Plug-ins, Key Features, and Free Trials - How to choose a DAW that meets your needs – Part 2
LearningIn part 1 we covered technical requirements, pricing and versions, and copy protection. In part 2, we’ll discuss plug-ins and plug-in formats, talk about some key features that could influence which …
Into the Gray Zone - A guide to mixing music - Part 17
LearningAfter cleaning up the low end, let's move on to the low/mids. You probably noticed that I wrote "low/mids" and not "low-mids". Why, you ask? Because we will be addressing frequencies between 100 Hz a…
Finding Your DAW - How to choose a DAW that meets your needs - Part 1
LearningIf you’re new to the world of digital audio workstations (DAWs), or just thinking of switching to a different one, this two-part article will help you decide which one is best suited for you. This is…
Cleaning Up the Low End - A guide to mixing music - Part 16
LearningIn this installment, we'll continue our focus on EQ, looking at how to clear out unneeded clutter in the low end of the frequency spectrum.
Review of AIR Music Technology's Advance Music Producti… - One Suite Deal
LearningThe AIR Advance Music Production Suite makes it possible to obtain a large and diverse collection of studio software with a single purchase. It contains 34 virtual instruments, including all the majo…
Trim it Down - A guide to mixing music - Part 15
LearningIn this second installment dedicated to using an EQ during mixdown, I'll let you in on another "secret" and then we'll see where to actually start working...
Overloud REmatrix Review - REmatrix: The Chosen One?
Written testOverloud, author of SpringAge and BReverb 1 and 2, extends its range of reverb plug-ins with REmatrix, which includes several convolution engines and an effects chain. Does it simply increase the pos…
The EQing Primer - A guide to mixing music - Part 14
LearningToday we'll begin to address equalization. But be warned: We'll linger here quite a bit, considering that the EQ is the ultimate mixing tool.
The Match Game - How to use a match EQ to manipulate your audio
LearningA Match EQ is a specialized type of equalizer plug-in that works by extracting the EQ profile from one audio file and applying it to another, so that the latter sounds more like the former. This type…
Demystifying Latency - Understand and minimize latency when recording in your DAW – Part 1
LearningEvery musician doing computer music, regardless of whether he or she is a beginner or a seasoned musician, is confronted with this problem. Audio delays, erratic MIDI management, crackles, and wild p…
On the Level - A guide to mixing music - Part 13
LearningNow that we've dealt with panning in our rough mix, it's time to address the levels. The goal is simply to find a basic balance that allows you to hear each element as clearly as possible, in accorda…
DAW Tips for Tracking - Advice to make recording in your DAW more productive
LearningYour DAW is a powerful piece of software, and the more you can take advantage of its capabilities, the better your results will be. In this article, we offer up an assortment of DAW-related tips to h…
The Top Convolution Reverbs - Our readers' choice of the best commercial convolution reverbs
LearningOf all the reverb types on the market, convolution reverbs are perhaps the most intriguing, because their sounds are based on impulse responses from actual spaces such as concert halls, recording stu…
Left, Right and Center - A guide to mixing music - Part 12
LearningAs mentioned in the last installment, we'll start the rough mix by panning the different elements of the mix. To do that, I recommend you an incredibly effective game I discovered several years ago t…
Guitar modeling and a new cabinet simulator highlight t… - Peavey ReValver 4 Review
Written testWhen Peavey’s ReValver software was first released, it stood out from its competitors because it allowed users to get inside the virtual circuitry and tweak the components. Several iterations later, …