In the audio and music world, DAW stands for digital audio workstation. This is the piece of software you use to record, edit, and mix audio files. It then lets you bounce those files to a singular audio file (WAV, MP3, etc).

There are also audio editors, but those are slightly different from digital audio work stations and often can’t do as much. A DAW allows for multiple track recording and audio editing while an audio editor is mainly just for recording one track at a time and then simple audio editing.

You can get a DAW whether you have a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer, although some of them work only with certain operating systems.

In general, there are four main functions of a DAW that at one time were held in separate programs. Nowadays, these four things are packaged into most DAWs:

• Digital audio processor (record, edit, and mix audio digitally)
• MIDI sequencer (record, edit and mix MIDI notes)
• Virtual instruments (receives MIDI info and translates it to different instrument sounds)
• Music notation (turn MIDI notes into printable sheet music)

But what do these functions look like in real life? Here are the things you can do with a DAW . . .

Using an audio interface along with your DAW software, you can record live instruments and/or a singer.

Let’s say you want to record acoustic guitar. You can set up a mic that goes through your interface and record the guitar that way. You can also plug the guitar right into the interface with a guitar cable.

Or you can record two channels at once — the mic on the guitar and the cable going direct in. With an interface that has four or more inputs, you can record a live drum set and get a decent sound.

Virtual instruments are just a digital version of live instruments. Do you want to record piano but don’t have access to a real one? You can get real piano sounds digitally. Do you want to record drums but don’t know how? Easy, just use a drum plugin and play the parts virtually.

When recording virtual instruments, you can do this a few different ways.

You can use musical typing, which is where your computer keyboard corresponds with notes on a piano that give you the different sounds of the instrument. You can also use a MIDI controller, which is typically a keyboard that connects to your computer which allows you to play the virtual instrument.

Lastly, and most inconveniently, you can add the notes or sounds of the instrument directly in your DAW by clicking the mouse and dragging the notes to where you want them.

And the good news is, many DAWs have built-in virtual instruments (more on that later).

Related to virtual instruments is the idea of audio looping. Some DAWs, like GarageBand, include a library of loops — drums, strings, horns, and many other instruments. Usually, these are manipulatable MIDI files, so you can start with a drum loop then edit it to fit your song.

You can also loop audio you’ve recorded. So if you have a chord progression you’ve played on the guitar, you can highlight that section then copy and paste it as many times as you need.

An integral feature of a DAW is the ability to edit audio. A good DAW will make it easy to slice audio items, move them around, snap them to the grid, and crossfade. This is a crucial step to making quality music, so the DAW you choose needs to make this part manageable.

Mixing is the step after your song has been recorded, edited, and arranged the way you want it. With mixing, you can polish up the sounds and add effects — it has a lot of overlap with the production stage.

This is when you EQ your tracks and add compression to make them sound more professional. Some DAWs make mixing very accessible, even coming with built-in EQ and compressor plugins, while others have limited features for mixing. If that’s the case, you can always send the files to a Mixing Engineer and let them mix it.

During the mixing stage, you’ll also add effects (written “FX”) on top of EQ and compression. Most DAWs have effects plug-ins included, like delays, reverbs, autotune, chorus, and others. These effects can really take your song from sparse to full, dry to ambient, amateur to professional.

Check out our guide to the best autotune software!

So what does it look like to use a DAW practically? It lets you do a bunch of tasks, and here are some of them…

With a DAW, you can dive into production, mixing, and mastering music. Because every DAW has built-in virtual instruments and multitracking capabilities, you can record, arrange, mix, and master music without needing any outside software. You can even play virtual instruments with Musical Typing if you don’t have a keyboard.

A DAW lets you easily compose music by using its built-in virtual instruments and multitracking features. Set up separate tracks for each instrument or sound, and use the MIDI editor or a MIDI controller (i.e. a keyboard) to create your melodies, harmonies, and rhythms. Layer these tracks to build rich arrangements, adding effects and automation to shape your sound. This can be a key tool for film composers and song arrangers.

Some DAWs are specifically designed for live performances, like for musicians and DJs who need real-time control over their audio. These performance-focused DAWs allow artists to trigger loops, apply effects, and manipulate samples in the moment.

The features I’m talking about include intuitive MIDI controller integration, customizable interface layouts, and seamless compatibility with hardware controllers. These DAWs (like Ableton Live and Mainstage) provide the flexibility and reliability you need for live performances.

A sound designer is someone who records, edits, and mixes audio for visual media, like a movie, TV show, commercial, or video game. Sound designers use DAWs to do this because they have the tools a designer needs to create soundscapes.

Podcasters use DAWs to record, edit, correct, and enhance their audio recordings. With a DAWs built-in editing tools and effects, a podcaster (or voice-over artist) can take raw recordings and turn them into the pro-level podcasts you listen to.

Avid’s Pro Tools is sort of the music industry standard.

Go into any professional recording studio where Michael Jackson or Beyonce has recorded and you’ll probably find Pro Tools. It was one of the first programs to combine digital audio recording, editing, and mixing into one product. Basically, anything you can do with a DAW, Pro Tools allows it, like using the built-in virtual instruments and loops.

Granted, it costs about $600 or up to $99 a month, so you pay for what you get. But if you’ve got the budget, it’s one of the first programs you should consider. And you do get a free trial before you have to buy it.

Price: $9.99 – $99.99 per month

Pros:

• The standard in pretty much every professional recording studio
• Comes pre-loaded with high-quality plugins

Cons:

• Pricey subscription cost

In terms of popularity, Ableton Live is right up there with Pro Tools. If they’re not tied, Ableton Live is a very close second. It pretty much does everything Pro Tools can do — it just comes down to your preferred interface, cost, and what plugins and loops are included.

The price ranges from about $400 to about $700. Once again, you get a free trial to give it a test-run.

Price: $99 – $749

Pros:

• Efficient MIDI features
• Very good plugins included
• Affordable

Cons:

• Interface can be confusing
• Not always best for advanced production

Apple makes Logic Pro, so it makes sense that it’s only compatible with Macintosh computers. It’s known for having superb virtual instrument options and sound effects. And it’s relatively easy to use.

It runs about $200, so it’s a great option for the indie musician on a modest budget. It’s sort of like the extra fancy version of GarageBand.

Price: $199

Pros:

• All-around easy-to-use DAW
• Very good plugins and virtual instruments included
• Somewhat affordable

Cons:

• Only works with Apple devices/software

Reaper is my favorite DAW — and it’s free. Well, sort of. You get to download the full version for free, but then they ask you to buy a license depending on how you’ll be using it. It’s $60 if you’ll be using it as an individual commercially and you make $20,000 or less from music, or if you’re an educational or nonprofit organization.

And pretty much anything Pro Tools or Ableton can do, Reaper can do. It’s super easy to use and allows you to do all the basics and more. Plus, it comes with some virtual instruments and a ton of stock plug-ins that allow you to mix a song to sound professional.

Price: Free full trial, then $60

Pros:

• Easy to use and very efficient
• Affordable
• Highly customizable interface

Cons:

• Doesn’t come with very many plugins or virtual instruments

If you have a new Apple device — iPhone, iPad, MacBook — you have GarageBand on that device. MacBooks are nice in that they provide a computer and a DAW in one purchase.

It’s famous for its fantastic audio loops, virtual instruments, and its beginner-friendliness. Once you’re done, you can easily AirDrop it (i.e. distribute it) to iTunes and Soundcloud.

Price: Free (Apple devices only)

Pros:

• So many high-quality effects, virtual instruments, and loop library
• Simple interface that’s good for beginners
• Free (for Apple devices)

Cons:

• Only works on Apple devices
• Not as many features compared to it’s paid version Logic Pro

BandLab is a little different from the other DAWs on this list because it’s entirely online. You can work on projects offline but you’ll need a strong internet connection to save your project. It’s a great option for beginners with no budget who want a jumping off point for making music.

Price: Free

Pros:

• Cloud-based so you can create across multiple devices
• Plenty of sounds, samples, and virtual instruments
• Free to use

Cons:

• Cannot save your project without internet connection

I can’t say one DAW is good for every Producer and artist across the board.

So what I’m going to do is break it down by the common situations people are in:

• Beginner who’s never recorded before: Reaper or GarageBand
• Intermediate beginner who’s looking to get better at audio recording, editing, and even mixing: Logic Pro or Reaper
• Indie Producer who’s looking for a solid long-term DAW: Reaper, Logic Pro, or Pro Tools
• Someone who is currently or is looking to become a professional Producer: Pro Tools or Logic Pro
• Performing EDM artist or DJ: Ableton Live

For more on your DAW options, check out our blog on the Best DAWs of 2020.