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DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation and is a general term used for modern recording software. Limiting the definition to ‘audio’ is slightly misleading – in reality, DAWs also feature MIDI, virtualinstrument and effects and often advanced tools like score editing and video support as well. A DAW is a complete music production environment that can fulfil every step of the process from recording, editing and arrangement to mixing and mastering.
The DAW started life as a MIDI sequencer, triggering hardware that was in turn connected to a mixing desk. Over time, software has developed rapidly and gained more and more features. First came MIDI and then digital audio. Later, virtual instruments and effects were invented and most recently, tools like elastic audio and pitch correction mean that it’s possible to have everything you need on your computer. That’s not to say that hardware is redundant, but the majority of recording systems now feature computer-based recordings of one sort or another.
There are good reasons for this. DAWs have virtually unlimited track counts, are easily upgraded and expanded and replicate the functions of a wide range of hardware tools in a good value package. The increasing power of affordable computer systems in the last decade has meant the average musician now has the facility to achieve things that in the old days would have cost a small fortune.
The most important & fundamental job of DAW software is to record audio, DAW software can record multiple audio tracks which can be fully editable & overridden. Audio DATA is usually processed through an Audio Interface connected to your laptop via USB or Thunderbolt. The user can jump, cut, overlay & many more functions to an 'audio take'.
The interface of a DAW on your computer or laptop usually displays an arrangment of your tracks, clips & other editing functions. There is a physcial representation of a mixer usually displayed with faders (like a hardware mixer), here you can mix levels, input / output gain & volume, pan, mute & solo.
There is an endless range of audio effects from reverb to limiting either coming with the DAW software or being imported from a third-party. The alteration of your audio or sound is limitless - this can be for specfic tracks, groups of tracks or the master. The most used audio effects would be EQ, Compressor, Reverb, Maximiser but there are so many variations out there to play with.
DAW Software also reads MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) Data, when plugging a MIDI keyboard direct into your computer or laptop you would be able to a visual representation of what you're playing on the DAW interface. From there you can edit key, pitch, note length, velocity & more.
Similar to audio effects, you can have an endless pit of different instruments displaying the data you have inputted into the DAW. With a MIDI Keyboard you can switch from a Grand Piano to an analogue synthesizer with the press of a button. With a trigger you can apply an 808 to you bass or an old 50s style kick. This also opens up to third party VSTs - there's a whole world of digital instruments out there.
Standard DAW Software
Ableton Live 10 Standard (Download) is Standard DAW Software that features New Drum Buss & Captures your audio even if you didn’t press record
Ableton Live 10 contains a range of new features and enhancements designed to improve workflow and boost your creative ideas. Explore the range of new sounds, loops and samples, ready to use and incorporate into your productions. The new Drum Buss is a one-stop workstation for your drums.
Add warmth and distortion with ease, shaping transients, compression, and your low end with the dedicated controls. Live 10 remembers your ideas, so when you're jamming and you forget to press record, Ableton 10 has you covered. Use Capture after you've played an idea, and Live will match your tempo and timing to create a perfect loop, perfect for those spontaneous moments.
Ableton Live 10 also offers a range of workflow enhancements including an improved browser, ability to create groups within groups, optimised Arrangement view for quick editing, multiple MIDI clip editing, and a cleaner and clearer interface, complete with a collection of new, ready-to-go sounds.
- New Drum Buss - Captures your audio even if you didn’t press record - Refined look and feel - New library of sound - Multitrack audio recording and MIDI sequencing of software and hardware instruments - Unique Session View for nonlinear composition, flexible performance and improvisation - Real-time warping of audio (automatically sync music and loops, regardless of tempo) - MIDI-mappable controls for hands-on creation onstage or in studio (plus automatic mapping for popular hardware controllers) - Audio to MIDI conversion tools (extract harmony, melody or drums from an audio sample and convert to MIDI) - Selection of built-in audio effects and virtual instruments taken from Suite version for sound design, mixing and mastering - Advanced sampling and slicing tools - VST and Audio Unit support - Groove engine to apply swing - Video import and export for scoring to video - 1800+ sounds, 5 software instruments, 34 audio effects, 8 MIDI effects
Arguably the best DAW around if you are an electronic artist or wanted to take your DAW on the stage, it's session view is an amazing way to create news ideas on the fly.
Professional DAW Software
Ableton Live 10 Suite (Download) is Professional DAW Software that features New Wavetable synth, Echo, Drum Buss, and Pedal
DAW Software
Steinberg Cubase Artist 9.5 (Boxed) DAW Software features a range of new improvements
Cubase Artist 9.5 features a range of updates and enhancements to power your creativity, and speed up your workflow. There are now 16 insert slots for VST effects on each track, doubling the number that could be used before. Now included with a flexible pre/post fader, the insert section lets you adjust the position of the separator to give you complete control over your plug-in chain, and signal flow.
Adapt to Zoom automatically adjusts the grid to your zoom level, allowing you to purely focus on those precise edits. The new automation range tool lets you edit and adjust automation faster, and easier than ever. The ultra-precise automation curves allow you to create more precise automation much quicker, and with less clicks. The new FLUX wavetable synthesizer library features a collection of high quality presets for electronic music production, as well as a range of controls for creating your own unique sounds.
- 64-bit floating-point mixing engine with up to 192kHz, flexible routing, and full automatic delay compensation - Enhanced zone concept with the file browser - Ultra-precise automation curves - 16 VST insert slots on each track (plus pre/post fader separator) - Adapt to Zoom grid mode automatically adjusts grid when zooming in and out - Improved Range Tool for editing automation faster - New FX chain presets and mastering track presets - FLUX wavetable synthesizer for HALion Sonic SE - Sampler Track enhancements with A/B mode, undo/redo, and instant MIDI import rendering - Redesigned interfaces for Vintage Compressor, Tube Compressor, and Magneto Tape Saturator - Deep integration for Console 1 by Softube - 64 audio tracks, 128 MIDI tracks, and 32 physical inputs and outputs - Complete suite of over 70 high-end audio and MIDI VST effect processors - Comprehensive set of 8 outstanding instruments with over 2600 sounds - Intelligent compositional tools like Chord Track and Chord Pads for creative and playful composing of harmonic progressions - Thousands of MIDI construction kits, audio loops, and samples - MixConsole for pro mixing desk experience and integrated high-end channel strips - Streamlined music notation and score editing feature set - TrackVersions for playlists-like-editing and render-in-place for easily bouncing MIDI and audio parts
Not many other DAWs come close to it's MIDI workflow & audio effects set up. Hugely popular in the professional music sector, a truly great all rounder.
Steinberg Cubase Pro 9.5 (Boxed) Professional DAW Software features a range of new improvements
Presonus Studio One Pro V4 (Download) is Professional DAW Software
Studio One 4 is a major update that combines the best of the traditional recording studio model with the modern methods of creating beat- and groove-oriented music. Thanks to flexible tools designed for creative musicians, Studio One 4 doesn’t dictate how you work—you do. You truly can work better, faster.
The new Chord Track with Harmonic Editing makes it easy to prototype songs, thanks to flexible transposition, key modulation, and chord substitution for note data and audio. The Impact drum module has been reborn as Impact XT, where you can create complete arrangements in a highly developed, sophisticated production environment. Patterns bring the concept of step sequencing into the 21st century with the fastest way yet to come up with drum and percussion parts. Sample One XT turns Sample One into not just a true sampler that can record data from anywhere within the program, but a powerhouse for slicing, dicing, and rearranging loops and beats.
With Studio One 4, you create music on your terms: Create without boundaries, produce without limits.
- Chord Track - Real-time chord reharmonization of audio and instrument tracks - Intuitive Chord Selector - Automatic chord detection - Real-time chord input from MIDI device - Song key signature with detection - Chord transpose - ARA 2 support - Expanded “Send to Notion” option for lead sheet creation - Ripple edit mode - Relative bar offset for songs - “Remove gaps” for Events
One of the fastest growning DAWs of late, more & more people are switching to Studio One Pro V4 with it's familar interface, intuitive drag & drop design & it's intergration with VSTs.
Entry-Level DAW Software
Presonus Studio One Artist V4 (Download) is Entry-Level DAW Software
Music DAW Software
Propellerhead Reason 10 (Boxed) is Music DAW Software that features a rackload of new synths, instruments, samples and more
Reason is easy to get started with, yet as deep as you want it to be. And it comes fully loaded with the instruments, effects and sounds your music making need. Create, compose, mix and finish your music–Reason will help you along the journey, from inspiration to mixdown.
New sounds and new gear pave the way for new music, and Reason 10 is here with a rackload of new synths, instruments, samples and more. Grain and Europa: two massive, brand new synthesizers. Klang Tuned Percussion, Pangea World Instruments, Humana Vocal Ensemble: three new live-sounding organic instrument devices. Radical Piano: a top-notch acoustic piano. Synchronous: creative modulation device. Loop Supply and Drum Supply: a multi Gigabyte infusion of cutting-edge drum loops and samples. What music will you create?
Included instruments - Europa Shapeshifting Synthesizer - new in Reason 10! - Grain Sample Manipulator - new in Reason 10! - Klang Tuned Percussion Instrument - new in Reason 10! - Pangea World Instruments - new in Reason 10! - Humana Vocal Ensemble Instrument - new in Reason 10! - Radical Piano - advanced acoustic piano - new in Reason 10! - Kong Drum Designer - Thor polysonic synthesizer - NN19 sampler - NN-XT advanced sampler - Malström graintable synthesizer - Dr. Octo Rex loop player - Redrum pattern-based drum machine - Subtractor analog subtractive synthesizer - ID-8 songwriter's toolbox - Combinator, for building chains of instruments, effects, and pattern sequencersIncluded Player devices - Scales & Chords - Dual Arpeggio - Note Echo
The easiest premium DAW to get your head around, it features really easy-to-learn controls, editing functions & arrangement overview. With Reason now allowing third-party VSTs it is hard not to look past it as a go-to DAW.
Propellerhead Reason 10 Intro (Download) is Entry-Level DAW Software
Music Production Software
Image Line FL Studio 20 Producer Edition (Boxed) is Music Production Software
Image Line FL Studio 20 is everything you need in one package to compose, arrange, record, edit, mix and master professional quality music. FL Studio 20 is the fastest way from your brain to your speakers. Image Line FL Studio 20 Producer Edition provides the highest level of program functionality for FL Studio.
Audio editing and manipulation including pitch correction, pitch shifting, harmonization, time-stretching, beat-detection & slicing, audio warping and standard audio manipulation (cut/paste etc).
- Automate most interface and all plugin parameters by recording, drawing, spline-based automation curves, automation generators with formula-based control of links.- Be hosted in other DAWs as a VST or connected through ReWire.- Live music performance including video effect visualization.- Mix and remix audio including apply real-time audio effects including delay, reverb & filtering.- Multi-track audio recording up to the limit of your audio-interface inputs.- Record & play MIDI input recording from keyboards, drum pads and controllers.- Sequencing and arranging with pattern and linear workflow possible.- Synthesizer & effect plugin hosting VST 32 & 64 bit, DX and FL Native formats.
The Perfect DAW for beat-making & also for general sequencing. It's also extremely affordable so anyone looking just to have a four-to-floor vibe can save a lot of money over using the premium DAWs.
Flagship Music Production Software
Image Line FL Studio 20 Signature Bundle (Boxed) is Flagship Music Production Software
Next-Generation Music Production Software
Bitwig Studio V2 (Download) is Next-Generation Music Production Software that includes more features, modulators & devices.
Discover Bitwig Studio 2, the innovative music creation and performance software for all major platforms. Experience seamless integration of linear timeline sequencing together with nonlinear, performance-oriented clip launching and an intuitive user interface that adapts to each step of your workflow.
Bitwig Studio is the single solution for realizing any musical idea across every stage of production. Includes over 70 devices, such as our suite of instruments and audio effects, as well as container devices and note effects. Enjoy a sound content library consisting of over 2,000 presets and 9GB of sound content: drum machines, acoustic drums, multi-sampled instruments, loops, sound effects and much more. Includes 12 months of free upgrades: perpetual license with 12 months of free updates and upgrades upon registration.
- Native cross-platform DAW (Windows, macOS, Linux) - Intuitive nonlinear sequencing for the studio world and beyond - Modular device structure with advanced nesting and routing - Multi-touch support for Windows and Linux, with a dedicated Tablet display profile - Full multicore and multiprocessor support - VST and VST3 support with built-in 32-/64-bit bridging, plug-in crash protection, delay compensation, and flexible multi-out and sidechain capabilities - Multi-display support for up to three displays - Unified Modulation System: Use Macro controls, Note Expressions, and - LFOs & Envelopes to modulate any device, VST plug-in, or hardware parameter - Advanced Layered Editing mode
Sharing the foundations of Ableton Live, creating clips & using it as a way to get ideas down fast. Amazing connection & intergration with it's quality networking.