Developing DAW Production Skills

Understanding DAW Basics

Learn the general layout of Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) interfaces including tracks, transport controls, mixer, plugins, and project navigation.
Understand the difference between MIDI and audio tracks, as well as how to configure them within your DAW.
Recognise common DAW tools such as the selector, grabber, pencil, scrub, zoom, and trim tools.
Familiarise with keyboard shortcuts to streamline your workflow.
Explore file management within DAWs, including saving, exporting, and organising projects.

Production Techniques

Grasp recording techniques, including how to create a new track, record enable it, and capture a performance.
Understand the principles of mixing, such as leveling, panning, equalisation, and dynamics processing.
Learn sound editing techniques like cutting, copying, pasting, and moving audio clips, as well as time-stretching and pitch-shifting.
Practice using software instruments and MIDI programming to create beats, basslines, chords, and melodies.
Appreciate the use of effects processing to manipulate sound, such as reverb, delay, modulation, and distortion.

Advanced Techniques

Deepen your understanding of automating parameters, to create more complex and dynamic mixes.
Familiarise with MIDI mapping to assign hardware controls to software parameters.
Understand the concept of sidechain processing, commonly used for techniques like ducking and de-essing.
Explore sampling and resampling techniques, including chopping, layering, and manipulating sample material.
Learn about synthesis and sound design, such as designing your own sounds with software synths.

Collaboration and Project Management

Learn how to collaborate with others in your DAW, including file sharing and cloud collaboration.
Recognise the importance of versioning - saving different versions of your project so that you can go back to earlier stages if needed.
Understand the process of preparing for mixing and mastering, including track consolidation, cleanup, labelling, and rendering/bouncing.
Understand the value of backing up your work to prevent loss of project data.

Developing DAW production skills is essential for modern music making. By mastering these skills, you can produce professional-quality tracks in any genre, and express your musical ideas more effectively. It’s essential to practice regularly, experiment with sound, and always aim to improve your skills.