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Career Development

The Creator's Toolbox

This feature gives music creators the inside scoop on tools and services that can help develop craft and career.


Spring 2009

It's Under Control
From compact units that can slip into a laptop case to consoles that resemble professional studio mixers, control surfaces are making computeraudio productions more of a hands-on experience than ever before.


The Lowdown On Getting Down Low
The ability to create the ideal bass balance is an essential studio skill; these tips should help achieve a healthy bottom line.


The art and craft of Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger is one of those rare musicians who can thrive in different musical environments while maintaining the stylistic integrity of each one.


SOUND BYTES
New and Noteworthy Gear For Songwriters and Producers

A Logical X

Compact 'Cussion

  PreSonus Studio One

Shure Thing



Winter 2009


Pre-School
Preamps, which boost the signal of microphones so they can work with mixers and audio interfaces, can be the most important gear in your studio.


Phone Home
Headphones come in more varieties and offer better performance than ever before.


The art and craft of Stephen Schwartz
Equally adept as a lyricist and composer, Stephen Schwartz has enjoyed one of the most prolific and honored careers in history of modern musical theater.


SOUND BYTES
New and Noteworthy Gear For Songwriters and Producers

Yes, Master

Nano Nano

Whadda Juno

  Core Values

Toontrack music's Drumtracker

Eight's More Than Enough


Fall 2008


Technology Pitches In
The latest pitch manipulation tools sound more natural—and offer more creative possibilities than ever before.


Convert!
Choosing the right tools to bring analog audio to the digital realm—and vice versa—can make a major difference in the quality of your recording.


The art and craft of Billy Steinberg
The world was a much different place when mega-songsmith Billy Steinberg secured his first major cut, Linda Ronstadt's "How Do I Make You," in 1980.


SOUND BYTES
New and Noteworthy Gear for Songwriters and Producers

8's a Piece of Cakewalk

Working the City Beat

Logical 'Phones

  Some Good "D"

There's an iDea!

Music in Motion


Summer 2008


Get into the Loop
Loop production has been a mainstay for electronic, dance and soundtrack music for years, but new tools make it more appealing to songwriters than ever before.


Surround for Songwriters
Surround sound may be a specialty format for album production, but it’s become the norm for film and TV. Here’s what you need to know to prepare your mixes for the screen.


The art and craft of... Lori McKenna
Most aspiring artists begin pounding the pavement as teens—but not country-based singer and songwriter Lori McKenna, who took a decidedly different route.


SOUND BYTES
New and Noteworthy Gear for Songwriters and Producers

Solid and Tubular

Peak's 60th sense

A Plug for Ear Protection

  Fire Up Your Studio

High-end Twin

Desktop Logic



Spring 2008


A "Logical" Approach To Mobile Music Creation
Fast notebook computers, portable interfaces, and powerful software such as Apple's Logic Pro 8 let songwriters and producers create music, anytime, anywhere.


Mastering Basics
The final stage of the production process can be critical.




The art and craft of... Rodney Crowell
After working in Emmylou Harris's celebrated Hot Band for much of the 1970s, Texas-born songwriter Rodney Crowell began cranking out the hits for the likes of the Oak Ridge Boys, Willie Nelson and ex-wife Rosanne Cash, while waiting patiently for his own solo career to take flight.


SOUND BYTES
New and Noteworthy Gear for Songwriters and Producers

Pod Table

The Beatin' Path

Paint This Disc

  Pocket Rocket

PA Will Travel

Harmony-Tech



Fall 2007


License To Earn
Pump Audio puts music licensing in composers' hands




Monitoring Basics
A well-chosen and set up monitoring system is critical in delivering mixes that will sound good outside the friendly confines of your studio.



The art and craft of… Jimmy Jam
After several fruitful years working with Prince during the early part of the '80s, R&B songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis made the decision to strike out on their own.


SOUND BYTES
New and Noteworthy Gear for Songwriters and Producers

Arturia Analog Factory Experience

JazzMutant Dexter DAW Controller

Bollywood Grooves

  Lexicon PCM96 Stereo Reverb

Blue Joe Condenser Microphone

Apogee Mobile Gets Battery Power



Summer 2007


SCORING SOFTWARE
Notion Music releases a version 2.0.




TIPS FOR THE MIX
Mixing is more about the ears than the gear.




THE ART AND CRAFT OF... AIMEE MANN
After struggling with major labels, Aimee Mann to the indie route to success.




SOUND BYTES
New and Noteworthy Gear for Songwriters and Producers.

BOSS' RE-201 Space Echo

Open Labs' MiKo

Future Sonics Atrio Series

  Planet Waves Screeching Halt

Vocalist Live 4

PreSonus' MegaStudio Producer



Spring 2007


A SOFT SYNTH STEPS OUT
Cakewalk adds a new "Dimension" to the desktop studio.




SOUND BYTES
New and Noteworthy Gear for Songwriters and Producers.

TC Electronic G Natural Acoustic Guitar Effects System

Disc Makers Medley

Nady USB-24M Professional Dynamic USB Mic
  Alesis iMultiMix 8 USB Mobile Recording Mixer

Prosoniq TimeFactory 2 Time- and Pitch-Manipulation Software for Mac OS X

TerraTec Producer AREA 61



SIX STRING MAGIC
Pro tips for recording guitars.




THE ART AND CRAFT OF... DESMOND CHILD
Desmond Child is a hit machine. He's written or co-written successfully with a diverse array of artists, including Kiss, Ricky Martin, Joan Jett, Aerosmith, Hall and Oates, Iggy Pop, the Baha Men, Clay Aiken and many others.





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