Music Production & Recording Software at Guitar Center
The digital revolution in recent years has brought much of the recording power and capacity formerly available only to high-end professional studios within reach of even the most modest home studio. With the increasing proliferation of software companies providing a multitude of programs, plug-ins and apps, the choices can be daunting, but this also means there is certainly a recording set-up that will perfectly match your needs, abilities and budget.
There are a quite a few factors to consider when choosing your recording software. First, check the program’s computer hardware and system requirements. Is your processor up to the task? Do you have enough memory in your rig? You’ll also want to find out what the interface requirements are - for instance, until recently, Pro Tools required the use of Avid’s proprietary hardware to physically connect your guitar, mic or other instrument to your computer. With the latest version, however, you are free to use a host of compatible interfaces available from third-party manufacturers. You might also want to think about the software’s compatibility with other programs, if, for instance, you will be recording some tracks in a pro studio, and overdubbing the rest at home. If you are buying a basic version of the software, what kind of plug-ins and upgrades are available? How about ease of use? Read some reviews to see what other users report about the learning curve required to be able to record and mix a tune. And then, of course, there is price - it may be better to pay more now for a more full-featured program that you can grow with, or maybe you just need a simple program to quickly record some demos for the band - you’ll have to balance your needs and your budget.
Looking at some of the more popular recording software platforms available, Avid’s Pro Tools is undoubtedly the best-selling music and audio production platform, used in homes, pro studios, and for film and video production around the world. You can buy an entry-level set-up, and take your files to most major studios for mixing or mastering, and there’s a wide variety of additional plug-ins and sound libraries available to add to your arsenal as your needs evolve. Ableton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer favored by DJs for live performance, and by producers as a tool for arranging and composing. Apple’s Logic Studio is a comprehensive suite of music and audio tools for studio, stage and creating soundtracks for film and video. Steinberg’s Cubase is also a very popular and full-featured program for music recording, arranging and editing. Propellerhead’s Record gives you a solid recording platform, and Reason adds a virtual studio rack filled with synths, sampler and effects. There are many more programs to research - Cakewalk’s SONAR, MOTU’s Digital Performer, Melodyne by Celemony, and the list goes on. Each platform has its strengths and charms, so figure out what’s most important to you, make your choice, and start making sonic history!
