1. Recording Digital Audio using your Computer Thomas Rudolph, Ed. D. Director of Music School District of Haverford Township 1801 Darby Road Havertown, PA 19083 (610) 853-5900 extension 5452 email: terudolph@aol.com www.geocities.com/terudolph/time Sponsored by SoundTree 800-963-8733

2. Recording Digital Audio Choose the right tool What is the goal?  Student use in a lab setting  Recording student practice sessions  Creating CDs for student use  Recording live concerts  Developing a Recording Studio in the school  Other….

3. Digital Audio Options Using the Computer  No additional hardware  Using a DSP (digital Signal processing) card.  Recording Studio Stand-Alone Recording  Good choice for recording on location - such as concerts  Can be transferred to the computer

4. Low-End Option - No Additional Hardware Advantages = least expensive Disadvantages = sound quality and expandability. What is needed:  Windows or Mac Computer  Fairly large hard drive  MIDI keyboard  MIDI/Digital Audio Sequencer

5. Basic Terms MIDI - Digital piano roll - performance information only. Digital Audio - digital recording of audio sounds. AIFF/WAV file formats - required to burn a CD. AIFF = Mac and WAV = Windows. File size: MIDI = small; Audio large

6. Low-End MIDI/Digital Audio Software Mac and Window:  MicroLogic by emagic ($99.00) Windows:  Home Studio 2002 by Cakewalk ($69.00)  Band-in-a-Box Mac Connection - record through built-in mic or connect to mic input. Windows: record through built-in mic or connect to audio inputs in the Soundcard

7. Recording Options MIDI tracks - create from scratch or import from existing files Audio - record from built-in or external mic Re-record MIDI tracks as Audio to burn a CD.

8. Cassette & CD Recordings Making a Cassette Recording  Connect the outputs of the MIDI Keyboard and the audio output from the back of the computer to a mixer.  Connect the output of the mixer to the input of the tape recorder and record.  Be sure to monitor recording levels.

9. Burning CDs All data, MIDI and Audio, must be converted to AIFF (Mac) or WAV (Win) Re-record MIDI as Audio - connect MIDI outputs to Audio inputs. Save file as AIFF or WAV Use CD software to Burn CDs:  iTunes (Mac) - Free software from Apple.  EZ CD Creator (WIN)

10. MIDI files to CD Mac: Use iTunes to convert MIDI only files and then burn CD Mac/Win: Use Software and re-record MIDI as Audio (MicroLogic - Mac/Win; Home Studio - Win). Win: Use SoundCard to convert MIDI to WAV - Home Studio and Band-in-a- Box.

11. Moving to the High End Add a DSP Card to your computer  OASYS PCI - $499.00  Delta 44 by MIDIMan - $299.99  EMI 2/6 by emagic - $399.00 Record using a stand-along unit  Korg D16 Digital Recording Studio  Final recording can be bounced to the computer using the above cards. Lab option - new GEC3

12. Where to get help Contact SoundTree - for hardware/software and support 800-963-8733 Book - Recording in the Digital World by Rudolph/Leonard