To DAW or not to DAW?

[Jamist]

Hi,


In addition to my S970, I recently bought some VSTs, including Omnisphere 2 and SampleTank 3, along with an Akai Advance61 midi controller.  Akai provides software called VIP (virtual instrument player) which seems to do a decent enough job of managing and accessing the VSTs for the AKai. 


I'm not using a DAW.  I can't figure out what the benefit would be.


[size=78%]But there's so much out there about how great DAWs are.  And in fact VIP can be used as a plug-in to a DAW.[/size]


I don't perform out.  I'm just playing for my own betterment and enjoyment.  So will adding a DAW to the mix help me?  Will it work with my s970 via midi to do wonderful things?  And what would those things be?


I'm really interested in hearing what you all think.  And of course, if you're using a DAW and would recommend it, please tell me which one.

[panos]

DAW's are mainly used to create music on pc by not using nececerily a keyboard or a synthesizer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjpNCXWQ1ps

Basically they are platforms to load,manage and combine the sounds of the various Vst's you may have.

If you connect your keyboard with a DAW you can also play the sounds of the Vst through your computer.
Let's say you don't like your keyboard's piano sounds so you buy a Vst with more realistic piano sounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUI6y4PDBRA

Also you can create your own sounds and use your keyboard like a synthesizer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N11e7P4_X4s

All these things are good of course, but only on your s970 you can play the styles of it without needed any other software so that is why you have paid it for. 

Otherwise a cheap midi keyboard does the same job.

There are plenty of vst's and Daw's.Better Take a look of some videos on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=best+daws

[SeaGtGruff]

"DAW" stands for "digital audio workstation," so a DAW is literally a workstation for working with digital audio. This can mean a set of integrated hardware devices which are specifically designed for working with digital audio, but for most people the term "DAW" is actually a shortened version of "DAW software," or software which allows a computer to be used as a digital audio workstation.

As far as what a DAW really is, or does, you can think of it as a variation of an ARW or "analog recording workstation," which is a workstation for recording, editing, processing, and producing analog audio. In other words, a DAW is similar in functionality and purpose to the analog equipment that music producers use for recording multiple tracks of audio, adding effects to those audio tracks, mixing different audio sources or tracks together-- balancing their volumes together as well as controlling how each one is panned within the total mix-- and doing everything else involved in producing a final master recording.

Some keyboards have functions for doing those sorts of things on the keyboard itself, which is why those keyboards are often called "workstations." If you have a keyboard that has workstation capabilities, then you might be able to do everything you want right on the keyboard itself as far as making recordings and producing finished audio files that can be shared with and enjoyed by other people. In that case you might not need or want to use DAW software.

Other keyboards don't have all of the functions for doing those sorts of things, so they don't qualify to be called "workstations." They may or may not have some recording capabilities, but if so then those capabilities aren't sophisticated enough to do all of the things that a workstation needs to be able to do. If you have a keyboard that doesn't qualify to be a workstation, then you will either need to make do with whatever limited recording functions your keyboard does have, or else use additional equipment that lets you do the things that you can't do directly on your keyboard. That could be a computer running DAW software, or it could be other devices such as portable digital recorders, analog tape recorders, or whatever equipment best fits your specific budget and needs.

However, most DAW software includes other functionalities which may also be useful to you. For instance, most DAWs can work with MIDI data as well as audio data, so they are good for recording and editing MIDI tracks, routing MIDI data from one device to another, sequencing MIDI data to devices, using a controller to play virtual instruments or sound modules, etc.

Some keyboards have sophisticated MIDI settings for determining which MIDI channels you want to send and receive, as well as which types of MIDI messages you want to send and receive, or how you want to assign the keyboard's various parts to the MIDI channels and vice versa, so you might not need a DAW for that, especially if your keyboard has MIDI DIN ports for connecting to other MIDI devices.

But other keyboards have simpler MIDI settings that don't give you as much control over which MIDI channels you want to send and receive, which types of MIDI messages you want to send and receive, which parts you want to assign to which send andf receive MIDI channels, etc. Or it might have a USB port for MIDI but not any MIDI DIN ports, in which case you would need to use a USB host device to interconnect your keyboard with other MIDI devices. In situations such as those you might find a DAW to be very useful.

So to a large extent it depends on what your keyboard is capable of on its own, and whether those built-in functions are adequate to your needs. But even if you don't really need to use a DAW, you might benefit from learning how to use one and discovering some of the things you can do with it.

[markstyles]

I use Logic Pro for my DAW.. The advantage for me is creating more complex arrangements.. I use the Genos as a 'music composition tool'.

I will create a chord detect track in Logic, and send to Genos, Song track midi channel 2. and set that as 'chord detect' track.. So my DAW is now  basically playing the left hand part.

I will often overdub different parts, bass, guitar, kbd, etc, from different styles.. switching Main variations at different times.  End result all  parts are changing complexity and styles at different times, so you end up with something no arranger kbd can do.

Other folks just record Genos straight into their DAW, so they can control volume, pan, effects, to a deeper degree than playing live on the Genos..

I also use some Kontakt and UVI libraries, and have a number of other Virtual Instruments. 

Bottom line, is you can use a DAW in an array of different ways.  Some people will have no use for a DAW, Genos is very self-contained.. Others can use it as another tool in their studio.. Depends on the style of music you are recording, and it's purpose.

With a good DAW, you can print out sophisticated orchestral score type arrangements, There are many sample libraries, that have a huge number of samples, thus you can get extremely realistic orchestral pieces.. Most TV shows, and even movies are done using this.. Plus if you want to get into really esoteric sounds, there are a number of companies which make amazing virtual instruments, or sound libraries..

It depends on how involved you want to get with it..  Your time, finances, patience level, how complex you want the music to be.
I originally read an article by the guy who wrote the Operating system for Tyros.  I bought one and studied carefully the MIDI settings page.. I realized the code writer provided enough 'hooks' into the Tyros and Genos, to go way beyond just using it as a one man band instrument.

Still with all the great libraries out there.. I sometimes find the Tyros and Genos sounds more 'live' and vibrant.. So I incorporate them a lot.

It's all up to you..