UreMusic Education

Recording a baby grand piano requires careful microphone placement. Recording a baby grand piano presents challenges due to the large area of space the instrument occupies and the range of frequencies from 26 hertz to well over 20,000 hertz. The proper microphone and setup must be used to capture these delicate frequencies in an accurate and appropriate way. With a baby grand piano, close-miking is not recommended due to the drier sound of the instrument. For this reason, using an ambient miking technique will provide you with the best recording. Step 1 Attach the five microphones to the microphone stands. Adjust the microphone stands so that each stand holds an equal height of 6 feet. Step 2 Open the lid of the piano to its highest position. This will help improve the sonorous quality of the sound. Step 3 Place one microphone 5 feet from the center of the piano and facing the back of the performer. Position the microphone slightly to the right of the players back to avoid recording th...

Recording a bluegrass band requires knowing where and how to place all of the microphones to get the best sound. Each instrument in the ensemble has slightly different acoustic properties and will need a different mic position. Finding the ideal position requires knowledge of how each instrument works and the best place to direct the mic to get the ideal bluegrass band sound. Simply setting up one or two mics does not provide you with the sound that you need and prevents you from individually adjusting the instruments' volume levels. Step 1 Place two cardoid mics on separate stands facing toward the mandolin. The microphones should be about 6 inches apart from each other. Ensure that the top mic faces the top F-hole of the mandolin and the bottom faces the bottom F-hole. Step 2 Position a single cardoid microphone about 10 inches away from the fiddle. Direct the mic toward the middle of the bridge, directly where the bow and string connect. This will capture the sound emanating fro...

Finding the metadata information is easy on most computers. Metadata is the information that helps to identify a song and categorize it based on several variables. Some of the most common metadata fields are genre, title name, track number, artist and album information. This information is embedded into commercial audio files and allows for songs to be organized in a digital media player. By using your preferred media player. Open the media file that you wish to locate metadata information for in your favorite media player. Locate the music library within your media player. The music library houses all of your music files. If the MP3 is not located in your music library drag it into your program to copy it to your music player. Click on the MP3 file that you would like to identify. In iTunes and Windows Media player there is a "Get Info" or similar option. Select this option and you will be able to see and edit all of the metadata information. Tips Most audio programs like iT...

Tempo is a basic element of music that requires human interpretation. Audacity does not have the capability of extracting a tempo through any of its menu options. Some basic math skills are required to be able to determine the tempo of a song. However, with a little bit of work, you can easily find the tempo of any song by using Audacity to help the process along. Computers, despite all of their advances, still are not able to automatically determine the tempo of a song. Humans are needed to ascertain this abstract concept. Start Audacity and drag the song file into the program. This will open the file and allow you to view the wave file in the preview pane. Start playing the song with Audacity and tap your foot to the beat. You can usually identify the beat by listening to the rhythm part. The beat must be an equally spaced tempo that can easily be identified. When you dance, you are usually dancing to the beat. Listen to the entire piece to see if the tempo slows down or speeds up. S...

Music production requires expert knowledge of electronic music. Professional recording companies edit, manipulate, reassemble and restore audio require music production tools. The basic tools required of any music producer can be expensive to acquire. Many of the programs cost between $500 to $1500 dollars at the time of publication. Samplers can be even more expensive and cost thousands of dollars. Any music production company that wants to create high-quality content must invest in these tools to be successful. Computers Music producers must have a computer to coordinate all of their samplers and audio programs used in editing. There is a big debate over whether a Macintosh or Windows PC is the best option for music production. Most universities use Macintosh computers, including The University of Washington, University of Arizona and Michigan State University. The decision to choose one platform over the other is largely the preference of the individual. If you are used to using a W...

Piano miking is a complex and sophisticated process. A piano is one of the most complex instruments to mic successfully. Sound come from several parts of the piano, making it very difficult to get the correct mic setup. Room dimensions and resonance play a large role when deciding how to set up the mics. Because of the complexity involved in miking pianos, many performers choose to play a digital piano with live sampled sounds for recordings. Close Miking A technique sometimes used is to mic the individual components of the piano at a short distance. This includes placing a mic inside the piano near the strings, on the damper pedals and on the soundboard inside the piano. This technique produces a poor quality sound due to the overemphasis of the individual components of the piano. However, it is useful for creating samples of the piano for use in software samplers. Dual Cardioid Miking Cardioid mics are highly effective in capturing a narrow range of sound. By placing sets of two card...

Synth keyboards connect to your computer through a MIDI interface. Recording a synth piano requires you to attach a MIDI cable to your keyboard and your soundcard, which is directed to your computer. Once the connection has been made, you only need to open your audio editing application of choice and press "Record." There are free and commercial audio editing programs available for both Macintosh and Windows systems. Choose the one that fits your needs and start recording your piano synth in real time. Audacity, Sonar and Peak Pro 6 are all audio editing applications that make it possible to record a synth piano. Attach one end of the MIDI cable to one of the MIDI inputs on the back of your soundcard and the other end to the back of your synth piano. The soundcard should already be connected to your computer through USB or Firewire. Open your audio editing application. Create a new track by selecting "File" and then select "New" from the drop-down menu. Se...

Improve your listening experience by choosing pro audio equipment. There comes a point in the life of a serious music enthusiast that they begin to look for alternatives to commercial grade audio cards. The good news is that there are several alternatives to the more well-known Soundblaster devices. The alternatives are expensive but well worth it if you are running a digital audio studio, recording audio on the go or just want to increase the fidelity of your sound. Echo Digital Audio Corporation Echo Digital Audio Corporation produces high-end professional audio products. It was among the first corporations to begin designing professional audio products in the 1980s. As a pioneer in the field, it has extensive experience and product support. The hardware is manufactured is high-end pro-audio equipment that has been used not just in music, but in scientific field experiments. Lynx Studio Technology Lynx Studio Technology has been in business since 1998. Lynx has a reputation for its h...

Use a screen on a diaphragm mic to minimize static Starting a home-based studio requires five basic components to get started. Rather than purchasing a full arsenal of equipment, it is best to start with the basics and then add equipment as needed. You may find that you need a new microphone to get a warmer sound with a guitar in the future. Learn to use the fundamental equipment before adding new devices to your studio. Obtaining professional results is possible with basic equipment used in any competent studio. Computer A computer serves as the central part in your recording studio. Without a computer, you will not be able to process sounds, record audio or edit. When choosing a computer, you will want to consider the speed of the processor and the amount of RAM. Look for a computer that has options to upgrade to a large amount of RAM. RAM will determine the number of samples you can play at one time, and will directly affect the speed of your computer. Purchase the fastest processor...

Equalizers come in three basic varieties: the shelving filter equalizer, parametric equalizer and graphic equalizer. On a basic level, each equalizer filters out sound according to user input. Learning to adjust all of the knobs and levers requires a well-tuned ear and an understanding of how to achieve a flat frequency response. A flat response is simply a well-balanced response where each frequency comes through evenly. Set all of the frequency setting levers about three quarters of the way from the bottom. This will help ensure that you have a good overall middle range. Start with the lowest frequency setting on your equalizer; this will be around 60 Hertz. Start by setting this lever about half way down. Listen to the sound and decide if the bass frequency should be limited further. If you want less rumbling, lower the lever further. If you want more bass turn it up. Continue to the highest frequency. Set the highest frequency in the middle and then increase the lever higher to cre...

GarageBand provides a powerful introductory audio editing application to professionally record and edit music without needing to spend large amounts of money on an audio editor. GarageBand comes standard with all Macintosh operating systems and updates simply through a built-in application software update. As an integrated application, the updates for the program are free and require minimal fuss on the part of the end-user. For those who do not wish to use the automatic update system, it is also possible to visit the Apple website and download the appropriate update. Find the Apple icon at the top of your computer in the upper navigation bar. Click the icon and select “Software Update…” Allow “Software Update” to search for all available updates. Choose any available updates for GarageBand and select “Install.” You may have to enter an administrator username and password. Follow the instructions for installing the update and restart your computer if “Software Update” requires it. Tips...

Composers must have a background in basic music theory to write music. Modern composers have often left the piano and started using a computer to compose music. Like any new technology, there are advantages and disadvantages to using a computer to compose. The main disadvantage is that the composer can too easily place arbitrary notes in the score without intention. The advantage is that a composer with little instrumental experience can write music that might not otherwise be possible. However, with a competent composer, it is possible to use technology that both enriches and makes writing a less tedious chore. Select a notation program that fits your needs and your budget. The best programs on the market are Finale and Sibelius, both of which are used by publishing companies. If you are on a budget, there is a free alternative called MuseScore. All of these options are suitable for the composer that wishes to write advanced music. Learn to use the program by following the tutorials t...

Recording your guitar with GarageBand takes only a few moments. GarageBand by Apple makes it possible to quickly and easily record acoustic instruments and then manipulate and edit the resultant audio file. You will need to hook up a microphone to your computer in order to record from GarageBand. However, most Macintosh computers have a microphone built into the hardware. For this reason, recording with GarageBand consists of a simple process that will allow you to quickly begin to make and record your own music. Step 1 Open the GarageBand application by double-clicking on the icon in the Applications folder. Step 2 Select the guitar icon in the "New Project" window. Step 3 Create a new file by selecting "Create" when the dialog box appears. If you know the time signature of your piece, enter that in the time signature box. Step 4 Press the round "Record" button at the bottom of the screen and start playing into the microphone. The record button looks like...

The trumpet is capable of several effects, from flutter-tongue techniques to multiphonics. Replicating these effects in a recording requires special attention to the placement of the microphone and the recording environment. Some simple guidelines will help to increase your success recording trumpet effects. The distance between the mic and the trumpet, the type of microphone used and a microphone windscreen will help you produce a high-quality recording. Step 1 Attach a windscreen to the microphone and then attach the microphone to the stand. Step 2 Place the microphone stand about 12 to 16 inches from the bell of the trumpet. Step 3 Instruct the trumpet player to aim the bell slightly above and to one side of the microphone. Step 4 Hook the microphone into the microphone input on your computer. Most computers have an input for microphones and output for headphones. The mic input has an image that looks like a small microphone. Step 5 Start your audio recording program. If you don...

Using a digital audio editor such as Audacity, Sonar or Peak Pro, you can edit a song so that it gradually slows down at a constant rate. This is a useful audio editing technique that will make it possible for you to edit songs expertly and improve sections that are too fast rather than having to record an entire section again. Recording engineers often edit audio in this manner to improve the texture of a song. A song with a slower tempo makes it possible to hear the chords and chord changes more clearly and, in some cases, this is an ideal effect. Drag the audio file into the audio editing program. This imports the audio file and prepares it for editing. Place your cursor on the approximate moment in the audio file you would like to begin the slowdown. Click on the waveform in the audio file and drag to the point where you would like to stop the slowdown. You will select the exact seconds later. Select the "Effect" menu or equivalent option in your audio editing program. In...

Hanging microphones for a choir requires special techniques. Unlike an orchestra, where the sound is emitted in various directions, choirs project their sound in the same forward direction. This makes it somewhat easier to set up microphones for a choir, with some basic knowledge of where to place them. The choir needs to be covered accurately and completely for best results. Select the correct microphone for choir use. A cardioid condenser microphone is preferable since it is unidirectional and will provide a rich, warm sound. Determine the number of microphones you need. A general rule is that one microphone is needed for every 16 singers. Don't use more than necessary, since interference between the microphones can be a problem. Professional choirs usually require three microphones spaced about three times the distance between the sound source and the first mic. Attach the microphones to rafters or metal rods placed high above the singers, and adjust the height so that each micr...