Difference between revisions of "Digital audio workstation"

Revision as of 07:18, 24 August 2015

A digital audio workstation (D.A.W.) is an electronic device or computer software application for recording, editing and producing audio files.

DAWs come in a wide variety of configurations from a single software program on a laptop, to an integrated stand-alone unit, all the way to a highly complex configuration of numerous components controlled by a central computer.

Regardless of configuration, modern DAWs have a central interface that allows the user to alter and mix multiple recordings and tracks into a final produced piece.

DAWs are used for the production of music, radio, television, podcasts, multimedia and nearly any other situation where complex recorded audio is needed.

The history of DAWs parallels advances in computer power with expensive-but-limited units becoming available in the 1970s, then more affordable PC-based systems in the late 1980s until today when a powerful system can be built inexpensively, using open-source software and consumer audio equipment even as a market exists for professional high-end systems, essential in any modern recording studio.

See also

• Audio editing software
• Audio engineer
• Comparison of digital audio editors
• Comparison of free software for audio
• Digital audio

External links

General interest:

• Digital audio workstation @ Wikipedia

OS X:

• The MacBook Pro Desk of an Audio Engineer & Student
• 7 Useful OS X Shortcuts for Audio Engineers
• 8 Powerful Mac Audio Tools
• The Best Free & Cheap Audio Editors For Mac OS X
• macosxaudio.com