Most of us don't have the luxury of a fresh start, so the trick is to build on what we currently are using.

One place to start: a basic Pro Tools rig

In an ideal world, we would carefully plan what we needed to do for each task. At the outset of each project, we would choose the appropriate tools required to achieve this goal, and then proceed methodically with the assignment. Yeah, right. And every year we go out and replace our Porsche with the newest model.

Few of us have the luxury of beginning completely from scratch. Some of us are just starting out and are not sure where we are heading in this mysterious world of audio production. Or we have some experience with analog technologies by are not sure about the most economical way to transition towards digital. Or maybe we are using MIDI-based sequencers for composition, but want to add sampling capabilities and eventually develop an all-digital production environment. (What a concept!)

In these and other scenarios, we will find no hard-and-fast rules about what is going to make sense for all concerned. The best way to move forward is to remain flexible and keep your options open. Returning to the definition of a Digital Audio Workstation that I offered in Part #1, let’s first look at which elements you may own already and what might be on the near horizon.

For me, a DAW is a device that, quite simply, allows all of the major digital recording/replay, processing, mixing and editing functions – plus the integration of MIDI information, or timecode/sync data – to be coordinated from a central control surface. So, let's examine each of these components in turn, and see what might get you by in the short term, and maybe how to work around any current deficiencies while you await that important call from a major label or production company. (Please remember to breath out from time to time, however!)

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