You can capture or produce MIDI data and reproduce sounds using synthesizers, samples, and one-shots. You can use audio units like VST plugins. They let you cut, copy, paste, arrange, and loop audio. They provide the ability to record many tracks at once, bounce mono, stereo, and surround sound audio files, and edit waveforms.

This kind of application is appropriate for beat makers, singer-songwriters, recording studios, film production companies, podcasters, vloggers, audiobook narrators, and pretty much anyone working in any industry where audio is a large component of the final product. What is a DAW?Ī digital audio workstation (DAW) is a piece of software designed specifically to aid in the production of music recordings, film and television audio, and any other type of audio work that requires signal processing and mixing. You should be able to easily choose from there. Then I'll show you the top digital audio workstation software available with notes about who they're right for. Then let's look at a few factors you'll want to consider about yourself and your work flow before choosing.

They'll find any kind of audio editor and consider it a digital audio workstation, but it's likely a small sub-set of what these can really do and what they really need. Let's quickly break down exactly what a DAW is because many newcomers seem to get confused. And that's because a bunch of competitors swooped in and changed the game. Now anyone can have access for a much more reasonable price. In the past some of these costed an arm and a leg and required a dongle proving you paid for their giant hardware mixing console, for instance. That's not because there's a ton of equally good choices out there, but because each is created with certain industries and genres of music in mind. Problem is I'm still on OS10.6.8 (an old 2007 Mac Pro), so I'm not able to upgrade my OS to Mavericks until I get the new machine, which is now becoming problematic.You can ask 100 professionals which is the best DAW and get at least 10 different answers. I also have 2 PPCs, one of which I might retire (due to old age), but the other uses an RME Digiface so I'll need at least 1 ADAT in to the new Soundcard.Īlso, there's a rumor that a new MAC PRO might be out by end of this year / early 2015 with the new Xeon processors, so I'm wondering if I should wait till then…. For my large orchestral template, I currently run 2 external Mac Minis (which are Ethernet-audio to my Mac Pro). I'm also thinking of going Apollo Quad (instead of my old MOTU 2408s). If so how is it behaving, and what Mac Pro specs are you on? I obviously want the most powerful Mac possible, but don't want to overkill it if DP can't utilize the extra juice. Anybody else using Digital Perfomer 8, VE Pro, a ton of VIs, soft synths, plugs etc with the NEW Mac Pro. I'm thinking of doing a big upgrade soon.

Motu digital performer plugin cache