AET 2050 - DAW Production

7. DAW Structure and Signal Flow

Objectives:

1. Describe the components of a DAW and their functions as a system

Reading

DAW structure vs. conventional structure

• Conventional analog structure is limited by hardwiring of physical components.
• Virtual architecture of computers and software allow for greater flexibility in a DAW system.

Logics environment window allows mindboggling routing possibilities.

DAW components - "signal flow"

• Like any other audio system, a DAW has a series of functions, or components, that work together in a signal flow.
• An understanding of these components and how they interact is necessary for better understanding of the DAW.
• Different manufacturers use slightly different nomenclature or schemes, but most can be categorized as follows:

 Audio File (source audio, sound store, clip store)

• The digital representation of recorded or captured audio
• Actual audio that is recorded or replayed
• Nonlinear in nature - random-access
• Not associated with a given time - no recording has to be 'before' or 'after' another
• Mono or stereo
  • Stereo is an interleaving of two mono sources
  • Stereo processed like mono, except there is 2x the data access
  • Multichannel audio actually multiple mono files
• Once recorded or captured, typically isolated from further processing by DAW

 Audio Segment (region, clip)

• Graphical representations of the actual audio - what the user sees and works with
• Pointers, or addresses, of data within the audio file itself
• Segments are associated with, but separate from, the actual audio file
• Segment editing allows for trimming, repositioning, grouping of audio data
• Duplication of audio can occur without making actual copies of the data
• Changes to the segment (including duplication or deletion) do not become changes to the actual audio data

 Take (playlist, EDL, virtual track)

• A collection of segments residing in a track
• One take can be active in a given track, while others are inactive or 'hidden'

 Track/Channel (track, strip, channel, path, mixer input)

• Container for audio segments
• Routes audio from inputs when recording to disk
• Routes recorded audio to chosen outputs for replay
• Viewable in arrange or edit window as a "track" - time-based representation
• Allows for editing and processing of audio
• Appears in mix window as a mixer "channel"
• Allows for real-time processing of audio
• A path for processing, routing, and mixing the audio contained in a track

 Engine (voice)

• Computer resources required to record, play, and process a track's audio
• Resources come from either the host or the DSP hardware of a DAW
• Number of available voices defined by system's configuration and available hardware

 Physical Inputs, Outputs

• Actual physical ports for audio
• Usually separated from a channel's software 'inputs' or 'outputs'
• Number of inputs or outputs does not define number of tracks!
• Flexible assignment available
• Connections defined by audio interface and driver

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