Hot Recording & Production How-Tos


How To: Play and record a virtual instrument in Studio One
You can play and record a virtual instrument using studio one. You can also add new part to any song you want.

How To: Program a Roland TR-808 drum machine
The Roland TR-808 drum machine is one of the most important modern instruments, forming the backbone of both hip-hop and electronic music percussion. If you have gotten your hands on one, you're a lucky devil, but you have a long way to go before you can unlock it's true potential. Watch this video to learn how to program an 808 all the way up to a 64-step beat!

How To: Use the groove function in Ableton Live 8
In this tutorial, we learn how to use the groove function in Ableton Live 8. A group settings consists on points along the timeline where hits sit. If you have something with no groove applied, it will sound robotic. By adding a groove, you will shuffle around the midi from the hard quantized parts. This will add more human element to the audio. There is a button on the left with two lines that show the library with options you can use. You can also apply this to other clips, scroll through t...

How To: Make a hip hop beat in FL Studio
In this video we learn how to make a hip hop beat in FL Studio. First, load up your drum sounds from the browser to the interface. After this, change the hits on the drums to make the beat sound different. Edit how high the volume is on the snare drum and then change the ghost kick so it's not too loud either. Once you have this figured out, add in the high hat and the shaker patterns. Once you have these added in and you like the volumes that they are at, you will have your very own hip hop ...

How To: Create a techno beat in GarageBand 08
If you like techno music and want to create your own music, this video takes us through the steps of how to do that. Using GarageBand '08, you can create your own techno beat. All you need to do is create a new file in GarageBand at 140 beats per minute. The piano tool will need to be changed to techno kit and can be altered to different octaves moving higher or lower along the scale. You can then record your beats and perfect it for your own custom techno beat, and the best part is you don't...

How To: Convert FLAC to ALAC using iTunes and Fluke
One of the many significant problems with Apple's ubiquitous iTunes music player and iPod MP3 players is their lack of native support for FLAC, the highest-quality type of condensed digital music file. This video features step-by-step instruction for converting your FLAC files into ALAC files, which have similar quality and can be played on on your iPod.

How To: Use automation in Studio One
In this video, we learn how to use automation in Studio One. Controlling is a system you use to control the devices that control the software. Control link has a window on the song interface in the upper left hand corner. You can quickly move parameters as you edit the automation. Make sure you change it if it's for an instrument or an audio track. Add an automation track to the window, by clicking the "A" button that will give you sounds for the same instrument. This will avoid automation en...

How To: Import a loop and record audio in Studio One
First you need to do is press the t button in your keyboard and add a new mono track. Choose mono in format and click OK.

How To: Make a Free Microphone Pop Filter Entirely Out of Paper in 5 Minutes
In this video, I'm going to show you how to make an effective DIY pop filter using nothing but a few sheets of paper and a tissue. This will give you an excellent quality recording with your microphone. In fact, the no-cost pop filter I'm about to show you how to make is the same one I used to record this video, so the results are right here for you to hear.

How To: Extract vocals from a song using Adobe Audition
This shows you how to extract vocals from a song to create an acapella version using inversions. You need the full version of the song as well as an instrumental one.

How To: Consolidate tracks in Pro Tools
Make the mixing process easier and free up some space in your tracking window by combining different tracks and onto one track using Pro Tools.

How To: Build a Foot Switch with a Keyboard
If you need to control a software like Ableton Live while you play guitar then you need a foot switch. In that video I will show you how it is easy to build a foot switch with an old keyboard. Then you will need to configure your software to map the keys to specifics functions like Play, Next, Pause, etc. Enjoy !

How To: Use the Toontrack Superior Drummer plugin with Logic
Utilize the mutli-out function using the Toontrack Superior Drummer plugin with the Logic sound program! This tutorial lets you create very professional sounding drums that you can add into your music projects. Select from a variety of different drum types.

How To: Set up your computer sound card for use with Ableton Live
Ableton Live can turn your computer into an electronic music producing and sequencing machine pretty quickly, but making sure your sound card is configured correctly before you use it on stage is crucial. Watch this video to learn how to set up your sound card for Ableton Live quickly and easily.

How To: Pan your drums in Ableton
In this video, we learn how to pan your drums in Ableton. First, load an impulse and lay out your drum pattern. Play it back to see how it sounds. Then, pay attention to panning the individual elements of your drum track. When you click on the bottom, you will be able to see where the panning is. Pan in a way so the sounds on the track play off of each other. They should be panned opposite of each other so when you play it back you will be able to hear how the track plays much more smoothly. ...

How To: Understand melodic rhythm & lyric rhythm
In this video, we learn how to understand melodic rhythm and lyric rhythm. First, say your lyrics out loud talking, instead of singing them to see how they speak out loud. You want your lyrics to sound the same in the song as you would if you were singing them. Try to change the tone of words to change up how it sounds while you are singing it. You will see that it makes a big difference when you sing it. When you do this, you will take the the preposition off as the big spotlight note and pu...

How To: Create a song in Studio One
In this video, we learn how to create a song in Studio One. First, click on "create a new song" on the start page. Now, click on the empty template, and click on the continue button. After this, click song, then song setup. Click on the audio IO setup, then you will see a new window with input channels. Add in cross points and channels to the window and then test it out. Before you exit, click on the make default button, then click ok. After this, you will be able to start creating a new song...

How To: Make DIY broadband acoustic panels (or bass traps) with rockwool insulation
This short video tutorial will outline the process of making acoustic wall panels using a simple wooden frame and rockwool insulation. These DIY broadband acoustic panels, or bass traps for treating music studio rooms, performance rooms or home theater rooms, will save you tons of money.

How To: Make cymbal washes in Logic Studio
How to make cymbal washes is a tutorial on how to use Logic Studio to make the sound of a cymbal wash. The tutorial does not include any speaking. It is only a shot of the computer monitor of the instructor. The image from the instructor's monitor is very blurry, and the images on the monitor are very small. You'll have to watch this video closely to learn all about making cymbal wash sounds.

How To: Make and use baffles to control sound quality
Check out this instructional audio video that demonstrates how to control the sound of your room with something called Baffles. Sound travels through vibrations in the air. When these vibrations leave your mouth, they travel over a thousand feet per second in a million directions. Learn about echoes, delays and reverbs by watching this video tutorial so you can better control room sound reflections.

How To: Use a 4-track cassette recorder
Record your band at home! Learn how to use a 4-track cassette recorder to tape your band in this free garage musician video from our expert on 4-track recordings.

How To: Use RockBand drums in GarageBand to record beats
How to set up the RockBand drum kit for the Xbox360 to work with GarageBand. It will act as a basic Midi Controller through Musical Typing. I have used it to trigger drums kits but you could use it to trigger other things. There are 2 small pieces of software needed to make it work.

How To: Pan automation in Pro Tools
Check out this video from Berkleemusic.com and watch as Berklee Professor Jeff Baust illustrates different ways for using the panning automation in Pro Tools software.

How To: Map a Korg nano series MIDI controller in Ableton Live 7
Ableton Live 7 is so popular mostly because it is easy to use on the fly, but it's still complex like everything else in electronic music. Watch this video to learn how to map a MIDI controller (in this case a Korg nano-series) in Ableton Live 7

How To: Use effects and other tricks on the Pioneer DJM-909 DJ mixer
The Pioneer DJM-909 mixer is one of the finest and most expensive DJ mixers on the market. If you can afford one, you're a lucky dog. And if you've gotten one and are wondering just how much you can do with it, watch this video. It will teach you how to use the many effects and other tricks in the mixer to make the best music you can.

How To: Program a Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer drum machine
The Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer is one of the greatest drum machines ever made, and one of the pillars of electronic music. If you're lucky enough to have one and aren't quite sure how it works (they are quite intimidating) watch this video to learn how to make a simple beat really quickly on your lovely 909.

How To: Use a shuffle LFO to apply swing and make hotter tracks in Massive
A shuffle LFO (low-frequency oscillator) is a cool effect in many synths that gives bass lines a swing feel to them. In this video you'll learn how to apply a shuffle LFO to any sound that you can access on your computer using NI Massive, a quasi-analog PC synth.

How To: Make dubstep / drum and bass wobble bass with the Massive PC synth
Dubstep and drum and bass have brought the "wobble bass" style of synth beat to the masses, and you'd better learn how to make one if you want to keep your tracks modern. Watch this video to learn all about making dirty wob-wob bass lines using Massive a quasi-analog PC synthesizer.

How To: Route FX using StudioLive
In this video, we learn how about routing FX using the StudioLive with Brandon Hays. To recall an effect, select the effect button and then page down to gt the list of effects for A and B. Once it's been selected, hit the recall button and then find the mono delay for the vocalist in B. Now, send the channels to these effects and add a snare drum to channel two. Then, add send different levels of drums to channels six and seven. You have sixteen channels to assign different effects to. As soo...

How To: Quantize audio in Ableton Live 8
In this video, we learn how to use Ableton Live 8: Quantizing audio. To find the bars you want to use, find the up and down arrow keys. These will jump the loops back and forth based on the width of the loop race itself. Press play to search around for the best four bar section in your music. Now, set your first attack in your loop by zooming in on the hit. Hover over the audio and create a warp marker to drag from each of the bars. Label it as the beginning of your clip to the end, then save...

How To: Change presets in Logic Pro instruments
In this video, we learn how to use Logic Pro: Changing presets in Logic instruments. First, insert the ES2 and add in a preset that you like. You can also use key strokes to step through presets instead of using the mouse to click through all of them. By doing this, you will save time while you are going through presets to audition a bunch of presets to find the one you want. Use the drop down menu within the instrument to find the different presets and then choose one you would like to inser...

How To: Enter keyboard notes in the Pizzicato music software
Learn the art of notation in Pizzicato. Pizzicato has three different levels of music software: Light, Pro and Beginner. And with this video tutorial you can learn about entering notes with a MIDI keyboard. You just have to have a MIDI keyboard and the right hardware to connect it to your computer, then learn about all the shortcuts and tools to get your music on the page quickly.

How to Write a song: Melodic phrases & lyric phrases
In this tutorial, we learn how to write a song using melodic phrases and lyric phrases. Instead of talking in syllables, you want to use a musical phrase. Practice humming your song without using words, so you know the road map of where the music should go. Make sure your words go with the melody of the music, and the lyrics match how the song flows. If they don't, you can create a new phrase so it matches the melody. Play your song and substitute different words to see how they fit with the ...

How To: Record streaming audio as MP3 with Replay Music
Replay Music makes it possible to record audio from the web. No longer do you have to listen to streaming audio on the web and have to go back online to revisit your favorite moments. Replay Music enables you to download any audio streaming on the web straight to your computer so you can listen to it whenever you want.

How To: Add effects to your beats in FL Studio
In this video tutorial from PrimeLoops, host Nick, teaches you how to create a beat, using beatbox samples, in FL Studio. You will learn how to drag samples from the browser interface to the channel interface, so that you can use them. As you follow along, Nick shows you how to lay down a beat, add effects to the sounds, how to re-level sounds to compensate for clipping in the peaks of the track, as well as how to automate some of the parameters.

Use Pro Tools & Reason Rewire: Aux & instrument tracks
After finally completing a rhythm section using Reason software, you may want to rewire using Protools. First decide how to feed Reason into Protools. The best, would be to re-patch individually into Protools, however the demo here shows a simpler approach that will be easier for anyone to use. First and foremost, Shut down Reason and boot a new session in Protools. Then add an AUX input and instantiate the rewire plug-in to connect to Reason. Make sure the main Reason stereo is feeding track...

How To: Record in Digital Performer
Learn some great tips and techniques from this recording expert on how to use Digital Performer software to edit and record music in this free video clip.

How To: Connect and set up an instrument to Motif XS input
This tutorial shows how to connect and set up a device/instrument (in this tutorial it's an electric guitar) to your Motif XS audio input, how to apply two effects, how to record the audio together with a performance to a song or pattern, and finally how to export the whole song to your hard disk as a .wav file.

How To: Hack together a DIY portable recording studio
Insipired by Harlan Hogan's Porta-booth, here's a video showing you how you can get a great sound booth that fits in your suit case and goes anywhere. The video shows you how to build the booth and a convenient way to pack it for travel. Details on where to get the parts are here at our creator site.

How To: Digitize those old tapes, 8-tracks, and records
"An older gentleman told me the other day "no one makes any records anymore!" Well, I thought to myself; "millions of people make records every week, just not on vinyl or tape like in the old days..."