Recording guitars- A survival guide pt2: Microphones, your DAW’s ears

In part two of the series let’s take a look at another crucial element for recording guitars, the microphone.

Just as a speaker plays a large role in the sound of an amp, the microphones used to record it are just as important to getting that tone into a recording. And just like speakers, all microphones have a different sound. Huge differences in sound can be heard even in mics that sell for the same price so experimentation is key when looking for a mic (or mics) to capture your golden tone. (more…)

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How Chris Standring Used SONAR X1 to Hit Two #1 Chart Positions

The success of SONAR X1 user Chris Standring’s groundbreaking 2010 CD Blue Bolero, which topped several year-end lists and produced a No. 1 single, made it tough for him to create a follow-up record; but all early indicators are showing that he managed quite nicely with the new Electric Wonderland recording which came out yesterday.

As of this morning, Chris woke up to find out that Electric Wonderland has hit #1 in its genre on the Amazon.com sales chart, as well as #1 on the BDS Radio Tracking Chart (Billboard) for the same genre.  I would say that’s a setup for a pretty great day, especially considering the “sales” climate of the music industry in general.  Electric Wonderland is a 10-song CD of original songs that fuses elements of the last record Blue Bolero’s orchestral touches with a deft jazz-pop touch that’s been a hallmark of Standring’s stellar career.

One of the changes Chris made on Electric Wonderland besides going from SONAR 8.5 to X1 was mixing the record on his own.  (more…)

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Recording guitars- A survival guide pt1: Taste testing speakers

Getting awesome guitar tones recorded in any setting is not as hard as you might think. After recording a huge number of different guitarists including myself over the last 20 years, I have found that great results can be achieved in almost any space.

While there are no rules when setting out to record the golden tone, these are some things that my years have taught me and in coming installments of this series I’ll be sharing more aspects of getting the tones you’re looking for in the home setting and in general. (more…)

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NAMM 2012 Backstage Pass: Creating music in SONAR X1 with Yogi Lonich

Live from the Cakewalk booth in the Roland arena, longtime SONAR user, producer, singer, and songwriter Yogi Lonich (Wallflowers, Melissa Etheridge, Buckcherry, and Fuel) shows off his latest SONAR project and breaks down why he loves to create music in SONAR X1.

Upgrade to SONAR X1 or or find a dealer to become a new user today.

 

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Watch the V-Studio 20 Webinar Today

If you missed our live webinar on the V-Studio 20, we’ve posted it here for your viewing pleasure.
Hosted by Cakewalk’s Zac Kenney and featuring special guests, Charlie O’Neal and Craig Rawding of The Delta Generators, this exclusive presentation gives you a closer look at the brand new recording device for guitar players and singer-songwriters. We’ve also posted a script of the live Q&A session that followed to our forums. Want to learn more about the V-Studio 20? Visit our product pages on the Cakewalk website.

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You’re Invited to the V-Studio 20 Webinar

VS20 Box ShotDon’t miss this exclusive event. Join us tonight at 7:00 pm (ET) for a virtual presentation on the V-Studio 20 to learn more about the brand new recording solution for guitar players and singer-songwriters. Since 3 out of 4 Cakewalk employees play guitar, we built the V-Studio 20 from the ground up (in conjuction with Roland and Boss) to create a better way for guitarists to capture their ideas and record them directly to the computer.

Cakewalk’s Zac Kenney will host the 30 minute webinar, featuring special guest appearances by Charlie O’Neal and Craig Rawding of The Delta Generators who will show off their new single and some of the amazing sounds in the V-Studio 20. Stay tuned for a Live Q&A after the presentation.

All attendees of the webinar will receive a free V-Studio 20 ebook by Craig Anderton, a 3-month subscription to Guitar Player, plus other special offers on the night of the webinar.

Shoot on over to the V-Studio 20 Webinar page on Cakewalk.com to register!

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The Missing Link for Guitar Players? Cakewalk’s V-Studio 20

VS20 TOP ViewGuitar Products Reviewer for DV247.com, Rob Sandall, was one of the first to lay eyes on the V-Studio 20 at Musikmesse 2010. At first, he thought it was just a foot pedal but quickly realized that the V-Studio 20 is so much more than what he expected.

Combining an audio interface and control surface with built-in stereo microphone, the V-Studio 20 is not just a means to control your guitar-playing but an all-in-one recording solution whether on the road or in a studio setting. With the V-Studio 20, guitar players and singer-songwriters can easily record their riffs to a computer via XLR or Hi-Z input, add EQ and other effects to their tracks in real time, and take advantage of its “gigantic suite of sounds” with genuine BOSS COSM DSP processing.

As Rob exclaims, “this compact unit feels like a real missing link between guitarist and producer.”

Discover the V-Studio 20 through a series of mini-reviews on the DV247.com blog.

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Video: V-Studio 20 Launch at Musikmesse 2010

The folks at Harmony Central were on hand at Musikmesse 2010 to film the debut of Cakewalk’s V-Studio 20, the portable recording studio for guitarists and singer-songwriters. Their video captures a live demo by Robin Kelly and accomplished guitar player, Gundy Keller, exploring the interface’s included DAW, Effects Editor and it’s many incredible tones:

For more information on the V-Studio 20, visit our website.

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Songwriter Raul Midon Produces Music with Cake-Talking Technology

raul modinNew York City singer-songwriter, Raul Midon celebrates the release of his latest album, Synthesis, which hits stores in the US today. Blinded as an infant, Raul was first introduced to music by his father, often listening to the uncomparable Beethoven, Mozart, John Cage, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. After studying music at a school for the blind and later graduating from the University of Miami’s prestigious jazz program, Raul was hired as a backup singer for Latin-music moguls including Julio and Enrique Inglesias, Shakira, and Ricky Martin. In 2002, Raul moved to the Big Apple to pursue a solo career, playing guitar and writing his own music. His debut album, State of Mind, was released in 2005 on Capitol Records and was produced by industry veteran, Arif Mardin.

Since then, Raul has recorded and produced demos in his SONAR-based home studio using Dancing Dot’s Cake-Talking assistive technology (scripts in JAWS for Windows). The program speaks SONAR settings or parameters to the user, making it easier for visually-impaired musicians to record their instruments, apply effects, and render high-quality, professional recordings. Watch the video below to see how Raul used Cake-Talking in the making of his sophomore album, Synthesis:

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Video: Sound On Sound’s Fast Facts on the V-Studio 20

One of the world’s top publications for music recording and technology, Sound on Sound, visited the Cakewalk booth at Musikmesse 2010 to get a close look at the V-Studio 20. Watch the video below to get the facts on Cakewalk’s new portable, USB recording device for Guitar players and Singer-Songwriters:

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