Recording Studio Software http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/ Mon, 20 May 2013 11:16:56 GMT FeedCreator 1.8.0-dev (info@mypapit.net) images/pages/propellerhead-reason-thor.jpg Recording Studio Software http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/ OSC - Open Sound Control Protocol http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/osc-open-sound-control-protocol Even if you only own one piece of music hardware, there's a very good chance it's equipped with MIDI. The connection protocol has become so ubiquitous that it's almost impossible to find new synths, controllers or even software that don't support it. However, the skeptics would have us believe that Its days are numbered thanks to new protocols arriving on the market.

While such alarmist attitudes are probably unfounded, it seems that there's an increasing demand of something slightly more advanced the long-established industry standard. In this article we are looking at Open Sound Control (OSC), one of the protocols vying to steal MIDI's crown. We'll see what it's all about and why you might expect to hear a lot more over the next few years.
]]> Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:26:17 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/osc-open-sound-control-protocol Audio Damage Phosphor http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/audio-damage-phosphor audio damage phosphorOver the last few years, Audio Damage have built a reputation as seriously eclectic developers, releasing everything from versatile effects to modeled emulations of vintage gear. For Phosphor, Audio Damage have chosen one of the less obvious early '80s synths to emulate.

With most of the classic synths already recreated in software form, it's becoming increasingly difficult for software developers to find inspiration for retro-inspired products. The Syntari Corporation's alphaSyntauri may not be a household name, but it played a major role in bringing digital synths to the consumer market.
]]> Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:21:29 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/audio-damage-phosphor A Brief History of Pro Tools http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/a-brief-history-of-pro-tools Avid's Pro Tools, originally developed by Digidesign, looms over the DAW world like a colossus, widely considered to be the industry standard digital recording solution. ]]> Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:29:20 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/a-brief-history-of-pro-tools Loudness Tips and Tricks http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/loudness-tips-and-tricks Although this article is about mixing for loudness, not mastering for loudness, the two arts are inextricably linked. It's no secret that there's still a loudness war waging, putting pressure on mastering engineers to raise the levels of recordings to the point that audio quality is often compromised in favor of perceived volume. ]]> Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:28:26 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/loudness-tips-and-tricks Is Stereo Enough? http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/is-stereo-enough Once upon a time, surround sound was very much touted as The Next Big Thing. What's more, in the movie and video game worlds, its promise has been fulfilled. However, in the music sector, the benefits and possibilities of multi-channel audio aren't getting people as excited as they once did.

This raises various questions: is it simply the case that listeners have no appetite for surround sound music. or are there technical and cultural reasons why producers don't mix for more than two speakers? And if surround setups have no future for music, what kind of potential is there to get a '3D' experience from our existing hardware. or to experience it in a live context? Perhaps the biggest reason surround sound has failed to capture the public's imagination is that audiences have been busy with other technology - MP3, iPods, etc.
]]> Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:50:10 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/is-stereo-enough The Art of Remixing http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/the-art-of-remixing We've all heard tracks that just beg to be taken further. A haunting vocal that cries out to be paired with a filthy wobble bass; a tune t hat would work so much better if it was playing over a more inventive chord structure; a metal track that could live a new life as an old·school rave anthem. This desire to appropriate the music of others and take it to new places isn't a new thing: even early classical composers would create new arrangements of existing compositions, sometimes merely re-orchestrating but at other times going as far as adapting the ideas in order to include a significant amount of original material. ]]> Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:55:41 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/the-art-of-remixing Digital Audio File Formats http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/digital-audio-file-formats In digital audio, the level of detail at which an analog audio signal can be captured, stored and recreated largely dictates the resultant sound quality. A digital audio file comprises a string of samples - i.e., tiny snapshots in time, each representing the amplitude of the analog audio signal at that particular moment. ]]> Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:25:07 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/digital-audio-file-formats Audio & Sampling http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/audio-sampling In the early days of recording, engineers and sound designers faced an ongoing struggle to preserve audio fidelity. Capturing or playing back audio from an analogue recording medium would always add a certain amount of unwanted sonic artifacts and distortion to the signal, caused by the noise present in electrical circuitry. In fact, even the basic act of storing recorded audio on a format like magnetic tape would incur a degree of degradation over time. ]]> Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:24:23 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/audio-sampling Effects and Plugins - Delay, Reverb, Chorus, Phaser, Flanger http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/effects-and-plugins-delay-reverb-chorus-phaser-flanger Just what makes a production a production? What is it that gives a professionally recorded and mixed song that special, elusive power and punch, depth and detail? You've got the killer beats and wicked loops. You've got all of the instruments: samplers, synths, drum machines abound. You've got the songwriting and performance chops. Yet there’s something missing. The tracks lack a sense of space. They lack interest, falling flat the moment the sound drops out of the speakers. Why? What do the pros know that you don't? In a word: effects. Effects can make (or break) a track. They can be the perfect sweetener, adding lust the right amount of gloss or grit to bring your songs to life. They're a crucial ingredient in virtually any pop, rock or dance production - even classical music has some reverb thrown on, albeit of the natural variety. ]]> Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:56:43 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/effects-and-plugins-delay-reverb-chorus-phaser-flanger Free Plugins http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/free-plugins Plug-ins come in all shapes and sizes these days. Among the mind-boggling array of instruments available for free online, you'll find synthesisers, drum machines, samplers, sound modules and step sequencers. The range of effects on other is even greater, encompassing delays, reverbs, distortions, dynamics processors, harmonizers, de-essers, vocoders, spectral processors and more. ]]> Sat, 26 Mar 2011 19:15:09 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/free-plugins How To Record, Mix And Master An Acoustic Band http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/how-to-record-mix-and-master-an-acoustic-band The Acoustic Army are well and truly back on the march. From the in die rock of Vampire Weekend to the "grass roots" antifolk of Mumford And Sons, there are a number of movements recontextualizing the "real" sound of 'real' instruments. And by the looks of the charts, the good old music-buying public are clearly down with the sounds of a group of folk belting out good, honest songs that you could actually sing around a campfire with your mates. ]]> Sat, 26 Mar 2011 17:43:21 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/how-to-record-mix-and-master-an-acoustic-band Vintage Synthesizers - Digital Audio Workstation Integration http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/vintage-synthesizers-digital-audio-workstation-integration The evolution of the digital audio workstation (DAW) has revolutionized the way most of us compose and record music. As computers - and the software they run - become more powerful, the need for hardware sound generators and processors has diminished to the point where many composers and producers today work within totally self-contained digital environments, with a level of flexibility, fidelity and, of course, portability that would have been inconceivable in the past. ]]> Sat, 26 Mar 2011 13:31:31 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/vintage-synthesizers-digital-audio-workstation-integration Digital Headroom http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/digital-headroom The idea of digital headroom is a popular cause for concern among producers. Most of us know roughly what it means - the breathing space we leave rather than trying to push all our levels as high as possible - but what about those tricky questions that keep cropping up? Do peak indicators really matter? Is it OK to clip channels? How do you set the master output level? This article will answer these questions and plenty more. ]]> Sat, 19 Mar 2011 19:04:17 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/digital-headroom Preamplifiers http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/preamplifiers You probably know more or less what preamplifiers do. Commonly known as preamps or just pres, these devices are used to amplify low level signals and prepare them for further processing. But there's a lot more to it than that, and if you want to get the most out of your preamps, there are a few important things you should consider. ]]> Sat, 19 Mar 2011 17:43:31 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/preamplifiers Vocoders http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/vocoders Over the last forty years, the vocoder has helped to create some of the most enduringly popular sounds in Electronic music. Singing pads, talking basslines and countless other effects can be achieved using subtly different techniques based around the same principles.

The story of the vocoder starts in the 1920s and includes everything from military voice scrambling techniques to more musical '80s Electro-Funk stylings. In this article, we'll look at the history of the technology, see how the sounds are created and look at ways they can be used in your productions. We'll also take a quick look at related vocal effects such as the talkbox and the Sonovox before rounding up some of the hardware and software vocoder options currently available.
]]> Sat, 19 Mar 2011 15:23:36 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/vocoders The History of Sequencers http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/the-history-of-sequencers These days, the sequencer is almost synonymous with the digital audio workstation (DAW), but its history goes back way beyond the computer era. From modular synths to '70s drum machines and '80s home computers, sequencers have been used to make life easier for musicians for nearly half a decade.

Essentially, a sequencer is a device that triggers notes to be played back by other equipment, but we'll see that there are a variety of different ways this can be achieved. Whether it's step sequencing, a simple loop-based sequencer or full-blown MIDI DAWs, sequencers are a crucial part of every studio.
]]> Sat, 19 Mar 2011 13:03:58 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/the-history-of-sequencers Limiters http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/limiters One subject that seems to cause more confusion than any other among beginners and experienced engineers alike, is dynamic control. With thousands of compressors, limiters, leveling amps and maximizers on the market, it's perhaps little wonder that the subtle differences can be hard to grasp. We'll explain what these subtly different tools are, how they work and how they can help you. ]]> Sat, 19 Mar 2011 12:21:08 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/limiters Timecodes http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/timecodes At its most basic level, a clock or timecode is used to transmit information about the tempo or position of your track. From an audio perspective, we're mainly interested in synchronizing pieces of audio equipment for timing purposes, so we're going to be taking a look at all the most important standards and ways in which timecode can make your life easier. In the '80s and '90s, timecode could be a bit of a minefield. ]]> Sat, 19 Mar 2011 09:19:27 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/timecodes Apple iPad http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/apple-ipad ipad korg iELECTRIBEUnless you’ve been deliberately avoiding it you can’t have missed the hype surrounding the launch of Apple’s iPad. We've got hold a 16 GB WiFi model to put through its paces. We know its media and gaming skills but what does it offer us musicians and producers?

Sights and Sounds


The first thing you notice about the iPad is its outstanding build quality. The case feels tough while remaining light and easily portable. I wouldn’t want to throw it straight into a bag without a case to protect the glass screen, but it certainly feels very solid.

I found the LED-backlit screen exceptionally clear and the multi-touch easily tracks ten separate finger gestures at once (in fact, the iPad actually responds to eleven simultaneous gestures). The accelerometer ensures that the screen remains upright, but the orientation can also be locked using a sliding switch. 
]]> Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:01:07 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/apple-ipad Audio Metering http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/audio-metering Are you dazed by decibels? Struggling with spectrograms? Modern audio gear and software comes loaded with meters to try and give visual indications of signal levels and a host of other information. The problem is that a lot of us don’t really understand exactly what our meters mean and what they’re trying to tell us. There are dozens of ways that understanding how to interpret meter readings can help you, so in this month’s Knowledge Base we’re going to take a closer look at decibels, then examine some of the various meters, dials, gauges and indicators in more detail, to help you understand how they all work and how they might be able to help you in your productions. ]]> Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:19:02 GMT http://recordingstudiosoftware.net/audio-metering