Soundstream, which developed the first digital recorder in 1977, developed what is considered the first DAW. The first DAWs were conceived in the late 70s and early 80s. Expanding on the single track of yore, today’s DAW can be used to record 32, 64, or literally hundreds of tracks. However, whether it’s a folk trio, a heavy metal band, or any other genre, the one tool they all have in common is the Digital Audio Workstation, or DAW. Using samples, drum machines, midi keyboards, and other digital tools, they can make chart-topping music with just an engineer and producer in the control room.
Rap and hip hop producers generally don’t even use a band. Even then, singers are often placed in a vocal ISO booth for the best sound and clarity. Of course, getting the band together in the recording studio is still a standard way of making music. An audio engineer then brings it all together thanks to today’s amazing gear, software, and technology. Today, the brass can be in New Orleans, the vocals in Nashville, and the percussion in Pretoria. The music industry has come a long way since needing to record a song all in one take, all in one place.
