Music Software

(Introduction)

In today's industry of recording and music production, there is nothing more revolutionary than modern music software. Its versatility and cost effectiveness are a testament to the benefits of technology, and a beacon of possibility for anyone with a pc. Over the last several years, computer hardware and software developers have blurred the line between home and professional audio recordings, creating a practical alternative to producing high budget sounds for many low budget hopefuls. It is now a reality, and it is exciting.

For better or worse the marketplace for music production software has become populated with a wide variety of programs. There are now more applications available than ever before and you can carefully choose the best tools to compliment your D.A.W.. However, for the eager and wide-eyed newbie, the ever-expanding selection can become overwhelming to determine what you really do need, and what you don't. The articles in this section are meant to familiarize those who want to find the right software tools for their goals but don't know where to start. I intend to add more detailed information about specific software, and open up the pages for your opinions.

Throughout my recording sections I use the term music software, as an easy way to reference the broad range of production software available for recording, mixing, and editing digital audio within your recording rig. As there are so many types of programs, "music software" is a pragmatic term for me to categorize these applications as a whole. When I explain or review a specific application, (be advised) they will be indexed by what the type of program does, and allows you to compare other applications in their respective category. I think you’ll find this to be both effective and convenient. We encourage your feedback/suggestions, as this project is as dedicated to music as it is to those inspired by it.

Click on the highlighted terms below to learn about the topics in this section. Each topic covers a basic explanation of its functions within a recording studio. Collectively these articles will breakdown the general uses of modern music software.

Recording Software
(Learn about audio/midi sequencers, the center of the computer based home studio.)

Audio Editing Software
(Learn about waveform editors. Editing software is used during the audio mastering phase of production.

Effects Processors
(Learn about audio effects and signal processors, used to enhance the sound quality of your audio recordings.)

Synthesizers
(Learn about keyboard synthesizers and software synth's.)

Samplers
(Learn about the traditional sampler, and its modernized counterpart - the software sampler.)

Plugins
(Learn about plugins. Used inside your hosting D.A.W. application, plugins offer a variety of tools to improve the characteristics of a mix.)

Good luck,
James (All articles are written by audiomecca's recording professionals. These articles are not to be used by any other party, without written permission from the site and content owner.)