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