Introduction DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation. Digital is digital, so 0 and 1 in a certain order. Digital also usually involves the use of a computer as we currently use it for emailing, using the internet and other programs. Audio is sound. The problem is in Workstation. Literally translated that would mean a workplace, but that is not meant here. With workstation is generally meant the whole of the sound chain in the workplace up to and including the computer with software. Digital Sound is analog and can be made in many ways. If that sound is made by an instrument, it can sometimes be directly recorded by a follow-up chain, for example a mixing table or computer card. The sounds in the free field must first be picked up by a microphone. The microphone converts these sounds into electrical signals. The microphone can be connected via a cable to equipment, such as a portable recorder, directly on a mixing table or computer card. The recorder can convert the sound via circuits so that it can be recorded on an audio tape. That can be spools, but also cassettes. This method has since become obsolete. Nowadays, the recorded signal in the recorder is already converted to digital data. This data can then be saved on a type of diskette, cassette tape or a memory card. Because the signal has already been converted to the digital domain, an entire chain of follow-up equipment can be omitted in some cases. Sometimes, because the older devices could convert an analog signal to digital data, but not transfer this digital data to another device. Also the digital medium from this recorder could not be used in another recorder or playback device. That was intentionally prevented from protecting the music industry. With the somewhat older recorders, the only option was to switch back to an analog signal and that signal could then be processed in the follow-up chain with a few tools. Only twice a conversion is not that handy and is at the expense of quality. Some "professional" devices did not have those limitations, but there was a hefty price tag. Sometimes other restrictions were also built in. For example that the digital signal was available, but only as an optical signal (SPDIF/ADAT). Via an optical cable the subsequent circuit, which had to be suitable for processing such signals, could then further process or store the signal. There are limits to what an optical cable can process on digital data. This capacity is insufficient for the current sample frequencies. With ADAT this has been solved by using a double cable and therefore also two inputs. The number of channels is then halved in the converter. It is a wonderful solution, but also not sustainable with current developments. I have already encountered sample frequencies of 768 kHz, where does it stop? The current generation of recorders often have a memory card as a medium and can be connected to the computer via an USB port. Always choose a recorder that has a removable memory card, preferably the SD card format. All other memory cards are being phased out slowly. A few things are also happening with the USB. Computer forums show that the USB 3.x standard is not backwards compatible. So a USB 2.x bus is not recognized or does not work correctly and this USB bus is common on portable recorders. The SD memory card is then much more universal. Even the newest recorders still use USB 2.0 (Class-compliant USB 2.0 high speed). Workstation Workstation is therefore a workplace with what? That depends on how you can proceed with the recorded sound. If you have a portable recorder with a memory card, then you only need a computer with a software program. As long as it stays with 2 to 3 channels, this will work well. If you are going to work with more channels, it is advisable to use additional equipment such as "desktop controllers" in order to prevent RSI. If you do not have the option to use the above USB solution because the computer only supports USB 3.0 and/or your recorder does not use an SD memory card, you will need additional equipment. All-in-one card readers are available for both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. If this solution does not work, then there is the solution of a memory card recorder with the correct format, but that is immediately a lot more expensive. That recorder, in turn, must be able to be connected to the computer, but there may be also some bumps present. If your recorder only has an analogue output, often the headphone output, then you need either a small mixing desk or a computer card with a breakout box. These computer cards can be placed in the computer (PCI cards) or are equipped with a USB or FireWire bus. Devices with a USB or FireWire output are often computer card and breakout box in one. It is then a small box with 2 or more channels (ADC=Analog Digital Converter). The control takes place in the computer with software. The small mixing table must be able to connect to the computer, so there is still something to read and choose. Connecting a small mixing table with an ADC also works of course. Here too the solution can be considerably more expensive. revision July 30, 2020