A Beginner’s Guide to Selecting a DAW – Part 1 – The Basics

Deciding to arm yourself with the tools necessary to record or create music can be a daunting task riddled with many options to sort out.  The first being what software, or Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), do I choose?  Understanding what makes the different options shine through as the right choice for you is the first step.

What Kind of Music am I making?

Just like not all genres of music are created equal, not all DAWs are created equal either.  Recording instruments that you play will require a different tool set than, say, creating Dance or Electronic music.

Begin with the question, “Do I need to record audio.”  If the answer is yes, then you need a DAW that gives you that option.  Most DAWs have the capability of capturing audio, however, there is an option or two out there for the electronic musician looking to create beats or other forms of electronic music that do not have the ability to capture audio, and are designed only for creating audio from scratch.

The next question that will most definitely influence your decision is “How many sources of audio do I need to be able to capture at the same time?

How much money do I want to spend on my DAW?

DAWs range in price from free to thousands of dollars.  A DAW like the very popular Pro Tools can be attained for a few hundred dollars, however, outgrowing the hardware required to run Pro Tools at that price range is a real factor on deciding if it’s the right choice.

Think ahead when deciding what your budget is for selecting your DAW.  Do I want to just be able to record just my voice and my guitar?  Am I needing to mic and entire drum set?  Do I think this will change soon, or will my hardware and software decision last me a few years?

Thinking Ahead When Making the Decision.

If the answer to these questions lead you to believe that you may outgrow your hardware, then you want to choose a DAW that you can grow into.  Most DAWs allow a variety of hardware interfaces to be used, allowing you to change your hardware later.  One option, however, namely Pro Tools by Digidesign, requires specific hardware made by Digidesign just to function.  Upgrading your hardware is an expense you want to plan for.

We will continue this series by taking a look at several individual DAWs on the market.

What are other things your are considering as you research the right DAW for you?  Post your comments below.