Synthesis & Best Ways of Using Synthesizers

Synthesis & Best Ways of Using Synthesizers

‘Synthesis’ means process of making something new and sound synthesis is a kind of Music Technology for generating sound. This electronic instrument creates or imitates a sound using software or hardware. It has various components that help in creating the sound by shaping electric signals.

A synthesizer generated sound waves of various shapes and can generate many sounds at once to produce harmonics. It can make new sound or imitate some musical instrument like bass or any natural sound too. recording studio nashvilleA sound synthesizer contains a voltage control oscillator, filter, amplifiers, modulator and envelops. These create the waveform and change different characteristics of sound like volume, pitch etc. Synthesizers have revolutionized the whole music making and hardly any record today is made without them.

Synthesizers are widely used today in music composition using digital computer and for live performance. You can use the synthesizer to their full potential by doing everything with one synthesizer and this will help in creating refreshing sounds.

The synthesizers generally have stereo output and you can record by simply plugging your synthesizer directly using the inputs and adjust the volume. You can also record through an analog preamp as using a preamp can give you the full sound you want.

You can plug your synthesizer into the guitar amp and this will add depth and colour to your music mix. Apart from these techniques, try to learn how to program. You can then use subtractive, additive, wavetable and FM synthesis etc. to create the best music from synthesizers.

So this article is all about Synthesis & Best Ways of Using Synthesizers

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Tips to keep your computer and session files organized

Tips to keep your computer and session files organized

Everyone must have faced a situation when we have so many files and folders on our computer that we can’t even find the file that we need at the moment. For a music maker, it becomes really difficult to organize the session files that are lying in different parts of the computer. Hence, it becomes even more important to manage the files and folders in a neat manner so that you can access them when needed.

The files including the session audio, backups and icons need to be organized so that these can be Tips to keep your computer and session files organizedused later. One way to manage your session files is by creating a master folder for your files belonging to one project. This will help in avoiding mixing up of different files of different projects.

The next step is to create different folders for all songs in the master folder. This will easily organize your song files so that you can access them easily.  You can also create a folder for final mixes created for every song. This can be your Bounce folder or print folder.

You need to make sure that the loops and samples are kept separately in a particular directory or drive where they can be easily accessed. To enhance the computer performance, you need to make sure that you clean up the files lying unused so that more space is available.

After organising all the needed files, take a back up of your session in the computer internal drive or an external drive so that you can keep your data safe.

Tips to keep your computer and session files organized

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Unique Apps for Musicians

Unique Apps for Musicians

With smartphones and tablets increasingly making everyday life easier for the individual, it really feels like there is an app for everything. This is no exception for the music industry. The days of carrying lots of equipment to practise such as a tuner, metronome and chords are increasingly numbered. There is a wealth of apps out there for both iOS and android devices and they can really enrich and enhance the music-making process. With so much on offer it’s hard to know where to start. To help you, here is a list of the top 5 unique apps available for artists:

  1. unique apps for musiciansSongwriter’s Pad

Got writers’ block? Look no further than this app! Created by songwriters, it really understands the struggle that many artists face when trying to write unique lyrics. It has a rhyming dictionary, as well as helping you find the words you need depending on emotion. It also has a built-in audio recorder and allows you to add chord notation to your lyrics as well as importing backing tracks to help you with the writing process.

  1. MetroTimer

Timing is everything, and this app claims to be the most accurate digital metronome to help its users keep in time. It also provides handy audio and visual feedback.

  1. GarageBand

This app hardly needs an introduction. Above all it acts like a digital music studio, allowing artists to record music. It also comes with an array of audio effects making the music-making , but its most interesting feature is its ability to allow you to virtually jam with your friends who also using the app.

  1. TonalEnergy

This is a unique app which is really easy to use for new artists and established artists alike. Encompassing a tuner, metronome as well as support for rehearsal, it allows you to improve every aspect of your sound. It has become a firm favorite amongst professional artists around the globe. For the more advanced musician, it also come with a range of more complex features to really help fine-tune the end result.

unique apps for musicians

5.MuseScore

Gone were the days of carrying piles of sheet music to practise, this app allows you to create sheet music. The app is really user-friendly and versatile, as well as having a great playback software. It also allows you to save the music as both an audio file and a PDF file, if you wanted to print it out.

 

Conclusion

With so much technology out there for musicians, these apps can really help make music writing process a lot easier and fun for both new musicians and established artists.

 

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Live Concert Recording Tips

Let’s talk about Live Concert Recording Tips

The live music versus recorded music debate has lived on for a long period of time and has no real end in sight. One answer leaves both sides happy – live concert recording. If done properly, live concert recording can balance the feel of being at a concert with the quality that is normally associated with high-quality recordings produced at Nashville recording studios.

The challenges of live concert recording

It’s not easy recording live concerts for a number of reasons. The biggest problem that recording studios face is that they only have one shot to get it right. You can’t ask a vocalist to repeat the lyrics while they are on stage performing in front of a live audience in case you didn’t capture them well enough.

Besides that, Nashville recording studios have to transfer expensive recording equipment to the concert venue. It’s really important to take more equipment than you think you need, because you always need to be prepared for the worst when performing live concert recording. Live Concert Recording Tips

How to create a great live record

It’s very important to know the venue inside out before you actually go to the concert itself. Ideally, you should have a good idea about the band whose performance you are going to be recording so that you know how many musicians there are as well as what their specific roles and needs are.

It is important to set conservative levels too, since unlike in a recording studio environment, at a live concert, musicians tend to play or sing slightly louder than they planned to, or not quite as loud as they had in the trial session. If you have input conservative settings into your recording software, you won’t have to worry about spending forever editing the video to make it acceptable to your clients.

Live Concert Recording Tips

Most Nashville recording studios don’t actually offer live concert recording services, but The Record Shop has a number of packages that are designed for clients with different needs. Check them out and get in touch if you are interested in seeking our assistance for live concert recording.

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Windows Apps for Musicians

Windows Phones are becoming more and more popular, especially among budding musicians. Having the right apps on your phone can make it easier to record music no matter where you are. There are several useful apps that one can download that will help with editing, tuning and writing music.

SEQUENCER

Sequencer is a powerful music tool that is useful for anyone looking to record music. It comes with several samples, customizable synthesizer wavetables and 7-channel mixing are just some of the features that make this app one of the most robust Windows apps for musicians. It’s most common use, however, is simply to create smooth drum loops.  This app is free of cost.

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SOUNDFLAKE SYNTH

If you want an app that lets you create loops very easily, SoundFlake Synth is worth a download. Although you can’t save sequences, it’s great fun playing around with the block and seeing just what you can create. This app costs $0.99

GUITAR CHORDS

Guitar Chords is a useful reference app since it gives you easy access to both standard and not-so-standard chords. It’s fairly easy to use. This app is free to download.

ACCURATE TUNER

Accurate Tuner is fantastic for tuning 126 different instruments. Whether you play a guitar or a hammered dulcimer, Accurate Tuner will make tuning your instrument extremely easy. You can choose between a free version and a paid version $2.99, which comes with a tone generator.

windows apps for musicians

ONENOTE

How frustrating is it when you have a brilliant idea for a song but don’t know quite where to write it down? ONENOTE, which comes preinstalled in Windows Phones, gives lyricists the opportunity to create a note specifically to write ideas about songs in. You can pin the note to your Home page and start recording moments of inspiration before they escape your mind.

 

Do you own a Windows Phone? Which Windows apps do you use for your music needs? Let us know in the comments section!

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Useful Studio Recording Apps for iPads

Although recording music on your iPad may not give you the same recording experience you would get in a professional Nashville recording studio, thanks to a number of incredible apps, it definitely can be done. We’ve highlighted some useful studio recording apps for iPads apps that every budding musician should download if they want to experiment with creating some music.

GarageBand is an essential recording tool and an incredibly powerful app. Even though it might not excel in the fine tuning department, and it doesn’t offer much in terms of mixing, it enables users to create music whenever they feel like it. The app comes with an inbuilt pedal selection and extended app. It’s almost too easy transferring music you create to your Mac, and you can also share music with others directly from the app itself. Best of all, GarageBand is free of cost. Garageband-iPad-2

Music Studio is arguably even more powerful than GarageBand. Although it comes at a steep $14.99, it boasts an intuitive and extensive interface. There are a number of different instruments you can use through this app through a virtual keyboard. There are several tune banks that can be purchased for those seeking more options.

 Another great recording app is MultiTrack DAW. The fantastic thing about this app is that it allows users to record four different tracks simultaneously, and up to 24 tracks in total if you are willing to pay for an upgrade. Single tracks can be recorded in stereo, and two tracks in mono. This powerful app offers an easy-to-use interface and an incredible amount of control over the final sound. MultiTrack DAW can be purchased for $9.99.

AmpliTube may cost $19.99, but it is perhaps the most versatile digital audio workstation out there. It has an incredible array of virtual pedals and amps that could almost make you forget that you’re working on a tablet computer.

There are several other useful studio recording apps for iPads, but this list of apps should be sufficient to give you the opportunity to create some great tunes without having to leave your home! What apps do you use to record music on your iPad? Let us know in the comments section!

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Four Ways to Enhance Your Live Music Recording Experience

One of the biggest advantages of visiting a Nashville recording studio is that you will have professionals handle every aspect of your live music recording experience. However, visiting a professional recording studio is not for everyone. It requires a fairly substantial budget, which not all upcoming musicians can spring for. There are some things you should keep in mind in order to enhance your live music recording experience.

Use a quality microphone

If your input device is not going to give you high-quality audio recordings, you should be prepared for an average end-product. You should make sure that if nothing else, you invest in a proven microphone that suits your needs. Although they are slightly more expensive, unidirectional microphones should be preferred to their omnidirectional counterparts so that background noise is minimized. A large diaphragm condenser microphone might suit your needs perfectly.

Avoid noisy places for recording

The last thing you want to do is have to sift through a whole lot of background noise on the computer and manually remove it, since it is both frustrating and not particularly effective. Ideally, you should record in a soundproofed room. Make sure you are able to cut off as much background noise as possible, especially fans and loud air-conditioners.

Get a preamp

Preamps are the cheapest way you can get a professional feel to your recordings. Instead of plugging your instrument or microphone directly into the recording equipment, you should pass it through a preamp since it will enhance the quality of your source sound significantly.

Invest in good mastering software

Mastering your own music is not an easy task, but with the right software, there is no reason you can’t do a great job from your own home. There are countless products available for various price ranges, and you should choose one based on your particular needs, expertise, budget and level of usage.

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4 Music Recording Websites Every Musician Should Bookmark

With the continual growth of the internet, the number of tools available to musicians on the internet to help boost the quality and understanding of their music has increased dramatically. In an increasingly competitive industry, what often separates one aspiring musician from the other is his or her knowledge of music recording websites that every musician should be familiar with. This blog post hopes to familiarize you with 4 music recording websites that you must use frequently if you want to expedite your success in the world of music.

1. audiotuts+

audiotuts+ has some of the most comprehensive music tutorials anywhere on the internet. If you don’t want to spend your money on expensive music classes, you can simply visit audiotuts+. Some tutorials are available free, but for others, you will need to buy access to the Tuts+ Premium section of the site. Here you can learn the best techniques on how to mix, produce and master the art of creating music.

2. Scalerator

This powerful online tool allows musicians to generate scales and tablatures. All you have to do is enter in the scale you wish to learn and click on generate and you’ll get all the charts you could possibly need. This is a really effective way to learn different notes and scales that every musician should be familiar with.

3. YouTube

YouTube may not be solely a music recording website, but make no mistake. It probably has the most training resources anywhere on the web. The downside to using YouTube is that it is not as easy to find useful resources as it might be no dedicated music recording websites. However, if you master the search feature, you will definitely stumble onto some real gold.

4. musictheory.net

As its URL suggests, this is among a handful of music recording websites that teaches visitors the ins and outs of music theory. If you feel you don’t have the kind of knowledge people around you do about the ins and outs of music, musictheory.net has just the resources for you. It features trainers, lessons and a number of utilities.

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Sonoma Wireworks releases Audio Copy app

Los Altos, CA – September 14, 2010  Sonoma Wire Works’ FourTrack
multitrack audio recorder for the iPhone® and iPod touch® has been
updated to 4.0 adding powerful new features including file import,
AudioCopy, input monitoring, the GuitarJackâ„¢ control panel and
Taylor EQ. FourTrack 4.0 empowers musicians to easily produce high
quality recordings wherever inspiration strikes.

FourTrack 4.0 New Features:

– File Import: Import audio into FourTrack by opening an audio email
attachment or by dragging audio files into FourTrack’s File Sharing
area under Apps in iTunes. Supports wav, mp3 and aiff formats.
FourTrack’s Sessions folder can now be dragged out of iTunes to the
desktop. These features require iOS 4.0 and iTunes 9.2 or above.

– AudioCopy: Copy a track or a mix in FourTrack. Name a copy to
easily identify it in the AudioCopy history list of up to 12 items
which includes audio previews. Paste to another track in FourTrack,
to another song in FourTrack, to any AudioPaste enabled app, and to
apps that support Apple’s general pasteboard.

– Input Monitoring: Use FourTrack’s settings tool to enable/disable
input monitoring. Input monitoring is enabled when a track is armed
and in either Pause or Record mode. Playback of existing tracks
overrides input monitoring. When input monitoring is on, sliders on
armed tracks are enabled and control the monitor mix.

– GuitarJack Control Panel – Adjust the input settings of the new
GuitarJack audio accessory for compatible iOS devices. Select from
1/4″, stereo 1/8″ or both inputs simultaneously, and adjust input
levels with 60dB of analog gain control. FourTrack remembers
GuitarJack settings. Settings are maintained by the GuitarJack while
powered, and it can be used by most apps that do recording or
playback such as tuners, amp models, and more. When a stereo mode is
selected, tracks will arm in pairs (1&2 or 3&4).

– TaylorEQ – Sonoma Wire Works teamed with Taylor Guitars to create
an input EQ for enhancing the FourTrack recordings of Taylor Guitars
or any acoustic guitar. Select from a range of Taylor body styles in
basic mode, or select the Advanced tab to adjust the 6 band
parametric equalizer manually.

– ARM Optimized Audio Engine – Hand optimized assembly code makes
this the fastest running FourTrack release ever.

– Higher Resolution Graphics: Optimized for the iPhone 4 Retina
Display. 

About FourTrack

The FourTrack multitrack audio recorder is a songwriting and practice
tool for singers, guitar players, piano players and other musicians
who want to capture musical ideas and record songs on their iPhone
and iPod touch (2nd generation and above). Plug in a microphone, arm
a track, record, and repeat. FourTrack works with the iPhone built-in
microphone or a headset mic. WiFi sync allows FourTrack recordings to
be transferred to any desktop computer either by launching RiffWorks
recording software and clicking import, or by downloading the tracks
with a browser, then importing them into any recording software
(DAW). FourTrack is developed by Sonoma Wire Works, makers of
RiffWorksâ„¢ guitar recording software, and by The Retronyms, makers
of Recorder, the top selling voice recorder for the iPhone and iPod
touch. FourTrack is available in the iTunes App store for $9.99.
FourTrack features, guide, images, and videos:
https://www.sonomawireworks.com/fourtrack

About GuitarJack

The GuitarJack audio accessory for compatible iOS devices connects a
wide range of instruments, microphones, and other audio hardware to
the iPod touch® (2nd and 3rd generation), iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G
(in airplane mode) via 1/4 inch instrument and 1/8 inch stereo
mic/line inputs. Addressing the most frequent request from musicians
who use FourTrack, GuitarJack makes both level control and input
monitoring possible when using a GuitarJack enhanced app. GuitarJack
is not compatible with iPhone 4, iPadâ„¢ or iPod touch 4th
generation. GuitarJack is priced at $199 MSRP. GuitarJack features,
guide, images and video: https://www.sonomawireworks.com/guitarjack

About Sonoma Wire Works

Incorporated in 2003 and headquartered in Los Altos, California,
Sonoma Wire Works develops products and services that help musicians
enjoy playing, recording and sharing music. Sonoma Wire Works’
flagship product is RiffWorks guitar recording software with
InstantDrummer, effects, RiffLinkâ„¢ online music collaboration, and
the RiffWorld.com online community. These products have received
multiple awards for performance and innovation, including a NAMM 08
Best in Show Trendsetter Award. FourTrack and InstantDrummerâ„¢
iPhone apps, AudioCopy/AudioPaste technology for the iPhone,
StudioTrackâ„¢ multitrack for the iPad, and the GuitarJack accessory
for compatible iOS devices are also developed by Sonoma. Drum
products by Sonoma include the DrumCore and KitCore plugins and
DrummerPack library, as well as the Discrete Drums multitrack drum
library. https://www.sonomawireworks.com

©2010 Sonoma Wire Works. All rights reserved. GuitarJack, the
GuitarJack logo, RiffWorks, the RW Logo, RiffWorld, RiffCaster,
RiffLink, InstantDrummer, StudioTrack, the StudioTrack Logo, the
FourTrack Logo, DrumCore, KitCore, and Discrete Drums are trademarks
of Sonoma Wire Works. iPod, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple
Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other
trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Sonoma Wireworks teams up with Terence Higgins for DrumCore

Sonoma Wire Works Releases HigginsPack, a New DrummerPack for
DrumCore

–New Orleans funk drum grooves by Terence Higgins of The Dirty Dozen
Brass Band–

Los Altos, CA – August 19, 2010 – Sonoma Wire Works has launched the
HigginsPack DrummerPack for DrumCore. Terence Higgins, drummer for
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, brings DrumCore users unique New Orleans
marching style drum loops, variations, fills and drumkit sounds with
a dash of hip hop, funk, R&B, and soul. Higgins says this DrummerPack
is “guaranteed to add a little grease to your tracks.”

HigginsPack was recorded by the original Submersible Music team, and
was pre-configured by them with metadata for use with the DrumCore
search engine, which will help you find content based on feel
(straight, shuffle, etc.), time signature, tempo and other criteria.
Songwriter-friendly “GrooveSets” group related beats, variations
and fills to serve as a construction kit for song creation. All audio
is 48kHz/24-bit and created in a pro studio using state-of-the-art
digital (ProTools HD3) and analog (Neumann, Neve, etc.) recording
equipment. DrumCore works with all the major audio applications and
supports dragging audio and MIDI directly to tracks in applications
such as ACID® 7, Digital Performer® 6, Live 6 and up, Logic Pro® 8
and up, Pro Tools® 7.4.2 and up, Cubase® 4 and up (32 bit), and
Sonar™ 8 (32 bit).

HigginsPack includes 3.5GB of content including 7 DrumKits (24 pads
each) that match 7 GrooveSets (360 audio loops, 427 audio fills, 97
MIDI loops and 41 MIDI fills).

HigginsPack GrooveSets:

Bourbon Street Strut – A traditional slice of New Orleans march.
Intricate rolled snares with some bouncing toms thrown in for good
measure. 70 – 130 BPM

Dirty Dumpster – A trashy, choppy breakbeat groove with funky snare
work and sloppy hats. Great for Hip Hop. 70 – 120 BPM

Fix The Levee – Funky rhythms played on a poppy kit. Sounds great at
the faster tempos. 70 – 130 BPM

Go Go Grease – Upbeat and swingy, this groove is perfect for multiple
genres including Pop, Hip Hop, and R&B. 70 – 120 BPM

Nolafied – A laid back, funky breakbeat that only “The Big Easy”
could provide. 70 – 130 BPM

Swampburn – Thick and murky Nawlins’ march beats. Snare heavy with
some great tom sections. 70 – 130 BPM

Zigawho – Another funky beat with some great snare variations. Start
and Stop breakdowns and splashy cymbals. 60 – 110 BPM

HigginsPack is priced at $79.99, is available at drumcore.com,
sonomawireworks.com, and will be available via most music software
retailers. Demo tracks and HigginsPack info:
https://drumcore.com/TemplateMain.aspx?contentId=100

Requires DrumCore (2 or above) and 3.5 GB of disc space for
installation.

About Terence Higgins and his Drum Kit:

Born and raised in NOLA, Higgins is well versed in the New Orleans
funk style. He is currently touring with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band,
John Scofield’s Piety Street Band, and Swampgrease. In the past, he
has played with Widespread Panic, Dr. John and Norah Jones to name a
few, appears on dozens of albums, and has just released his solo “In
the Bywater” CD. Terence used the following drum kit to record
HigginsPack: Pearl MRX Masters Series Vintage Sunburst with black
hardware, 22×18 bass drum, 8×8 tom, 10×9 tom, 12×10 tom, 16×14 tom,
14×6.5 snare drum (Steve Ferrone Signature), 13×6.5 snare drum (Joey
Jordison Signature), and a 14×6.5 snare drum (Sensitone).

About DrumCore:

DrumCore gives songwriters and composers access to grooves and
instrument sounds of over a dozen famous drummers and percussionists.
It includes a groove library of both audio loops and MIDI files plus a
VST/AU/RTAS software instrument for Mac and PC. DrumCore is expandable
with add-on DrummerPacks. https://www.drumcore.com

About Sonoma Wire Works:

Incorporated in 2003 and headquartered in Los Altos, California,
Sonoma Wire Works develops products and services that help musicians
enjoy playing, recording and sharing music. Sonoma Wire Works’
flagship product is RiffWorks™ guitar recording software with
InstantDrummer, effects, RiffLink™ online music collaboration, and
the RiffWorld.com online community. These products have received
multiple awards for performance and innovation. FourTrack™ and
InstantDrummer™ iPhone Apps, AudioCopy/AudioPaste technology for
the iPhone, the GuitarJack™ audio input device, and the
StudioTrack™ multitrack for the iPad are also by Sonoma. Drum
products by Sonoma include the DrumCore and KitCore plugins and
DrummerPack library, as well as the Discrete Drums multitrack drum
library. https://www.sonomawireworks.com

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