Music in a Box (page 2)

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.

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.

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

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

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