Music is supposed to be fun. But there’s no denying that learning an instrument can take a long time. So, what can you do to enhance and enjoy the process more? A great option for young students is online music games. Online music games can impart music theory knowledge and concepts – like rhythms, intervals,…
From video game music to EDM to dub to prog rock, glitchy sound effects can end up working in a variety of genres and musical situations. How are these effects achieved? Oftentimes, in the past, they were created by using effects and processing gear in unintended ways or by pushing settings to extreme. But nowadays,…
What do you do when you want to add some movement to your tracks? Naturally, there are many ways of going about solving this problem, but modulation is generally a go-to for adding sonic interest to your projects. Phaser is a popular effect for guitars, synths, and more, as it can add character, texture, and…
Often found in classical and traditional music, the harp is a delicate and gentle instrument. It’s great for quieter, subtler, emotional melodies, and even accompaniment. You can, of course, take it to the other extreme. If utilized correctly, harps can also be great for unsettling, mysterious, and dark music as well. If you plan to…
Generally, you need to pay for the best plugins. But the cost can add up fast, especially if you’re planning to purchase all the essentials like EQ, reverb, compression, and more. The good news is that cheap VST plugins aren’t too hard to find. And while they can’t necessarily compete with higher priced plugins, they…
Bass guitar plays a key role in any mix. The challenge is usually getting it to sit just right in the mix, a problem that begins with the exact equipment and mic positions used to record it in the first place. Bass amp VST plugins can streamline your workflow considerably. In addition to providing a…
The cello is an absolute must-have in orchestral settings, a delight in ambient soundscapes, an emotional counterpart in acoustic singer-songwriter tunes, a dissonant distraction in horror / thriller projects, and much more. With its four-octave plus range, the cello is the musical bridge between the viola and bass, and that makes it versatile for melodies,…
Whether for live performance, recording in the studio, or even live streaming, microphone selection is critical to capturing and delivering audio material. There are three basic types of microphones available, some with subsets, but without knowing how each of them work and how they differ, you could be left scratching your head wondering which products…
Coming up with lyrics is hard. If you’re feeling inspired, and in flow, then a song can come together quite quicky. The problem is that these moments only seem to come around every now and again, and if you don’t capture them in the moment, you could easily lose out on some great ideas. But…
So, you’ve built up a bit of a Spotify following. You’ve got a bunch of followers, and your fans are listening to your music. But now you want to be able to tap into some of that data. It makes sense. After all, this data is incredibly useful to have at the ready for your…
“Don’t have the money to record your next album? Just get a grant!” Famous last words. Most musicians, when they realize the amount work and specificity an application requires, end up balking at the enormity of the task. There’s no doubt that grants take work, but they can be well worth it, whether it’s for…
The harmonica, recorder, and melodica are among the most popular instruments to learn in school, especially in early grades. Students may branch out into orchestral instruments as well as the drums, guitar, and bass, depending on the courses they take on, but it’s fair to say there’s an upper limit to the types of music…
Do singers make a lot of money? Well, if you’re in the top echelon of artists, then the answer is unquestionably “yes!” Some of the richest singers diversify their income streams by starting business ventures, getting into real estate, or by becoming art collectors, but it’s safe to say their first million was earned the…
One of the most important parts of any beat is the foundation, namely, the drum samples. Getting this part right ensures that all other elements you add sit nicely in the mix, while giving your bass frequencies the punch and power modern genres require. Here we’ll be looking at the best free drum kits. Most…
With complex wiring schemes, plenty of tweakable parameters, and a near limitless palette of unreal, warm analog musical sounds and noise, modular synthesis is in vogue again. Most things analog translates well to digital, so it’s no wonder that someone thought to introduce the world of modular synthesis to digital recording. While digital modular synthesis…