Making Music with Your Computer
Stephen Bennett

Out now

£9.95

236 x 189 mm * 96 pages   ISBN 1870775961

* For Windows and Mac
* Covers software and hardware
* Recording techniques
* Using effects
* Mixing and mastering
* Producing your own CD

These days, nearly everyone with musical aspirations also has a computer. This same computer can double as a high quality recording studio capable of producing professional recordings. This book tells you what software and hardware you will need to get the best results.

You'll learn about recording techniques, software and effects, mixing, mastering and CD production.

Suitable for PC and Mac users, the book is full of tips, 'how to do' topics and illustrations. It's the perfect answer to the question 'How do I use my computer to produce my own CD?'


Contents

1 Introduction

2 Choosing and optimising your computer for music recording
Laptop or Desktop? The minimum specifications you will need. Optimising your computer for music

3 Software and hardware
Audio recording software, Virtual Instruments and Virtual effects. MIDI Interfaces Audio Interfaces Inputting music. Other hardware . Other software. Monitoring systems. Latency. Backing up your work.

4 Recording
Bits, Sample rates and Audio files. Working alone. Recording Virtual instruments. Recording vocals. Recording guitars. Recording bass guitar. Recording drums. Recording other acoustic instruments. Working with a band. Working with MIDI files and loops. Monitoring the recording

5 Editing
Compiling takes. Editing in more detail.

6 Mixing
Getting Started. Setting up the mix. Using effects. Processing drums. Processing guitars. Processing bass. Processing keyboards. Processing vocals. Automation. Making a vocal 'sit' in the mix. Mixing down. About plug-in effects. EQ. Compression. Delay. Reverb. Miscellaneous processing

7 Mastering
Arranging the songs in the correct order. Level adjustment. Processing. Compression. EQ. Limiting and maximising. Other mastering effects. Bouncing down the master. Dithering.

8 CD and CDR creation
Creating a CDR. Copying CDRs. Creating a Master disk for CD production. The finished product

Glossary

Appendix 1- Internet links. Further reading.

Click here for some useful computer music links