Universal Audio UAD SYSTEM ver.6.3.2 - Manual (Page 33)

UAD System Manual - 33 - Chapter 3: UAD System Overview
The DAW Environment
The digital audio workstation
(DAW) environment is a complete
system where audio production
takes place (either with or without
UAD Powered Plug-Ins). The UAD
system is an add-on to a com-
puter-based DAW that can dra-
matically improve the sonic qual-
ity and performance of the DAW,
while still working entirely from
within the DAW.
A computer-based DAW consists of the host computer hardware and its op-
erating system (OS) software, the plug-in host application (DAW software),
and an audio input/output (I/O) interface and its drivers.
Host Computer The host computer is the system that the host DAW application software runs
on and the UAD devices are installed into. The host computer must meet min-
imum technical requirements and have one or more compatible expansion
slots to use with UAD hardware. See
“System Requirements” on page 16 for
complete details.
Operating System
The host computer runs an operating system (e.g., Win-
dows 7 or Mac OS X) that defines the OS “platform” of the
system. UAD Powered Plug-Ins is a cross-platform product
that is (for practical purposes) functionally identical on
Windows and Mac systems (except as otherwise noted).
Host Application The plug-in host application is the software DAW environment where audio
recording, playback, mixing, and other production functions are controlled.
UAD plug-ins are accessed and operated from within the host software appli-
cation.
Each host application has a unique feature set and different methods of oper-
ation, including how to use plug-ins. However, once UAD plug-ins are
loaded, UAD plug-in operation is identical in all host applications.