What is a DAW?

A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is a music software with which music typically with multiple channels can be recorded, edited and mixed. If you want to process music digitally, you will eventually need to install a DAW on your PC or Mac.

DAWs are offered by numerous providers and come with many different features. Recording beginners often start with free software like Cakewalk for the PC or Garageband from Apple on the Mac. In addition, there is a wide range of commercial software with a greater range of functions. The main functionality of the different programs varies quite a bit. There are DAWs that focus mainly on multichannel recording and mixing, while other applications are used more to create new arrangements. The more powerful programs also support MIDI and allow you to control external sound generators or virtual instruments (usually plugins) and as such are useful for composing.

Users of ESI audio hardware have the advantage that our interfaces are sold with matching software. For example, a license of the DAW Bitwig Studio 8-Track is included with many of our USB audio interfaces. To learn more about Bitwig Studio 8-Track, click here.

Other well known DAWs for instance are Logic Audio, Cubase, ProTools, Studio One, Live, FL Studio, Tracktion, Nuendo or Reaper - a certainly incomplete list without any priorities.

Please note that ESI neither manufactures nor sells DAWs. Therefore we cannot respond to support requests that exceed basic setup issues. Please contact the respective vendor for all software related questions.