Low-level audio descriptors-based analysis of music mixes from different Digital Audio Workstations – case study

The aim of this paper is two-fold. Firstly, we attempt to check whether objective, low-level audio descriptors may serve as a comparison tool in music mix evaluation performed using different Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). Secondly, we seek to answer whether differences in music mixes are objectively discernible when several sound processing engines of DAWs are used. The same tracks of a song exported from different Digital Audio Workstations constitute the basis for this research study. Several song mixes are built of 24 individual tracks with no added effects, employing both commercial and non-commercial DAWs. Then, a set of time- and frequency-domain audio descriptors is calculated to find similarities and differences between the music mixes. Informal listening tests are conducted to answer to what extent experts are able to evaluate differences in these mixes. Then data are analyzed to show that in most cases similar results are obtained regardless of the DAW employed.