PC Recording Studios For Dummies

Here′s how to make sound decisions about a desktop studio Get the lowdown on equipment, design your studio space, and set your music free! If you′ve been dreaming of making music with your computer, wake up and get started! Musician Jeff Strong clears a path for you through all the confusing options, helping you sort out hardware and software choices, coax the sound you want from your equipment, work with equalizers and processors, and start your creative juices flowing! Discover how to Choose the right system and install software Optimize studio sound for recording and mixing Understand audio interfaces, sound cards, and MIDI gear Compare popular programs Mix and master your tracks

Introduction. Part I: Computer Recording Basics. Chapter 1: Discovering What You Need. Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Recording Space. Part II: Choosing and Installing Computer Hardware. Chapter 3: Choosing Computer Components. Chapter 4: Examining Audio Components. Chapter 5: Connecting Your Hardware. Part III: Choosing and Installing Recording Software. Chapter 6: Understanding Computer Recording Software. Chapter 7: Finding the Right Software for You. Chapter 8: Installing Your Software. Part IV: Revving Up the Recording Process. Chapter 9: Getting a Great Source Sound. Chapter 10: Recording and Editing Audio. Chapter 11: Using MIDI. Chapter 12: Using Loops. Chapter 13: Exploring Software Synthesizers. Chapter 14: Mixing and Mastering Your Music. Part V: Playing with Plug–Ins. Chapter 15: Understanding Plug–Ins. Chapter 16: Using Equalization. Chapter 17: Using Effects Effectively. Chapter 18: Digging into Dynamics Processors. Part VI: The Part of Tens. Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Improving the Performance of Your System. Chapter 20: Ten Great Internet Recording Resources. Chapter 21: Ten (Or So) Free or Really Cheap Software Programs.1 Index.

Jeff Strong is the author of Home Recording for Musicians For Dummies as well as Pro Tools All–in–One Desk Reference For Dummies and is President of the REI Institute, a MusicMedicine research organization and therapy provider. Jeff graduated from the Percussion Institute of Technology at the Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles in 1983, and has either worked in or owned a recording studio since 1985. Every week, he records dozens of custom–client CDs by using the kinds of audio recording software covered in these pages. He has also released eight commercially available CDs, four of which can be found at www.reiinstitute.com.