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Saturday, March 27, 2010
Home Recording (continued)
9:04 AM | 
Posted by
fire
Every piece of home recording gear is trying to imitate the features of a professional recording studio on a smaller scale. While technological advancements might allow more features, the goal is still the same: achieve at home the quality that the professionals get in a studio.
In my previous post, I mentioned about two types of DAW, integrated type and computer based type. An integrated type mostly refers to a standalone, all-in-one studio, such as the Fostex, Roland, Tascam, and Yamaha. These studios contain multitrack capability, internal effects, faders for mixing, EQ, and, in many cases, built-in CD burners. Everything we need to get start a music recording.
Roland VS
Recording technology is headed toward the computer at this point. Standalone units will always be around, but as the years go on, they are starting to resemble computers more and more. You can even make a computer as a standalone recorder.
If computer can act as a standalone unit, then why bother buying equipment that relatively more expensive than a computer? An all-in-one studio comes with some guarantees. If the box states that it can record eight tracks at the same time and play back sixty-four, then it’s going to do that without a glitch. With a computer, the number of tracks we can create is limited by the power of the machine. Good hardwares on computer (advanced processor, larger memory, faster disk, advanced soundcard) makes the different.
One more advantage of home recording is it doesn’t require huge amounts of space, and usually a corner of a room or a desk area is enough to get anyone started. How about the musical instrument? Many “solo” engineers/players own just a few microphones, usually one all-purpose and one specialized microphone. A lot depends on what instruments we plan to record.
I use only an electric guitar and a headset with microphone plugged into my computer. But, that doesn’t mean we have to own or master a musical instrument to do home recording. If we give our time to learn more about making music with audio processing software, we can make music without musical instrument, even without a mic. In My Music Box tab on the right, you can listen one example about it. I made it completely with FL Studio
software.
software. Many studios involve MIDI to control drum machines and keyboards. But, I prefer computer software that uses wav format because I think the sounds are more reallistic, altough it requires more harddisk space.
I think that’s all for now. To be continued…
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Friday, March 26, 2010
Home Recording
Nowadays, making music is quite less expensive than it used to be. The development in technology, especially in music recording making everyone including ones with less musical background can record their own music even from their own room. Home recording technology seems to get better and cost less every year. I will try to provide some background information regarding to home recording and explain some common terminology that related to it.
Mentioning about home recording, we have to know the term "DAW" (Digital Audio Workstation). It simply refers to a general combination of audio multitrack software and high-quality audio hardware. High quality? Don't worry. Like I mentioned before, they cost less every year. This audio hardware includes an audio converter unit for of analog-to-digital (ADC) and/or digital-to-analog (DAC) signal conversion and sometimes a DSP (Digital Signal Processing) system for processing digital audio externally from the host computers own processing.
DAW generally refers to computer systems which have high-quality external ADC-DAC hardware, and professional audio software such as a hard-disk multitrack recorder. But, using a computer (sound card) is good enough if we do not have much money to buy those high-quality hardwares. Most modern computers should be powerful enough to get you started. And whether you prefer Windows, Linux or a Mac, there are software options that should meet your needs.
DAWs generally come in two varieties:
- Computer based DAWs; which consist of a computer, an audio converter, and digital audio editor software. The computer acts as a host for the sound card and software and provides processing power for audio editing. The sound card acts as an audio interface, typically converting analog audio signals into digital form, and may also assist in processing audio. The software controls the two hardware components and provides a user interface to allow for recording, editing and playback.
- Integrated DAW; which consist of a mixing console, control surface, audio converter and data storage in one device, such as a hard-disk multitrack recorder.
Much of the functionality of DAWs are just like analogue recording technology.Therefore, computer-based DAWs tend to have a standard layout which includes transport controls (play, rewind, record, etc.), track controls and/or a mixer, and a waveform display. Perhaps the most significant feature available on a DAW that is not available in analogue recording is the ability to 'undo' a previous action. That is, it is most unlikley to accidentally erase, or record over a previous recording.
Commonly, DAWs will handle multiple tracks of audio in the same piece of music, allow you to add special effects to your recording, and also have a mixer so that you can adjust the relative levels of each audio track.
If you like to do some basic recording, like recording your music collection (from reels or tapes to digital format), you may use a more basic audio editor. Audacity is one good example (and it's free!). If you use Apple Macintosh, you may use GarageBand. It's an easy to use and inexpensive to get start with. And if you want a better one, you can use LogicPro.
Linux user may choose MusE, Qtractor or Rosegarden. In Windows, there are lots of option to choose, but many recommend Sony ACID and REAPER.
Here are the list of some digital audio processing softwares based by their operating system:
| Operating System | Softwares |
| Multi-platform | Audacity, LMMS |
| Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X | Cubase, Live, Nuendo, Pro Tools, REAPER, Record, Riffworks, Soundbooth, Studio One, Tracktion |
| Microsoft Windows | ACID Pro, Audition, FL Studio, Kristal, MAGIX Samplitude, MAGIX Sequoia, Mixcraft, n-Track, Podium, Pyramix, SADiE, Sonar, Soundforge, WaveLab |
| Mac OS X | AudioDesk, Digital Performer, GarageBand, Logic Pro |
| Linux / Microsoft Windows | Jokosher |
| Linux / Mac OS X | Ardour |
| Linux | MusE, Qtractor, Rosegarden |
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
DragonForce Singer Audition
Due to the departure of lead singer ZP Theart, DragonForce started a worldwide search for a new vocalist. Guitarist Herman Li said, “We are looking for a powerful, melodic singer to write a new chapter of DragonForce with us."
DragonForce were formed in 1999 by guitarists Sam Totman and Herman Li. The two later found singer ZP Theart through an advert, drummer Matej Setinc, bassist Steve Scott and keyboardist Steve Williams. Drummer Matej Setinc left the band in December 1999 to continue his studies in Slovenia, he was replaced by Didier Almouzni. The band parted ways with Steve Scott in November 2000 and Steve Williams in early 2000. Steve later rejoined and left once again in December 2000, days head of the band's tour with Halford and Stratovarius.
Bassist Diccon Harper joined the band in November 2000 with keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanor joining in February 2001 to complete the lineup for recording their first album. Diccon Harper left the band in 2002 but played on DragonForce's debut album Valley of the Damned as a session player.
Their debut, Valley of the Damned, was recorded in the beginning of 2000 but was not released for three years, giving the band members ample time to fine-tune its sound. Sonic Firestorm, released in 2004, showed the group’s considerable growth, but it was DragonForce’s third disc Inhuman Rampage (2006), that earned them a following in North America.
The band toured with Disturbed and Slipknot throughout the summer of 2008 on the Rockstar Energy Metal Mayhem Festival. The band returned in the Fall with the release of their 4th studio album, Ultra Beatdown.
This London-based band influenced by power, thrash, death and progressive metal, not to mention classical and pop. Not only are they determined to combine all their influences into each of their songs but they also strive to be more intense than each of their favorite bands. DragonForce take their influences to a new extreme called "Nintendo Metal." “When we were in school, we used to play tons of video games, and a lot of them have really great music,” Li says. “Since it was always in our heads, we figured why not add that to our songs.”
Herman Li has stated that DragonForce will stop touring in December, spend time at home for Christmas, and then will begin writing and recording a new studio album scheduled to be released in 2011. On February 22, 2010, the band re-released their first two albums, Valley of the Damned and Sonic Firestorm. Valley of the Damned included newly remixed and remastered tracks while both albums included bonus tracks, updated packaging and DVDs featuring live footage, commentary, and more. Both albums were also released in a box set which featured a t-shirt, a card of guitar picks, and an inflatable guitar.
On March 8th, 2010, it was announced via Roadrunner that DragonForce had parted ways with vocalist ZP Theart and would now be seeking a new frontman.
The Most Lucrative Contract in Music History, So Far
Sony Music signed a deal with the Michael Jackson estate worth $250 million for seven-year, 10 albums made of Michael Jackson's unreleased songs. That will be the most lucrative contract in music history. One of the first releases from the $250 million deal will be an album of unreleased material culled from Jackson’s personal musical vaults, which reportedly house as much as three albums’ worth of unheard material. That release is expected out by the end of 2010, most likely in November to capitalize on the annual pre-holidays sales.
Since Michael's death on June 25, Sony has sold an estimated 31 million of his albums globally. By the first anniversary of his death, his estate expects to have earned $250 million from sales of music, merchandise and tickets to the concert film "This Is It."
The advances being paid by Sony are to be offset by sales of albums as well as revenue generated by licensing Mr. Jackson's music for uses like video games, movies and theatrical performances. The record-breaking $250 million pact is $100 million richer than the 10-year deal Jay-Z signed with Live Nation two years ago. The deal will also go a long way toward helping the Jackson estate pull itself out of the massive debt Michael accrued in the last years of his life.
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