[al2o3cr]

The fundamentals in the recording space don't have much to do with DAWs at all; they go all the way back to analog recording on tapes etc. That's why many DAWs have skeuomorphic details - like the "seven-segment displays" in LMMS's interface - to hearken back to physical hardware.

I wouldn't worry too much about learning things in an application-specific way first and generalizing later. To extend your analogy, you're currently at the "how do I computer" level of understanding; knowing theoretically "I need to boost the kick drum at 800Hz by 3dB with a 60Hz bandwidth" isn't going to do you any good if you can't find the buttons in your specific DAW to make that happen.

One thing you'll definitely find: different tools are optimized for very different workflows. You _could_ technically record a 2-hour live orchestral performance in Ableton (a tool centered around triggering loops), but you'll definitely be ice-skating uphill.