If you're new to DAWs then you might want to begin by reading +++ the Wikipedia DAW article HERE +++ . The article explains what features are common and how hardware or software DAWs differ from each other. The article has many links for all of the most common free and for pay DAWs for Windows, Apple and Linux computers.

If you have the Windows version of Band-in-a-Box then you already have RealBand which is a PG Music DAW included with the purchase. RealBand is useful because RealBand can import Band-in-a-Box MGU and SGU files and it adds some much requested additional capabilities not available in Band-in-a-Box.

Some people don't use a DAW because Band-in-a-Box is all they need. When extra help is needed, they can use a free audio editor like +++ Audacity +++.

One problem with an audio editor is it can not work with midi. DAWs can manipulate both audio and midi data. One full featured DAW available for the cost of your email address is +++ Cakewalk by Bandlab (CbB) +++ This software is built on Sonar which is a DAW with a thirty year history. BandLab itself is an interesting music collaboration platform and social network.

Jim Fogle - 2025 BiaB (Build 1128) RB (Build 5) - Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home