Category Archives: DAW - Digital Audio Workstation

Inside a sound isolation boothThe Recording Studio Dream Being Realized

 

Haven’t named the studio yet, but it will be representative of the location or the people behind it.  I have so many ideas running through my head as to how to finance the finishing touches of the recording studio.  It should be fun.  Maybe we might make a compilation CD of the neighborhood talent; I have some new musicians and producers lined up to assist me, being I admittedly find myself ole school, which is not a bad thing as ole school is new school in today’s market.

 

But this project really is not about the next series of hits or about me, as I will not accept a salary as President and CEO, until the organization develops into something extraordinary.  Sure people will get paid for their services if they are earners, but I am not in this one for the money or should I say immediate gratification.

 

The idea of a non profit organization with a recording studio located at the headquarters, making it a non profit recording studio, does not mean it cannot turn a buck, it only means people will not get rich off of the labor of others unless they actually participate, there will be no stock holders.  All the money goes to neighborhood related causes and the staff and labor, therefore the artist should make a higher percentage of the money made due to their talents and pay less to record, because at the end of the fiscal years all the money has to be spent. 

 

If it was about money the saying would be true that we are as good as our last hit record, because every year we will start from scratch so to speak but not absolutely, because this thing of ours will build through reinvestments until we have a top quality studio.  They say a true religion starts in a storefront; it looks like we will be much more fortunate than that as we will start in a commercial building, as the Community Network and Coalition brings the community together.

 

People who I never thought would care are showing interest, I guess a good idea is a good thing.  I think this is a winner!  The DAW makes this all possible in the new millennium.

Network & CoalitionNational Community Network & Coalition of Highlands, INC Headquarters

 

I am hoping people like Janet, Alicia and the Michael Jackson Trust support this much needed cause, which will be self sustaining.  And will help children curb from criminal activities.  I will provide the space from the sponsorship. 

 

Sound Isolation Booth at Guitar Center:

 

I want to put the recording studio on the second floor; I need a sound isolation booth and a better sound system.  I do not plan to borrow money against any property my uncle leaves us.  I plan to get 501 (c) 3 Status, making my charitable contributions collected tax deductible next year.  I think I need about $5G to start ASAP and about $50G once I am deductible.  I want a professional look and give these kids something to do; I will charge about what it cost to run the operation and keep it up to date as we are non profit.

 

Value of Building:

Market Value: 126,936
Class Value: 2,175
Just Value: 126,936
Assessed Value: 126,936
Exemption Value: 126,936

 

 

We are in the process or officially transferring the property to this non profit organization, however in the interim I think I will place my home studio in the HQ’s once I settle in at Highlands County, Florida.  And purchase the isolation booth on my own to get things on the roll.  But I plan to place this studio at my home and put another studio in the Headquarters’ on the second floor and use the first floor as office space, run all operations including fund raising.  These kids have nothing to do in Avon Park other than school related activities as they often commit crimes out of boredom and go to jail and get criminal records for petty crimes, like selling drugs to make $100 a day twice a week.

 

Michael Jackson Sampled in James Brown’s Tradition

Frank Paul Gambino  

What’s next on the Pop, Hip Hop & R&B Charts?  Will Michael Jackson become the next most sampled artist since James Brown?  With ReCycle by Propellerhead, it is in grasp range for the average producer to insolate Michael vocals into their tracks and under current copyright laws it might be legal, to sample a tiny bit like “He-He.”  So prepare yourself and do not be surprised, if this becomes a tradition in the name of memorializing a Pop Icon.

 

However my prediction is this will be the beginning phase as more technological gifted Producer/engineer insiders with access to masters start to apply new technology like time stretching and effects to Michael’s vocals to the degree of undetectable comparisons of the original tracks creating totally new material only regulated by their imagination and talents.  Stay Tuned!

 

As for me, it looks like I will be moving to Florida, doing what I have been doing but better.  A seed has been planted where many of my family members reside, I just have to harvest it.  I wanted to start a new religion, but we have more conventional plans for the property, I am to manage.  I received my uncle’s blessings!

SSL 9000k consoleRecord Product Description by Propellerhead

 

Recording music is all about seizing the moment. Capturing a perfect performance – or even nailing that idea before it goes away – requires tools that are ready when you are. Record is always ready. Created with musicians in mind, Record lets you create record ready channels in an instant, minimizing the steps between idea and actual recording. The result equals more music – and less dialog boxes. Simply plug in, breathe out and you’re ready to go.

Line 6 in the mix
For guitar and bass players, Record comes installed with separate guitar and bass POD(R) units from amp and cab simulation experts Line 6 Inc. With bass and guitar amplifiers available for every single track in your Record project, you are never short of interesting tones and timbres. As the Line 6 amplifiers are insert effects and don’t affect the original instrument signal, you are free to change your amplifier and cabinet settings at any point in time – even after laying down your track.

The Record rack
All the instruments, processors and effect units used in a song are housed inside Record’s customizable rack. Any device created is automatically and logically patched into the rack, but if you’re feeling adventurous or need to do some routing of your own, just flip your entire Record rack over and all the cables are all yours!

ID8
To help you complement your recorded material, Record also comes with multi instrument ID8 – a songwriter’s toolbox. ID8 ships with a wide palette of sounds useful for building a steady foundation for your tracks, like pianos, drums, bass, strings and more.

Arrange
To help you arrange your tracks in a smooth, effortless way, Record comes with a fast and flexible sequencer. Immediate and intuitive, Record’s sequencer puts you in control of your arrangements, letting you move and edit parts as you go along.

Comp editor
As a perfect performance may be less than perfect from scratch, Record features a swift and easy to use comp editor. Building the ultimate vocal track is as simple as selecting the parts that work and muting the ones that don’t. Exit the comp editor and listen to the results; a perfect take containing only the good parts.

Time stretch
Record has a unique twist on the concept of time and tempo. Record’s real-time timestretch lets you play now and pick the tempo later; change the song tempo and all your audio tracks will follow right along without any need for pre-processing of any kind. Need to slow your song down to nail a tricky passage? No problem. Just reduce the tempo, record your performance and bring the tempo back up. The audio quality? Amazing.

MIDI sequencer
With its fully featured sequencer, Record also takes care of your MIDI performances, for use with the build in ID-8 instrument or for controlling Reason instrument and devices when Record is paired with Reason.

The MIDI sequencer also handles all the automation in Record. Every thinkable knob, button or fader can be automated with ease, and then edited and fine tuned in the sequencer.

Mix
All your sounds will end up in Record’s main mixer. This mixing console’s sound and signal processing was faithfully modelled after* the legendary SSL 9000k analog mixing desk. Flexible routing, full dynamics, EQ, advanced effects handling, full automation and a 64-bit mix bus gives you that big studio sound right out of your computer. And yes, you do get that master-bus compression.

The Record Effects
Your Record rack can be stacked with an infinite number of reverbs, distortion units, delays, dynamic processors, mastering EQs – everything you need to shape and color your sounds. Click and drag effects straight to the rack, or load any of the expertly crafted patches.
EQ Section

The mixing console features a warm sounding EQ section with high and low pass filters, high and low shelving filters as well as parametric midrange filters. This is where you can add some extra polish to your recordings, and the sound is just fabulous.

Channel Dynamics
Every channel has its own fully featured dynamics section with compressor, gate and expander functions.

Effect Sends
The console has eight dedicated effect sends and each channel’s sends can be set to work pre or post fader. Adding a send effect to the mixer is a two mouseclick affair. Simply right-click in the mixer’s master section and select what effect you want to use. Simple!

Insert effects
Record’s mixer features a clever way to handle insert effects. As explained on the Record page, each track in Record is made up of three components: a sequencer track, a rack device (audio track or mix device) and a mixer channel. In the rack device, you can put all the insert effects you want on your sound, and you can also map controls on the insert effects to the insert section in the mixer. These setups can then be saved as patches for instant recall. Record ships with a large library of ready-made insert patches for a wide array of applications. Reason users will recognize this method from Reason’s combinator, so in essence this is like having a dedicated combinator per mixer channel.

Fader Section
Here’s the control you will find yourself using more than anything else in the mixer. As the name and the picture implies, this is where the faders are and this is also where you set the pan, handle solo and mute. Stereo channels also have a stereo width control.

Master Compressor
The Master compressor is what gives your music that final touch. The legendary dynamics processor it was modeled after is in use in studios all over the world.

Integrate – Record and Reason
Shaped like a classic studio rack packed with all the gear you could possibly need: Samplers, Analog synths, Graintable synth, Vocoder, Step time drum machine, Arpeggiator, Compressors, EQs, Effects and more, Reason is the perfect expansion to your Record system.

Together, Reason and Record form a self-contained creative environment for musicians and producers alike.

Reason not included.

Two Become One
If you have Reason registered and installed on your computer, all your favorite Reason devices will automatically be available within Record’s ever-expandable, multiple racks. No setting up. No ReWire. It just works.

Continue where you left off
When using Record and Reason together, your Reason song files can be opened from within Record, letting you continue on your creations where you left off. When you save your work as a Record project, the Reason devices become part of the Record document.

Sound Libraries
When using Record and Reason together, Record becomes fully ReFill compatible – use patches from any ReFill sound library directly in Record.

Bounce Mixer Channels
Bringing your masterpiece to a friend or a studio not using Record? Record label wanting stems? Record’s Bounce Mixer Channels screen gives you a plethora of options, letting you export all your mixer channels as stems for use with any recording software, including exporting your tempo track!

ReWire with Third Party Hosts
ReWire is a system for transferring audio data between two computer applications in real time. Basically, you could view ReWire as an “invisible cable” that streams audio and MIDI from one computer program into another.

Record is a ReWire slave application, allowing for up to 64 simultaneous audio output channels to a host application, as well as controlling Record through MIDI from a host.

Remote
All parts of Record fully support Propellerhead Remote, letting you effortlessly control any part of the software from a MIDI keyboard or control surface.

If you use a Remote-supported control surface with Record, all you need to do is connect the control surface and set it up once, typically by selecting a single factory preset. After that, the control surface is ready for use. All knobs and sliders will automatically and dynamically be mapped to sensible parameters in Record, and for control surfaces supporting two-way communication, Record supports motor faders, dynamic displays and LED indicators.

Record comes with premade setups for many of the most popular control surfaces and keyboards on the market. However, if you want to be in full control you can also choose to override these mappings for individual parameters, to tailor your setup for the project or situation.

Multi-core
Record makes use of extremely efficient multi-core audio rendering, making the software very lightweight, even with large projects.

Record’s dynamic multi-core audio rendering improves performance without introducing any latency. It is future proof, making use of as many processors or processor cores as your operating system can handle.

Plenty of ins and outs
More ins and outs than you can shake a wand, baton or even a cane at. Got a multi-channel audio interface? With Record you can use up to 64 input channels simultaneously – and up to 64 simultaneous output channels. Should you ever feel the need.

Works with any audio interface
Record’s rock solid audio implementation will support any audio card with Core Audio drivers on Mac OS X or ASIO drivers on Windows.

Big Meter
Big Meter sits at the top of Record’s leftmost rack and gives you a detailed view of your input and output levels with plenty of different options for visualizing your performance, or for guidance when mastering your finished song.

64-bit mix bus
Record’s mixing console uses a 64-bit mix bus, resulting in high precision channel summing for highest possible audio quality.

Reason integration
If you have Reason registered and installed on your computer, all your favorite Reason devices will automatically be available within Record’s ever-expandable, multiple racks. No setting up. It just works. Read more about Reason integration

ReWire synth application
Use Record as a ReWire slave. Record interfaces with most audio applications on the market through Propellerhead Software’s ReWire technology. ReWire is a virtual multi-cable that handles up to 64 channels of streaming audio, as well as MIDI, sync and transport controls between.

Record for Reason Owners
Record for Reason Owners gives registered Reason users a direct path to add Record to their setup. Record for Reason Owners contains a complete version of Record, Propellerhead Software’s brand new recording software, and upgrades Reason for complete integration.

Record gives you unlimited audio tracks, world class effects and mixing gear, and a whole new take on music recording. Couple it with Reason and your favorite Reason devices appear inside the Record rack. With an intuitive, straightforward interface and a hands-on approach to capturing performances, Record was designed for musicians–not audio engineers. This is recording done right.

* All product names used are trademarks of their respective owners, and in no way constitutes an association or affiliation with Propellerhead Software. The SSL and/or Solid State Logic trademarks are solely used to identify the products whose sound was studied during Propellerhead Software’s sound modeling development. The trademarks SSL and Solid State Logic are owned by Red Lion 49 Limited.

 

Record Mixer SliderPropellerhead Record the Pros at $249.99

 

I am actually excited about the release of Record, it automatically configures with Reason 4.0.1, they become one program that can ReWire into third party programs, so you can use Cubase 4.5.2 as a host and Record/w Reason tied to it as a slave.  While you will be running three programs you will be running two programs.  The reason I need Cubase is for my VST effects in Antares vocal tools collections for added vocal effects, and for using VSTi and in this configuration all of this is possible, and then again I could use Record and Reason alone, but Cubase is my foundation.  I have to think about it further, I mean Record will time stretch your vocals meaning you can sing a slow song and give it feel and covert it to a dance song by a changing the tempo this is unheard of and all in the same  key or pitch.

 

The Propellerhead Record Slideshow hyperlink

 

But the comparison is Cubase and VST/VSTi verse Record and Reason or all of them together.  I think I will get it, for the massive mixing board and additional effects usable hopefully in Reason.  I was offered to be a Bata user, but I do not want anything they will take back, I just assume wait and talk to my Guitar Center Dealers on the subject and wait and watch and see if it does everything I promises.

 

I would have to run a USB hub and hope that certain keys need not a direct connect, like my audio interface needs its own USB, but the rest of the stuff connected to the back probably can be connected together to one us  USB hub.  This why I do like all of these protection keys and they can break, you have to very careful with them.  

 

Regardless Record offers a lot for so little it goes for the SRP of $299.99 and guitar center is marketing it for $249.99.  If nothing else it should make mastering vocals easier.

Propellerhead Record is a Hit?

 

Check out the promotional video, it looks like fun and Record Rewire’s with Reason 4.0.1.  It requires an ignition key a dongle key or protection key as does programs like Cubase, which I think is a down side to these programs.   Hopefully Propellerhead will come to their senses and upgrade out of the ignition key.

 

The major downside to Record is that it does not use VSTi or VST effects.  So for a user of Reason only it is great and there are people who use Reason only for their music creations, in which case Record would complete the package and add audio tracks to the package and Record and Reason would in fact be a complete package.  I do not know but the limitations to exclude VST is a major downfall and might make me hesitant to purchasing Record.  In any case check out the video it is fun, maybe if they made one with P. Diddy, Janet Jackson, Prince or Alicia Keys or somebody I might be persuaded.

 

In any case Propellerhead set a new precedent in making music software more commercial and the ad is great.  I think if it used VST and the commercial went television the idea would sweep the market.  I am looking forward to more music software commercials.  As when I was a kid there was a band on every block that has been replaced by home recording studios.  I think in the computer age it is a good thing and an opportunity for main stream artist to cash in as they introduce new material.  As music in the new millennium will become a mainstream avenue to middle class-hood.   It’s better than slinging biscuits. 

After further investigation I am sold, well maybe, Record actually automatically integrates with Reason instead of Rewire as in third party apps and it is a slave to a host application.  Meaning Record is simply an addition to Reason, still I have a problem with the ignition key, minus the ignition key I would say this is a beautiful idea.  This is actually exciting.  But honestly I do not know!

The Jackson'sJanet #17Janet, Latoya & RebbieJanet J. May Lead Jackson’s Tour & Michael’s Burial

 

Timing is everything as Michael Jackson will be place in his final resting place on his 51st birthday and what is billed as a simple ceremony, but will his fans allow it to be simple?  Michael will be placed to rest at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park according to several sources 3rd party information of an unnamed source close to the family.  What I hear is that this will be temporary and the family has much bigger plans for the King of Pop, but only time will tell.  In any case this saga ends for now.

 

There are rumors swirling about a Jackson Family tour to be led by Janet and Jermaine Jackson as the stars or headliners.  There is word that Janet is working on new material for her upcoming album,  As Jermaine has been tweaking the music technology DAW as he entered the home studio thing, there is no telling what the Jackson have in stored to their fans in 2010.

 

It is not clear who will be promoting the tour you have Live Nation, AEG Live and ALLGood Entertainment who has been silent since Michael’s death and claimed they have a contract for the performance of the Jackson Family.  I do not know if Michael’s death nullifies the deal or did they officially opt out, but something has to be put on paper in order for the Jackson’s plans to be sue-proof.  You know how it goes after success old law suit surface.

MJJ rehearsal_03Michael & Janet Jackson go 3D & Monster’s Energy Drink follow

 

Michael Jackson final rehearses where filmed and is to be released in movie theaters soon after it is edited into a final production.  It is in 3D, the Jonas Brothers have a 3D episode on cable television, I think the movie theaters  are better they accommodate the fans with a huge screen and at selected theaters they will produce concert quality sound.

 APTOPIX BET Awards Show

We hear that Janet Jackson was going to be the opening act for Michael at the O2 Arena at least in a few shows and we know Janet’s concert was cut short due to an illness called Vertigo, so a lot of fans did not get to see her in several scheduled cities and countries around the world.  I saw the show at the Garden in New York the MSG, the show was great, I think she was simply mismanaged, so maybe under her new management Black Doll she might still open for Michael in an edited cut down version of the Rock Wit Chu Tour which was 2 hours long. 

 

I think Janet should not go on DVD with her tour but should open for Michael at the big screen, in a total of about 3 hours of music between the two with an energize crowd sipping on Monster Energy Drinks.  With the energy of Janet in her concert and we all know Michael was not joke I think alcohol should be barred and replaced with energy drinks and I am a Monster fan and they have many flavors.  I think this would be a fun event for a $20 price tag.

Home StudioThe under $40G Home Studio DAW

Room not included

 

vocal boothSoundproof Booth

 

 

ISOPAC E

6′ wide x 6′ deep x 6.5′ high

$1,730.00

IsoPacs E, F, and G are fully enclosed voice over booths that can also function as an instrument isolation booth. They are offered in a 4’, 5’ and 6’ diameter size.

The IsoPac H is a portable, small sized vocal / voice-over booth that is best suited for interpretation functions or as a voice over booth. The booth has a 5.5′ height, is 5.5′ across and 4.5′ deep.

These voice over and vocal booths are lightweight and portable. The acrylic wraps around the front of the booth, while the Sorber panels wrap around the rear. Since Sorber panels don’t actually connect to the ClearSonic Panels, you can simply use one side of an S5-2 (two sections hinged together) as a “door” for easy entry.

 

 

Hardware:

 

PC Audio Labs Rok Box Pro Desktop Computer  $1,999.00

 

Steinberg FireWire Interface, Cubase 5, and Cubase Controller Recording Package 3  $1,999.99

 

JBL 5.1 Surround Sound System $2,599.00

 

Novation X-Station 61 MIDI Controller $739.99

DoubleSight DS-1900S 19 Inch Dual Monitor  $729.99

AKG C 4000 B Stage and Studio Condenser Microphone  $649.00

SE Electronics SERF Reflexion Filter 3.5  $299.99

Two Sets Grado RS1i Reference Series Headphones  $695.00 each.

Primera 62743 Bravo II DVD & CD Duplicator  $1,999.99

 

 

The Foundation applications I think are best

 

Steinberg Cubase 5 – included in above package

 

Propellerhead Reason 4.0.1

 

Ableton Live 8

 

Sony Acid Pro 7c

 

Adobe Audition

 

Steinberg Wave lab 6

 

Bias Master Perfection Suite

 

Bias SoundSoap 2.2

 

VSTi

 

Native Instruments Komplete 5

Cakewalk the Ultimate Synth Rack

Native Instruments Kore 2 Collection and Software

 

VST

 

Antares Vocal Collections

Bias SoundSoap Pro 1.2.1

 

 

Loops

 

Acid

REX2

Some Wave Construction Kits

 

Reason Refills

 

Reason Refills

Sonic Refills

Other brands