Music Software

Software creates a virtual studio within a computer. For many years, Pro Tools (on the Mac), Cakewalk and Steinberg (Cubase) were the leading contenders and grew from MIDI sequencers into complete production studios, aka digital audio workstations (DAWs).

A DAW resides in a computer and has to become comfortable with an operating system that is busy doing a number of other tasks. Windows 7X 64 bit is a good operating system for a DAW, but many features should be turned off to preserve memory and CPU cycles for the DAW. Some of the complications and unexpected crashes that occur when using a DAW are caused by conflicts with other programs and the tendency for the OS to interrupt with a number of house keeping tasks. One reason I prefer hardware sound modules rather than soft synthesis they are more reliable and reduce the demands on the computer for memory and CPU time. An audio, MIDI docker also reduces the computer burden and is essential if you want to connect many audio inputs to a computer based mixer.

When you have hardware modules and a mixing board connected by wires, you can touch, see and hear the results of the connections you make. Inside a computer you make connections that you cannot touch or see, but you can hear the results. The most important connections to understand are the sound links used by windows (WDM) and ASIO. ASIO connections are 16 stereo pairs that you can use to link different programs such as an audio mixer and a MIDI sequencer. Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology (VST) is an interface for integrating software synthesizers and effect plugins within digital audio workstations (DAWs). VST plugins simulate recording studio hardware modules with software. VST plugins can be classified as instruments (VSTi) or as sound processing effects. Each plugin displays controls similar to the physical switches and knobs on audio hardware. VST instruments receive MIDI input and send output as audio. Host applications may allow the audio output from one VST to be routed to the input of another VST (chaining); the audio output of a VST synthesizer can be sent to a VST reverb effect, for example.

DX plugins are based on Microsoft Windows architecture for connecting audio synthesizers and effect plugins to DAW software. DirectX plug-ins use Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) which allows plugins to be recognized and used by applications via common interfaces. Effect plugins are used to process audio. Instrument (DXi) plugins are send MIDI input to software synths, samplers and drum machines.

Audio Clips; Many programs have been created for assembling audio clips into compositions. Prerecorded audio clips can be pasted together even by beginners with no musical knowledge or performance skills to simulate a composition. Loops are audio clips that repeat. Sonic Foundry (1998) created the first loop-based, music-sequencing software, Acid, that is now marketed by Sony. Acidized audio samples contain tempo and key information, so that the program could time stretch and pitch shift the audio recording. Many other programs were developed to use audio clips (loops) such as Ableton Live and Apple's Garage Band.

Sonar 8.52 is integrated studio software, aka DAW. The program began as Cakewalk, a MIDI sequencer/editor that has evolved into sophisticated software that handles most aspects of composing, arranging, mixing, recording and mastering. I have used Cakewalk since it began and have benefited from the gradual improvements in midi editing capability. The program still has limitations that requires use of other programs to work around its limitations. In a professional studio environment a work flow develops that involves an eclectic combination of hardware and software tools.

Piano role editing has become an essential tool to finish the performance of a piece. A piano roll display is remarkably useful for editing a score. Notes become colored bars sitting on a vertical pitch grid. With a mouse, the pitch and duration of notes are easily changed. Groups of notes can be added, deleted or altered quickly. Controllers such as velocity and volume are displayed for easy editing. Tempo changes, note velocity and pitch bending are easily added or edited.

REAPER is a multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing, and mastering program that I would recommend to people who are setting up or upgrading a home studio. We often use Reaper for mastering audio recordings and for assembling audio clips into finished recordings. The program is a work in progress and attracts an interactive community of users. Reaper is very good at audio processing and needs more development to become a fully functional MIDI composing & editing program. Among its desirable features are: unlimited tracks; versatile routing for MIDI and audio with patchbays, fast installation and execution. Reaper is updated regularly by expert programmers who are responsive to bug reports and suggestions for improvements. Their user manual is excellent but requires careful study. Reaper can be downloaded for a free trial and is a bargain when purchased. See Reaper Online

Over 30 years of sampler development at EMU has been packaged into a program that turns a PC into an orchestra or any other sound source you can imagine. It does depend on having a fast computer with an EMU professional sound card and then you can produce good sound quality, using sampling, synthesis and filters to create presets, playable from a midi keyboard. We dedicate one computer for the X3 to run without competition from other programs and use the EMU Audio/Midi interface 1820. We have accumulated a planet-wide sound-sample collection. The X3 enables a composer to select and program sounds to fit special and often the unique needs of a composition. While X3 is not perfect (none are) and can offer more than a few frustrations, we rate is the most useful software sampler and synth, once you have mastered its basic design and accepted its limitations. (X3 is the latest version)

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Topics presented at Persona Digital Studio are from the book, The Sound of Music by Stephen Gislason. Click the Download button to download the eBook from Persona Digital Online.

Persona Digital Studio is located on the Sunshine Coast, Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada. Our Music catalogue includes recorded performances by the P2500 Band, Em4U, and the Persona Classical Consort.
Music downloads are available from companion website: Persona Digital Online.

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DAWs -- Music Software