AETHERPHON, global theremin family

Music production breaks down into four functions, assuming you're ready 
to perform:

1) Performance capture.  For bands, it means recording all of the parts 
individually, even if they do it all at the same time.  For an 
individual musician, it's the modern equivalent of what we used to call 
"multitracking".  The leading software packages for this, called digital 
audio workstation (DAW) software, on the high end, are Cakewalk Sonar 
(which I use) and Steinberg Cubase.  Mac users also have the option of 
Apple eMagic Logic.  There are some other interesting, less expensive 
titles, such as Ableton Live, FL Studio, Apple Garageband, Cakewalk Home 
Studio, and so forth.  These generally combine MIDI sequencing and 
digital multitrack recording (since they came out of broadly servicing 
electronic musicians) into an integrated package.

Using these is just like any audio recorder, just more of it. :-)

2) Mixing.  Usually also done with the same packages, and here is where 
you add your effects.  There are so many free effects modules for 
download from the Internet, there's almost no reason to buy one unless 
you're doing high-end production and you just can't find what you want. 
  Many DAWs come stuffed with free plugins, and good free downloads are 
easy to find, such as the Kjaerhus Classic plugins (which I use).

There's a bit more art involved in mixing, because you're mixing 
technical knowledge with musical intuition.  Here are some articles on 
mixing I could find.

http://www.canadianmusicartists.com/tutorials.html (especially the first 
link)
http://zmatek.jinak.cz/diy/_upload_by_VeeHell/know2how/Audio_Tutorials_Library_By_LooPus/doing_it/recording_mixing/How%20to%20Mix%20a%20Pop%20Song%20From%20Scratch.htm 
(this one is quite long and quite technical)

3) Mastering.  This is far and away the hardest step, but it is what 
will define the difference, performances being equal, between something 
that sounds like a commercial production and something that came out of 
someone's garage.  You can use a low-end audio editor, such as Adobe 
Audition, for this, which also permits the use of plugins, but the high 
end here is very very very high.  Pro Tools is the price midrange of a 
market segment almost with no upper end in sight.  Here are a couple of 
articles on it, but dig more, because the truth is out there. 
Unfortunately, about 2/3rds of the hits back from Google on "mastering 
an album" will net you lots of people who are selling this service, 
perpetuating the myth that it is something only professionals can do.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/368342/tips_on_mastering_an_album.html
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan06/articles/logicnotes.htm

4) Burning.  This actually isn't all that difficult anymore, since most 
CD/DVD burning packages do music quite nicely.  I use Nero 7 Ultimate, 
which is about $80.


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DAVID VESEL -- synthetic music for humans
http://davidv.purplenote.com davidv@...
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Spellbound, a brief program of music for theremin
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John Hoge wrote:
> Hey Aetherphonics,
> 
> Does anyone know of an on-line guide or tutorial to making compact disks of
> your own music?
> I'm particularly curious about techniques for consistent levels, etc.  But
> could use more info on the entire process from recording to production and
> shipping.
> 
> Thanks everyone, I'd appreciate any recourses or advice you may have.
> 
> sincerely,
> John Hoge, NYC
> www.hoge-theremin.com
> 
> 
> 
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