The Audio Production Suite - ampthetex.co.uk

DAW's (Digital Audio Workstation)

DAW, otherwise known as a Digital Audio Workstation, which is basically another name for a Computer System which is used for Audio Editing, Sequencing, Scoring, etc.

Computers have come on alot over the last 10 years or so, from the old 486 processor systems being able to handle a few tracks of MIDI, and maybe 1/2 tracks of audio if you were lucky.
To the super powers of today from the likes of AMD, and Intel with Dual core and Quad core processors.

Technology has come on leaps and bounds, no longer are you held back with the limitations of your computer system, or jitters and freezing with a few audio tracks.

Computers have replaced the hardware samplers of yesteryear, no need to listen over and over to get your sample looping seamlesly, you can just record it into your DAW and visually see the waveform of the sound and cut, loop, reverse, pitch-shift, etc., all at a touch of a button or click of the mouse.

Stacks of sound modules, synthesizers, drum machines all rackmounted up are no longer needed, as these are being replaced by Soft-Synths, Virtual Instruments, etc. All controlled from your Sequencer, such as Steinberg's Cubase, or Cakewalk's Sonar, etc.

You can now have a Roland TB-303, TR-909, TR-808, Korg M1 Synths, and more all running from your DAW system, replicating the classic sounds without anyone knowing any difference.

The Technology has come on leaps and bounds, with Quad Core processing allowing the user to run masses of Audio Tracks, Virtual Instruments, and Effects altogether. Masses of memory also helps out, with prices for memory being so low compared to that of 10 years ago.
You will see systems with anything up to and around 8 GB's of Memory, Hard Disk Drive's into Terabytes (TB's), allowing you to store tracks upon tracks of audio, and retakes, etc.

Their is a good assortment of Soundcards to choose from wether you want something for just basic MIDI sequencing and a few tracks of audio, to an all singing and dancing soundcard with its own instruments and effects on board, running 16 tracks of audio, and MIDI.

I think one of the major breakthroughs come with the Creative SoundBlaster Live! soundcard (1998), and its SoundFont technology, it featured the EMU10K1 processor which a 2.44 million transistor audio DSP, rated at 1000 MIPS. The EMU10K1 featured hardware acceleration for DirectSound and EAX 1.0 and 2.0 (environmental audio extensions), a high-quality 64-voice MIDI sample-based synthesizer, and an integrated FX8010 DSP chip for real-time digital audio effects. It was available in a few different models, such as the Live! Value, Live! Platinum, etc. The price was very competitive aswell, I think its still a decent soundcard even with todays standards, especially at the giveaway price you find them at on eBay - £5 or thereabouts.

Of course there is always the posh top end soundcards with the spare me nothing scale such as your Creamware Scope, and Universal Audio UAD, etc., but you wont be finding one changing hands on eBay for a fiver though.

You can get by even with a basic pc system these days, its all about utilizing what you got, there are many tips to speed your computer up for audio processing, etc. This will be featured in the Tutorial Section.

You can build your own DAW or you can go to a specialist company that will build one specifically or have a small range of models. There are quite a few companies out their now which specialise in supplying components, such as Acousti, and Akasa which sell Soundproofing material to stick on the inside of the case to cut the noise down. Fan specialists such as Noctua, Arctic Cooling, with low noise fans. Silent Power Supply Units from Xilence, Zalman, Antec, etc. Your one stop shop for all your computer needs to build a quiet DAW is QuietPC.com. They sell everything from Case's, PSU's, Fans, Sound Proofing, CPU Coolers, Graphic Card Coolers, and More.

It doesnt have to be a PC either there are still many studio's out there which are running old Atari ST, systems to sequence MIDI. Apple Mac's are alot of people's choice aswell, especially for their reliability which they are known for.

There are lots of software to choose from for Sequencing, MIDI, Audio Editing, Virtual Instruments, etc., from FREE to hundreds of pounds.

Here are a few to take a look at if your interested in using your PC to make music, sequence, compose, etc.

Sequencers
Steinberg Cubase - http://www.steinberg.net
Cakewalk Sonar - http://www.cakewalk.com
Ableton Live - http://www.ableton.com
Anvil Studio - http://www.anvilstudio.com
Quartz AudioMaster - http://www.quartzaudiomaster.com
KRISTAL Audio Engine - http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/index.php

Software Synthesizers\Virtual Instruments
Native Instruments Kontakt - http://www.native-instruments.com
Propellerheads Reason - http://www.propellerheads.se
Propellerheads ReBirth RB-339 - http://www.rebirthmuseum.com
Arturia - http://www.arturia.com
Rob Papen - http://www.robpapen.com

Audio Editing
Pro Tools - http://www.digidesign.com
Sony SoundForge - http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com
Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net

VST Instruments and Effects
VST Planet - http://www.vstplanet.com
Dream Vortex Studio - http://www.dreamvortex.co.uk
VST Instruments and Effects - http://freemusicsoftware.org/category/vst-effects

Before purchasing any hardware always make sure it is compatible with your system, make sure you have the right slots spare, such as PCI, PCI-E, etc. That you have enough processing power, memory, hard disk space, etc.

The same goes for software always make sure that your system meets the minimum specification requirements, etc. As its no good buying a Sequencer that works on Windows XP, and your running Windows 7 and its not supported.