DAE, the Pro Tools audio engine, is a real-time operating system for digital audio recording, playback, and processing. When you install Pro Tools, DAE is automatically installed on your system.
In the same way that a computer’s operating system provides the foundation for programs that run on the computer, DAE provides the foundation for much of the hard disk recording, digital signal processing, and mix automation required by Pro Tools and other products from Avid and its Development Partners.