DAW Proficiency and Workflow Flashcards
7 cards from real CMP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 DAW Proficiency and Workflow flashcards as text
What does 'PDC' stand for in the context of DAW plugin chains?
Answer: Plugin Delay Compensation
Plugin Delay Compensation (PDC) is the automatic process by which a DAW offsets tracks to account for the latency introduced by plugins in the signal chain.
When recording in a DAW, what is 'input monitoring' used for?
Answer: Hearing the live input signal through the DAW's monitoring path while recording
Input monitoring lets a performer hear their live signal (with or without DAW effects) through the computer while tracking, rather than only hearing the direct hardware output.
What is a 'bus' (or 'submix') in DAW routing?
Answer: An internal signal path that collects outputs from multiple tracks for grouped processing
A bus is an internal routing destination that receives audio from multiple tracks, allowing group processing (e.g., one compressor on all drum tracks) and easier level management.
In Pro Tools, what is the difference between 'Elastic Audio' and standard audio editing?
Answer: Elastic Audio allows tempo-stretching audio without affecting pitch in real time
Elastic Audio is Pro Tools' real-time time-stretching engine that allows audio to be conformed to a tempo grid or warped without altering its pitch.
What is the purpose of 'clip gain' (or 'region gain') in a DAW?
Answer: To adjust the level of an individual audio clip before it reaches the channel fader and plugins
Clip gain adjusts the amplitude of a specific audio region before the signal hits the channel strip, making it useful for leveling inconsistent takes without automation.
What does 'MIDI chase' do in a DAW?
Answer: Re-sends active MIDI messages (sustain, pitch bend, etc.) when playback starts mid-sequence so instruments play correctly
MIDI chase ensures that controllers such as sustain pedal, pitch bend, and program changes that were active before the playback point are re-sent when you start playback in the middle of a sequence.
Which DAW concept describes organizing tracks into collapsible groups to simplify a large session?
Answer: Track folding or track stacking
Track folding or stacking (called 'folders' in Cubase/Reaper, 'track stacks' in Logic) lets producers collapse related tracks into a single expandable group to reduce visual clutter.