Audacity - FREE multrack software tutorial

Michael Stone - AudioPros.com and MichaelStoneMusic.com

I've used Audacity in the past. It's a useful basic audio prodution software for those who can't afford some of the higher end production applications.

It doesn't come with MIDI capability, but can be used for basic recording and conversion of audio into most formats. It also supports some VSTs. And it is a multi-track APP. Another nice benefit is that it works on most any operating system: ie: WIndows, Mac or Linux.

I recently found a nice video tutorial from Herbert Midgley that can give you an idea of whether this is a software will fit your needs.

Enjoy!
Michael Stone


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Features

This is a list of features in Audacity, the free audio editor. For more information on how to use these features, go to the help pages.
Recording

Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, or digitize recordings from cassette tapes, vinyl records, or minidiscs. With some sound cards, it can also capture streaming audio.

* Record from microphone, line input, or other sources.
* Dub over existing tracks to create multi-track recordings.
* Record up to 16 channels at once (requires multi-channel hardware).
* Level meters can monitor volume levels before, during, and after recording.

Import and Export

Import sound files, edit them, and combine them with other files or new recordings. Export your recordings in several common file formats.

* Import and export WAV, AIFF, AU, and Ogg Vorbis files.
* Import MPEG audio (including MP2 and MP3 files) with libmad.
* Export MP3s with the optional LAME encoder library.
* Create WAV or AIFF files suitable for burning to CD.
* Import and export all file formats supported by libsndfile.
* Open raw (headerless) audio files using the “Import Raw” command.
* Note: Audacity does not currently support WMA, AAC, or most other proprietary or restricted file formats.

Editing

* Easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete.
* Use unlimited Undo (and Redo) to go back any number of steps.
* Very fast editing of large files.
* Edit and mix an unlimited number of tracks.
* Use the Drawing tool to alter individual sample points.
* Fade the volume up or down smoothly with the Envelope tool.

Effects

* Change the pitch without altering the tempo, or vice-versa.
* Remove static, hiss, hum, or other constant background noises.
* Alter frequencies with Equalization, FFT Filter, and Bass Boost effects.
* Adjust volumes with Compressor, Amplify, and Normalize effects.
* Other built-in effects include:
o Echo
o Phaser
o Wahwah
o Reverse

Sound Quality

* Record and edit 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit (floating point) samples.
* Record at up to 96 kHz.
* Sample rates and formats are converted using high-quality resampling and dithering.
* Mix tracks with different sample rates or formats, and Audacity will convert them automatically in realtime.

Plug-Ins

* Add new effects with LADSPA plug-ins.
* Audacity includes some sample plug-ins by Steve Harris.
* Load VST plug-ins for Windows and Mac, with the optional VST Enabler.
* Write new effects with the built-in Nyquist programming language.

Analysis

* Spectrogram mode for visualizing frequencies.
* “Plot Spectrum” command for detailed frequency analysis

A Pro Tools Tutorial series - Introduction

Michael Stone - AudioPros.com and MichaelStoneMusic.com

Since the late 60's I have been involved in music and recording in some form or fashion, eventually turning it into my bread and butter. Sometimes radio and music have barely paid the bills, but it is better than building widgets for a living. It's fun and it's a passion.

I've worked with cassettes, multi-track tape, hard disk work stations and of course over the course of the last 15 years or so, I've been swept up in the digital audio revolution using computers. I've been a PC user ever since computers became a daily part of my life and have only dabbled in Apple/Mac products.

Apple users are usually VERY adamant that their platform far exceeds PC's when it comes to graphics and audio/video production.

I did have a baptism by fire of sorts, into Pro Tools when I recorded "Inspired by a true story." We did much of the work at my home studio, but then took many of the MIDI tracks to Colorado Sound in Denver to take advantage of Tom Capek's expertise and huge library of marvelous sounds to incorporate into the album.

Over the years I've had a few small experiences with the product, but when I ran into the following series of tutorials from Artist House Music, I thought I should share them with you. Enjoy!

A virtuoso MIDI drummer and trying to explain MIDI to Mom....

-- Michael Stone --

Yesterday, I posted a video that showed the slower tedious, but effective way to program MIDI drums. At the same time I also sent this video to a number of musical friends demonstrating Brandon Bush's mastery of MIDI drumming via the keyboard.
http://vimeo.com/4682836 ... Pretty amazing stuff.

"Spies Like Us" - Keyboard Drums Jam from Andrew Aversa on Vimeo.

I got a note back from my Mom asking , "What are MIDI skills?" I tried to explain. It's long winded but you may find it of interest.
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Hi Mom..

OK let me try to explain what MIDI is. It stands for :MIDI (short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface) a music industry standard communications protocol that lets MIDI instruments and sequencers (or computers running sequencer software) talk to each other to play and record music.

Nowadays many musical "instruments" are software that play specific instruments ie: horns, organ, piano, strings. The resulting sound that is recorded in the computer is comparable if not better than the actual "live" instrument, though sometimes lacking the 'feel" a live musician brings to a tune.

The "instruments" are "triggered" by an external keyboard, ie: synthesizer or digital piano. The information as to loudness, velocity with which you strike the keys on the keyboard are all turned into digital data that in turn makes the software play the sounds that the musician has chosen. See those organ lessons did pay off :)

All of these sounds can then manipulated to increase velocity with which the note is hit, sustain of note, pitch. and a host of other alterations that can be adjusted using the software as determined by the musician.

These sounds like strings, organ, flute, piano, bass, drums etc. , can then be layered over each other to create the complete band. Throw in some "live" musicians on guitar or other instruments and you've got a production.

You said the "drummer" in the video I sent looked like he was barely touching the keys as he laid down the drum tracks. That was what made the video so incredible is the virtuosity with which he had developed his skills.

Examples of all of this, MIDI and live are on the songs from my CD....

* All drums on ALL of my songs are using MIDI and played/programmed by David Wohl, EXCEPT, "Believe" (MIDI drums- Dimitrius Liolos - Athens Greece) and "To Be Free." ) (LIVE drums by Elad Fish in LA -see note below)

* The drums on "Believe" were played/programmed via MIDI by Dimitrius Liolis in Athens Greece.

*The gorgeous strings on "Will you stay" were MIDI performed by David Wohl.

* The flute on the song 'Blue Eyed Friend" is actually played by me using a MIDI keyboard.

* The saxophone on "Today" is me playing keyboard with MIDI.

* All the guitars are played by me except on "To Be Free" and "We should've been fiends." Additional bass and electric guitars were provided by Asef Rodeh and Guy Bartor, musicians in Israel.

* The LIVE saxophones on "We should've been friends" were provided by Dan Cipriano in NY.

* The LIVE horns on "Heaven Can Wait" were performed by Jim Miller in Paris, TX.

As you can see all of this was a large collaborative effort involving both live and MIDI instrumentation. And all of that for ONLY 8 songs, not really many songs considering most cds nowadays come with 10 plus songs. But it was the best I could do ( and afford). Did I make money on this ? Not even close, but it really is all about the creative effort and the realization of my musical vision, and all in all I was very pleased.

Of course I'm looking to improve on all of that on the newest project. Fingers crossed that I can accomplish this new quest, I've set forward.

Many times my Becky asks me why I write these blogs and do all of these OCD things that I do. Good question, but every once in a while they do pay off.

See the note below from Elad Fish. He's a producer and incredible drummer in LA (To Be Free) What he's offered is a great value...

This was all long winded, but I hope it helps you understand the process behind the music.

Love you!
Me

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From Elad:

Hi Michael,
I hope all's well. Long time no see..

I saw your blog on AudioPros.com and fell in LOVE. :) (http://audiopros.blogspot.com/2009/06/creating-midi-drum-tracks.html)

You are really talented writer. I like it!

I was thinking: "What if your next post will be about LIVE drum tracks?"

I noticed that the song in the video on your home page (http://michaelstonemusic.com/index.html) has midi drums... Would you be interested in drum track from one of StudioPros.com's drummers ?

Elad.
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My answer to Elad !

Hell yes.... !!
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Let me tell you about the difference between a "live" drummer and a MIDI drummer in my humble opinion. THERE IS NO COMPARISON.

A good "live" drummer, such as Elad or his crew at StudioPros.com will always outshine a MIDI created drum part.

I used Elad's talents on "To Be Free", as well as StudioPro's, Asef Rodeh and Guy Bartor on guitar and bass on several tracks you can listen to below. We also used MIDI on many other tracks, mainly because of budget constraints.

Either way this is such an incredible way for musicians get quality players on their own tracks.

I'll be using my friends at StudioPros.com in the future and hope to be able to chronicle this process on this blog. I hope you'll find it useful and of interest.

Creating MIDI drum tracks

-- Michael Stone --

I use many different softwares and one of the more frustrating problems I've run into, as I'm sure you have, is the enormous lack of information and comprehensive tutorials from the makers.

Cakewalk is especially bad at this. When I got Sonar 6 or 7 Producer (can't remember which), I purchased with the specific intention and excitement to use the Session2 drummer. No where, and I scoured the manual completely, was there even ONE reference to the Session 2 Drummer part of the program !

You have got to be kidding me. After searching many forums I was finally able to find how to get it going.

All that being said I'm always searching for well done, comprehensive, demonstrations of "how" to do things in my various softwares.

Lately programming MIDI drums has been one of my quests. I found the video below. The singer and video quality not withstanding, I found this non narrative demo instructive in how to put together a MIDI drum track and how to do it quickly with mouseclicks on the computer.



Another great source for very comprehensive is Scott Garrigus' Sonar 8 Power !

SONAR 8 Editing MIDI

By: Michael Stone

Recently I have been working hard on improving my Midi skils. I use many software's with SONAR 8 Producer being my main musical creation tool.

I was looking for Midi tutorials focusing on editing and moving notes within the piano roll, when I found this excellent explanation of some basics. ENJOY !


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Coming next working with VST's in Fruity Loops....

Cakewalk SONAR V-Studio 700 - A deeper look

Hi all...

I've been using SONAR products for several years now and was interested in the V-Studio 700 they recently unveiled.

Cakewalk's Software expertise has teamed with Roland's hardware experience to create a new type of PC interface.

Personally, if the learning curve isn't too sever (and I don't think it is), this is one system, I may have to find the bucks for....

This video from GearWire.com and Cakewalk is just a start at looking at this unit.

Enjoy...
Michael Stone

Sonar 8 Producer from Cakewalk

I have been using the SONAR line of products since Sonar 6 1st came out. I use multiple DAWS and this is by far my personal favorite, considering it's endless possibilities and sheer production power.

Whether you're using it for simple voice over work or complete music production you'll find a multitude of tools that empower you to create marvelous productions.

Here's what youll find:

New features and enhancements:

Loop Explorer 2.0—view provides browse and preview of audio and MIDI groove clips and patterns; quickly drag and drop loops and patterns into the track view; MIDI groove clips and patterns can be previewed with the virtual instrument of your choice.

Dedicated Instrument Track—single track optimized for mono or stereo virtual synths which simplifies the process of working with virtual instruments. In the pursuit of offering users options in how they want to work, the multi-track method of using virtual instruments employed by previous versions of SONAR is still supported. In addition users can split and combine instrument tracks to/from discrete audio/MIDI tracks.

SONAR Performance Optimizations—with focus on functionality including improved performance at high track counts and low latencies, faster launch time, and the ability to change audio devices without restarting; streamlined communication with VST plug-ins and Improved ASIO performance with output latency compensation.

User Interface optimizations—smoother display when resizing windows and panes, optimized metering, more responsive zoom and scroll.

Clip Selection Groups—Furthering SONAR's multitrack recording and take management capability, SONAR now automatically groups clips together across tracks after each recording pass — perfect for comping any multitrack ensemble performance, especially drum takes.

Aim Assist Cursor—Visual guide to assist in lining up tracks for precision editing.

Split and Mute Tools—can now edit multiple clips simultaneously.

Free Edit Tool—for performing edits by clips or by time without the need of a modifier key.

Live Effects and Soft Synth Recording—play and record effect and soft synth output into audio tracks in realtime using SONAR's live bounce feature.

Anytime Recording—while the SONAR transport is running or looping users can now arm/unarm audio and MIDI tracks, punch in, punch out, and toggle between play and record.

Exclusive Solo Mode with Solo Override—New solo mode forces soloing to one track/bus at a time and prevents tracks and buses from being muted when other tracks/buses are soloed.

Bus Inputs QuickGroup Command—automatically groups all source tracks feeding a selected bus.

Mono hardware outputs—for easy assignment of tracks and buses to individual hardware outputs in addition to stereo pairs.

Transport Updates—True Rewind, Fast Forward and Pause Buttons; Audition Button; Improved Jog/Shuttle Heuristics; optimizations for control surfaces and scrub performance.

Control Surface Enhancements—Show/Hide Tracks from Surface can follow either the Track View or Console View, obeying visible/hidden tracks, Control Surfaces MIDI port assignments retained/stored in SONAR, Real-World VST Parameter Values are now displayed.

Track View and Console View Sync now automatically syncs visible/hidden tracks between the Track View and Console View channels.

Enhanced Sample Rate Conversion — now employs the same fast convolution engine as the LP-64 series 64-bit mastering plug-ins.

Vista Audio — WASAPI support, which is compatible with any Vista audio device, including WaveRT PCI and motherboard audio, USB, and FireWire devices.

QuickTime 7 Import/Export —support for the latest QuickTime 7 codecs, including H.264 and AAC audio.

Insert Send Assistant—provides a fast and easy way to create effect buses and insert sends to new or existing buses.

Updated ACT Presets —mappings for popular plug-ins and controllers.

Templates — over 400 new production ready Track Templates and Project Templates.

Drum Maps & Presets — Updated Drum Maps and Plug-in Presets enhancing our most popular plug-ins.

Patterns — New collection of drum pattern presets for the integrated Step Sequencer.

Beatscape loop performance instrument—Beatscape, the latest instrument by Cakewalk's premier synthesis architect René Ceballos takes loop manipulation and realtime triggering/performance to new heights. Beatscape provides 16-pads to load and trigger loops or samples for sequencing your productions and beats. Each pad features a full powered REX player, Rapture-style step generator, multiple effect processors, and sophisticated groove slicing and dicing tools powered by Cakewalk's own AudioSnap slicing technology.

Drag and drop audio directly from SONAR onto the Beatscape pads and it's sync'd and ready to go. Use the built in browser to quickly load clips and loops from your collection of previously recorded material, or choose from the massive 4GB REX library of included beats, breaks and phrases in a multitude of genres ranging from house, drum n' bass, hip hop, techno, glitch, latin, reggaeton, and more from the pros at Heatseekers and X-MiX.

Beatscape is the ultimate remixing instrument. Combine audio clips from multiple recording sessions and use the 16 pads to sequence them live or into a SONAR track. Easily load key clips or loops from two separate projects, blend them together, and trigger one shot samples—all on the fly from Beatscape's up-front interface.

Load loops and trigger/mangle them on the fly.
Rearrange loop slices using the 'timber reorder' slice arranger in Beatscape's Loop Editor window to make new loops or variations of loops.
Built in Step Generator allows users to quickly and visually draw per-step changes in amplitude, panning, pitch, or LP filter with resonance on individual loops or samples.
Make your loops sound the way you want with 17 built in high quality effects.
With 3 effect inserts per pad, Beatscape can handle 48 effects at once.
Slices from each loop are mapped to their corresponding MIDI channel for pattern programming.
Easy MIDI mapping lets you simultaneously trigger entire loops and individual slices.
4 gigabytes of outstanding content arranged as construction kits, broken down into separate layers such as kicks, hats, percussion, snares, synths, and more.

Dimension Pro — SONAR now includes a full version of the acclaimed synthesizer that combines real instruments with advanced synthesis for endless sound possibilities. The underpinnings of Dimension Pro's creative possibilities is the powerful Cakewalk's Expression Engine providing several types of synthesis including multi-sample rendering, wavetable synthesis, waveguide synthesis, and REX playback and manipulation.

Over 7 GB of content for Dimension Pro including Strings, Bass, Brass, Ethnic Instruments, Evolving Ambient Textures and more.
Garritan Pocket Orchestra for Dimension Pro provides a complete set of orchestral instrumentation.
Digital Sound Factory Classic Keys Expansion Pack for Dimension Pro—about 1GB of classic electric piano sounds, created by the sound designer for the original E-MU Proteus 2000.
Hollywood Edge Sound Effects sample library with over 100 MBs of film score ready samples and sound FX.

TruePianos Amber VSTi Module — One of four modules that currently ship with the full version of TruePianos VSTi, the TruePianos Amber Module will provide SONAR users with world-class, playable piano sounds through its combination sampling, modeling, and synthesis sound design. TruePianos sounds and feels great, just like a real acoustic piano, with all the important characteristics: sympathetic resonance, inter-string harmonics, repedalling and more.

Designed to blend transparently with the musician's hands through its unique capabilities of matching to the players own playing style (and characteristics of his/her MIDI keyboard) with the help of intuitive controls.
Optimized for real-time performance, with low CPU usage even at 96khz host sampling rates and advanced polyphony levels.

TS 64 Transient Shaper — a powerful tool for sculpting the transient dynamics of any percussive based source material such as drums or guitars. The TS 64 Transient Shaper employs powerful envelope/transient-detection, linear-phase filtering, and gain-shaping to control the dynamics of individual transients of any sound with amplitude variation over time.

The TS 64 Transient Shaper utilizes the same superior linear-phase technology found in SONAR's LP-64 EQ and LP-64 Multiband where the frequency spectrum is split into bands and then summed back together while maintaining the integrity of all processed audio across all frequencies. This provides clear precise control of the timbre of each detected transient without introducing coloration, phase errors, cancellations, comb filtering, or muddy sound.

Multi-stage, linear-phase filter algorithm provides frequency dependent gain-adjustment.
Level-independent shaping of envelopes allowing for transient sustain to be shortened or extended.
Shape audio signal attack phase independently of the decay/sustain phase.
Powerful envelope/transient-detection.
Great for drum loops and percussion, taming unruly electric guitars, and for improving the attack or fullness of an acoustic guitar or piano.
Automatable parameters.
Smooth, zipperless output.
Full VST functionality for access from dedicated audio editors.

TL-64 Tube Leveler—a line driver/leveling processor that employs advanced analog vacuum-tube circuit modeling algorithms to add the unique qualities of tube color and warmth found in classic recordings to whatever source material it is applied.

TL-64 provides intuitive controls to determine the level and character of analog tube saturation, from subtle "warming" to hard-driving saturation. The TL-64 plug-in features a unique selectable Dynamic Response Filter control that when engaged employs a dynamic (versus static) tube model algorithm. The dynamic tube model behaves more like a real vacuum tube in that its characteristics change over time depending on the input signal. There is also a Bass Compensation control that compensates for any reduction in bass material as a result of low-shelf filtering. The Bass Compensation filter allows you to reduce clipping in the bass bands while still maintaining a flat output response.

Powered by StudioDevil (Gallo Engineering) known for their ultra-high-quality analog tube amplifier emulation.
Several instances of the TL-64 plug-ins can also be combined in effects chains, along with other processors, EQ, and compressors, to create a limitless palette of virtual analog effects.
Dynamic and static tube model algorithms.
High quality signal processing algorithms.
Switchable oversampling option defeats high-frequency aliasing/quantization noise.
Smooth, zipperless output.
Automatable parameters.
Library of presets.
Full VST functionality for access from dedicated audio editors.

Channel Tools—provides easy and powerful zero-latency channel processing for adjusting L/R channel placement, gain, pan/width, and phase; sample delay for precision timing adjustment of L/R channels in recordings; Automatic Mid-Side decoding of imported Mid-Side recorded material. Channel Tools can also provide a widening or narrowing effect to stereo recordings through adjustments to mid-side gain.

Intuitive control over individual placement of the left and right channels anywhere in the stereo field.
Automatically decode Mid-Side channel recordings.
Fine-tune the timing of recordings by delaying the left and/or right channel by a specific number of samples or milliseconds.
Full VST functionality for access from dedicated audio editors.

Native Instruments Guitar Rig 3 LE — built on the latest award-winning guitar amp modeler from Native Instruments; 3 amps and cabinets, 11 effects, tuner, metronome, and over 50 presets.

“SONAR 8 Producer gives you what you need for recording, composing, editing, mixing, and mastering.”
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