How to Create Better Rhythm Tracks

Several of our tutorials this month focused on tools and techniques for improving your all-important rhythm tracks, giving them more impact and better definition.

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  Advanced Drum Editing in Kontakt

  I created this tutorial to serve two purposes. First off, I feel that there is a distinct lack of proper in-depth Kontakt tutorials. This tutorial teaches you everything you need to know to get started with Kontakt 3’s amazing Group editing. Second, I find that there are plenty of threads out there where someone will ask “How do I get my drums to sound like ____?” (Usually Squarepusher). I feel that group editing is the quickest, yet most hands-on way of creating incredible, glitchy beats without relying on VST effects as a crutch (and therefore avoiding sounding like anybody who else who uses Plug-in X).

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  How to Layer Hip Hop Drums in FL Studio

  Although it is often seen as a signature move of Hip Hop producers, customizing drums through layering is a technique used by artists in every genre, and it allows you to have fresh, new drum sounds that will energize your productions. Using simple tools and sounds you already have, you can expand your sound palette. In this tutorial, Sean Duncan gets us started.

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  Give Drums Impact with Parallel Compression

  It seems that the more elements your drum mix is comprised of, the harder it is to give them impact. With mics on the majority of drums, plus overheads, room mics and even the occasional hallway mic, there are so many different sounds competing with each other, even though together they comprise one instrument. Parallel compression is a really easy way to give some impact to the most important elements of the kit.

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Software Tutorials

It is a healthy sign for the audio software market that there is plenty of competition and no clear winner - at least not in the way that Photoshop rules the graphics world.

Our tutorial writers seem to have a strong preference for Apple’s Logic Pro, resulting in an abundance of Logic tutorials. But we also cover a range of popular DAW and music production software, and are starting to put more emphasis on Digidesign’s Pro Tools.

Would you like to see more tutorials on a specific audio software package?

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  How to Use Multi-band Compression in Mixing and Mastering

  In some of my recent tutorials I have been breaking down the processors used in a typical mastering chain into individual subjects. So far we have looked at buss compression, M/S processing and stereo enhancement. In this tutorial we are going to look at multi-band compression.

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  How to Set Up Sidechain Routing in Logic, Cubase & Reason

  This tutorial contains three screencasts showing you how to set up sidechain routing in Logic 9, Cubase 5 and Reason 4. In these tutorials I use a kick drum to trigger the sidechain and use a piano loop for the processed sound but obviously you can apply this technique to any two sounds you wish. I have also included the project files from each DAW so you can load them up yourselves.

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  How to Create a Headphone Mix

  When you’re in the tracking phases of a recording project and need to get the best takes out of each musician you’re working with, one trick of the trade is setting up headphone mixes. Musicians are able to perform at their peak when they’re getting the musical information they need to make the next take great — and that information may not make itself clear in the overall mix. Here’s how to create a headphone mix in Pro Tools.

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  How to Create and Use .REX Files

  A lot of DAWs allow the user to create tempo lockable grooves within their environment. These loops will change in tempo with our DAW’s master clock. This ability can be extremely useful for quick auditioning of new grooves or experimenting with different tempos in our projects.

  The main problem here is that most applications use unique file formats that can only be loaded in the specific program you are using. In some cases, such as the Apple loops format, these files can even be dependent on a certain operating system.

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  How to Configure Your Axiom Control Surface with Logic Pro 9

  MIDI controllers with control surfaces are quite common and affordable these days. They can control just about any aspect of your DAW, but their strength is in allowing you to control the DAW while at the keyboard as opposed to being used for a mixing session after tracking is finished. Since the Axiom doesn’t come with any Logic presets, let’s take a look at how to configure all those buttons, faders and knobs from withing Logic.

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  How to Create Build Ups and Impact

  Now our breakdown is complete its time to start thinking about where we go next. As this is a dance track, we want to come out of the breakdown on an energetic high and plenty of impact when our drum track is reintroduced.

  This tutorial shows you some methods for creating the build up needed, and ensuring the reintroduction has enough impact without being to loud. I am now using Logic Pro 9 for these tutorials but they will open successfully in Logic Pro 8. Simply click through the warning pop ups and everything should play back correctly.

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  Constructing Simple Vehicle Sounds

  In film, television, and games, vehicle sound has evolved into a deeply creative and compelling class of design. Master sound designers such as Walter Murch, Randy Thom, and Ben Burtt have elevated the art of vehicle sound design in numerous films such as Apocalypse Now and Star Wars in a way that allows sound to, in Thom’s words, “be set free to be an active player in the process,” of filmmaking. The sound itself becomes part of the art of storytelling. Games such as Forza Motorsport and Project Gotham Racing allocate large amounts of their development budget to the recording, crafting, and highly-detailed integration of vehicle sounds in order to create a compelling and engrossing experience for the player.

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Music Theory for Composers

Music production involves a conglomeration of skill and knowledge in several distinct areas, including a practical knowledge of digital audio workstation software (the major purpose of Audiotuts), the ability to play music (which utilizes motor skills gained though much practice), and an understanding of music theory.

We wondered whether you would appreciate tutorials on music theory relevant to composing, and have just released our first: “The Basic Functions of Harmony” by composer Ryan Leach, who has written additional music for Cold Case and offered technical assistance for The Dark Knight.

At the end of his tutorial, Ryan asks, “Did you find this tutorial interesting or useful? If you’d like to see the next stages of this concept or other tutorials on harmony, theory or composition please leave a comment to let us know.” The response has been overwhelmingly positive.

As I type this, a total of twenty-two of you have said “Yes, please!” Expect to see more tutorials like this.

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  The Basic Functions of Harmony

  At it’s core, all music can be considered an interplay of tension and release. The degree of tension can come from dissonance vs. consonance, orchestration, dynamics, or a hundred other musical elements. The key to using tension and release is balance. With too much tension and no release the tension can become unbearable and the music unlistenable. On the reverse side, if the music is too neutral with little to no amount of tension it can be dull and lifeless.

  One reason great chord progressions sound good is because they are well balanced in their use of tension and release. In this tutorial we’ll examine the very basic steps of harmonic progressions to understand how this balance works.

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Buyer’s Guides

This month we published our first Buyer’s Guide, “36 Audio Interfaces Under $1000″. Your comments indicate that more articles like that would be appreciated, and we are planning to publish a different buyer’s guide each month. The articles should include pointers that help you choose the right product, and a comprehensive list of the options.

But your comments also indicate that we didn’t quite hit the mark. Firstly there was the omission of MOTU interfaces, and several other brands. Secondly, important information on the value of Firewire interfaces was omitted. The article will be corrected to contain this information, and your comments will be taken into consideration for future articles.

Products were linked to Amazon’s site. This does raise some revenue for Audiotuts, but also gives access to pricing, features and specifications, and user reviews - at least for most products. In future we will also make sure that links to the manufacturer’s websites are also included.

Many of you added your favorite interface in the comments - especially if it wasn’t mentioned in the article - and added your own mini-reviews. This is incredibly helpful, and adds value to the article for our future readers.

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  36 Audio Interfaces Under $1000

  Most home studios today are centered around a personal computer. (And yes – despite what the ad says, a Mac is a personal computer too.) An audio interface is the audio gateway from the outside world into your computer.

  Most computers come with a sound card with line and mic inputs, and many people use these when starting out with audio recording. But if you are serious about the quality of your work, you should avoid them. They have inferior audio to digital converters, and often produce a good deal of noise. You need to choose a professional audio interface that allows you to plug in your mics and instruments, and connects to your computer through a USB, Firewire, PCI or PCMCIA interface.

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Plus!

This month we have had some amazing Plus! tutorials. Our Plus! authors are professionals at the top of their game, and Plus! tutorials are twice as detailed as normal tuts.

Two of our Plus! tutorials this month feature complete chapters from books by producer and composer Bobby Owsinski: firstly a chapter on acoustic treatment from “The Drum Recording Handbook” (written with engineer Dennis Moody), and secondly a chapter from his new book which is about to be released, “The Studio Musician’s Handbook” (written with top Los Angeles studio bassist Paul ILL).

To learn more about what you get as part of Audio Plus, read this.

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  Build an Effective Room Treatment on the Cheap – Audio Plus Birthday Bonus!

  With more and more musicians and engineers able to have their own personal studio, many times the last thing considered is the acoustics of the recording space. This is understandable, since if you don’t have the recording gear in the first place, a great acoustic environment isn’t going to do you much good. But I think that one of the major reasons that the recording environment isn’t given a higher priority in a personal or non-commercial recording space are the perceived costs in attaining something acoustically reasonable.

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  Why Playing In The Studio Is Different From Playing Live – Audio Plus

  My new book, “The Studio Musician’s Handbook” (written with top Los Angeles studio bassist Paul ILL) is about to be released and I thought it would be a good time for an exclusive preview.

  The book features a previously unseen look inside the world of the studio musician and covers all the things that you need to know if you have aspirations to be one, like how much money you can make, what kind of chops you need, how you get gigs, and the many ways to become one in the first place.

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  How to Write an Instrumental Underscore Track – Audio Plus

  In this tutorial we'll walk through the entire process of creating an instrumental composition, from the first sketches of an idea through to the final mix. Of course there are a thousand ways to write a piece of music, this is just one method. You shouldn't expect to use this method for everything you ever write, but it should be helpful for you to see one process for developing a composition in this style.

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  How to Use Space Designer in Logic – Audio Plus

  Reverb is invaluable when mixing. It can add character to the song and makes an instrument come alive. Depending on what type of song and character you are after, there are different types of reverbs that you should use. Big powerful ballads require long and lush hall reverbs, rockabilly-type tunes need short slap-back room echoes.

  In Logic Pro 8 there is a very powerful reverb engine called Space Designer, which has a lot of functions that may intimidate someone opening it for the first time.

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  What’s New in Logic Pro 9 (and How to Use It) – Audio Plus

  Logic Pro 9 has recently been released and is available as a $199 upgrade or $499 purchase. Trying to decide whether or not the upgrade is worth it is an important decision to make before jumping in and laying down the cash. In this tutorial I'll discuss many of the new features Logic 9 has to offer and suggest interesting ways that you could use them in your music.

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We Want to Hear from You!

A good website is defined not only by the quality of its writers, but also the quality of its readers. That describes Audiotuts to a tee, and we want to hear more from you. Here is how you can do that:

• Leave a comment. Tell us your opinion. Tell us your experiences. Agree or disagree. We’re listening, and our writers are hungry for your feedback!
• Make a suggestion. Visit our Audiotuts Site Suggestions and Feedback page. You can vote for other people’s suggestions, too.
• Look out for our “Open Mic” articles, like this one. The comments make the article - we ask the question, and you give the answer.
• Write a tutorial. If you think you have something to teach us, create your own tutorial - and we’ll pay you $150 if we publish it. If you’re interested, you can learn what we’re looking for here. Be aware that Audiotuts has a very full schedule, so we may not be able to publish your tut immediately.