Ask HN: Getting Started with DAW?

by danwee on 11/24/2023, 4:01:01 PM with 4 comments
So, I saw the other day the release of the ep-133, and it happens that I want to get started doing that kind of stuff (e.g., creating simple beats). I have zero knowledge about DAW/sampling and music in general (my background is in soft. engineering), so the first thing that I searched on Google was "open source daw" and I found LMMS (https://lmms.io/). Installed it, played a little bit with it and right now I'm going through the documentation. Feels like a lot to process (I don't know almost all of the terminology used).

Do you know which kind of books/articles/blogs I can follow to get started in this world of DAW? I would like to get the fundamentals first and then start experimenting (e.g., not sure if the analogy is correct, but "it's like I don't want to learn JavaScript, but I want to learn data structures, algorithms and programming in general").

I know there's stuff like Ableton, but I would like to first learn the fundamentals (which I hope one can learn with simple open source DAWs like LMMS).

  • by al2o3cr on 11/24/2023, 7:00:10 PM

    The fundamentals in the recording space don't have much to do with DAWs at all; they go all the way back to analog recording on tapes etc. That's why many DAWs have skeuomorphic details - like the "seven-segment displays" in LMMS's interface - to hearken back to physical hardware.

    I wouldn't worry too much about learning things in an application-specific way first and generalizing later. To extend your analogy, you're currently at the "how do I computer" level of understanding; knowing theoretically "I need to boost the kick drum at 800Hz by 3dB with a 60Hz bandwidth" isn't going to do you any good if you can't find the buttons in your specific DAW to make that happen.

    One thing you'll definitely find: different tools are optimized for very different workflows. You _could_ technically record a 2-hour live orchestral performance in Ableton (a tool centered around triggering loops), but you'll definitely be ice-skating uphill.

  • by lfciv on 11/24/2023, 4:12:22 PM

    Not exactly in a DAW, but I found Syntorial to be incredibly helpful. Teaches you a lot of jargon around sound manipulation and how to reproduce a desired sound. It'll make you way more comfortable navigating a DAW later.

    https://www.syntorial.com/

  • by LunarAurora on 11/24/2023, 7:07:02 PM

    > simple open-source DAWs like LMMS

    If you are willing to explore non-open source options, there are free DAWS that may be "simpler" for you. I say "for you" because it is subjective to a certain degree. I encourage you to try more than one.

    > Feels like a lot to process > learn the fundamentals

    Before reading the doc, you may find it less intimidating to watch some YouTube videos. Just don't let the huge quantity of available videos (or even of free daws themselves) overwhelm you.

    If LLMs were available when I first started, I would definitely have them explain the hundreds of little questions I had on this vast subject. a kind of personal tutor.

  • by Pr0ject217 on 11/30/2023, 12:04:01 AM

    Other cross-platform alternatives:

    Bitwig (1 month free trial, I believe)

    Reaper (can re-'evaluate' forever) - better for mixing than producing IMO