← Music Production · Start here · about 20 min
Audio tracks vs. MIDI tracks
The most important idea in your DAW: a recording versus instructions.
Audio: a recording
An audio track holds a recording of real sound, like a voice, a guitar, or a sax. It shows as a waveform.
Once it is recorded, the sound is fixed. You can cut it, move it, stretch it, and add effects, but you can't change the notes the way you can with MIDI.
MIDI: instructions
A MIDI track holds no sound at all. It holds instructions: which note, when, how long, and how hard. Those instructions tell a virtual instrument what to play.
That means you can change anything after you play it. Change the notes, the speed, even the instrument, and the song updates.
Side by side
| Audio track | MIDI track | |
|---|---|---|
| Contains | A recording | Notes (instructions) |
| Looks like | A waveform | Little bars on a grid |
| Needs | A microphone or audio source | A virtual instrument, plus a keyboard or the mouse |
| Change the notes later? | No (not easily) | Yes, easily |
| Good for | Vocals, guitar, bass, sax | Keys, drums, synths, bass |
How to record each one
Make the right kind of track
Choose an audio track to record from a mic or instrument. Choose a MIDI (or software instrument) track to play a virtual instrument.
Choose the input
Pick the microphone, the instrument input, or the MIDI keyboard.
Arm the track
Click the record-arm button on the track. This tells the DAW which track to record on.
Set the tempo and click
Set the tempo (BPM) and turn on the metronome so you can play in time.
Hit record
Press record, play, and press stop. Listen back.
If it sounds delayed
What is latency?
It's a small delay between when you play and when you hear the sound. It happens because the computer needs time to process audio.
How do I fix it?
Lower the buffer size in your audio settings while you record. Raise it again while you mix, so plugins run smoothly.