Video: Organizing a Session Before Mixing January 31, 2009
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digital Audio Workstations, Studio Setup, Videos , add a commentOnce you are done tracking a session and are ready to mix, its a good idea to spend a few minutes doing some organization and routing. This video will show you how to color code tracks (in Pro Tools 8), how to create aux tracks and sum like-instruments together, and how to create a mix bus with an aux track.
AOTD: 1/30/09 January 30, 2009
Posted by ConnorSmith in : AOTD , add a commentFET – Field Effect Transistor
This is an electronic component which relies on an electric field to control the (shape, and therefore) flow of a channel. Essentially, the FET is the solid-state equivalent of a tube. the JFET (Junction Field-Effect Transistor) and MOSFET (Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor) are commonly used in audio circuits.
Pro Tools 8: Your Keyboard=Friend, Part 1 January 29, 2009
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digidesign, Editing, Pro Tools , 4commentsPart of the reason Pro Tools is well loved in the industry is because of its excellent implementation of keyboard-based functions. Keyboard Focus mode is an obvious example of this (where each key on the keyboard is a hotkey for a task, eliminating the need for modifier keys). In a sort of slightly random method, I am going to run through some of my most-used commands and give some suggestions on when to use them. Also – if you have a function you’d like to know more about, post in the comments, and I can help. (more…)
When/What to upgrade? Part 1 January 28, 2009
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digital home recording studios, Project Studio, Studio Setup , add a commentAs a home/project studio owner, upgrades and equipment purchases need to be as effective as possible (as we often don’t have the biggest of budgets…). Knowing when to upgrade and what piece of gear (or software) to upgrade first can be a huge benefit.
iLife ’09 announced at Macworld, GarageBand ’09 coming late January! January 12, 2009
Posted by PJ in : Chit Chat, Digital home recording studios, GarageBand, General Announcements , add a commentI had a feeling this would be announced this week and now it is confirmed for release in late January.
Apple announced Tuesday an update to the media suite iLife during their Macworld 2009 keynote presentation. Here is an early list of some of the new features announced.
Macworld 2009 next week, new GarageBand coming? January 3, 2009
Posted by PJ in : Apple, Chit Chat, GarageBand, Logic Studio 8 , add a commentSo I may have jumped the gun back in August, speculating the announcement of iLife or GarageBand ’09 during the October Macbook event. But with Macworld 2009 only days away, GarageBand ’09 may soon become a reality.
Use the Official Playstation Bluetooth Headset with GarageBand January 3, 2009
Posted by PJ in : Computers, Digital home recording studios, GarageBand , add a commentThis one is for all my gamers out there that want to maximize the potential of their Official Playstation Bluetooth headset. Not only can you use the headset with your Playstation 3 console and Bluetooth enabled cell phone (such as the iPhone) but you can also use it with virtually any application on Mac or PC (such as GarageBand) that utilizes a microphone.
Is your iPhone interfering with your audio equipment? January 2, 2009
Posted by PJ in : Apple, Troubleshooting , 1 comment so farI have a 1st gen iPhone that absolutely wreaks havoc on speakers whenever the phone sends or receives data, which is done automatically every few minutes. The result is a buzzing, screeching pulse that is the electronic equivalent of nails on a chalk board. Whether its $10 Dell speakers or some nice studio monitors, none are safe from the wrath of the iPhone.
PJ’s Pick: Website of the Month December 29, 2008
Posted by PJ in : Chit Chat, Composing, GarageBand , 2commentsHooray for new segments on the Studio Files! So here’s the deal, I’m going to pick and write about a website related to the world of audio every month. First up is…
Music Production Toolkit 2 (MPTK 2) Authorization Problem!! December 18, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digidesign, Pro Tools , 1 comment so farDO NOT try to download and authorize the MPTK 2 yet for Pro Tools 8….
Apparently when you try to install it, it surrenders your old MPTK license, but the MPTK 2 version doesn’t properly authorize, so all you are left with is a non-MPTK Pro Tools…
I know big software releases are a huge deal for companies like Digidesign, and they have a lot of things to worry about, but considering how happy people were about the MPTK 2 upgrade, you’d think someone would have actually tried to download and authorize the MPTK 2 before releasing it the public.
As far as I’ve heard, no one has gotten it authorized…
EDIT: More bad news… digidesign.com seems it couldn’t handle the downloads and traffic, so its down… A seemingly buggy PT8, an MPTK 2 that doesn’t work, and a downed website…. uh oh Digi! I hope they can turn this one around….
Pro Tools 8 Bugs/Errors/Troubleshooting Thread December 17, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digidesign, Pro Tools , 403commentsPro Tools 8 is compatible with Leopard. Click here for more information
Well, I won’t have my copy for a few days (had it shipped where I’ll be for the holidays), but if you have problems with your new PT 8 install, let us know here. (more…)
Pro Tools 8 is now shipping! December 17, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digidesign, Pro Tools , add a commentPro Tools 8 is shipping (at least from Sweetwater)!! (more…)
Pro Tools 8 now in stock and shipping from Sweetwater.com??? December 16, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digidesign, Pro Tools , add a commentSo I stumbled upon this page:
http://www.sweetwater.com/feature/digidesign2008/protools8.php
and it seems that Sweetwater has PT 8 in stock?? I can’t say for sure if this is correct, but it is on their site. I had pre-ordered mine awhile back, so if I get a shipping notification tomorrow, I will be sure to let everyone know.
I don’t know if its related, but I got a non-auto email from someone at Sweetwater about something else, but it was fairly late at night for them. Perhaps everyone is staying late to pack up the version?? (well, I doubt it, but I really hope it ships soon)
PT 8!!!!!!……. didn’t ship yet…. gah December 12, 2008
Posted by ConnorSmith in : Digidesign, Pro Tools , 3commentsStill no word.
Pro Tools 8 was supposed to ship on Dec. 10th… nothing yet.
TheStudioFiles.com will keep you posted.
How to program analog synthesizers • VideoSift: Online Video Quality Control December 10, 2008
Posted by Damon Sink in : Digital home recording studios , add a commentHow to program analog synthesizers • VideoSift: Online Video Quality Control
A REALLY useful and worthwhile tutorial on subtractive synthesis (Reason Subtractor, anyone?). If you’ve ever wondered about what any (or all!) of those knobs are for, watch this! Be sure to rate the vid on the VideoSift site.
Damon
The Studio Files