Home recording for musicians for dummies

Introduction: About This Book Foolish assumptions Icons used in this book Beyond the book Where to Part 1: Getting Started With Home Recording: Understanding Home Recording: Examining the anatomy of a home studio: Exploring the recording essentials Checking out recording system types Getting a glimpse into the recording process: Setting up a song Getting a great sound Recording Overdubbing Making sense of mixing: Cleaning up tracks using editing Equalizing your tracks Processing your signal Blending your tracks Adding the final touches: Mastering your mixes Putting your music out into the world Promoting your music Getting the Right Gear: Determining your home studio needs Detailing your digital options Computer-based digital recording systems: Finding the right computer setup Getting the sound in and out Choosing the right software Studio-in-a-box systems: Taking a look at the benefits Examining some popular SIAB systems Mobile-device recording: Android Apple iOS Windows Stand-alone Recorders Examining analog goodies: Tube stuff Tape saturation emulators Reality check Exploring sample setups: Live and MIDI studio MIDI-intensive studio Live studio Getting Connected: Setting Up Your Studio: Understanding analog connections: 1/4-inch analog plug XLR RCA Delving into digital connections: MIDI AES/EBU S/PDIF ADAT lightpipe TDIF USB FireWire Thunderbolt Sampling some studio setups: Audio with some MIDI MIDI-intensive setup Live audio Working efficiently: Taming heat and dust Monitoring your monitors Optimizing your room: Isolating sound Controlling sound Part 2: Recording 101: Meet The Mixer: Meeting the many mixers: Analog mixer Digital mixer Software mixer Computer control surface Understanding mixer basics: Examining inputs Checking out the channel strip Recognizing mixer routing Opting for outputs MIDI And Electronic Instruments: Meeting MIDI: Perusing MIDI ports Understanding MIDI channels Appreciating MIDI messages Managing modes Taking orders from general MIDI Gearing up for MIDI: Sound generators Sound card MIDI controller Sequencer MIDI interface Understanding Microphones: Meeting the many microphone types: Construction types Polarity patterns Assessing your microphone needs Deciding how many microphones and what kind: Getting started Movin' on Going all out Finding the right mic for the situation Partnering mics with preamps: Solid-state Vacuum tube Hybrid Considering compressors Analyzing some microphone accessories: Microphone cords Microphone stands Pop filters Caring for your microphones: Daily care Storage Part 3: Getting Ready to Record: Getting A Great Source Sound: Making sense of the signal chain Setting optimal signal levels Understanding pre and post levels: Interpreting the various levels Looking at examples Getting a great guitar sound Creating a killer keyboard sound Making the most of microphones: Placing mics properly Compressing carefully Taking A Look At Microphone Techniques: Singling out spot miking Detailing distant miking Assessing ambient miking Selecting stereo miking: X-Y pairs Blumlein technique Spaced pairs Stereo microphones Overcoming problems with stereo miking Creating miking combinations Miking Your Instruments: Getting a great lead vocal sound: Making the most of the room Choosing the best mic Getting good backup vocals Examining electric guitar miking: Using the room Getting the most out of the mics Exploring electric bass miking: Managing the room Getting the most from the mic Miking acoustic guitars and similar instruments: Making the most of the room Using your mics Maneuvering horns mics: Understanding the role of the room Making the most of the mics Placing mics for a piano: Harnessing the sound of the room Managing the mics Setting up mics for strings: Making the most of the room Making sense of the mics Digging into drum set miking: First things first: tuning your drums Using the room to your benefit Picking up the kick (bass) drum Setting up the snare drum Tacking the tom-toms Handling the hi-hats Creating the best cymbal sound Miking the whole kit Getting your hands on hand drums Perfecting percussion miking: Exploring the impact of the room Choosing and using the mics

Part 4: Laying Track: Starting To Record:

Multitrack Recording:

Understanding multitracking

Getting ready to record:

Setting up a song

Selecting a sound source

Setting levels

Getting the sound you want

Choosing a monitoring sources

Saving your work

Sharing files with others

Recording Audio:

Performing your first take

Punching in and out:

Manual punching

Punching with a foot switch

Automatic punching

Repeated punching (looping)

Exploring overdubbing

Submixing

Bouncing

Keeping track of your tracks

Recording And Editing MIDI Data:

Synchronizing your devices:

Synchronizing two (or more) synthesizers

Synchronizing a computer sequencer and a synthesizer

Synchronizing a sequencer and an audio recorder

Using the transport function from one device to control another

Sequencing:

Recording MIDI data

Overdubbing

Editing your data

Quantization

Transposing

Saving your data

Transferring data using MIDI

Part 5: Turning Your Tracks Into A Finished Song:

Editing Your Performance:

Understanding digital editing:

Copy

Cut/delete/erase

Insert

Paste

Move

Export/import

Undo

Finding the section you want to edit:

Editing aurally

Editing visually

Editing to improve the sound of a performance:

Replacing a bad note

Evening out a performance

Getting rid of distortion

Getting rid of noise

Correcting pitch problems

Creating a performance that never happened:

Creating loops

Assembling a song

Making composites of your tracks

Discovering other ways to use editing:

Adjusting the length of a performance

Reversing a phrase

Mixing Your Music:

Understanding mixing

Getting started mixing your song

Exploring equalization:

Graphic

High- and low-shelf

High- and low-pass filters

Parametric

Equalizing your tracks:

Dialing in EQ

Starting with general guidelines

Vocals

Guitar

Bass

Drums

Percussion

Piano

Horns

Using the stereo field:

Panning left or right

Placing sound in front or back

Adjusting levels: enhancing the emotion of the song:

Dynamics

Arrangement

Automation: riding the faders:

Real-time automation

Snapshot automation

Tuning your ears:

Listening critically

Choosing reference recordings

Dealing with ear fatigue

Making several versions

Dialing In Signal Processors:

Connecting effects:

Insert

Send/return

Controlling loudness and softness with dynamics processors:

Introducing compressors/limiters

Targeting frequency ranges with multiband compression

Getting started using compression

Sampling some compression settings

Introducing gates

Getting started using gates

Introducing expanders

Getting started using and expanders

Adding ambiance with effects processors:

Introducing reverb

Getting started using reverb

Introducing delay

Getting started using delay

Introducing pitch shifting

Chorus

Getting started chorusing

Simulating effects:

Microphone simulator

Amp simulator

Mastering Your Music:

Demystifying mastering:

Processing

Sequencing

Leveling

Getting ready to master

Paying a pro or doing it yourself

Hiring a professional mastering engineer

Mastering your music yourself:

Optimizing dynamics

Perfecting tonal balance

Sequencing your songs

Balancing levels

Preparing for distribution

Creating Your Finished Product:

Getting into CD recording

Purchasing CD-Rs

Recording your music to CD-R:

Using different CD recorders

Recording for mass production

Protecting your rights

Making multiple copies:

Doing it yourself

Having someone else do it

Understanding downloadable music files:

Bit rate

Mode

Creating MP3 files:

Choosing encoding software

Encoding your music

Pressing vinyl

Part 6: Part Of Tens:

Ten (Or So) Ways To Distribute And Promote Your Music:

Marketing yourself

Setting up your music website

Putting your music on a music host site

Engaging in social media networking

Offering free downloads

Selling downloads

Licensing your music

Streaming audio

Podcasting

Selling your CDs

Connecting with an Email newsletter

Ten Invaluable Recording Tips:

Using an analog tape deck

Layering our drum beats

Decorating your room

Setting a tempo map

Listening to your mix in mono

Doubling and tripling your tracks

Tapping the input of your mixer

Overdubbing live drums

Pressing record, even during a rehearsal

Leaving the humanity in your tracks

Index.

I. Home recording studio basics

Understanding home recording

Getting the right gear

Getting connected: setting up your studio

II. Recording 101

Meet the mixer

MIDI and electronic instruments

Understanding microphones

III. Getting ready to record

Getting a great source sound

Taking a look at microphone techniques

Miking your instruments

IV. Laying track: starting to record

Multitrack recording

Recording audio

Recording and editing MIDI data

V. Turning your tracks into a finished song

Editing your performance

Mixing your music

Dialing in signal processors

Mastering your music

Creating your finished product

VI. The part of tens

Ten ways to distribute and promote your music

Ten invaluable recording tips.