What is a DAW?

DAW is an acronym for Digital Audio Workstation.  A DAW can either be a specialized digital hardware device (or multiple devices), or more commonly a software application, a computer, an audio interface and/or midi (musical instrument digital interface), all combined to enable digital recording, sampling, editing, mixing, and mastering of audio content. Software based DAWs come in many forms.  Most are created to emulate the workflow of a traditional analog multi-track recording environment.  However some DAWs are created to cater to the needs of electronic music creators, video content producers, and live performers.  Once the domain of highly trained professionals who invested hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars on expensive analog equipment to outfit large studios, high quality, grammy award winning audio content has been produced with modern equipment costing a few hundred dollars, connected to a laptop within a small bedroom studio in a content creator's home.