Put Your Best Feature Forward - 10 cool and innovative features from 10 top DAWs
LearningAll DAWS are definitely not created equal. Yes they can all record and edit audio and MIDI, host effects and software instruments, and provide facilities for mixing. But beyond those bread-and-butter…
EQing Tools of the Trade - A guide to mixing music - Part 24
LearningNow that we have analyzed EQing during mixdown, let's talk a bit about the tools capable of carrying out the task.
Thunderbolt technology could supercharge your studio - Should You Bolt to Thunderbolt?
LearningIf you’ve been paying attention to new product introductions over the last year or so, you’ve no doubt seen more and more Thunderbolt-based audio interfaces hitting the market. For many, moving up to…
Sample-Based Synthesis ─ Bit by Bit - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 17
LearningSome people might think it's weird to see sampling considered as a type of synthesis. Indeed, throughout this series of articles, I've been telling you all the time about the creation of sounds "from…
A Matter of Perspective - A guide to mixing music - Part 23
LearningIn this week's installment, we'll continue our focus on EQing during mixdown, with some additional tips and advice.
Additive Synthesis ─ Give me more! - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 16
LearningIn the previous article we saw what subtractive synthesis, the most widespread method of synthetic sound creation, is all about and we saw that it's based on the sound production and manipulation mod…
Get Up to Speed with Apple Loops - A video lesson on using Apple Loops in Logic Pro X and GarageBand
LearningWhether you're a Logic or GarageBand user, you can spice up your recordings with a huge range of instrument loops and sound effects via the Apple Loops that were included with your DAW. Here's a vid…
Trust Your Ears - A guide to mixing music - Part 22
LearningTo close this chapter dedicated to EQing during mixdown, I'll give you some tips and tricks that ought to help you adopt better habits.
Record Your Band on a Budget - A minimalist setup for tracking your group’s music
LearningSo you have a band and you’re sounding good, but you’re wondering if you have enough gear to start recording? Read on, as we’ll examine what your minimal equipment needs are to create a multitrack ba…
Subtractive Synthesis: Straight to the point - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 15
LearningDear friends, now that we've become acquainted with the main components used, it's about time we get familiar with the main forms of sound synthesis. Oh, yes, there are several!
Create Space and Depth with EQ - A guide to mixing music - Part 21
LearningContrary to popular belief, panning and ambience are not the only tools to use for adjusting the location of a track in the sound field of a mix. We are about to see that the sensations of space and …
More Basic Synth Effects - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 14
LearningIn this article we'll take it from where we left off last week and continue exploring the main effects you can find on a synth.
And There Was Color - A guide to mixing music - Part 20
LearningIn this episode we'll discuss a pretty subjective application of EQing, namely, coloration.
Synth Effects - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 13
LearningThe previous two installments delved into the magical world of MIDI, including its modes, messages, and parameters. Now, in this and the following articles we'll take a look at the effects types that…
Lifting the Mask - A guide to mixing music - Part 19
LearningToday we'll deal with frequency masking ─ what is it actually, and how can we solve it?
The hottest 20 products seen at the NAMM Show 2015 - Best of Winter NAMM 2015
LearningThis Winter NAMM Show 2015 was, in our opinion, an excellent edition. Here are the Top 20 products that most caught our attention in Anaheim.
Understanding MIDI Modes and Messages - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 12
LearningAfter having discovered the MIDI standard in our last installment, let's now have a more detailed look into it.
If it Ain't Broke, Don't Fix it - A guide to mixing music - Part 18
LearningIn this installment, we'll do a quick review on how to deal with the rest of the mid frequencies and the high end. Why a "quick" review? Well, because there are no systematic rules this time around a…
Introduction to the MIDI standard - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 11
LearningIn the previous article, we saw how the evolution of polyphony required ─ and, hence, lead to ─ the introduction of computing in the design of sound synthesis devices. We also saw that the arrival of…
Plug-ins, Key Features, and Free Trials - How to choose a DAW that meets your needs – Part 2
LearningIn part 1 we covered technical requirements, pricing and versions, and copy protection. In part 2, we’ll discuss plug-ins and plug-in formats, talk about some key features that could influence which …
Into the Gray Zone - A guide to mixing music - Part 17
LearningAfter cleaning up the low end, let's move on to the low/mids. You probably noticed that I wrote "low/mids" and not "low-mids". Why, you ask? Because we will be addressing frequencies between 100 Hz a…
Finding Your DAW - How to choose a DAW that meets your needs - Part 1
LearningIf you’re new to the world of digital audio workstations (DAWs), or just thinking of switching to a different one, this two-part article will help you decide which one is best suited for you. This is…
Polyphony, Paraphony and Multitimbrality - Sound synthesis, sound design and audio processing - Part 10
LearningIn the previous article we saw how a voice is defined in sound synthesis and how it can gather several oscillators without that necessarily meaning that the synthesizer in question is polyphonic.
Cleaning Up the Low End - A guide to mixing music - Part 16
LearningIn this installment, we'll continue our focus on EQ, looking at how to clear out unneeded clutter in the low end of the frequency spectrum.
Review of AIR Music Technology's Advance Music Producti… - One Suite Deal
LearningThe AIR Advance Music Production Suite makes it possible to obtain a large and diverse collection of studio software with a single purchase. It contains 34 virtual instruments, including all the majo…