MM3 STUDIOS

Archive for December, 2009

Learn tips on how to build your own home recording studio, including advice on stereo headphones, microphones, recording software and more in these free video clips.

Expert: Arie Pytel
Bio: Musician, composer, and arranger Arie Pytel has been playing music since he was four years old, and is currently pursuing a degree in ethnomusicology at the University of Washington.
Filmmaker: Blake Whitaker

Duration : 0:1:30

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Technorati Tags: clip, engineering, free, home, Music, producing, recording, studio, video

It depends on what type of computer you have. If you have a computer that is running Windows you should try Sony Acid music studio. It is about $69.00 and it is a great software. You can find it at the link below. If you are using a Mac then you should try the Garage Band software.

Can someone recommend a digital camera that has good recording capabilities? I need the video to be very clear and precise (no lagging) and the sound to be crisp. The cheaper it is, the better. Thanks a ton.

I have used my Canon digital camera for taking short videos and it has worked very good for me.

Check out this amazon site for Canon Camera that you can use for video.

http://astore.amazon.com/camera_digital_canon_powershot-20

Not interested in going through computers, just a right and left channel audio into the machine, and a recorded CD coming out of it! For recording cassette tapes onto CD, as well as FM, etc.

yes, there is

I need software to record my band playing in our studio. which recording program is the best? and I don’t care how much it is, I need THE BEST.

You can try goldwave, its very complete for recordings, you can even record instrument individually and then merge it

I just got Sony ACID music studio, and it says on the Sony Creative Software website that ACID includes over 1,000 free loops to get me started, but I can’t find them in it. Do I have to download the loops or are they somewhere in the program?

They are often on a second cd, but if they are not go to

http://free-loops.com
or
http://free-loops.com/free-loops.php

and download some of the 6,000 free sounds and loops they have there.

Download those then use your Acid Navigation pane, usually at the bottom to navigate and preview the sounds. Then import the ones you want to use.

My band would like to record some songs but we are unsure about what to use. Also, what is the best way to record a guitar from an amplifier on overdrive? Please help.

Eh, I say to get recording a full band on the cheap, you should look into something like this…http://www.americanmusical.com/Item–i-TAS-2488MKII-LIST
Then get yourself some versatile dynamic mics like the shure sm57 or sm58. The sm57 is a good mic to record an electric guitar through an overdriven amplifier.

i wan’t to set up a home-based recording studio on the undeveloped section underneath my house but i have no idea of how to go about it does anybody have any ideas?
i wan’t to set up a home-based recording studio on the undeveloped section underneath my house but i have no idea of how to go about it does anybody have any ideas? I have plenty of experience with sound gear (i do it as a profession) but i’m just wondering what order i should get all the stuff in and suggested formats and layouts that i should choose e.g. spend more money and get a dividing wall and a window to separate the instrument environment from the equipment environment? I don’t really know how to go about getting all of the stuff, what should i get first? console, mics (inc. stands, leads e.t.c.) effects, software (what software? protools or something simpler) thanks ppl

Simple set up is usually a couple of microphones, high quality monitors (speakers), headphones, a mixing board, and a DAT machine (to record). Pre amps, effects modules, etc can also be used, but they are a bit expensive.

Record sound into the mics, or you can plug an electric instrument directly into the mixing board. Adjust the eq on the mixing board, then it goes to the DAT. The effects like reverb, flange, etc, can be added using the AUX control on the board. If sound is faint (like a quieter instrument), you can send it through a pre amp before it gets to the board.

Where can I get a good – high quality music recording software. I’m going to record voice, electric guitar, and keyboard. I don’t need loops or beats, just need something simple with good quality recording and will let me record up to 3 tracks per session.

Protools, Native Instruments, Logic (Express)

So I recorded a video on my digital camera, unfortunately the lighting was not the greatest. Is there anyway to enhance the video to make it brighter?

There is hope.

First off, the great thing about digital is that it’s easier to get a good image from a dark one than it is from one that’s overblown. The reason being is this: the sensors on a digital camera only soak up so much light before they turn to white. If a pixel is recorded as white (blown out, zebra striped, etc.), there is absolutely no way of bringing it back down to a color.

When shooting film, the exact is opposite. A bit off topic but good to know.

So, unless what you shot is completely black, and even if it is, there’s sure to be some data in those pixels, and data in pixels is a good thing! Having data in a pixel means it recorded the image. However, finding that image requires the proper software.

A basic editing program with decent image control is Final Cut Pro. I would assume Windows Movie Maker and most video editing programs would have the most elementary of controls as well. What you want to look for is:

1.) Levels – If you have the option of working with levels, you can bring the blacks / shadows up to a visible range, while leaving the midtones and highlights relatively untouched.

2.) Brightness / Exposure – If you have the option of working with brightness or exposure, you can boost the blacks / shadows up to a visible level, but keep in mind anything that looks good now will become overblown or white.

3.) Saturation – If you have the option of adjusting saturation, this may be a good step after adjusting the light levels of your image. Usually when you boost the ‘brightness’ of an image, it also becomes more washed out, which can be countered by boosting the saturation until you get a natural look.

4.) Noise Reduction – This adjustment would be the icing on the cake. When you boost those shadows, you’ll quickly notice that they’re very grainy. Noise reduction helps to lower than grainy look, but also tends to slightly blur an image. Worth a try at the very least.

In the future, there are a few things you can do to avoid a repeat. Look for these settings on your camera:

-F Stop – rare for low end cameras, but if you have control of the F stop, you can adjust the brightness and depth of field (area of picture that’s blurred or clear) by increasing or decreasing the numbers. The smaller the number, the brighter the picture. Also, the smaller the number, the less depth of field you have. This is also known as aperture.

-ISO / film speed – Film speed or ISO is how quickly the sensor records the image. This affects the amount of light necessary to light a scene. A lower ISO (200) is slower to absorb light, but will give you less grain or noise in your video. A higher ISO (1600) will be easier to light with little light, but will also be much more grainy (noise).

Hope that helps!