Recording Digital Audio using your Computer

Thomas Rudolph, Ed. D.

Director of MusicSchool District of Haverford Township

1801 Darby Road Havertown, PA 19083

(610) 853-5900 extension 5452

email: terudolph@aol.comwww.geocities.com/terudolph/time

Sponsored by SoundTree 800-963-8733

Recording Digital AudioChoose 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….

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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)

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.

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

Where to get help

Contact SoundTree - for hardware/software and support 800-963-8733

Book - Recording in the Digital World by Rudolph/Leonard