TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP YOU OVERCOME THE LIMITATIONS OF MONEY
BRINGING YOUR MUSIC AND YOUR MESSAGE TO THE WORLD
HOW
TECHNOLOGY IS BREAKING FINANCIAL CHAINS
The power of the spoken word is the most powerful form of communication in history. The power of music goes back to the beginning of history. Today, you can get your messages and your music directly to a global audience. You are no longer dependent on big media corporations.
This guide is to show you that you have power. The value of you and your message is not defined by money. Modern technology has cut the costs of creating audio works. The internet enables you to reach a global audience.
It is really not that hard to create an MP3 file and simply upload it to your web site. You can also post it on a site like Soundcloud that enables it to be heard all over the world. See section below. Soundcloud also enables you to interface with the world's major social networking sites. Most music is posted to You Tube. You can easily create a one picture video with an audio track.
Even if your financial resources are limited, opportunities are available to jump start your recording career by using the cheap technology that is now on the market. All it takes is your own creative spark, a little money, and an Internet connection.
This guide points the way for artists, composers, DJs, and musicians who would like to move their recording careers from ground zero. The advice in this guide is based upon our experience with certain kinds of equipment and software. It does not represent the final word in recording at home. We may recommend a certain computer program or piece of equipment, but our recommendation does not mean that other kinds of equipment and software are bad choices. Quite the opposite is true, in fact. Although we do not guarantee the results you will get, all of the software listed below, as well as much of the equipment available on the web sites we list, is worth using. We have no financial connections with any products mentioned here and make no guarantee that these products will work for you. You can learn a lot from looking through what is available at a site like Musician's Friend.
NOTE: GOOGLE DOCS SUPPORTS VOICE TYPING
Some people are not aware that you no longer need expensive voice software like Dragon.
You can now talk directly into Google Docs. Go to "Tools" and click "Voice Typing". We find it very accurate.
Express Scribe is free or available for $29 here. From Text to Speech works well.
WEBCAMS ONLINE COMMUNITIES/DISTRIBUTION PORTABLE RECORDERS PHONES SOFTWARE WHERE TO BUY WFF AUDIOS LINKS
So how can you get started recording if you don't have any recording tools? If you're reading this from a modern laptop, you probably have the basic tools needed to get started.
Most computers come with built-in webcams these days. Simply find the Camera/Webcam on your desktop, open it and click "Record".
Most audio recording software will recognize your webcam's microphone.
Important: The audio quality of better webcams such as the Logitech
C920 is really quite good
and we would strongly advise getting one unless you
have a very good laptop. See below:
EQUIPMENT
Webcams
Logitech Headphones, Microphones and Webcams
Microsoft Accessories, Microphones and Webcams
Microphones Only
These are low-cost while maintaining quality.
ATR-1500 Cardioid ATR-6250 Dual Cardioid Behringer C-1 Studio Microphone
Behringer Ultravoice XM8500 Blue USB Microphone FIFINE USB Microphone
Nady CM90 Nady SCM-960 Nady SP-9 Dynamic Cardioid Shure MVL
ATR-3350IS Lavalier Omnidirectional
ATR-6550 Video Camera Cardioid
ATR-7200 Wireless Handheld Mic
ES-57 Unidirectional Microphone
MPM-1000 Professional Cardioid Condenser
MXL 440 Large Diaphragm Condenser
550/551R Dual Condenser Ensemble
V67GS Large Diaphragm Condenser
MSC-3 CenterStage Microphone (w/Cable and Stand)
SPC-15 Supercardioid Condenser
CenterStage CS-211 Studio Condenser Microphone Kit
CenterStage Dual Wireless Microphone System
SCM-700 8-Piece Condenser Microphone Kit
SCM-800 Large Diaphragm Microphone
R21 Dynamic Vocal Microphone (3)
UHF 2-Microphone Wireless Receiver System
PORTABLE RECORDING STUDIOS
These can do multitrack recordings. Low-cost starting at <$100.00.
TASCAM DP-006 Digital Portastudio 6-Track
TASCAM DP-008EX Digital Portastudio 8-Track
Talent Be-A-Star Mini Portable Home Recording Studio
These services allow you to distribute, stream, and upload your music to the Web--even meet other musicians.
Soundcloud
Bandcamp
Bandmix
Facebook
Reverb Nation
Soundtrap
Splice
YouTube
Amazon
CD
Baby
Google Play
iTunes
Songcast
TuneCore
AccuRadio
iHeartRadio
Jango
LastFM
Pandora
Red Eye Radio
Network
Rock 365 Radio
Slacker Radio
Spotify
StreamSquid
TuneIn
Worldwide FM
CAPTURE THE MAGIC OF THE MOMENT
Creativity does not fit nice, neat schedules. If you want to capture the
spontaneity of the moment, we recommend using a portable recording device such
as
the Zoom or the Olympus portable audio recorders.
Zoom is a great choice for bands. It is capable of capturing sound from multiple directions. This is great if you are trying to record your home garage band.
The Olympus also carries a reliable line of products that we have been using over the years. And companies like Vocal Booth To Go provide even more options for home recording. Tascam also carries portable digital recorders besides multi-track hardware.
More expensive audio equipment will allow you to directly plug in a guitar or other instrument.
We are huge believers in the low-cost audio recorders.
They are safer to use in cars. (No typing in password, hunting for app.)
You can capture that one magic idea or riff.
GENERAL EQUIPMENT
These start at under $100.
Olympus: Digital Voice Recorders
Sawtooth 10-Watt Guitar Bundle (w/Cable & Picks)
Fender Frontman 10G Electric Guitar Bundle (w/Cable)
Fender Champion 20-Watt Electric Guitar
Fender Rumble 15-Watt Bass Combo
Ibanez 10-Watt Electric Guitar Mini
AUDIO INTERFACES FOR PC
Here are three examples:
Focusrite Scarlett Solo U-PHORIA UM2 UM22
APOGEE
BEHRINGER
FOCUSRITE
Scarlett 2i2 2nd Gen (w/ Pro Tools)
M-AUDIO
PRESONUS
AudioBox Studio (w/StudioOne Artist Software)
ROLAND
SHURE
STEINBERG
VIDEOSOFT
This changes audio files into at least 15 audio codecs and formats.
YAMAHA
AG03 3-Channel Mixer/Audio Interface
You can look up more of these here.
Musician's Friend Guitar Center B&H Photo, Video & Pro Audio
Find what you want and then check the price on Amazon.
If you can't afford to buy a portable recording device but have a smart phone,
you may want to use your phone as a recording device.
There are a number of programs.
Your phone may not have the same sound quality as the digital recorders mentioned above, but it can still get the job done.
For example: If you have an idea for a creative guitar riff at 3:00 in the morning, you can record it on your phone with the click of a button.
A number of good programs are available for iPhone and Android.
Go to app stores to find what your need.
Here is an arbitrary collection of links.
LINKS
Troubleshooting for the Android Voice Recorder
RECORDING SOFTWARE
BandLab Caustic Easy Voice Recorder GarageBand
Hi-Q MP3 Recorder Hokusai Lexis (Android/iOS)
LiveFX (free/full $13) Logic Remote MainStage 3
Medly Music Memos Music Studio Lite n-Track
Presonus Capture for iPad RecForge II/Lite ShurePlus MOTIV
Spire Stage Light Vinyl (iPad/iPhone)
Voice Recorder & Audio Editor WavePad (Android/iOS)
HARDWARE
Focusrite iTrack Pocket Portable Recorder
Tascam iXZ Microphone/Interface
RECORDING INTERFACE FOR YOUR PHONE
Can be used for guitar.
Focusrite iTrack Professional Dock (iPad)
Focusrite iTrack Solo Lightning (iPad w/Ableton Live Lite)
IK Multimedia Interface (Android)
IK Multimedia iRig Pro I/O (Apple)
Other more expensive products are available.
WEBCAMS PORTABLE RECORDERS PHONES SOFTWARE WHERE TO BUY LINKS
WARNING: When downloading any kind of software from the Internet, make sure you have a reliable firewall and virus detection program.
These interactive browser applications edit and record tracks.
APPLE GARAGE BAND
It is $4.99 for the mobile app, and free with any Apple computer.
Very popular. Our problem with this is that Apple refuses to make it available on PC.
Mooo Voice Recorder (FREE)
A no-nonsense recording program that saves in both MP3 and WAV formats.
AUDACITY (FREE)
So you want to get a bit more technical, but you don't have a lot of money?
Audacity is one of the best free audio software programs today!
It has a sizeable amount of audio capabilities, effects and formats for you.
The only problem with Audacity is that you can't automatically save a file as an MP3.
You have to download the encoder listed below. Click here for MP3 Plugin.
How To Record A Song With Audacity - WikiHow
AVS AUDIO SOFTWARE
We ourselves have used AVS frequently for audio recordings.
The great thing about AVS products is that they are all part of a software suite.
This includes video and photo editing programs as well.
The entire software suite includes 18 different products: $59 for lifetime use, $39 for one year use.
These are the AVS products we recommend for the recording process.
AVS4YOU Software Suite AVS Audio Converter AVS Audio Editor
OCENAUDIO
What's unique about Ocenaudio? It's a completely cross-platform audio editor that's downloadable and online!
Another highlight is multi-edit selection (simultaneous changes per track) and real-time previews.
The program runs quickly during longer file editing too for album mastering, etc.
WAVOSAUR (FREE)
This portable web application is highly useful for its non-installation and adept editing tools beyond the basics. It's #2 behind Audacity.
Producers love Ableton for many reasons: unlimited tracks,
512 mono input and output channels total,
over 45 effects and 25 program
instruments.
One caveat: no pitch tweaking in Ableton.
Acoustica Premium and Standard 7 are top-notch possibilities for audio editing, restoration and quality.
Though Premium
is $199, the purchase includes seamless Pro
Tools transfer
plus studio plug-ins like Verberate for
natural acoustic sound.
Acoustica Standard 7 is $60. Trial versions are also downloadable.
A sleek multi-editing/-track system has convenient options
like 'Audio Ducking' to balance
background tracks for clarity, mirrored
fades for track layers, even video support.
Audition does have a learning curve though.
This artist favorite has multiple-track tempo adjustment, note and pitch isolation, plus pre-downloaded patches, etc.
This appeals to any editor from beginner to advanced. Logic Pro is $200. Logic Remote is the free companion.
Ardour only costs $1 for full feature access, although the free version does the job very well.
Mistakes are easy to reverse (limitless undo choice) and the mixer module includes automation, fades, transposition and more.
Professional DJ's and beginning musicians alike integrate this into their set as it's a hybrid audio/video program.
Virtual DJ Remote is the mobile version.
AudioMulch is a versatile, interactive music studio for your computer.
Its half analog,
half-digital interface configures to do any function from synthesized loops
to MIDI sequencing and multi-track recording. 256 channels are there for
live mixing.
Get the trial version here, and purchase to export or record your music after 60 days.
A very stylish shared space for online musicians that also doubles as an in-browser studio like Soundation below.
Triumph doesn't look like any other audio software. Its edits are visualized through geometric shapes and songs come with detailed metadata.
The GHZ standard assures great sample rates on a Web upload. A handy tip: Triumph can publish your creations to Soundcloud.
REAPER definitely stands out with 64 channels per track, mono/stereo recording capability and real-time audio adjustment.
Users also have a fully customizable layout. This is not as simple as Audacity or WavePad.
The discounted license is $60; the commercial is $222.
FL Studio is a favorite among musicians because of its virtual instrument catalogue, audio generator, direct recorder and professional sound.
We suggest Producer ($199), but test the demo out first.
ACID is musical production that's effective and simple. Each software has unlimited tracks, live audio recording and nearly 100 in-program instruments.
The basic ACID Pro is $59.
Music Maker (FREE)
WavePad Audio Editor (FREE)
WavePad Editor has multiple features for audio editing and processing: from added effects like echo, flanger and reverb and amplification to batch processing.
This is the Internet's #3 choice for free sound software.
This powerful editor features over 25 in-program EQ and filter effects, native recording, external audio extraction (via URL or video) and several file formats.
Your track will convert to MP3 after initial processing.
You can easily make a classic with this low-cost, solid program.
All that's necessary for professional music production online--a free account is the only requirement and you're ready to create.
It allows users to externally source audio from other media, select over two dozen effects, convert all files at once and preset your format plus quality.
This also does text-to-speech dictation.
The music industry is using Steinberg more prominently because of its editing range and professional level. Cubase and Wavelab are $100.
Online Audio Editor (iPad/iPhone/Mac)
Click here for our Home Film Making Guide
Encouraging great art and music to discuss serious issues about our planet's future.
World Future Fund Multimedia Page
Creative videos and audios.
Check out our site for artists and musicians.
WEBCAMS PORTABLE RECORDERS PHONES SOFTWARE WHERE TO BUY WFF AUDIOS LINKS
CREATIVE LINKS FOR MUSICIANS
Lyrics.com Autochords
Dark Lyrics
Free Audio Tests
Online Sequencer
Online Tone Generator
PatternSketch
Typatone Rhyme
Dictionary
Songsterr