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There are many things to consider when you’re in the market for some home studio recording software. With a little research, you can get the right software without having to buy all kinds of different recording packages. In fact, there are some programs that have so many tools built-in that you may only need one program for your recording work.

Overall, you will want software programs with these types of functions:

Samplers

Soft synths

Effects

Tools for mastering

Tools for mixing

Dynamic software

and many others might come in handy

For all of these uses, you can probably buy a software program but that will start to cost you after you’ve purchased 2 or 3 of them. So why not try a DAW (digital audio workstation) instead, that offers a whole range of tools in one package. Don’t be fooled by the all-in-one approach. Many DAWs include very high-quality software. Some feature-packed ones are Sonar 8, Pro Tools and Cubase. Of these three, Sonar 8 has the best selection of integrated features, including these tools:

Guitar Rig 3 LE

Roland V-Vocal 1.5 voice modeler

TruePianos Amber

VX-64 Vocal Strip multi-effects processor

PX-64 Percussion Strip

VC-64 Vintage Channel dynamic processor

Boost 11 peak limiter

LP-64 EQ Linear equalizer

Transient Shaper- LP-64 Multiband- Roland TTS-1

Dreamstation DXi analog modeler

TL-64 Tube Leveler

Rapture LE- Z3TA+- Sonitus

DropZone Sampler

and many other software tools too

Sonar 8 is clearly going to provide you with a wide range of software, tools, effects for all your mixing and mastering requirements. That’s not to say that Pro Tools or Cubase aren’t good choices either. Both of those packages also come with a bundled set of programs for your home studio recording needs as well. Any of them will enable you to create professional sounding recordings at home.

The best idea is to try a good quality DAW, and after using it for a while then you can decide if your recording projects warrant getting more specialized software for any specific jobs, like getting some dedicated reverb or mastering programs.

Buying software online has never been easier with such as wide variety of retailers all competing for your business. However, choosing a reliable and trustworthy retailer becomes much more difficult when you have to separate the signal from the noise. In an effort to ensure that consumers are better equipped for buying certain types of software we have provided a step-by-step guide for buying audio software tools, video software tools and backup software tools.

When it comes to choosing which specific retailer to buy from, try to do some research on the company to uncover if everything appears to be above-board. The company should have a telephone number in the instance where you have problems with your orders, and they should also have an acceptable policy for handling faulty products. You should try to find out what other people are saying about them on the web. If you can find nothing but good reviews, then the chances are that everything should be fine.

Audio Tools: When you are going to be buying audio software tools, then the first thing to consider is compatibility. You need to ensure that any audio tools that you purchase are able to work on your operating system, and also be able to handle the kind of files that you will be using to output your audio files and also input your audio files. When it comes to audio another consideration, like with anything, is cost. It is important to ensure that you get the best deal so always remember to look around before splashing out. You may also find that many of the tools that you are willing to pay for are already available for free if you are prepared to look around and browse the web until you find them.

Video Tools:When it comes to buying video tools, compatibility is a very important aspect that everyone should be prepared to consider. You should always remember that when it comes to software tools for video you have to be prepared to consider more than just compatibility with your operating system. This means that you have to ensure that the software is able to handle the form in which you will be inputting your files, and also the form in which you wish to output your files. In order to ensure you have no problems where this is concerned, the best thing to do is send off an email to the retailer if you are not sure.

Backup Tools: Backup tools are something which few people take the time to invest in. The reasons for this change a lot from person to person. Some people say they cannot afford it, while other people do not believe that they losing data is something that is going to happen to them. However, little do they know that over 30% of computers suffer data loss at one time or another. This means that the chances are that it is going to happen to you at one point in your life. Look to buy backup tools that are stored in a different location from where your data is currently.

Pro tools offers users a variety of recording options. Learn about the basic features of Pro Tools in this free music recording software video from a professional musician. Expert: Eric Oliver Contact: www.uprightbasementmusic.com Bio: Eric Oliver is a producer/engineer who has been working with local and regional acts out of Boston for the past eight years. He has worked with all types of musicians, ranging from reggae to jazz. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

Pro Tools users can change the tempo of a song using the tempo bar. Learn how to adjust the tempo of an audio track with Pro Tools in this free music recording software video from a professional musician. Expert: Eric Oliver Contact: www.uprightbasementmusic.com Bio: Eric Oliver is a producer/engineer who has been working with local and regional acts out of Boston for the past eight years. He has worked with all types of musicians, ranging from reggae to jazz. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso…

When importing files into Pro Tools, users can adjust the bit rate and file type. Learn how to import a music file with Pro Tools in this free music recording software video from a professional musician. Expert: Eric Oliver Contact: www.uprightbasementmusic.com Bio: Eric Oliver is a producer/engineer who has been working with local and regional acts out of Boston for the past eight years. He has worked with all types of musicians, ranging from reggae to jazz. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso…

The grid in Pro Tools can divide a song into milliseconds. Learn how to customize an editing setup with Pro Tools in this free music recording software video from a professional musician. Expert: Eric Oliver Contact: www.uprightbasementmusic.com Bio: Eric Oliver is a producer/engineer who has been working with local and regional acts out of Boston for the past eight years. He has worked with all types of musicians, ranging from reggae to jazz. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso…

Save time in Pro Tools with keyboard shortcuts. Learn about the keyboard shortcuts in Pro Tools in this free music recording software video from a professional musician. Expert: Eric Oliver Contact: www.uprightbasementmusic.com Bio: Eric Oliver is a producer/engineer who has been working with local and regional acts out of Boston for the past eight years. He has worked with all types of musicians, ranging from reggae to jazz. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

As a beat maker there are other tools you should consider to take you into that next level once you’ve chosen your sequencer (or Digital Audio Workstation). First, before I get any further, I would like to remind you that you’ll always hear others claim that a certain tool is better than the other. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s kind of like the Mac vs. PC discussion: it’s never ending! The same holds true for beats, whether it’s MPC vs. MV3000, Reason vs. FL Studio, or Cubase vs. Logic. There is no better; only best for you. Try not to get caught up into all of that, because in the end it all comes down to your ability as an artist to use your creativity to create something, while effectively utilizing the tools you have at your disposal. A good producer should be able to become a master of his or her own tools. A good way determine whether you’ll need to expand your production arsenal is by looking at what you already have and the style of music you intend on creating then figuring out what’s limiting you. This is the best way of gauging whether you should buy new gear because software and hardware is not cheap and investing in either or both of these things can mean a couple hundred or thousand of dollars spent. This free guide is about making beats on a tight-pocketed budget, so I’ll detail what I did and strictly outline some costs incurred as a result. When I did this evaluation myself early on, I realized that the most limiting factor was the variety of sounds I had which clued me into what I needed at the time, which was more sounds to work with.

Sounds:

In addition to containing nearly all the tools you’ll need to begin making beats, FL Studio also comes with some stock sounds to get your production game started. Bundled with FL Studio is some drum kits, bass tones, and several other sounds such as strings, synths, percussion, etc. While these sounds may help get you started, sooner you’ll find that they get used and re-used fast and you’ll need to load up on some newer sounds to stay creative.

Sampled Sounds:

Obtaining newer sounds can be done in several ways. A common technique is by sampling old records and has been popularized by producers such as Kanye West, Pete Rock, and the RZA. There are several techniques used when sampling music. While some people loop grooves and breaks, others choose to segment or “chop” components of the original loop to create something completely different than the original. A master of this technique is DJ Premier. By studying the sound of DJ Premier you’ll see that he barely just loops his samples and rather chops them up to the point where the original is barely recognizable. Key to sampling is having a good ear for what to sample. This is why record hunting or “crate digging” is a complex art on its own. Record collectors also known as crate diggers are constantly in search of records for a sound or a combination of unique sounds to create their beats. Whether it’s a horn stab, an ethnic instrument’s sound, or a drum break, as a hip hop producer, you should develop a keen sense of collecting, using, and transforming sounds. FL Studio has various tools to do exactly this. You can record sounds into FL Studio with either your own sound editor, or using the mixer in FL Studio. If you are a producer who plans on doing a lot of sampling, you may want to consider purchasing a turntable and mixer. And don’t forget to save some cash for the records you’ll be sampling from!

Sound Modules:

Sound modules are electronic instruments that contain a bank of sounds that rely on an external interface (such as a keyboard controller or a sequencer) to trigger its internal sounds. Usually this is accomplished through MIDI, a protocol typically used in electronic music. A whole book can be written about MIDI, its features, and advantages but since this guide is supposed to get you started rather than confuse you already, I’ll keep it brief. In a nutshell, MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface and is an industry standard communication protocol in electronic music. It is used for communication between interconnected electronic music devices through MIDI messages (no audio is transfered), sent from the sending device to the receiver. So in relation to sound modules, MIDI messages are sent from either the sequencer or a keyboard controller to trigger the sounds on the module. In essence, these MIDI messages can be sent in the form of musical notes, and typically dictate how they will be played by the sound module. An example of the properties MIDI messages can send are things like velocity, volume, timings, etc. Sound modules, in rack form, are a good option because they are usually cheaper than buying the keyboard version which essentially contains the same sounds such as drum kits, bass, and other instruments. For example, The Yamaha Motif ES sound module is several hundreds of dollars cheaper than it’s keyboard counterpart, but lacks some features the keyboard version may offer, notably the keys, sliders and knobs, and smaller display. While sound modules can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, there is yet another solution for us trying to stick to a tight budget, and that’s where the world of VSTs come in handy. Now if you’re thinking, “Damn, another term I’ve got to remember” but you’ll be glad to know this one. VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology and is basically software replacements for real hardware instruments. Many instrument companies who have traditionally made hardware instruments are now putting them out in software form as VST plug-ins. These VST plug-ins can then be loaded as a channel into FL Studio and played as if it were a hardware device connected via MIDI cable. E-MU, who originally came out with the Proteus 2000 hardware sound module, no longer produce it and have now come out with the Proteus X which sells for about $150. The Proteus X features the same Composer sound bank as the original Proteus 2000 created in 1999. Additional sound banks can be purchased through E-MU’s website such as the Mo’Phatt and Planet Earth for only $50 which were both popular hardware sound modules.

Sound Libraries and Sample CDs:

Last, but certainly not least, another potential source for new sounds are from Sound Library CDs. Sound Libraries are usually a bunch of sampled sounds, such as drum kits, bass tones, percussion, stabs, or sound effects collected and compiled by the vendor, usually in .wav or .aif format. These vary widely in prices and can be anywhere from $10 to several hundred dollars, depending on the quality and how extensive the sound library is. While I haven’t purchased any sound libraries on CD before, I have heard people who rely a great deal on them and have no doubt that they come in handy. A very intriguing sample CD is one called “All the Breaks” which contains 300 drum breaks all in one CD for your sampling or chopping pleasure. With the wealth of all these news sounds at your disposal you may find you need a more efficient way of auditioning them and playing them. This is where having a MIDI controller may come in handy.

In the studio, there;s a lot of different software which may be in use. They all have slightly different capabilities and there is more than one way to get that perfect sound. If you are up on these different programs and what they can offer to the producer, you will have an easier time deciding which to use to get that “just right” sound for your recordings. Read on for a brief rundown on some of the most popular options:

1) MIDI – Standing for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, this is an older technology and as such has some limitations when it comes to editing in stereo. There are however a lot of prebuilt MIDI patches available and MIDI offers a broad palette which should not be dismissed out of hand because of its age; indeed, MIDI is still in use in just about every studio.

2) Adobe Audition – This is a very easy to use software package which can provide even the home user with professional sounding mixing and mastering capabilities; again, it has some limitations, but its ease of use and its versatility make it a favorite of many.

3) Band in a Box – This is a piece of software for Mac systems that is ideal for smaller scale recordings and is designed largely for the novice. This software can help you build arrangements and as such is used by some as a sort of sketch pad for recordings. This by no means implies that you cannot use Band in a Box to make your recordings, however.

4) Cakewalk – At one time available only for Mac, this is now an option for Windows based systems as well. This is a MIDI based program which also offers some mixing and mastering capabilities.

5) Fruity Loops – This is more effective as a tool for creating and mixing loops than as a recording suite per se, although it can be used for both. A favorite of DJs and minimalists.

6) Vegas – Like Adobe Audition, Vegas is a multitracking solution which can also provide mixing and mastering capabilities. Individual tracks can be EQ’d just as in Adobe Audition.

7) Cubase – A larger and more complex program, Cubase offers a lot of versatility to the user. Unlimited numbers of patches (called VSTs) may be used on a single track for a full sound. Cubase also has a host of plugins and add-ons available for it which expand its capabilities. A great piece of software with a little bit of a learning curve.

Studio Vision – A higher end option for Mac systems, Studio Vision offers a lot of control over your tracks and is a top choice of professionals who use Mac systems in the studio.

9) Reason – Somewhat similar to fruity Loops, this is another suite which has found a large audience among DJs, hip hop producers and others who work with loops and rhythms. It can do more than this, but looping is its specialty.

10) Pro Tools – This is the industry standard software and one of the best known tools in the recording field. There are a lot of options for the use of VSTs and complete control over tracks. ProTools takes some learning to get the most out of, but its versatility makes it well worth the effort.

Each of these software options has different capabilities for producers and some programs will work well for some while not suiting the needs of others. If you know about all of these programs, you will be able to choose and effectively use their capabilities for your recordings.