| Intro | | | | important are the ReDrum Drum Machine, |
| Well guys, I've decided to write a short | | | | Synthesizers, and all new in 2.5, the |
| article on how to make music with your | | | | mastering devices. I'm not going to get |
| computer. When I started out, I couldn't | | | | into this too much, because there's just |
| find anything to help me. I didn't know | | | | too much to tell in this article. If |
| what to buy, or where to start. | | | | you're interested in using REASON, I |
| Hopefully this short article will help | | | | recommend that you get the tutorial |
| you in your quest to making music a fun | | | | CD-ROM from M-AUDIO. It will give you a |
| and productive hobby or future | | | | good idea of how to get started with |
| profession. | | | | REASON, and if you think that it will be |
| Loops and SONY ACID Software | | | | good for you. |
| When I first started to create music I | | | | Putting it all together |
| used SONIC FOUNDRY'S ACID MUSIC 3.0. | | | | The great thing about the two pieces of |
| It's a piece of software that enables | | | | software that I talked about in the |
| you to create music with loops. Loops | | | | previous two paragraphs is this: |
| are small pieces of music, like a drum | | | | - You can use ACID for all your loops |
| line or synth line. These loops are only | | | | - You can use ACID to record vocals and |
| a few seconds long, but, obviously, they | | | | or guitars if you have the equipment |
| loop. This means that you can draw the | | | | - You can use ACID to render your final |
| loop in for 30 seconds, 60 seconds, | | | | recording to mp3, wav, aiff, and more |
| whatever length you'd like with no | | | | - You can use REASON to program patterns |
| distortion or other strange noises when | | | | for drums, synths, etc. |
| the loop starts over at the beginning. | | | | (Keep in mind that these two programs |
| There are many websites and companies | | | | can do way more than what's displayed |
| that create loops for production use. A | | | | above) |
| lot of them are Royalty Free; this means | | | | The coolest part of this whole thing is |
| that you can use them in commercial | | | | that you can connect these two programs. |
| (for-profit) songs. Each of the | | | | Using a technology named "REWIRE", |
| companies that create these loops has | | | | created by PROPELLERHEADS you can have |
| their own license, which you'll want to | | | | both of these applications synchronized. |
| read if you're going to release an | | | | Add a loop in ACID, make a pattern in |
| album. The license is usually just a set | | | | REASON, and have them play back |
| of rules or terms that say what you can | | | | together. When you're done, you can |
| and can't do with a loop. Most the time | | | | render in ACID to have the synchronized |
| you can use these Royalty Free loops in | | | | music as one file, or track. |
| commercial recordings, but you can't, | | | | Wait! I have no sound |
| for example, resell the loops by | | | | Okay, so now you have the software to |
| themselves. You have to abide by the | | | | start creating some awesome music. So |
| license. | | | | the thing you're missing is sound, |
| As far as I know SONIC FOUNDRY was | | | | speakers, headphones, etc. I use an |
| bought out by SONY, so if you're looking | | | | external sound card by M-AUDIO, called |
| for this software.... | | | | OMISTUDIO USB. This thing connects to my |
| - Do a search for ACID PRO, or visit the | | | | pc with the USB port. It has two |
| link at the bottom of the article | | | | headphone connections and two instrument |
| - There are different versions of the | | | | mic connections with preamp power. It |
| software; one of the versions is | | | | also contains several speaker |
| absolutely FREE | | | | connections, as well as other |
| The Reason to create | | | | connections for mixers, etc. |
| The piece of software I'd like to talk | | | | There are several different types of |
| about in this section is PROPELLERHEADS | | | | these external sound machines. Most of |
| REASON. This piece of software is much | | | | them are either USB or FireWire. Most |
| different than ACID. REASON is focused | | | | have headphone, speaker, and mic |
| less on loops, and more on programming. | | | | connections and come with the necessary |
| When I say programming, I mean using | | | | drivers for your computer. |
| individual sounds, for example, a kick | | | | It's all over |
| drum, snare, or piano sound. You then | | | | I hope that this short article gave you |
| use the awesome devices to create | | | | some ideas to start making music. I plan |
| patterns. REASON includes a powerful | | | | on writing more articles as time |
| list of devices. Some of the more | | | | permits. See ya soon! |