The hardware that assist these techniques are Digital audio workstation, CD, Cassette and Mini disk. The device used is often determined by the nature of the reproduction and the nature of the storage. Digital audio workstations are normally used in a studio environment because of its dynamic nature, it allows manipulation. CD's in the production environment are used for the storage of demo's, as a backup storage device and CD's are normally also used as the final sales medium when an album is finished.

Mini disks is another storage medium but is rapidly being displaced by mp3 players. These were used by the ultra modern which required very small storage medium of there audio. The quality of the stored audio is very similar to CD's, the size is the determining factor when choosing between the devices.

Cassettes are used far less and will probably only be seen in very old studios. Home users had cassettes both as a dynamic medium and as an intended static medium for music. Other static mediums were vinyl which is used as a static medium, but by the skilled it is a musical instrument.

Digital Recording explained in more detail than you will ever understand