Music in a Box (page 2)
Putting the Droids to Work
You know your computer is a powerful tool for crafting video, but have you ever considered using it for music creation? With today's software, it's faster and easier than ever. There are three basic categories: multi-track recorders, sequencers and loop-based programs. Multi-track recorders use a timeline, but instead of video, you record or place audio files in individual tracks. They are the computer age equivalent of the traditional multi-track studio and require as much talent, although the digital assistants certainly help. Sequencers evolved from MIDI keyboards and drum machines and create music programmatically, although you'll have to enter the notes. Once all the elements are in place, a mixer section allows you to blend and shape the sounds just like a professional studio. Cakewalk's Sonar is a popular audio sequencer and multi-track recorder in the Wintel world. With features that could make an old-school audio engineer cry (with joy), digital audio sequencing is a persuasive reason to create your own music.
Loop-based music tools make up a different, but overlapping, category. Following the lead from Sony's ACID, these programs use small, repeating loops of pre-recorded musical content, often just one instrument line or sound. You can then mix these loops together on a timeline and create a virtual band. There are mountains of loop CDs and libraries available, in nearly every conceivable musical style, from a variety of manufacturers. Loop-based music is ideal for those without the musical skills necessary to perform their own tunes. Plus, loop-based song creation is fun.
Alien Invasion
A few innovative software products just don't fit these categories. For instance, SmartSound's Quicktracks includes several pre-recorded songs (like a buyout library), but you get to decide the length of the piece and choose from several variations with different parts (like a loop-based software tool). Pretty cool. Another alien is PG Music's Band-In-A-Box that automatically generates MIDI music based on your selection of style and chord progression. Simply type in the chords (like Bm, Gsus, Ab), pick a musical style (from several hundred options) and hit the play button. Once you have an arrangement you like, you can output the final mix as an audio file and drop it into your video project. Other examples include the many companies that make audio plugins to enhance your existing music creation software. For instance, Propellerhead Software's Recycle is a loop-based workstation that plugs into audio programs from most of the major manufacturers. Many other plug-in options are just a click away. Just use the included software manufacturer's list to get started.
Contributing Editor Hal Robertson is a 25-year production veteran and owns a media consulting firm.
Sidebar: CD Music and Sound Effects Libraries Manufacturers' Listing
2b Royalty Free
www.2b-royaltyfree.com
615 Music Library
www.615musiclibrary.com
Accent Music Productions
www.accentmusiccds.com
AirCraft Production Music Library
www.mediacraftmusic.com
Associated Production Music
www.apmmusic.coma
British Audio Designs
www.britishaudio.com
The Canary Collection
www.canarymusic.com
Catovah Arts
www.catovah.com
Contempo Music
www.contempomusic.com
Crank City Music
www.crankcity.com
CSS/DAWN Music
www.cssmusic.com
Davenport Music Library
www.davenportmusic.com
DeWolfe Music
www.dewolfemusic.com
Digital Juice
www.digitaljuice.com
Elite Video
www.elitevideo.com
FirstCom Music
www.firstcom.com
Flying Hands Music
www.flyinghands.com
Freeplay Music
www.freeplaymusic.com
Fresh Music Library
www.freshmusic.com
Gene Michael Productions
www.gmpmusic.com
Geoffrey Wilson Buyout Music
www.gwilsonbuyoutmusic.com
Ghostwriters Radio Mall
www.radio-mall.com
Hollywood Edge
www.hollywoodedge.com
Instant Access Music
www.iamusic.com
JRT Music
www.jrtmusic.com
Killer Tracks
www.killertracks.com
Lazertrax Production Music
www.lazertrax.com
LicenseMusic.com
www.licensemusic.com
Manchester Music Library
www.manchestermusic.com
Manhattan Production Music
www.mpmmusic.com
Media-Tracks
www.media-tracks.com
Megatrax
www.megatrax.com
Mokal Music
www.mokalmusic.com
Music 2 Hues
www.music2hues.com
The Music Bakery
www.musicbakery.com
Music Leads
www.buyoutmusictracks.com
Narrator Tracks
www.narratortracks.com
Neo Sounds
www.neosounds.com
Network Music
www.networkmusic.com
Nightingale Music Productions
www.nightingalemusic.com
Non-Stop Productions
www.nonstopmusic.com
OGM Production Music
www.ogmmusic.com
Omnimusic
www.omnimusic.com
Partners in Rhyme
www.partnersinrhyme.com
PowerHouse Music Library
www.powerhousemusic.com
Production Garden Music
www.productiongarden.com
Pro Background Theme Music
www.pbtm.com
River City Sound Productions
www.rivercitysound.com
Signature Music Library
www.sigmusic.com
Sonomic
www.sonomic.com
Sound Dogs
www.sounddogs.com
SoundEffects.com
www.soundeffects.com
Sound Ideas
www.sound-ideas.com
Studio Cutz
www.studiocutz.com
Token Media
www.token.com
TRF Production Music Libraries
www.trfmusic.com
UniqueTracks Royalty Free Music
www.uniquetracks.com
Valentino Production Music
www.tvmusic.com
Wicked WAVs
www.wickedwavs.com
Yoan Studio
www.yoanstudio.com
Sidebar: Music Creation Software Manufacturers' Listing
Compiled by Charles Fulton
Apple
www.apple.com
Arturia
www.arturia.com
Bitheadz
www.bitheadz.com
Cakewalk
www.cakewalk.com
FL Studio
www.flstudio.com
Magix
www.magix.com
PG Music
www.pgmusic.com
Pinnacle Systems
www.pinnacle.com
SmartSound
www.smartsound.com
Sony Pictures Digital
mediasoftware.sonypictures.com
U & I Software
www.uisoftware.com
Voyetra
www.voyetra.com
Bryan
