The DAW Input Hardware
The following pieces of equipment are the fixed hardware in the DAW, unlike inputs such as mics, guitars, and iPods. Users are free (and encouraged!) to use these devices as they see creatively fit, so long as they do not rewire the devices in any way.
Digital Audio Tape (DAT) Machine
The DAT machine is a professional audio device used to transfer high quality audio from digital tape to other forms of digital media. Though the DAT machine can also record back, this feature is not currently set up in the DAW. Because the Mixer has a limited number of inputs, the DAT is not currently connected in the DAW. If you would like to use this device, contact lsthelp@u.washington.edu prior to your DAW reservation and we can connect the DAT machine for you. Please refrain from connecting the device yourself.
The Pod Pro
The Pod Pro allows you to have a multitude of simulated amplifiers for guitars without bringing anything but a guitar and a pick into the DAW. The various amp settings on the Pod Pro are modeled after guitar amplification sound from CDs. For example, the Brit Classic sounds very similar to Angus Young's amplifier on AC/DC's Back in Black. The amp module can be selected via the right selection knob and effects can be added using the selection knob on the left. The Pod Pro is routed through channels 3 and 4 on the Mackie Mixer.
The Roland Synthesizer
Though most think of a keyboard when they hear the word synthesizer, in reality, a synthesizer is simply a device which creates sound from electric signals. The Roland is a synthesizer that takes in MIDI information from the MIDI Keyboard. In the DAW, we use this device primarily for previewing audio, as we usually use computer software instruments such as those in Reason when recording, as they are much more sophisticated and easier to tweak after recording. That being said, feel free to see what you can come up with! You would be surprised how far a little filtering and tweaking can go after recording with the Roland. This device is routed to channels 13 and 14 on the mixer.
The Tape Deck
Some of you might be wondering what a cassette player is doing in a digital audio studio. The truth is, many professors and students are taking advantage of this device. For example, some linguistics material is stored on tapes and professors/students use the DAW to transfer this material to a digital audio format. The tape deck is routed to channels 9 and 10 on the mixer.
The Yamaha Drum Set
The Yamaha DTXpress IV drum kit is the newest addition to the DAW. Using the selection knob on the control module, located on the top-left of the set, users can select a number of predefined drum sets and packages. Please be mindful of all the connections and careful with the pads, as they do not take as much power to perform as a typical drum set. The drum set is connected to channels 6 and 7 on the mixer.
