DAW in the Cloud
Many tech prognosticators predict that “cloud computing”—where applications reside on a central server that you access through the Web—is the wave of the future. Instead of having your own software locally on your computer, you’ll get all your apps online. There are some examples of that already, such as the many online apps that Google offers. However, Indaba Music, an online collaboration Web site, is taking cloud computing to the recording space with the announcement today of a browser-based DAW, tentatively called Session Console 2.0, which is built on the Sun Microsystems Java/FX platform.
According to Indaba, this application, which is scheduled to be released in July, will allow you to record high quality audio, and will give you editing, looping, and mixing capabilities. An Indaba spokesperson told me that any audio hardware that works with your computer’s audio system will work with the software. This version will not have MIDI-sequencing capabilities, however.
In addition to working with the DAW through your browser, you’ll be able to drag a copy of the DAW to your desktop for working offline. The software will work with both Macs and PCs.
Indaba has been beta testing the software with a number of musical artists, including Rivers Cuomo of Weezer. The company previewed a video for the press with Cuomo talking about how much he likes working with the software. The gist of his presentation was that he doesn’t like complicated DAW software, and that the Indaba Console was really simple to use.
I’ll keep you apprised as more details about this application become available.
