Data Inputs & Audio Outputs

Music Tech || MT CA2 - The Digital Audio Workstation

Explain the purpose of a keyboard and a mouse.

• Keyboard shortcuts are vital for a fast workflow.

• Having an ergonomic keyboard and mouse is essential when using a DAW for an extended period.

• Getting to know these shortcuts will enable you to work much more efficiently and accurately.

Explain the purpose of a trackpad.

• Some users prefer a trackpad to a mouse, this is most commonly found on a laptop.

• The main benefit of using a trackpad is that it can perform multitouch gestures.

• For example, swiping between pages or two-finger click for a right click.

Explain the purpose of a touchscreen.

• More recently, touchscreen technology has been integrated with DAWs.

• The main benefit of using a touch screen is that you can perform multiple actions at once.

• For example, turning up the input gain whilst turning down the output gain on a compressor.

Explain the purpose of headphones.

• This is the most common way that you will output your audio from you DAW.

• You have two options to choose from: open or closed back.

What is the difference between open-back headphones and closed-back headphones?

• Open backed are better for mixing and prolonged listening, as they allow sound to escape so there is less pressure on your ear.

• Closed backed are better for recording, as they do not allow as much sound to escape and therefore will reduce bleed into a microphone.

Explain the purpose of speakers/monitors.

• These will often provide a better listening experience, as long as they are positioned correctly in a well-acoustically treated room.

• Otherwise, the reflections in the room can cause issues and build-up of frequencies.

Why do we use an audio interface rather than a computer for audio output?

• The quality of the built-in audio on your computer, known as the soundcard, is usually not of a high enough quality to use when creating music in a DAW.

• This is why we often use an external audio interface to route audio out from our DAW to our headphones and speakers.

What are the benefits of smartphones and tablets being integrated to use with DAWs?

• For example, Logic Pro has an iOS application (Logic Remote) that enables you to control Logic over WiFi.

• This means that you can control recording settings without having to go back to the computer.

• You can also control fader levels and volume control.