audio production process and achieve the desired results.
  • Collaboration: Many DAWs offer features that allow users to collaborate together and work on projects remotely, making it easier to work with others on audio projects like podcasts and song ideation.
  • Portability: DAWs can be used on a variety of devices, including computers, laptops, and tablets, making it easier to work on audio projects from anywhere.

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.

Displaying 85 - 105 of 115 items
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    Optimising Performance Efficiency In Digital Performer

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    Knowing how to squeeze the very best performance and efficiency out of your DP setup can let you work more quickly and increase your creative options, whether you own a G3 iMac or the latest G5. For all you need, read on...

    Techniques Sep 2005
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    DP: Powered Processing Options

    Performer Tips & Techniques

    We investigate a newcomer to the orchestral sample-player scene and provide a quick round-up of the 'powered processing' options available to DP users.

    Techniques Sep 2005
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    Discwelder Bronze DVD-Audio Trial

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    More news and ideas from the DP scene — as well as some good old-fashioned rumour-mongering...

    Techniques Aug 2005
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    Practical Groove Quantisation In Digital Performer

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    This month's Digital Performer workshop aims to help you get into the groove more effectively, through the use of the program's sophisticated quantisation facilities.

    Techniques Aug 2005
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    How OS X Tiger Affects Digital Performer

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    Tiger, Apple's latest version of OS X, has some implications for Digital Performer users. Happily, they're nearly all good...

    Techniques Jul 2005
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    Creative Shortcuts In Digital Performer

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    An accomplished sequencer such as Digital Performer certainly allows its users to push the envelope when it comes to sophisticated music and sound production, but it should also act as a sketchpad, facilitating composition and musical experimentation. We take a look at what DP can offer in this area.

    Techniques Jul 2005
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    DP: 3rd Party Developments

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    Now that the excitement surrounding the launch of DP 4.5 has subsided somewhat, developments by MOTU-friendly companies get this month's column under way.

    Techniques Jun 2005
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    Automation In Digital Performer 4.5

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    If you are a user of MOTU's Digital Performer sequencing software, you have access to an extensive and full-featured automated mixing environment. Here's how to use it...

    Techniques Jun 2005
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    Digital Performer: EQing Tracks

    Digital Performer Notes

    We explain how to tweak your tracks with MOTU's answer to Sony's Oxford EQ and speed up your workflow with the essential DP keyboard shortcut selection!

    Techniques May 2005
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    Digital Performer: Future Features & Tempo Analysis

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    MOTU hinted at even more additions to DP during January 2005's NAMM show. We get a sneak preview, as well as exploring the program's Tempo Analysis powers.

    Techniques Apr 2005
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    Digital Performer: Create Soundbites From Beats

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    Smooth your audio edits, create soundbites from beats, find out about tempo analysis and get the run-down on why you need the DP 4.52 update...

    Techniques Mar 2005
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    Beat Detection In MOTU DP 4.5

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    The new Beat Detection Engine in Digital Performer 4.5 gives you much greater control over audio quantising and tempo manipulation. We explain how...

    Techniques Feb 2005
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    MOTU Digital Performer 4.5

    MIDI + Audio Sequencer [Mac OS X]

    The migration to OS X has caused major upheavals for both software manufacturers and musicians, but Mark Of The Unicorn's long-established Digital Performer sequencer is better than ever.

    Reviews Feb 2005
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    Digital Performer: New Ways To Work

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    DP 4.5 delivers new features that promise to fundamentally change the way users work, as well as offering smaller but crucial enhancements to existing features.

    Techniques Jan 2005
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    Using Digital Performer With Ableton Live

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    We explain how to use DP effectively with Ableton's Live and offer a brief preview of MOTU's latest big update to Digital Performer, version 4.5.

    Techniques Dec 2004
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    Digital Performer: Audio Pitch & Tempo Manipulation

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    A guide to DP's options for audio pitch and tempo manipulation is on the agenda for this month's instalment of Performer Notes.

    Techniques Nov 2004
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    Future-proofing Digital Performer Projects

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    We conclude our look at DP's Consoles, and suggests some ways of 'future-proofing' your Projects against the relentless flow of application and plug-in updates.

    Techniques Jul 2004
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    Digital Performer: Using Your MIDI Synth To Control Plug-ins

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    Fancy turning your knob-laden MIDI synth into a control surface for tweaking plug-in synths? DP's Consoles make this kind of application possible.

    Techniques Jun 2004
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    Consoles: taking control with Digital Performer

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    If you've never investigated DP's Consoles feature, you may be missing out on interesting MIDI and Audio control possibilities. We explain, as well as introducing a couple of indispensable new utilities.

    Techniques May 2004
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    Beat-slicing in DP

    Digital Performer Notes

    The plug-in and inter-application software world grows ever richer for DP users, and a set of new features for the program is announced at the NAMM show mdash; including, at last, a 'beat-slicing' function.

    Techniques Apr 2004
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    Sampling MOTU's Mach Five

    Digital Performer Tips & Techniques

    MOTU finally have their own soft sampler, Mach Five, which is ideal for use with DP, but doesn't always work exactly as you might expect. Read on for the primer...

    Techniques Mar 2004

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