Routing in the DAW

The DAW, like any digital system, is simply a collection of devices that send and receive data. The data can be audio data  (i.e. vocals, synthesizer sounds, etc.), which can be transmitted in both analog and digital form, or control data (i.e. MIDI, volume as designated by a fader, etc.).

The Mackie 1642 VLZ-Pro Mixer is the heart of the DAW.  Any device that is sending audio to the mixer is an input.  Any device that is receiving audio from the mixer is an output.  Below is a list of the inputs and outputs that are used in the DAW.

Inputs:
- Microphones
- User inputs (i.e. guitars, iPods, CD players, personal microphones, etc.)
- The DAT Machine
- The Pod Pro Guitar Amplifier
- The Roland JV-1010 Synthesizer
- The Digi002 Firewire Interface/Computer*
- The Sony Tape Deck
- The Yamaha DTXPress IV Electronic Drum Set

Outputs:
- Headphones
- Monitor Speakers
- The Tape Deck
- The Digi002 Firewire Interface/Computer*

*The Digi002 and computer are described together as a single unit as the Digi002 is simply a professional sound card that the computer uses to send and receive audio signals. 

Both the Digi002 and the tape recorder can be thought of as an input and an output, as these devices playback audio (such as audio that has already been recorded) as well as receive audio from the mixer (such as audio that is currently being recorded).  Below is a basic diagram of how audio is routed in the DAW.