Digital Percussion

What is the best computer music recording software/system(price;value;features)and what equip. is needed?

I am an accomplished musician with limited to no knowledge of modern home computer digital recording techniques. I want to record compostions of high audio quality (mostly synth washes,piano,keys, percussion , werid noises-ambient stuff.) I just need help getting started. What do I need - recording software? Sequencer (Don't know what it is...)? Any other hardware? MIDI business? Certain types of microphones? How do they plug in to the computer? What media form can a finished, mixed, and mastered composition end up as? I am not seeking a professional career yet but desire high-quality sound . I just need a program with dozens and dozens of tracks; built-in effects, eventual ease of use, possible internal drum machine. My old band mates are making home recordings with relative ease on their computer - while I lack proficiency with computers and realize my days of tascam 4-tracks are over. I am desperately seeking a little guidance and enlightenment! Any help is deeply appreciated.

I'm going to suggest two separate systems for you. The first will be a sequencing program that will allow you to do some very realistic drums, sampling and has all the keyboards and synths you could ever want.

The second program is a simple tracking/editing/mixing program that will allow you to mix the music you made with the first program to the vocals, guitars, etc that you add with the second program.

The first program is called REASON. This program is great for sequencing and has tons of pianos, synths, efx, etc. We use it quite a bit at my facility. Check out my partners page at www.myspace.com/fullclipaudio to listen to tracks he made with this program - you'll be amazed.

Anyway, this program can give you as much or as little as you want to tackle. Also, you can get all kinds of stuff online to study how other people put their songs together.

The second program I would suggest is a hardware/software combo called a Digi002. It is made by Digidesign and the program you would be using would be Protools. I recommend protools for beginners because it only has two screens. They wrote that program for sound guys who live and work with real equipment and wanted the transition to be simple.

The nice thing about the digi002 is that you'll plug your microphone into it because it acts as the interface to the computer.

Microphones are tough because everyone has a mic that is perfect for them. The most expensive microphone isn't always the best choice. I have dozens of clients that wont work with anything but a SM57 ($79.00).

Quite frankly, I would cough up some cash and book a few hours in a studio that has a large microphone collection. Ask to be recorded on a range of different microphones. Take special note of which ones work for you. It will be well worth the money to learn it that way rather than trial and error.

It wouldn't hurt to partner up with a local studio. Lots of people I work with write most of their stuff at home and bring it to me for a final mix. It can really cost a lot of money to set up a good monitoring system and build and acoustically treat a room. Take advantage of the people that have already built those things - it will be well worth the money.

Finally, with those tools you can easily produce high quality CD's just like everyone else.

www.myspace.com/nickelthrower

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