DAW - Digital Audioworkstation

History

How was music recorded?
Classic Studio
Tape Recorders
from Mono to Stereo to Multitrack

Digital Revolution

What happend in the late 70ties
Hardware Samplers
Digital tape machines
lossless copying
Computer based Digital Audio Workstations

Functionality

What can this Software do?
Recording, editing and playback of Audio
(playing) Virtual Instruments
digital effects / processing
mixing and mastering

Software

popular and sort of entry:
GarageBand
StudioOne
FruityLoops
Reaper
Audacity
more advanced:
ProTools (Industry Standard)
Logic
Cubase
Ableton Live
MOTU Digital Performer
useful information:
What is a DAW on MasterClass.com
[History of sound recording](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_sound_recording#The_Digital_Era_(1975%E2%80%93present)

Videos

a Video which is based on that wiki entry, watch from 0:40 :