May 14

 

 


Do you think this is nuts? I’m going to try to review all of the major DAWs, in other words all of the music editing software, music mixing software, music making software, recording music software, audio production software, whatever you want to call it. While each one has acquired it’s own fanbase, not many musicians would be tempted to trash an investment that can sometimes have a very long tedious learning curve to make the switch to another program, or would you? Another case in point is that the biggest, most popular programs have already reached a higher level of growth. But on the other hand,  I don’t believe that if any or all of them vanished overnight leaving only one, would it be that terrible? They all work well and you’d still be able to make great music! (assuming that you make great music:).

It’s nice to be able to compare/review each product because they all have different strenghts and weaknesses. Hopefully this will help you with your decision making as to what audio production software would work the best for you and your budget constraints (if any exist). The nice thing about some of these programs is that they have a less expensive version available that while not quite as fancy as the full fledged version, will still get the job done quite nicely.

So what about that learning curve? Don’t bury your head in the sand here. There will always be a learning curve. Like most programs available now, they are becoming more and more in tune with either Mac or Windows operating systems, which helps to lesson that fabled learning curve. Not to mention that these music editing software programs tend to borrow from the competition, hence making it easier to learn them and if you stay with the same company, but upgrade you’ve got even less of a learning curve. So you can relax it shouldn’t be that hard.

Sometime down the line you may want to switch. Like every thing else in this world nothing is static or stays the same, including recording music software programs. At some point you may want to try another product, it might have some feature in it that the program that you’re currently using is missing and you know that you just can’t live without. Personally I love technology and want every new gadget out there. If you’re anything like me I’m sure that eventually you are gonna want to try something new.

With that said I need to remind you that again nothing is static here. These music making software programs are constantly being changed and updated. Which on the one hand is great, but on the other hand can be frustrating. It’s the nature of the beast or anything electronic nowadays. Repeat after me, there will always be upgrades and improvements. Some you will love, others you will hate. Get use to it.

Next up, support. Well we all know what support can be like. Some audio production software companies do a pretty good job with support, others not so hot. I would suggest that you first check out any FAQ’s and second if they have a forum go there. Forums can oftentimes be the best place to find answers to your questions or problems. Most of these music making software companies are not set up for unlimited support. Use it wisely.


 

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May 31

Want to turn your home PC into a complete Recording studio to record, edit, and play back digital audio files, this article, describes how and what you need do it.

Do you possess a multimedia PC with a sound card and speaker? All you require is an inexpensive recording and editing software to your PC, with this you can produce high-quality, effective voice and music recordings. The basic prerequisite to get a level of recording are a PC, Quiet recording space, Microphone, Speakers and headphones, recording software.

Our aim is to record a clear, close voice track, so we need a Quiet recording space, which means keeping noise and the sound of the room out of the reach till the finished recording meets all our needs. Professional’s records in closet specially designed to keep noises out and make their voice sound good.

To get your voice or recordings into the computer, you need a microphone. Don’t relay on the dull one that you got with your computer. Choose high-quality, inexpensive Microphone that sounds far better. Microphones are available from music or audio equipment suppliers. There are microphones for the basic voice work. Choose the microphone that best suits for female voice and male voice.

Choosing of computer speakers tends to be given importance because it impacts on getting quality output of recording. Computer speakers are adequate for recording, editing, and finishing basic recordings, but empower some decent powered speakers to get better quality output.

The net result you get in recording apparently depends on the Recording software that is being used. Choose recording software equipped with all editing features such as with best bit rate, creating special effects adding music and/or sound effects and the software should present your recordings in the formats you desire. The music software that best suits for professionals as well as beginners are FlexiMusic’s FlexiMusic Wave Editor, a software for recording and editing.

Part 1: Getting Started

Fasten up your equipment by plugging your microphone into your sound card’s microphone. Be careful in this, since there are three plugs there, choose the one that Is written as “Mic”. Now launch the software that controls the sound card’s recording source (for this you can use the “Recording source” command in FlexiMusic Wave Editor). Then select your recording source (Mic) and adjust its volume at 100%.

Start your recording program (say FlexiMusic Wave Editor), choose stereo, bit rates of 16 bits, 44kHz of sampling rate and at CD-quality. Start the recording command. Adjust the volume so that Digital level meters shows 3/4th volume, if it exceeds it will sound horribly distorted.

To improve the sound of your recordings, get closer to the mic. The farther away you are from it, the more you pick up the room noise around you. Get closer and your voice is closer. Advantage of getting closer to microphone may bring out the lower frequencies in your voice and can make you sound more powerful. Obviously, locate your recording area away from noisy equipment. Some precautionary things that are to be taken care are, put a little distance between the mic and the noise source. Avoid salty foods immediately before your recording session. Have some water nearby and apply a little lip balm. These will keep your mouth and lips lubricated. When you’re ready to record, speak clearly and slowly. You can always tense up your recording while editing. If an error occurs go back to the nearest sentence start and continue on again.

Part 2: Editing the recordings

“As haste makes waste”, don’t fix everything in one take. Record as many times as needed and assemble the best parts into the final recording. Calculate whether the recording done has everything that you desired. If not, don’t pamper, go back and re-record the bits you need, listen again, and repeat the process until you obtain the desired. You see a two-dimensional representation of the words as sound waveforms. You can hear the words as you play them. Cut, copy, paste is all the techniques you apply when editing sound.

Early to begin editing, make sure to turn off the mic, disconnect the headphones, and switch off speakers. Delete the unnecessary things that interrupt the output of the recording. Eliminate the junk and move further improving your performance. Never give up to until you get the best result of recording. Do carry out as many takes as needed, find the best takes out of it and build your final version from them.

Make sure of any changes you have done during editing. Analyze, if you can make it better. Check whether the volume is consistent? Are there any noises, background sounds, or other unwanted junk parts that which can be eliminated or reduce?

After editing the voice, to make it efficient better you can add music or sound effects to enhance the final version. You add the back ground effect using the same software FlexiMusic Wave Editor, open the music file in audio software, select, and copy it to the clipboard. If needed trim the music to match the length of your voice recording, then, place the cursor at the start of your voice recording, and select Edit > Paste Mix. Make sure that you can hear your voice recording clearly with the music playing in the background.

Now make the best use of your audio software’s to maximize the recording’s volume. Next, choose a format in which you want your recordings to be such as, Mp3, WMA, Snd, Raw, and Au. Select the recording which is in the waveform and save the file to the audio format of your choice. Using mp3 or WMA files is useful to save space on your hard drive while retaining reasonably good quality and for transmitting your work over the Internet.

Finally you have done! You can play back the file in FlexiMusic Wave Editor, or with any audio program, such as Windows Media Player or Winamp, and transliterate the recording.

Heera
http://www.articlesbase.com/multimedia-articles/turn-your-home-pc-into-a-complete-recording-studio-82734.html

May 31

Do contests like American Idol, participating on some music talent search contest, open call audition or some talent competition actually help an amateur break into the music business?

A lot of people have been asking me this question lately and so I decided that perhaps it might be a good idea to bring a little clarity to this issue.

Does participating in a talent competitionin itself guarantee you a bright future in the music or entertainment industry? The answer is NO.

Developing any career takes time and hard work and singing songs and hoping to win the talent contest will not guarantee that you will be the next rock superstar. It does however accomplish a number of very important small tasks that can be instrumental in helping you become a new music talent.

Every one knows that training and practice are important but it is not always obvious that certain physical abilities like having an ear for music or a flare for performing are also necessary for success in the business.

I am sure many of you have heard the stories of people that have the most amazing musical abilities. Wonderful voices, amazing music talent on a particular instrument and perhaps even a great stage presence yet these people are still not big in the music industry.

Well talent and ability need to be supplemented with business savvy and marketing expertise. All the marketing in the world however will not help if no one ever hears what you can do. Even if they hear what you can do you still need to know weather they are enjoying what they hear. You as an artist or musician need to understand what does public, that is viewing you likes and want so that you can adapt your performances to give your audience. It is only once you fill this need that you will then become successful.

Well the music talent contest does assist you in these other very important aspects of building your career in the entertainment industry. It gets your music to the public and gets you heard. It provides a means of getting feedback from your potential audience on your talent and it can assist you mold and modify what you do to fill their needs.

It gives you practice and if you advance in the contest actually helps you build a portfolio that shows how your talents have actually improved over time and provides the entertainment industry with a better idea of what you are capable of. Participating in a talent competition like this is supposed to be two things. It is supposed to be fun, and it is supposed to help you develop. Well the Music Media Entertainment Group is trying very hard to develop a website that will accomplish both of these results.

Our website provide rich resources of various talent competitions and you can register online. We have created a rich musician resources for our visitors on all topics related to music far and wide. You can “listen to free online music”, “download free music online”, “free downloadable mp3 music”, “download free music software video”. The site also has music creation tools like “music composing software” and “free music mixing software“.

Visit http://www.musicmediaentertainmentgroup.com and enjoy.

Lionel Wayne
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/are-music-talent-contest-worth-while-82124.html

May 31

Your parents may never forgive you for your career choice but being a Disc Jockey is a great way to make a living. If you have a passion for music and can build a great rapport with the crowd DJ’ing might just be your calling. Think about all the advantages you will be enjoying if you choose to take it up as a regular job.

Advantage No.1: You will still be able to maintain and manage a Full-time job. Most DJ’s play at night, since the hottest spot for action, the clubs are busier during nighttime. As a result you can work wherever you like during the day and then finally head off to the club at end the day on a musical note.

Advantage No.2: The job pays handsomely, and for almost no effort on your part. If you are a music enthusiast playing good tracks and making them sound better should be a cakewalk for you.

Advantage No.3: Total freedom in your work zone and an equal amount of space to help spread your creative wings. DJ’ing ensures a quick and easy flow of money. Gigs are popular and thus most DJ’s make money hand on fist. With the cash flow taken care of you can easily try out new things to suit your own creative taste.

Advantage No.4: Whether you are playing at a club or at a wedding you will be getting oodles of those complimentary drinks and food items constantly, so party on Bro.

If DJ’ing sounds like your cup of tea here are a few pointers. Begin by broadening your musical horizon. As a DJ you will be expected to play a lot of music, many of which may not suit your personal taste. To equip yourself for this challenge get your hand on all the music you possibly can.

As you probably know not all music works on the dance floor. Decide what is to be your forte, is it Trance that you specialize in? Or is it Hip-Hop? Are you eager to experiment with funk? Or rap?

For anyone looking to be a DJ, good music recording software is a must. A number of top DJ’s also have his or her own recording studios but this is obviously not an option for everybody. If you do have access to a recording studio however, do make good use of it.

Now, the rest of your requirements will depend on whether you are looking to be placed in a disco or a club or whether you choose to be mobile. Mobile DJs play for various events such as high school reunions, parties, socials, proms, weddings, private parties etc. They usually carry their sound recordings in some preferred medium, such as MP3, midi file etc. on compact discs or vinyl records or in MP3 compatible devices such as an iPod. To playback the recorded music mobile DJ’s require at least 2 playback devices so as to ensure continuous playback.

On the other hand if you are a permanent DJ at a club or a disco you will have your own console with a turntable, and will thus not have to carry your own playback devices.

So what are you waiting for, if music be the food of love go ahead and play on. And this time watch the crowd sway to your tune!

Sarika Kabra
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/making-music-swaying-the-crowd-with-your-tracks-127533.html

May 31

Which Music Software Programs Fit Your Needs?

Want to find out how to listen to all your favorite songs
whenever you want? If so, you’ll want to learn more about music
software and how you can install some programs onto your
computer. Here are some descriptions of some basic music
software programs you will want to learn more about:

CD Ripper

A CD Ripper program allows you to convert tracks from a compact
disc to your mp3 player, or onto your computer. You can make
your own mp3s from audio CDs, so that you make your own song
selections. You can also convert batches of WAV decoded files at
a time to mp3 files on the CD Ripper, and if you want to
download this program onto your computer, you’ll need to have
Microsoft Windows 95, 98, or 2000, and a CD-ROM drive. For most
CD Ripper programs, you can try a free download first before
purchasing the product.

Audio Editors

If you are into recording and creating your own music, an audio
editor program may be a good investment. An audio editor program
allows you to save your own studio sessions or songs to modify
later. Most include a metronome (to keep music and vocals in
rhythm) and an audio mixer. The mixer allows you to adjust
different music track settings like tone, pitch or volume. On
some programs you can even ‘beat match’ between tracks, thus
allowing for a smoother transition between songs. One audio
editing program you may want to try is Blaze Media Pro, a
program which is also a CD burner and converter. And, if you’re
recording a large file, most audio editors will be able to
support your files with no problem at all. If you are using a
multi-track editor, one thing to keep in mind is whether your
sound card and memory capabilities are up to the task of
handling large volumes of songs,.

Although most audio editor programs are commercial (and not
freeware) and have a standard price tag, you can receive free
trials for audio editor programs as well. Be aware of the memory
and sound card requirements as designated by the company who
produces the software. Depending on who makes the software, it
may be available for Windows XP, Windows 98, ME, 2000 and even
Mac OSX

Mansi Gupta
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/music-software-101-3436.html

May 31

The headline read, “If your site doesn’t have audio, it’s going to be outdated soon.” It’s this type of headline that captures attention, especially if you are an online business that is seeking to grow your business, retain your existing customers and attract new prospects.

Where once we were satisfied with a relatively small handful of gigabytes, we are now purchasing computers with lightening fast speed and a seemingly endless bucket of hard drive space.

Statistics indicate consumers of computer products are purchasing high-end computers simply because they crave options with audio and video and do not wish to be left out when these options are available. Furthermore these consumers will actively seek out sites that offer audio and/or video.

Internet consumers have discovered the thing they found lacking in Internet communications was the personal touch. Reading text was a great way to connect with people on a global basis, but as with all consumer demand there came a time when it wasn’t enough. Now individuals are able to communicate through Internet phone connections and converse using web cams.

If you have a step-by-step process for outlining the benefits of your product or service the use of audio can help guide your prospect through the information stages right to the point of sale and you will be with them every step of the way in the form of companion audio streaming.

There are fees associated with the use of some audio production software services. However, there are other software solutions that may allow you to purchase the software without any additional fees. You can develop your own audio using your own computer and upload the end result in a matter of minutes.

Audio streaming is the perfect personal touch. When a visitor is relatively new to the use of the Internet the availability of an audio stream can help them take steps they would have been hesitant to take without your direct and highly personalized guidance.

Many online businesses will report that their sales increased with the use of audio. Many will also indicate audio streaming was a pivotal point in the renewed growth of their online business.

The use of audio streaming allows for a personality driven business to effectively translate to the consumer. While this is the norm in brick and mortar stores the use of personality within a website is fast making it possible for customers to feel a strong connection to your business, your brand, and your ability to be trusted.

Scott Lindsay
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/audio-streaming-adding-humanity-98569.html

May 31

Hal Leonard Recording Method - Book Three
Once you’ve learned how to use microphones and mixers, and to record instruments and vocals, you’ll need to know how recording software programs work and how to choose and optimize your recording system. This book and DVD use detailed illustrations and screen shots, plus audio and video examples, to give you a comprehensive understanding of recording software and plug-ins.

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May 31

Apple Logic Express 8 Music Production Software

Logic Express 8 makes it easier than ever to translate musical inspiration into professional recordings. A wide range of powerful, easy-to-use features put sophisticated tools at your fingertips. Logic Express 8 delivers the power, precision, and professional toolset of Logic Pro 8including a redesigned interface that allows musicians to write, record, edit, and mix with unparalleled speed and ease. Next Generation Interface A new workspace featuring a single-window design, retractable panes, and Dual Channel Strips eliminates clutter and lets you focus on your music. Consolidated Arrange window With the new Arrange window, all edit and browser windows are consolidated into a single, efficiently designed workspace. So you can record multiple takes; cut, move, or stretch audio with sample accuracy; apply channel strip settings; automate a group fade; and drop chords onto your lead sheet all from one central location without navigating a maze of windows. Built-in browsers Intelligent, integrated browsers provide fast access to your content. The Library browser lets you preview and select any plug-in or channel strip setting. The Spotlight-searchable File browser helps you find and grab any file on your system. And the Apple Loops browser allows you to easily audition and insert Apple Loops. Simplified track setup Create and configure multiple audio, instrument, or external MIDI tracks from a single, simple setup window. Production-ready templates Start making music fast by choosing from a variety of professionally crafted templates designed for different music styles and production scenarios. You can also save and recall your own customized templates from the same, well-organized template browser. Multitrack Recording Advanced tracking features include seamless punch recording, input monitoring, and effortless multi-take management. Simplified tracking A new template browser offers a variety of preconfigured projects to get you started,

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May 31

Steinberg Sequel 2 Music Production Software

The Steinberg Sequel 2 Music Production Software gives you a fully-loaded music studio right on your computer. You need HipHop beats for your latest track? Or want to surprise your friends at your next party with your own electro live-set? Sequel gives you everything you need to produce pro-quality tracks at home, on a plane, in the rehearsal room or even live at a club. Produce your own tracks in anynowmusical style with over 5000 outstanding loops and over 600 instruments. Just a few minutes will see you creating your own songs, even if you cant play an instrument or dont have any musical knowledge at all. Because Sequel stays in the right key automatically, and never gets thrown out of rhythm, leaving you to get creative with your own music. Its never been more fun to create music on a computer! Combining intuitive tools to record, edit, mix and perform music with great-sounding loops, instruments and effects, Sequel 2 is the perfect first step into music production and performance. Steinberg Sequel 2 Features Complete all-in-one package - ready-to-use straight out of the box! Record, edit and mix music in any popular style More than 5000 loops from world-class producers included, covering popular styles like Hip-Hop, R&B, Dance, Electronic, Pop, Metal, World, and many more More than 600 ready-to-play instrument sounds including more than 60 drum kits for various styles Unique live performance mode for remixing/recombining songs on the fly Seamless combination of linear and pattern based arranging Audio and instrument parts follow tempo and key in realtime Built-in studio-quality audio effects, including EQ and Dynamics in every channel More than 50 Audio Track Presets for various instrument types, as well as vocals Cross-Platform: Windows and Mac OS X Universal Binary Your Own Recording Studio You sing, rap or play an instrument? Sequel gives you your own studio where you can record and rearrange your vocals or instruments. Produce your

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May 31

Propellerhead Reason 4 Music Production Software

Reason has reached the next level. Stronger, swifter and smoother to work with, Reason 4 will alter the way you create your music. Reason’s new devices and features will not only inspire you to produce great tracks, they will provide you with new ways of doing so. function open_win(URL) { window.open(URL,’_blank’,'toolbar=no, location=no, directories=no, status=no, menubar=no, scrollbars=yes, resizable=no, copyhistory=yes, width=985, height=469′) } Click here to view the Reason 4 Video Trailer Already own a previous version of Reason?Save big and receive the all the benefits when you upgrade your Reason 1.0, 2.0, 2.5 or 3.0 withReason 4 Upgrade.About Reason Reason comes in the shape of a classic studio rack, packed with all the gear you could possibly need: Samplers, Analog synths, Graintable synth, Vocoder, Mixer, Step time drum machine, Arpeggiator, Compressors, EQ and Effects as many of each as your computer can handle. A realtime multi-track sequencer provides full control over every detail, letting you create and edit your music quickly and intuitively. Reason is an all-in-one music production environment, complete with a massive soundbank containing sounds, loops and patches for all possible styles of music. Sounding good has never been this easy Whether youre a big time producer or a bedroom DJ, a pro musician or an absolute beginner, this application provides all the necessary tools for you to create, edit and mix the music of your choice, all within the comfort of your own computer. Highlights in Reason 4: Thor Polysonic Synthesizer:Thor is a semi modular synth with interchangeable oscillators and filters. With its six oscillator types, four filter types and endless modulation possibilities, this synth comes with a sound like nothing else on the planet. RPG-8 Monophonic Arpeggiator: A powerful arpeggiator with multiple play modes, pattern function and much more. ReGroove Mixer: ReGroove mixing is a way to work

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