DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation. A DAW is a software program used to record and edit audio.

Think of a DAW as the workspace in which you can record and arrange sounds into a full song that can be saved and shared with others. Examples of common DAWs include the following:

Generally, all DAWs offer the same functionality, allowing you to record, arrange, and export audio. However, each has its own perks and quirks. Some DAWs, such as GarageBand, are free to use. Others are bundled with MIDI keyboards or other types of hardware.

If you do not have a DAW, or are still getting familiar with your current DAW, we encourage you to check out the following guide: Learning Resources For Common DAWs

While the standalone version of Arcade allows you to explore and play sounds, you will need a DAW in order to record and save those sounds. To do this, load Arcade within your DAW as an instrument plugin.

Loading Arcade within your DAW will allow you to create multi-track recordings, which involve layering different sounds and patterns on top of one another. For example: A song with drums, bass, and guitar is a multi-track recording.