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Now that we
have our instrumental, you could say that we
have a multi-track recording. We have
several different instruments all playing
their musical part over their own channel on
the mixing board. By putting one instrument
louder than the other, you create a mix. By
adding effects like delay and reverb to the
mixing board, you're ready to make a
Dub.
In short,
that is.
To create
the instrumental track we've programmed in
the last chapter, I have been using Reason
3.04. Now, in September 2014, this is a
rather dated version of the superb software
by Propellerhead. Add to that, there is
software called Ableton which I have started
to look at in this year as well but about
which I know close to nothing. Add to that
the countless other titles in music
software, and the -often totally irrelevant-
question which software to use, and you have
a problem when you're writing how to create
Dub with computers.
The
software.
Let me
describe just what I'll be using Reason 3.04
for in the next chapters, in more general
terms. This will not just enable you to go
along in this tutorial as you make a set up
in your favorite software title, it will
enable you to obtain the right software in
case you are wondering just what to use.
Since the version of Reason I use is not the
latest, I suspect that there are a lot of
titles that will give you the features
required for this tutorial. Probably even
free titles. When you know of a few, let
me know and I'll add them to this
tutorial somewhere.
In short,
what you need is a title that enables you to
simulate everything you would do when you
would have a physical studio with hardware.
You want to have a mixing board with
instruments and effects devices attached, at
least four aux-outputs, and you want to be
able to change any setting on any device at
anytime. This is called
"automation".
Here's a
check-list:
- A master
mixing board with at least 16 (audio
enabled) channels and four aux-outputs,
preferable more. Returns are irrelevant
as you will discover later on.
- Ability
for ASIO
Drivers.
- Ability
to make sub-mixes (i.e. mixing trombone,
sax and trumpet into one channel input
at the master mixing board)
- Ability
to read midi notes and play them through
a (software) drum computer, (soft)
sampler and (soft) synth and/or: ability
to trigger/play loops, while the audio
is processed in real time through the
mixing boards and effect devices.
- Ability
to connect instruments and effects in
user-defined ways rather than just
factory settings (i.e. routing effects
back to returns)
- Ability
to fully set, control and change any
effect setting at any time.
- At least
the availability of the following
(standard) effects: Reverb, Delay,
Flanger, Phaser, Filter, EQ
(Equalization).
Since I'll
be using Reason 3.04, users of the Swedish
software title will have a benefit with the
use of this tutorial. Unintended, but
unavoidable. The major disadvantage is the
fact that I will -in the following chapters
at least- make use of the standard effects
that came with Reason. Using VST effects
instead of Reason's standard effects will
give you a major advantage, but for now we
stick with some principals for making Dub
rather than to look for the right
plug-in.
A very
important thing, already mentioned, is the
fact that you need to have ASIO Drivers
installed on your computer. Drivers are
little pieces of software that tells your
computer's sound device how to sound after
you change a button in your DAW. You want to
hear instantly what you're doing, just like
you would when you would be working with
physical hardware. Literally instant is
impossible with computers, at least in this
September 2014, so you will always have a
little delay. This is called
"latency".
When you
use DX drivers or MME, the latency is not
just noticeable: it's simply unworkable.
Unless you want to program each and every
move, you will need to have ASIO drivers.
This is -like VST- a standard in audio
software created by the German based company
Steinberg. Most professional audio sound
cards will ship with ASIO drivers, but that
leaves those people in the cold that just
have their computer's sound card. When that
is you, you will need to go to ASIO4ALL and
download drivers that will work with any
sound device. Mind you, ASIO4ALL completely
overtakes the sound card and you will not be
able to play sounds other than the ones in
your DAW. But then, you don't want that
either when you're busy creating your mix.
More info
in the following video:
Windows,
Apple or Linux? 2 Gigabyte RAM, or 4, or 1?
Two processors, or one? Well, one general
rule: the more, the better. At least, 4
gigabytes for your 32 Bit software title or
at least 8 gigabytes RAM for you 64 bit
computer. Since most software (still) runs
perfectly on 23 bit for the purpose of
making Dub, 4 Gigabytes of RAM works the
best. I know nothing about Linux and Apple,
but when you use these operating systems
chances are big you know how to
"translate" my windows based
writing to your computer's operating system.
And again, please let
me know which software you use and
especially: when you're NOT using Reason and
I get too "Reason-specific" I
would like to know that as well so that I
can re-phrase things. All I want to do is
share with you how to make Dub with
computers and I am not paid by anyone to do
so.
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