| After I had blown quite a few thousand
| |
| | from those instructions. There are two
|
| dollars in a recording studio, a sound
| |
| | options for this: external and internal.
|
| engineer friend made a cool suggestion.
| |
| | External sounds come in little boxes
|
| "Why don't you buy an ADAT, and do some
| |
| | called sound modules (or keyboards with
|
| tracking at home?" So I purchased that
| |
| | their own great sounds). Sound modules
|
| venerable 8 track digital tape recorder
| |
| | have hundreds of high-quality patches
|
| and saved oodles of time and money
| |
| | that re-create every instrument in the
|
| putting all my synth tracks on tape. That
| |
| | orchestra, classic electronic sounds,
|
| was my start in home recording, and oh,
| |
| | spacey new synthesizer creations and
|
| the fun I've had since!
| |
| | sound effects. To use them, you send the
|
| What are the basic pieces of equipment
| |
| | MIDI back out from the sequencer program
|
| and software one needs to record at home?
| |
| | through the audio interface's MIDI output
|
| There are so many ways to do this! Well,
| |
| | and into the sound module. You then take
|
| since you're reading this, you probably
| |
| | the audio output from the sound module
|
| have a computer, so let's base our home
| |
| | back into your computer via the line
|
| studio on the computer. We'll start by
| |
| | input on your audio interface and record
|
| understanding the different functions we
| |
| | it on a new audio track in the sequencer.
|
| will need filled in home recording. Then
| |
| | It is now a real sound and is perfectly
|
| we'll understand what the best hardware
| |
| | lined up with the other tracks.
|
| and software products to do it are. In
| |
| | Internal sounds come in lots of
|
| general, the principle I recommend is to
| |
| | different types. Instruments that you use
|
| use fewer pieces of equipment with more
| |
| | from within your audio/MIDI sequencer
|
| functions. That approach saves time and,
| |
| | include VST instruments and software
|
| usually, money. As you advance in your
| |
| | synths. The latter may automatically come
|
| recording skills, you can go for more
| |
| | with your audio interface, or require
|
| specialized equipment.
| |
| | installation like any other program.
|
| There are two distinct phases in
| |
| | Option two is a full-blown sampler
|
| recording a song. One is the "in" phase,
| |
| | synthesizer program, such as "Reason",
|
| referring to everything needed to get
| |
| | that you connect your sequencer to
|
| your music performance into a basic
| |
| | through a software function called
|
| recorded form, with however many tracks
| |
| | "Rewire." And there are also sound
|
| you need. The second phase is the "out"
| |
| | modules that come in the form of PCI
|
| phase, where you will take that raw
| |
| | cards that you physically install on your
|
| music, process it and create the final
| |
| | computer.
|
| stereo version.
| |
| | Fine tuning and effects
|
| The "in" phase -- sending the music to
| |
| | Most every song will use spatial effects
|
| your computer
| |
| | such as reverb and echo. You may find
|
| Music can be put into your computer
| |
| | that some tracks are slightly out of
|
| either as audio or as MIDI. Audio is
| |
| | tune. On others, there may be a
|
| actual sound recordings. MIDI records no
| |
| | consistent buzz that needs to be removed.
|
| sounds, but only the digital instructions
| |
| | For all of these, you will want to have
|
| for an instrument to play. It is much
| |
| | an audio editing program or plug-in. A
|
| like a combination of a pianist and sheet
| |
| | plug-in is simply a function you can add
|
| music. Without an instrument, he can make
| |
| | to your basic sequencer program. Plug-ins
|
| no music. With MIDI, you are saving the
| |
| | exists for all kinds of functions,
|
| note and volume instructions to be played
| |
| | including reverb, compression,
|
| on the instruments of your choice later
| |
| | equalization, noise reduction, pitch
|
| on.
| |
| | correction and so forth.
|
| Although some programs let you put MIDI
| |
| | An audio editing program is a standalone
|
| notes into your computer through your
| |
| | program that does all of these things.
|
| computer keyboard, and other programs
| |
| | With most audio/MIDI sequencers, you can
|
| have music generation features that allow
| |
| | configure your software to call up the
|
| you to create an entire backing band
| |
| | audio editing program and fix the track
|
| without playing a note, the best solution
| |
| | without leaving the sequencer.
|
| is a velocity sensitive MIDI keyboard. It
| |
| | Mixing down
|
| gives a much more realistic performance.
| |
| | Once you have all of your tracks and
|
| For example, playing a key softer will
| |
| | sounds recorded, you will need to mix
|
| record a softer note. Other features,
| |
| | them down to stereo. Again, this can be
|
| such as aftertouch, allow you to add
| |
| | done in an external or internal fashion.
|
| vibrato and other realistic effects.
| |
| | To do it externally, you would need a
|
| Audio simply means actual sounds. Audio
| |
| | hardware mixer. This method limits you to
|
| tracks will include vocals, acoustic
| |
| | the number of tracks you can send
|
| instruments, and electronic instruments
| |
| | independently through your audio
|
| whose sounds you wish to use. You will do
| |
| | interface and the number of tracks your
|
| well to get at least two microphones.
| |
| | mixer can handle. Nonetheless, mixers
|
| Some microphones are better constructed
| |
| | give you a real surface to work on, and
|
| to record vocals, while others are
| |
| | often include quality studio effects,
|
| optimized for instruments. In addition,
| |
| | reverbs and such.
|
| having two mics allows you to record in
| |
| | Internal mixing means using your audio
|
| stereo, or two soloists performing at the
| |
| | MIDI sequencer to mix down the entire
|
| same time.
| |
| | song to two tracks. The advantage of
|
| Receiving the music into your computer
| |
| | doing it internally is the expanded
|
| All of this will get your music up to
| |
| | number of tracks you can use. The
|
| your computer's door. How do you get it
| |
| | disadvantage is the difficulty of mixing
|
| inside? With an audio interface that has:
| |
| | with a mouse on a computer screen. There
|
| a microphone jack that fits your
| |
| | are, however, hardware mixing surfaces
|
| microphone cable and preamp function (so
| |
| | which simply control your software
|
| that the signal is strong enough to be
| |
| | program.
|
| properly recorded), phantom power (if you
| |
| | Mastering and burning
|
| use a condenser mic that needs it), a
| |
| | Once you have your stereo mix, you want
|
| line input for synths and sound modules,
| |
| | to put the finishing touches on it. These
|
| and a MIDI interface. Remember the
| |
| | touches include overall compression,
|
| principle - less products that do more.
| |
| | equalization, noise reduction, fading in
|
| Some find it simpler to run every audio
| |
| | and out and bringing the recording up to
|
| sound, mics and all, through a hardware
| |
| | a normalized level of volume. Your audio
|
| mixer (with phantom power and effects)
| |
| | editing program should be able to handle
|
| and sending that pre-processed signal to
| |
| | these adequately, although there are
|
| the audio interface's line input. You'll
| |
| | specialized mastering programs which
|
| still need the MIDI interface function
| |
| | offer higher quality and many more
|
| for your MIDI recording, though.
| |
| | enhancement features.
|
| Once your audio and MIDI are inside your
| |
| | Then you're ready to burn your song to
|
| computer, software takes over. For our
| |
| | CD. Odds are that your CD writing drive
|
| recording we will use what's called an
| |
| | came with a program that does just that
|
| integrated audio/MIDI sequencer. Famous
| |
| | and you won't need anything more. I did
|
| names include Cubase, Cakewalk and so
| |
| | mention that you'll need a CD writing
|
| forth. These programs record multiple
| |
| | drive, didn't I? Well, now I did! And if
|
| tracks of audio and MIDI in perfect
| |
| | it's MP3 you're after, most audio
|
| synchronization.
| |
| | programs encode MP3s as well.
|
| Now you have all the equipment you need
| |
| | And that's it! Now you have everything
|
| for the "in" phase. What will you need to
| |
| | you need to make your musical magic at
|
| take the many tracks of audio and MIDI
| |
| | home. Have fun, but I don't need to tell
|
| you have recorded and make a song out of
| |
| | you that, because it just is.Seth Lutnick
|
| them?
| |
| | is a singer and songwriter who has been
|
| The "out" phase -- making MIDI into
| |
| | bitten by the bug of home music
|
| music
| |
| | recording. His web site, offers detailed
|
| We mentioned that MIDI is simply digital
| |
| | step-by-step plans for creating a home
|
| instructions, it is not actual sounds.
| |
| | recording studio, song arranging and
|
| Now we will need to create actual sounds
| |
| | professional album recording.
|
