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Home Recording Basics

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Music Recording

Performing music has come a long since the time when you’d be lucky to hear a few songs from a traveling bard. Now, not only can you download a song in seconds, but you can also record your own music easily at home. Both individuals and bands can use the sites below to learn about the various technologies that will help them write and record music.
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Home Recording Basics

New home audio technology is increasingly accessible to the average user. Writing, performing and recording music using your computer is now possible with the help of books, Web guides and the right instructional software. Get started making music with the sites below.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • Learn about recording technologies of the past at Recording History. If you’ve always wondered about the origins of the phonograph or the answering machine, this is the place to visit.
  • The magazines you’ll find in the Recording News and Magazines section below are filled with tips for musicians, and many have forums where you can discuss your work and questions with others.

Dulcinea's Picks

For an introduction to home music recording …
BBC Radio 1 explains some of the benefits and pitfalls of writing music on your computer, and offers tips for success.
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For information about MIDI …
The MIDI Manufacturers Association official Web site reveals the many uses of MIDI and the advantages of using MIDI technology on your computer. Get an overview of the technologies available, as well as links to MIDI books, magazines and associations.
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To set up your home studio …
TweakHeadz.com has a complete beginner’s guide to setting up your home studio. Start with MIDI Basics and then learn about the gear, installation and how it all works. Choose a topic from the index at left or click through the whole guide page by page.
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Who knew?
Creating Music is a program for children that lets them compose on the computer by sketching out a tune, selecting instruments and learning rhythms.
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Audio Recording Technology and Software

In this section you’ll find reviews of audio recording technology and software. The sites below provide professional and user ratings for the full range of products you’ll need to record music. You’ll also find links to open source software available for free.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • If you purchased an Apple computer recently, it came with GarageBand musical recording software. Beginners should quickly pick up the basics; the software also offers features that rival more expensive products. Find information and technical support on the Apple Web site.
  • The Recording News and Magazines section of this guide lists publications that review audio recording technology and offer tips about techniques to improve your recording experience and production.

Dulcinea's Picks

For recording gear reviews …
ZDNet ’s page of MIDI products reviews and numerically ranks big names in recording technology, and also lists the top-rated products. Click on an item for a more in-depth review.
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For software reviews …
PC Magazine allows you to compare music recording software using both editors’ and readers’ product ratings. More extensive editor and user reviews are also available.
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For general reviews …
Musician’s Friend recording technology review page includes products and software for computers as well as physical recorders, monitors and headphones. Choose a type of software or recording gear from the column on the right and get a full list of reviewed products. Click for a product description, user reviews and purchasing options.
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For open source software …
Audacity is free music recording software available for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. Choose between the stable version and the beta version to record music, make digital files, mix sound and more.
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Smartelectronix is a community of software developers that offers many of their products for free. Read the site’s newsfeed or click on a name in the column on the right to view a developer’s page and download software.
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Sounds and Songs for Recording

Music recording encompasses live recording and synthetic sounds. You may want to use songs and sounds prerecorded by others. The sites below are sources for music uploads that you can copy, cut, mix and re-record however you choose.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • Creative Commons is a licensing program that allows musicians, authors and scientists to share their work online. Many of the song and sound sharing sites below use sounds licensed by Creative Commons.

Dulcinea's Picks

For songs …
CC Mixter lets you legally download songs from the Creative Commons database and remix, cut and record them as you please. You can also share your music on the site.
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For sounds …
The Freesound Project is exactly what the name implies: a community for sharing bits and snippets of music and sounds. Freesound allows you to you upload or download sounds that aren’t copyrighted.
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For sharing and social networking …
Splice is a social networking site for musicians. Share your songs and sounds, use bites from others, tweak tracks or create your own music online using the site software.
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Who knew?
The Department of Special Collections at the University of California, Santa Barbara ’s Donald C. Davidson Library has a catalog of “cylinder recordings,” early recorded material produced during the turn of the 20th century.
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Recording News and Magazines

Read music recording news and magazines to get tips on your craft, learn about new technology or simply get community gossip. On these sites, you’ll find headlines, product reviews and feature articles to supplement your knowledge of home recording.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • Check technology publications such as those listed in the Audio Recording Technology and Software section for updates. In addition to providing reviews of current technology, they’ll alert you to new products and software.

Dulcinea's Picks

For online versions of print magazines …
Mix is a magazine for audio and music recording professionals around the world. Read the latest news in music recording, audio production, music for films and video, and other aspects of the technology.
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Sound On Sound is a UK-based music recording magazine with product reviews, articles on technique and news. The “Playback” section, in which editors review music created by readers, is always a fun read, as is the site’s very active and vibrant forum.
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For online-only publications …
Harmony Central is an online news and community source for musicians. Read the wide spectrum of news relevant to musicians on the homepage or choose a topic from the navigation bar at the top of the page, such as “Computer,” “Recording/Live Sound” or “MIDI.” Explore the “Community” section on the left sidebar for user reviews and forums.
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