MAST recording tips

Recording Guide

This recording guide details the method that I used to record the album Convolution. If you are a newcomer to computer based recording and you are using entry level equipment, similar to that in My Studio, you may find this information useful.

Step 1

With the gear connected as in the illustration on My Studio page, I create a MIDI sequence in Logic. The sequenced MIDI instruments are then recorded as an audio track in Logic. This forms a guide track for monitoring whilst laying down additional audio tracks from live sources.

Step 2

Once I am certain of the song's tempo, I might add some parts from the soft synth. I record patterns from the soft synth's internal sequencer as .wav files and drop them onto audio tracks in the sequencer. It is possible to run the softsynth within the sequencer using a virtual MIDI cable but I haven't tried this.

Step 3

With a guide track in place I can add vocals and any other live instruments whilst monitoring everything through the control room outputs. Everything gets recorded through the mixer but, as you can see, its function is more like an expensive patch bay.

Step 4

To get a finished mix, I mute the guide audio track of MIDI instruments and re-record the sequenced MIDI instruments individually or in groups by selectively muting different MIDI tracks on the sequencer. This enables me to use different EQ settings and other effects on individual sounds.

Step 5

With all audio tracks in place, effects and levels properly set, I bounce them all down to a single stereo pair within the sequencer. I prefer to use a spare stereo track within Logic for this rather than the "bounce" option on the master fader. The wave recording channel has to be enabled on the sound card's mixer panel and the level properly set. The resulting stereo .wav file is then either normalized or compressed using an off line processor. It is then ready to burn to CD.

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Sound Card Mixer Settings For MIDI Sequences

The sound card mixer panel, found in the system tray, is a useful utility offering flexible options for play back of MIDI sequences. Essentially it acts as a sub mixer enabling you to balance different sources. Note that this mixer panel operates independantly of any play back levels you may have set for individual chanels in your MIDI sequence. It can therefore be regarded as a simple group mixer. For the computer musician, there are three important channels:

Line Input - for external MIDI keyboards and sound modules.
Wave / Direct sound - for audio tracks or the output of soft synths
MIDI - for the internal sounds on your sound card

If you have created a MIDI sequence using a combination of external instruments and the internal ones on the sound card you can adjust the relevant fader to get a good balance between these two sources. I always find that the internal sounds on the sound card are not as loud as the external ones. Therefore, I set the line input playback channel on the soundcard mixer panel a bit lower.

There are two views of the sound card mixer panel: one for recording and one for playback. If you are recording from external instruments or a hardware mixer you need to un-mute the line input recording channel and ensure that it is set to an appropriate level. If you are recording from the internal MIDI instruments on your sound card, you need to set the MIDI recording channel. If you are bouncing audio tracks as described in step 5 above you have to set the wave/direct sound recording channel.