DAW or digital audio workstation is a musician’s best friend, next to his MIDI keyboard that is. It is an electronic system that is designed for the purpose of recording, editing, and reproducing digital audio.
DAWs typically consist of a mixing console, control surface, audio converter, and data storage all in one nifty package. A computer-based DAW will need a computer, a sound card, a digital audio editor, and an input device, for example your keyboard controller.
For the hobbyist musician and avid Mac and Apple user, nothing beats Garageband ’11, the latest software in Apple’s line of hobbyist software. You can get one when you buy a new Mac, as part of the iLife’11 suite, or as a standalone from the Mac Apple Store.
Perhaps one of Garageband’11’s best features is the interface: you can start a new project; learn to play an instrument and much more. As with all Apple apps, editing is quite simple with a double click to bring up the editing information. And connecting your keyboard(s) is as simple as installing the driver and you can start controlling software instruments from the keyboard.
Another program that can pair well with your MIDI keyboard is Acoustica Mixcraft 5 for PC. The interface is simple to understand and quite intuitive. The details tab gives you access to the editing windows and the loop library, and unlike previous versions, it can now be undocked. This means that you can now edit MIDI in full screen.
The MIDI editor now has a notation view that allows you to add or move notes. You can even adjust their lengths or start positions. And for those times when you don’t have access to your MIDI keyboard, the built-in music typing keyboard turns your QWERTY keys into music keys.
Another MIDI keyboard friend is Sony’s Creative Software Acid Pro 7, a DAW complete with MIDI tracks, VST hosting, and multitrack audio recording. It’s easy to use and has the ability to create arrangements via importing loops that are then automatically synced to your project tempo.
It now comes with a new, more complete mixer with master channels, bus channels, and all other audio track parameters in one section, unlike before when the other elements (such as the volume control) could only be found in one section. the track list. While Acid Pro 7 won’t convert users of other DAW systems, it’s still a good buy for those getting their first system.
Then there’s Avid Pro Tools 9, the newest in the Pro Tools line. What sets this baby apart from its predecessors is the fact that it’s no longer proprietary, which means you’re not limited to using Avid’s own audio interfaces. It combines audio recording, MIDI sequencing, automation, realtime audio plugins, offline audio processing, and instrument plugins in one complete package.
You can edit audio and MIDI on the main screen, but there’s also a dedicated MIDI editing panel. However, there’s no option to use its QWERTY keys as music keys and the included interfaces tend to be a bit high-end.
So there you have it. The DAWs mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg and there are many more where these four come from. Depending on which one you choose, you can create a lot of beautiful music together with your computer and your trusty MIDI keyboard.