Even The Doors used DAWs 🎵

If you’ve already installed a DAW, then follow on below. If not, then we’d recommend having a read of our Support Hub article on what DAW’s are for further advise on choosing your software.

Every DAW will offer its own distinct visual design, layout and other unique tools, but here’s a basic guide to help you.

To begin, you’ll need a microphone and an audio interface if you’re looking to record physical instruments into a DAW on your computer.

You should also consider what microphone suits you, your instrument and your project the most. For example, condenser microphones are used for quieter, studio, situations where small details, fast transients and precision are important, like for recording vocals.

An audio interface will convert the electrical current from the microphone into a digital signal that your DAW can read. After selecting an input channel in your DAW program, your DAW will present your recording as a visual waveform on its arrangement timeline.

Your audio recordings and samples will appear as sound waves in the arrangement tab of your DAW.

Then you can move this waveform up a down the timeline as you see fit.

The arrangement tab is where you organize your musical projects. The sound wave in the previous example is sitting in the third channel labelled ‘Audio’ in red.

Alternatively, you can drag and drop pre-made sounds (samples) onto a channel in your DAW. As before, your DAW will present the sample as a visual waveform on its timeline.

For how to record MIDI in your DAW, click here.

If you have any further queries, feel free to get in touch with us!

See also:
What is lossless/lossy audio?
How do I prove I own my music?
Can I use sample pack content in my release?