From the monthly archives:

May 2010

Drum Sampler Picks

by Keith Hatschek May 27, 2010

The new breed of drum samplers are affordable, flexible, and really easy to use. PSE takes a close look at four top programs.

For many home and project studios, the dream of setting up a full-size drum kit and inviting a drummer to “let ‘er rip” is just that. For those who don’t have the luxury of a fully isolated recording space, drums pose one of the most difficult challenges to creating realistic recordings. Read more…

2 comments

Using Video as a Learning Tool

by Bobby Owsinski May 24, 2010

Just as audio recording yourself as much as possible is a valuable way to analyze and critique songs, parts, and performances, making video recordings should also be standard procedure. It’s like looking in a mirror. You’re able to step back, free from the distractions of playing, singing, and putting on a show, and actually see yourself the way the audience sees you. But be cautioned; sometimes it won’t look pretty, especially in the beginning. Read more…

6 comments

The eMagazine – Catalogs Go Digital

by Disc Makers May 19, 2010

With the growing uses of documents with “page turn” functionality on PDAs and online, producing a white paper or journal that uses the page-turning feature or converting your printed catalog into an eMagazine can keep your marketing efforts current, cost-effective, and easier to deliver. Read more…

0 comments

Putting Apple’s GarageBand to the Test

by Keith Hatschek May 17, 2010

GarageBand is a music creation software application that is part of Apple’s iLife suite (GarageBand, iMovie and iPhoto) and ships on all new Macintosh computers. For this column, I jumped into learning how well GarageBand might work as a musical sketchpad to rough out a basic song demo. I enlisted the help of two friends, vocalist Josh Washington and songwriter/percussionist Dan Faughnder, for the home sessions. In the process, we recorded live vocals and electric guitar to go along with the software-based instruments and loops found in the program’s library. We wondered just how good a song demo could be created in a couple of hours by GarageBand rookies. Read more…

80 comments

Recording vocals to a computer with Shure’s X2u

by Keith Hatschek May 17, 2010

There’s been no shortage of products designed to help musicians get their musical ideas into their computers. While at the Winter 2010 NAMM show in Anaheim, I saw the then-new Shure X2u XLR-to-USB signal adapter. It’s a compact, affordable single channel palm-sized adapter that promises to help solve the problem of how to interface a recording mic with your home computer. Read more…

2 comments

Bigsby’s Old School Vibe Still Resonate

by Chris Grova May 13, 2010

BigsbyNo matter what you call it, ‘whammy bar,’ ‘trem bar,’ or whatever, there’s only one (IMHO anyway) that’s stood the test of time for over half a century and remained the arbiter of cool: the Bigsby. Exuding an old-school vibe that still resonates today, the Bigsby Vibrato adds classic functionality to many an electric guitar. Read more…

0 comments

An Indie That Believes in CDs

by Disc Makers May 11, 2010

The New York Times recently published “An Indie That Believes in CDs,” an article about the Concord Music Group and their continuing success. Glen Barros, Concord’s chief executive, says their label focuses on older folks, those who are committed to “timeless and authentic” music as well as great sound quality. This, in addition to their more balanced business model – all albums in their catalog pull their own weight – has Concord on track to make more than $100 million in revenue this year.

“The future of the music business is very bright,” Mr. Barros said. “People want to listen to great music.”

Read the entire article on the New York Times site.

0 comments

In the Studio with Michael Jackson

by Bruce Swedien May 10, 2010

In The Studio with Michael JacksonNo one was closer to Michael Jackson at the height of his creative powers than Bruce Swedien, the five-time Grammy winner who, with Jackson and producer Quincy Jones, formed the trio responsible for the sound of Jackson’s records.

Excerpted from Bruce Swedien’s book, In The Studio With Michael Jackson, published by Hal Leonard. Read more…

18 comments

Burning Windsor Survives a Tornado – and Doesn’t Miss the Gig!

by Disc Makers May 6, 2010

Burning WindsorBeing an independent act on the road has its various pitfalls and obstacles. Traffic, bad clubs, bad weather, ornery soundmen… that’s all part of the deal. But few bands have ever had to cope with literally being swept off the road by a raging tornado while en route to a gig. That’s just what happened to Vicksburg, Mississippi’s Burning Windsor late last month. Read more…

2 comments

20 Ways To Engage Your Fans

by Scott James May 5, 2010

In this day and age there’s a lot of talk about engaging with fans. Technology has changed marketing from a one way street to a two way conversation. So now that we all know that we’re supposed to engage our fans, how do we do it? I’ve created a list to help get you started with some ideas. Read more…

8 comments

Expert Panel: How to Earn a Living in Today’s Music Industry

by Disc Makers May 3, 2010

Show me the money If you’re a musician in the Philadelphia area, there’s an event on Sunday May 16th from 2 to 7 p.m. you may be interested in. Marcy Rauer Wagman, professor at Drexel’s music business program, has organized a seminar and music event with a number of local industry experts, including Disc Makers’ CEO Tony van Veen. Read more…

0 comments

Using DVDs as Sales and Marketing Collateral

by Lee Purcell May 3, 2010

When it comes to communicating product information, Shaun Mymudes, national sales director for SolidCAM, thinks printed collateral pales in comparison to DVDs.

“At WESTEC (trade show produced by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers), I was walking the floor on set-up day, watching competitor after competitor – all the big guns in the game – pull out box after box of printed literature. And I thought to myself, one of the reasons we can be so competitive is because we don’t do that stuff.” Read more…

0 comments

In the Studio with Trevor Horn

by Howard Massey May 3, 2010

Trevor HornTrevor Horn is rather unique among his peers in that he enjoyed a highly successful career as a musician before moving to the other side of the glass. As half of the eighties pop duo the Buggles (he was the one with the nerdy glasses), he co-wrote, co-produced, and sang lead on their smash hit “Video Killed the Radio Star,” perhaps best known today as the first video ever played on MTV. He and co-Buggle Geoff Downes were then briefly integrated into prog-rock kings Yes (an experience he later described as “awful”) before he made the decision to end his touring days and focus full-time on record production. Read more…

13 comments
Request our free musician's guide to recording