Here are a few sound examples of the presets from the Free Polybius 8-Bit Game Pack for Z3TA+ 2. These are all inspired by classic video game titles.
1. Game Over 02
Continue reading “12 Reasons to Check Out the Polybius 8-Bit Game Pack (Z3TA+2)”
29 Shortcuts Music Creator 6 Touch Users Should Know
1. Record [R]
With a track record enabled, selecting [R] will begin recording.
2. Play/Stop [Spacebar]
This starts playback of your project. Selecting [Spacebar] again will stop playback.
Continue reading “29 Shortcuts Music Creator 6 Touch Users Should Know”
Melodyne's DNA: Subtract or Isolate Instruments From an Audio File
Melodyne Editor’s Direct Note Access (DNA) technology allows you to analyze polyphonic audio data and produce a visual representation of it. With this technology you can essentially drop in any polyphonic audio, even full fledged productions. This kind of technology could be used to remove vocals from a track, isolate instrumentation from mixes, or analyze the arrangement across a staff. Regardless of it’s use, the amount of time you could spend geeking out over your favorite top 40 hits is infinite. Here I will briefly show you how to isolate or subject parts of instruments from a mix.
To do this,
- In SONAR, right-click on your audio file and go to Region FX > Melodyne > Create Region FX.
- Make sure that you have Polyphonic Mode enabled.
- Let Melodyne analyze the audio file.
Once analyzed, Melodyne wil Continue reading “Melodyne's DNA: Subtract or Isolate Instruments From an Audio File”
Make Your Voice Sound Like Daft Punk with Melodyne Editor and SONAR X3 Producer
Certain effects have defined generations of music. The decade of the 80’s for example was a major era for reverb. In today’s pop music, the use of pitch correction software seems to be an effect that many artists and producers are utilizing creatively. Daft Punk has been using this effect for a number of years now, making them one of the first to bring this vocal style to the level of popularity it is today.
To create a Daft Punk inspired vocal effect Continue reading “Make Your Voice Sound Like Daft Punk with Melodyne Editor and SONAR X3 Producer”
SONAR X3 Quicktip – Hum a Melody and Convert it to MIDI with ARA
As a musician, inspiration can hit you on the train, during dinner, or even while you’re driving somewhere. 
Many musicians that I’ve worked with carry some sort of recorder around with them. I know sound designers who always have a device ready for taking samples, and guitarists that hum melodies to themselves when they feel they’ve come up with something original that they want to remember.
Given that we live in a very digitized world, it’s easy to hum and capture a melody, and then email it to yourself or import it later for inspection. SONAR X3’s ARA integration is a great tool for taking melodies and easily converting them to MIDI. Here’s a melody that I recorded off the top of my head by simply humming it to myself:
Continue reading “SONAR X3 Quicktip – Hum a Melody and Convert it to MIDI with ARA”
Is Your Project Ready For CD Manufacturing? A DIY Album Release Checklist
This post originally appeared on Disc Makers’ blog. Reprinted with permission.
– Before scheduling your album release, plan for the steps that lie between songwriting and disc manufacturing –
Releasing a CD is a big deal for any artist. This is your baby, your calling card, the result of a lot of hard work, and your best chance to earn revenue. You spend a lot of time writing, rehearsing, and recording — and that’s all just leading up to the CD manufacturing process.
Before you gather your materials to submit for CD manufacturing, there’s rehearsing, recording, audio mastering, designing your package — and all these processes can take longer than you might expect. Then there are the numerous music promotion and sales activities, and much of your PR may require your Continue reading “Is Your Project Ready For CD Manufacturing? A DIY Album Release Checklist”
Singing Tips – Don’t Tax Your Voice Before a Vocal Performance
This post originally appeared on Disc Makers’ blog. Reprinted with permission.
Resting before a vocal performance is key, but environmental things, like being in a place where the decibel level is too high, can adversely affect your capacity to sing.
What makes a great vocal performance? There are many answers to that, and they don’t all require being the most technically gifted singer with a five-octave range. Confidence, charisma, and the right repertoire are among the many subjective elements that go into any great performance – live or when recording vocals in a studio – in addition to having chops as a singer.
“‘Synthesis’ is this fancy word we throw around in our college,” says Daniel Ebbers, Associate Professor of Voice at the Conservatory of Music of the University of the Pacific, “and I do think it’s an important thing. We study all these things individually, but it’s the synthesis, a command of your vocal instrument, a command of the stage, a command of the language and the language you use – all these things synthesized together make a great vocal performance.”
Of course, much of what helps a performer reach the point where all these elements come together is preparation, practice, and experience. A good vocal warm up, and general vocal care, can help ensure peak vocal performance.
Continue reading “Singing Tips – Don’t Tax Your Voice Before a Vocal Performance”
FREE: Polybius Video Game Sound Pack for Z3TA+ 2
The Polybius video game expansion pack is a free set for Z3TA+ 2, inspired by all your favorite old-school video game titles. Includes video game themes, game over themes, boss themes, attack effects, blaster effects, and even some timeless sounds you are sure to recognize. The Polybius expansion pack proves the true power behind Z3TA+ 2’s synth engine and best of all, it’s totally FREE!
Polybius Video Game Sound Pack Info:
- 100 Free 8-bit Inspired Sounds
- Title Themes
- Game Over Themes
- Level Themes
- Blaster Effects
- Run, Jump, Attack Effects
- Classic Sound FX
- Additional MIDI Arpeggios
- Both Simple and Complex Presets
- Great for shaping your own sounds!
How to Download Polybius: If you already purchased Z3TA+ 2, you can download the free Polybius Sound Pack from your My Account page on the Cakewalk Store. If you have not yet created an account, you will need to use the same email address as your Z3TA+ 2 registration. Then proceed to the My Account section and under “My Registered Products” you will see the Free Polybius Expansion Pack for Z3TA+ 2.
If you buy Z3TA+ 2 through the Cakewalk Store then the free Polybius Sound Pack will be included with your Z3TA+ 2 download.
If you purchase Z3TA+ 2 on Steam the Polybius Sound Pack is Free DLC.
10 Reasons You Will Love The SONAR X Series
The SONAR X series was introduced to the world back in 2010. Since that time, we’ve continued to refine and improve SONAR. Customers upgrading from SONAR 8.5 and earlier are in for an amazing experience. Below we’ve put together the top ten reasons you will love the SONAR X series.
1. ProChannel
The ProChannel redefines the way you work with the Console View. Each audio track, instrument track, and bus comes with a complete modular strip of analog effects. Even the inspector allows the users to preview a selected track’s ProChannel strip right from the Track View. With the click of a button users can expand this analog mixing console and fully customize it by dragging around the modules, or loading up a ProChannel presets. Load up the Compressors, Tube Saturation, Reverb, Console Emulators, Tap Emulators, and the new QuadCurve EQ Zoom with Analyzer by simply right-clicking.
SONAR’s ProChannel lends itself to an immensely visual experience Continue reading “10 Reasons You Will Love The SONAR X Series”
DAW Best Practices: How To Choose The Right Audio Interface
The goal of this article is to help you shop for an audio interface. These concepts can get very deep, but for now I will keep to some of the more basic points about the subject. Here are 9 questions you should ask yourself when comparing audio interface options.
1. How many instruments do I need to record at the same time?
The first thing you should consider is the environment that you will be working in and how many instruments you need to record at once. Some people only need the ability to record 2 tracks at a time and others need a minimum of 8. This is the first and most crucial step to understanding your set-up. Continue reading “DAW Best Practices: How To Choose The Right Audio Interface”