Foot In The DAW: Introductions and Computers

Hello there! Welcome to the first part of a series of articles / tutorials on all things music  production: ‘Foot In The DAW’. Over the coming weeks I will be writing articles for BTW going  over the basics of production and what equipment you might need. Although this won’t be a “0 to  Rick Rubin” guide, it should help you if you’re at a point in your musical journey where you are  starting to feel limited by the equipment you have. You may already have a DAW, a microphone,  full range speaker system, but not quite know how it should all go together. Hopefully, by the end  of this exploration of music production, you’ll have a better understanding of what every part of a  home studio set up does. 

First off: You do not need any of this to submit to COMUSO! 

These articles may seem advanced at first, but don’t worry! None of this is absolutely necessary  for you to post music to COMUSO If you want to start with whatever equipment or gear you may  have, even if it’s a guitar and a mobile phone, nobody will judge you for it. However, if after a  couple of songs you want to experiment with more advanced techniques, I propose that this guide is a good place to start. 

And so that we’re all on the same page, “DAW” stands for “Digital Audio Workstation”! 

The Basic Setup 

The basic setup for a studio is as follows: Computer, Audio Interface, Microphone, Headphones/ Speakers and a DAW. 

Here is a (very) basic diagram of the flow of audio. That’s actually a really good way to think about it, as a river flowing. Reason? Audio flows through it like water and everything is connected.

Yes, a microphone and a set of speakers may not be directly connected, but once you’re comfortable with all the components a studio will start to appear like one big machine, rather than a lot of small (or even large) parts.

It’s also important to note that, like a river, if you dredge it at one point the entire system will be affected.

These first few articles are going to be focused on the equipment around a DAW, rather than on the DAW itself. You don’t need all of this stuff, but it will certainly make your life a lot easier if you do, and you’ll find that you will get better quality sound out of this. So, to start, we’re going to look at the centre piece of any modern studio set up...

The Computer

Okay, so I know most of you will already have a computer, but if you’re thinking of upgrading or getting a specific computer for production then I hope this helps.

So, which computer is the best on the market for you? Well, that’s a bit of a difficult question, and I’d recommend that you consider not just the computer you want but the DAW as well. As a native Logic user I would personally, if you have the funds for it, recommend a Mac and getting Logic, however you may prefer a different DAW or not like Apple products. That’s absolutely fine! Below is a list of the 3 most popular Operating Systems, which will determine which computer you may want to go looking for, and there pros and cons.

Windows

The jack-of-all-trades, as I am sure you’re all aware, Windows can run pretty much any DAW or external software you need. The only exception is Logic Pro, which is developed by Apple. Run by most computers on the planet, it is a solid choice.

Pros

+You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a Windows

computer. Chances are, you already have one!

+Most DAW’s will run on it

+Highly compatible with third party software and gear

+Desktop computers can be upgraded if required

Cons

- Can’t run Logic Pro

- Is not geared towards music production, resulting in less power from your computer

- Not being geared towards music production sometimes results in crashes

Best DAWs

• Ableton

• Cubase

My Recommendation: Windows is a solid choice, as it is in everything in the computer world. The only concern I have is that Windows is the jack-of-all, master-of-none. Windows is not designed specifically for creatives and that means requiring a slightly higher spec of computer to compete with the same kind of power as either Apple or Linux. Also, some of the pros (like upgrading) may not be something you personally feel comfortable with.

Apple

The dedicated creative computer has most recently had a change in perception: That of quality or ludicrous price,

depending on who ask. I use Apple because it allows me to use Logic Pro, however that is my only Apple product besides an ancient iPod! So, while I use Apple, I’m not a blind slave to the mega-corporation either.

Pros

+ You can use Logic Pro, or in fact any DAW

+ Computer will be designed to work with creative software, like a DAW

+ The new M class processors provide all the power you’ll need

+ Good 3rd party compatibility

Cons

- Cost is much higher than a Windows machine

- Cannot be upgraded freely

Best DAWs

• Logic Pro

• Pro Tools

My Recommendation: Apple offer a lot in terms of their own native DAW (we’ll get onto that later) and good 3rd party compatibility. Plus, I find Mac’s tend to be faster when they come to music production. The obvious downsides are obvious; price and it’s Apple. However, if you have the money it’s worth the consideration.

Linux

I haven’t used Linux, so this is based off of research, but I can see some clear pros and cons forming. If you haven’t heard of Linux, it’s an open source (meaning the coding for it is free to use for your own purposes) operating system that is known for it’s efficiency and customisability. It’s also free! However, it’s not the best when it comes to compatibility, so keep this in mind!

Pros

+Linux is a very efficient OS, meaning you get the most power from your hardware

+Open source, meaning if you understand programming you can get the most out of this OS

+It’s free! Just need a computer to run it

Cons

- Only one of the major 8 DAWs, Reaper, works on Linux

- Some hardware will not work because their drivers will fail

- Not all 3rd party plugins are designed for Linux

Best DAWs

• Reaper

• A DAW designed for Linux

My Recommendation: As I stated, I haven’t used Linux, but from what I can find I wouldn’t recommend it. The lack of support from most software in the industry is going to be a massive handicap, particularly with no support from the major DAWs (except Reaper). However, if you can find a DAW (and they are out there!) that you like on Linux then it’s a possible option.

Is It Worth Having A Dedicated Music Computer?

Having a computer or a laptop that is dedicated to music is a good idea, particularly if you’re using your main computer (if you have one) for other intensive things like playing video games or work using power intensive software. If you start going down the rabbit hole of downloading 3rd party software hard drives can be filled up quite quickly (As of writing, I’ve nearly filled up the 1TB storage my laptop came with!) Therefore, if you have the funds, I would recommend getting a separate computer if you’re already using your main one for anything more than writing emails. Also, if it’s a family machine, you may want to get something of your own in case inspiration strikes!

If this isn’t possible, don’t worry! Just make sure you have a decent amount of storage available (Audio files, particularly WAV files, are HUGE!) and a good filing system on your machine. Even having a folder titled “Music Stuff” will help!

Recommendations

Personally, I like Apple for creative stuff and Windows for everything else. They do just seem to have it baked into their DNA. However, if you hate Apple, Windows is more than up to the task. Personally, having researched Linux, I’d avoid it. You’ll end up being handicapped by the lack of 3rd party plugins if you want to expand your production repertoire and while there are DAW’s that run on Linux, not having the diversity will likely restrict you. On the other hand, if you are a master programmer, then Linux and Reaper might be a very powerful combination for you.

To re-iterate the point at the top of this article: You do not need ANY of this for COMUSO! If you’re just starting out, maybe use these articles to learn some jargon and plan for a future in music. If you’ve already decided to go down this path then these guides will hopefully allow you to make more informed decisions about what you need going down the road. If you’re just hoping to upgrade what you already have, then great! You’ll have experience with what you like and what you don’t, giving you a more personal viewpoint that I could never write about. Perhaps, though, I can provide a different viewpoint and show you some things you might have missed?