HOME RECORDING STUDIO SOFTWARE

One of the things you may want to keep in mind with this industry is not to believe everything you hear. (No pun intended). There are those in the industry that will tell you anything in order to get you to buy their wares. Anyone that has been in the computer music realm will tell you that digital audio has just gotten to the point where sound quality is acceptable.

Remember one basic factor about your quest of composing music and that is the purpose of recording sound. Which is of course so we can listen and enjoy it. You need to learn and be able to determine what parts of the music must be louder than others. For example, a pop ballad should be lower on track than a thrash metal. A guitar solo should be above the normal background playing.

Your first inclination may be to use only your digital meters and record these separately. On the surface, it sounds logical, but in fact, you could end up with the very opposite results. Reason being the digital recorders use peak meters, whereas music listeners use their hearing meaning they utilize average characteristics when judging the levels. If not done correctly then it means the listener will be forced to turn the volume down.

You can prevent your frustrations if you just record everything at the proper levels right from the start. It would be right to share one track between two instruments at least. This should only be done when the two specific instruments are not playing at the same time. So you would record these instruments at the correct level that they would be at when physically playing the song. Use your estimation qualities to get the results that are right. You want to hear what the end listeners should here. They won't be using meters they will be using their natural ability of hearing.

Stay consistent with your entire album, if the listener has to keep getting up to adjust the volume you can bet they won't be too impressed.

If you try and do your sound recordings according to all the information that various people give you then you will soon become discouraged. What may work in one song will certainly not work in another. Then there will be all the controversy to sort though. Learn the basics, follow your judgment and trust your ears. Composing music is suppose to be an enjoyable event even if its your livelihood, if you didn't have passion for music its unlikely you would even be involved in computer music.

Absolutely YES!

A home recording studio can now have the exact same equipment (computers, software, microphones etcâEUR¦) used in professional recording studios. Unfortunately, having the same gear as professional studios, does not guarantee the same pristine, glimmering, professional sound. Getting that professional sound is going to take training and practice.

Once you own the equipment, you can spend as much time as you like practicing. and getting the training is now quite easy. The Internet is filled with free tutorials on every aspect of audio production. Just some of the areas that are covered by on-line tutorials:

Setting Up A Home Studio-There are articles about what general hardware and software you will need, reviews and recommendations for specific items, and instructions on hooking everything up to work in the best most efficient way possible.

Basic Recording Concepts and Techniques-After everything is purchased and hooked up, how will all this hardware and software work together? How do you utilize the various options your setup allows? What are the different types of microphones and how are they used? It is easy to find answers to these basic questions with a simple search.

Software Tutorials-Instructions for using specific software packages abound on the Internet. Every major recording package and even many free packages have tutorials available in written and video formats.

Using Audio Effects-Although you can always just try out various effects to see what happens, it is essential that you understand how each effect works in order to control and "tweak it"to achieve just the right sound. A little bit of online research will yield a tremendous amount of information on how audio effects such as reverb, compression, and delay work, as well as numerous tips and tricks to maximize the use of these devices.

Advanced Recording Lessons-Once you know how everything works, you can find lessons on many advanced audio recording and production techniques. In the past, many of these techniques, were only possible in the most expensive studios. Now, however, the flexibility of digital recording with virtual devices, allows anyone explore complex and sophisticated approaches to audio production. These techniques include areas such as recording, EQ, effect processing, mixing, and mastering.

Instruction in these areas and more are available on the Internet for free. However, if you choose, you can also purchase entire courses in any of these areas. Additionally, some very well known audio schools allow you to take many of their courses on-line for credit.

With all these opportunities to learn the craft of audio production, the last step - practice - is still absolutely necessary. Knowing all of this will make no difference unless you try it out and learn how to use this knowledge. The experience gained from this practice, is what will finally allow you to produce professional quality audio recordings at home.

Copyright 2009, Joseph Fosco

There are many types of audio engineering. Some of these types can be basic and easy to get a degree for while others take a lot of time and education to learn how to operate the equipment. Here are some of the businesses that might use an audio engineer:

Recording Studio. They would need an audio engineer to operate the microphones, mixers, software, and basically everything in the studio. This is a very good job for an audio engineer and they can earn some serious money and recognition working at a recording studio.

Auto Store. An auto parts store that sells stereo equipment will a lot of times have an audio engineer on staff to help assist in installations.

Home Audio Store. Audio stores will keep them on hand to provide the customer with assistance with what type of speakers to buy and how to install them. Sometimes they will even install the speakers for the customer at their home.

There are many schools that offer audio engineering degrees. However, a lot of these schools are not accredited. It is very important to make sure the school is accredited by an international accreditation organization before you attend classes there.

After you decide what school to attend you need to decide on what type of job you want to do. Coursework will vary depending on the type of job you wish to seek while becoming an audio engineer. The nice thing is that some companies will hire you while you earn your degree. This is because they know you are seeking a degree and they believe you will follow through and become a valuable asset to the business.

But they usually find out that their assumptions aren't true...at claims time.

Sure, some of the property is covered. But there are a bunch of limits and exclusions that will surprise you if you have a loss and file a claim.

Don't wait until claim time to learn about this important coverage. Read this article carefully and make good decisions about your coverage.

Twenty years ago, consumer computer usage and ownership was not all that common. If you owned a cell phone, you carried it in a bag the size of a small purse. There were few home fax machines. Answering machines were pretty common, but voicemail was still on the horizon. Scanners were non-existent. Printers and copiers were huge and expensive, and you didn't see them in most homes. If you were the rare person who had satellite TV, the dish was about eight feet across and sat out in the back yard. And Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and MP3 players had not been invented yet.

But today....

In our home we have:
o two desktop computers with monitors
o four laptop computers
o four printers
o one stand-alone fax machine
o one combination fax, scanner, copier
o three TVs
o two VCRs
o one digital video camera with tripod for our home recording studio
o one audio mixing board, one microphone, one amplifier, two external soundcards, and a 500GB hard drive, all for our home recording studio
o two DVD players
o two cell phones, one smartphone, each with voicemail
o one satellite TV system with a 24" dish on the roof
o two Ipods

Your home may not have that amount of electronics, but then again, you might have more. The way that consumer electronics prices have tumbled over the years makes ownership much easier for more and more people.

But...is it covered? Does your homeowners or renters insurance cover your electronics?

We run three separate businesses out of our home. Most of our electronics are used in our businesses.

Do you have a home business? There are millions of home businesses...everything from home daycare to a service business to multilevel marketing businesses. Many times, those entrepreneurs own office electronics for their home business. Do you use your computers and other electronics for any kind of home business? Even if you're answering office email on your home computer, it could be considered "business use."

Are they covered by YOUR homeowners policy?

Are they covered if they are business-related?

What happens if your desktop or laptop computer is stolen, either from home or away from home? Is the theft covered by your homeowners insurance policy?

If you're carrying your laptop through an airport anywhere in America, your laptop is at huge risk for theft. (See more below) What if your laptop is stolen while you're in the airport?

Here is the answer to those questions...

MAYBE!!

In the Homeowners or Renters Policy, Coverage C, Contents, there are special limits of ,500 for "property, on the residence premises, used primarily for business purposes." The policy says there is a 0 limit for "property away from the residence premises used primarily for business purposes." Of course, you will have a deductible to pay first, so if your deductible is 0 or more, you won't get ANY money from the insurance company for this loss.

Are your personal electronics covered? Yes, but only for the following perils:

o Fire or lightning
o Windstorm or Hail
o Explosion
o Riot or Civil Commotion
o Aircraft (not in aircraft, but if aircraft fall on your stuff.)
o Vehicles (not in vehicles, but if vehicles crash into your stuff.)
o Smoke
o Vandalism or Malicious Mischief
o Theft
o Falling Objects (stuff falling onto your stuff)
o Weight of Ice, Snow or Sleet
o Accidental Discharge or Overflow of Water or Steam
o Sudden and Accidental Tearing Apart or Bursting (of a steam or hot water system).
o Freezing
o Sudden and Accidental Damage from an Artificially Generated Electrical Current
o Volcanic Eruption

As I said above, the policy limit for business electronics at the residence is ,500.

If your laptop or other portable electronics are stolen from your car, there is no coverage under your Auto insurance for the theft.

Also remember, that under Coverage C, Contents, payment is made on an Actual Cash Value basis, not Replacement Cost Value. The only way to get RCV is to add the Contents Replacement Cost endorsement to your policy. It's not automatic, you have to request it.

How about other kinds of damage that your computer might sustain?

o Accidental damage, such as dropped equipment, falls, liquid spills and auto collisions.
o Water damage

Those kinds of damages are not covered under your homeowners or renters policy.

And what about the software and sensitive data in your computer? Is that covered, too?

Not likely. In the Homeowners and Renters policies, under the "Property Not Covered" section, "business data, including data stored in computers and related equipment" is not covered.

So, to be fully covered, you'll need to buy some additional coverage.

COMPUTER AND PERSONAL ELECTRONICS INSURANCE

The leading company in the world for computer and portable electronics insurance is Safeware Insurance. They have programs for students, individuals, small and large businesses and schools at very competitive rates.

Let me take a few minutes and tell you about their outstanding insurance product.

If you own:

o Desktop or Laptop Computers
o Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
o Smartphones
o Digital cameras
o MP3 players
o Scanners/Faxes/Copiers
o Printers
o DVD players
o Flash drives
o Servers
o External hard drives
o Digital camcorders
o Peripherals that connect to your computers through an USB port, Firewire, PCMCIA or another input

All of these electronic products need special insurance coverage not provided in Homeowners or Renters policies.

Did you know these facts about computers?

o Accidental damage is the number one cause of loss
o Theft is number two cause of loss
o Power surge is number three
o Manufacturer warranties do not protect your computer from accidental damage or theft
o Even though some manufacturers do offer special "damage only" coverage, they do not offer coverage for theft, power surges, natural disasters or vandalism.

You already know how easy it is to have electronics with replacement value in excess of ,500. There are loaded desktops and laptops that easily exceed ,500 EACH.

So, you have some choices:

1. Call your agent and buy a Personal Property Endorsement to add coverage to your homeowners or renters policy. Downsides to this choice are (a) many endorsements only pay the Actual Cash Value of the damaged property, not replacement cost, and (b) perils like Accidental Damage, Drops, Falls, Cracked Screens, Liquid Spills and Auto Collisions are not covered.

2. Buy a custom policy that just adds special coverage for your computers and other electronics, like:

o Desktops
o Laptops and notebooks
o Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
o Smartphones
o Digital cameras
o MP3 players
o Scanners/Faxes/Copiers
o Printers
o DVD players
o Flash drives
o Servers
o External hard drives
o Digital camcorders
o Peripherals that connect to your computers through an USB port, Firewire, PCMCIA or another input

Safeware's policies cover Accidental Damage, Drops, Falls, Cracked Screens, Liquid Spills and Auto Collisions.

Business Electronics

In May 2006, burglars stole a laptop from the home of a data analyst at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The laptop contained the sensitive personal information of over 26 million veterans and military personnel. The FBI said that the laptop was recovered after an informant "snitched," motivated by a ,000 reward.

But it's not just organizations that deal with consumer data that are concerned about thefts. Companies whose employees have laptops are naturally concerned with the value of the computer when it is the company that owns the laptop.

The Ponemon Institute, a privacy risk management think tank, released an extensive study in June 2008 entitled "Airport Insecurity : The Case of Missing and Lost Laptops." They studied laptop security at 106 American airports and found that there is an average of 12,000 laptops lost, missing or stolen at American airports PER WEEK! The airport with the worst record is Los Angeles International, with about 1,200 per week. The nation's busiest airport, Atlanta's Hartsfield, was in eighth place with 450 per week.

Further, the study found that only 33% of the laptops within the airport's Lost and Found Departments are ever reclaimed! That means that the remaining 67% of unclaimed laptops are either sold or disposed of by airport authorities. Can you imagine the amount of sensitive personal and business data contained in those laptops? No one knows what happens to that data, but it is ALL at risk. The Identity Theft risks are astronomical.

Safeware's policy covers business electronics for the hazards the homeowners, renters or business insurance policy does not cover.

Education Coverage

Students face a higher risk of damage or theft than a normal adult user. Students can experience accidents when they're putting their stuff into their locker, or accidentally get bumped in a busy hallway, or when they're running to the bus. A soft drink could be spilled on the keyboard, or they could sit their laptop bag down somewhere and later find it missing.

This policy protects students' computers against Accidental Damage, Theft, Vandalism, Power Surge, and Natural Disasters at any location within the USA, Canada and while in transit.

Small Business Coverage is for any sized business with electronics property values up to ,999, covering Accidental Damage, Theft, Fire, Vandalism, Power Surge and Natural Disasters.

Commercial Coverage is a group plan for organizations that have electronics property values in excess of ,000. Coverage can be one of the following: Comprehensive (Accidental Damage, Theft, Fire, Vandalism, Power Surge, and Natural Disasters); Theft ONLY, or Accidental Damage ONLY.

The Commercial policy can benefit organizations such as:

o Schools and colleges that want to make their student's notebook computers more safe and less at risk.
o Corporations issuing notebooks and laptops to their workers, and wishing to minimize their risk of capital loss.

In these organizations, the equipment is owned by the corporation or school and used by the employee or student. Experience has shown that if an individual does not own the computer, he or she is likely to take less care of the item than if they owned it themselves. Schools and businesses need to insure their equipment against the perils that could turn their expensive equipment into unusable junk.

Safeware Insurance policies do not depreciate for age and condition of your electronics. If you have a claim that requires replacement of your equipment, they pay for like kind and quality of the equipment you had. That's a HUGE difference from the Homeowners and Renters policies, and could mean thousands more dollars to you in a claim.

Worldwide Coverage is an endorsement that adds global coverage to your policy for a very low price. Standard coverage is for the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Mobile Advantage insures PDAs and smartphones. You likely purchased your unit at a big discount when you signed up for a service plan. If your device is damaged or stolen, you'll have to pay full retail for another unit. However, with Mobile Advantage, you're only responsible for the deductible per incident to get a brand new device.

For more information about Personal Electronics Insurance for your student, yourself, your business or your school, contact Safeware Insurance at: safeware.com

LAPTOP RECOVERY COVERAGE

Can you get your stolen laptop back?

There is a way that you can protect your laptop, and then retrieve your laptop after it's been stolen.

Three burglary suspects were arrested on February 1, 2008 by Albuquerque police, thanks to a stolen computer loaded with tracking software. The software is called LoJack for Laptops(TM), developed by Absolute Software. The tracking software told the police exactly where to find the suspects. The police were also able to recover thousands of dollars in other stolen property at the location.

Absolute Software is the leader in Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking(TM) solutions. It works this way: You install the LoJack for Laptops(TM) software and register it at the LoJack website. If the laptop is stolen, you notify your local police and notify the LoJack Recovery Team. The next time your computer is connected to the Internet, the laptop secretly notifies the Monitoring Center of its whereabouts. The Recovery Team can track its location, and provide police with the information they will need to get a search warrant and recover your laptop.

Pricing for LoJack for Laptops(TM) starts at only .99 per year.

My friend here in Atlanta, Cole Harrison, had his laptop stolen from his car recently. He had the Lojack system on the laptop, and notified them immediately when he discovered the theft. Lojack located the laptop the next day...in Thailand.

If you want protect your laptop so you can get it back after it's been stolen, contact Lojack for Laptops at: www.lojackforlaptops.com Lojack boasts a 90% recovery rate for stolen laptops.

CONCLUSION

For only a small price, you can have the proper coverage you need to protect all your personal and business electronics. Be the smartest person on your block with the right protection. Be the hero to your business with the best coverage. YOU CAN DO IT!!

The very first thing you need to think about is if your studio will be for personal use only or will it be used by other bands or are you going to open it to public for rent. This is very vital because if you decide that it is only for personal use then you could just have limited number of equipment; unlike if you plan to open it to the public then you really need to have extensive range of equipment just to cater other bands and their genres of music and of course if you decide to open it to the public then they will have an expectation that your equipment are at top quality.

After you have decided if you are going to use it personally or the otherwise, it is now time for you to decide which equipment you needed most. As said earlier, with the advancement in technology these days you can choose from the wide varieties of recording equipment available today, however, just to make things simpler just make sure that you have a computer, recording software and a microphone and you're ready to go. Another thing, you also have to make sure that the recording equipment you have matches your recording needs and spending budget as well.

The third thing you need to consider is actually where to position or set-up your recording studio. Well, this would basically depend on the free space you have in your home. It actually doesn't matter that much where you will install or build your studio as long as background noises or the noises that are coming from the outside won't interfere with your recordings and as long as you won't disturb your neighbors if you choose to record during the night.

Those are basically the things you need to consider before building your home studio, simply follow each of those steps and without a doubt you will have a perfect home recording studio.

To record on your computer you will need a few essential items. You must start out with a powerful computer that has a pretty decent soundcard. The next step is to go shopping for the software you need to actually get the sound inside your computer. You will find a decent set of headphones handy to have around and the most important thing you need is a good microphone. This article will take a look at these items and how they relate to home recording on a computer.

You cannot do much computer recording without a computer. Almost any modern day system will get the job done. The faster CPU and the more memory you have the better. Many people like to build a special computer just for recording purposes. This may be overkill if you only want to record one or two tracks at a time. Next you need to add a good soundcard or audio interface to your system.

There are many choices you can make when picking out a soundcard or external audio interface. You do not have to spend a lot of money to get a decent sound but usually the more expensive brands have some features that you may need. It is wise to search the Internet and forums to see what people are saying about the different soundcards before spending your hard earned money.

You will need to get some recording software to add to your computer recording studio equipment. There are many brands to choose from the free Audacity to programs costing a lot of money. If your recording needs are simple you can probably get by with one of the cheaper packages. On the other hand if you want to record a band you will probably need to spend a few more bucks on one of the more expensive software programs.

Add a microphone to this must have equipment list and you will almost be done. Get the best mike you can afford as the quality of this piece of equipment has much to do with the final sound of your project.

The last thing you will need to complete a basic set up is a set of headphones so you can hear what is being recording. Get a decent set but you can get by ok with a simple pair of headphones.

As you can see you do not have to spend a lot of money on computer recording studio equipment to get started recording on your home computer. Take your time and choose your equipment carefully and you will not have to go this again in 6 months when you have figured out that the cheap stuff you bought just is not getting the job done.

Putting together a home recording studio is pretty difficult. Before setting up your budget, you need to know what you need to buy for a simple home recording studio. The single most important item is the condenser microphone. If you have a poor quality microphone you'll never be able to record high quality vocals. That's a fact. So, my advice is to buy a good microphone. There are few interesting mics around 0. AT2020 is one of those good mics, but you can always buy a better one (Rode Nt). Remember, a microphone requires a pop filter, a mic stand and a mic preamp.

You can mix the mic preamp and the soundcard together. Just buy an audio interface that features Phantom Power. I recommend M-Audio products, but EMU soundcards are pretty good as well.

Next, you need to buy monitors and headphones. Studio monitors are important when mixing your song. Headphones are not that important, so any headphones will do.

Next, you need to buy/download the recording software. You can choose from Audacity (free) or Cubase (not free) software. If you're really new at this, Audacity is good for starters. Remember to export your songs at high quality. In order to get some exposure, you can upload your songs on YouTube or Facebook account.

Technology has changed the way music is created, even professionals rely on computer software programs to make or tweak their music. Learning how to create music on a computer is easy because some music making software is designed for beginners, and others are more complex and created with advanced users in mind.

A few terms you become familiar with are MIDI sequencer, VST plug-ins, tracks, EQ, and distortion; to name a few. Music programs are easy to install, and set up to match your computer components. You will need a quality sound card, and either speakers or a headset. If you will be recording vocals then you will also need a microphone.

A track in music making software is a horizontal time line. Tracks are used for separate instruments. Each bar in a track represents a whole note, so if you use quarter notes you will have four beats per bar, and half notes would be two beats, etc.

For example, if you have four tracks you might use one for the kick drum, beneath that track might be a track for snares, then some high-hats, and bass. Each track is independent so you can adjust the volume, add effects, pan left or right, and do much more. Keep in mind that the drums are usually dominate in beats and songs because they carry the rest of the instruments and sounds.

The layout/structure of a song
A basic structure of music will consist of common parts such as, a 2-4 bar intro, a 16 bar verse, the chorus or hook (in rap and hip hop) which is 8 bars, a 20-32 bar bridge, and an Outro of 16 or more bars. These parts are mixed to make a complete song or beat. You may have the intro, a verse, chorus/hook, verse, chorus/hook, bridge, verse, chorus/hook, verse, chorus/hook, verse, outro; but there is no hard rule to the layout.

Beats per minute and tempo vary, 75-105 bpm is slow, 105-120 bpm is moderate, and 120-150 fast. Understanding these basics will help you prepare to make some music.

Software synthesizers and VST plug-ins allow you to add cool effects. Also, there is software to create MIDI instrument tracks using only your computer keyboard and mouse. Or an electronic keyboard can be plugged into the computer, and used with music making software to create tracks.

Once you learn how to make music at home on your PC you'll know why it is so popular. It is easy, effective, and the future of music making. Create samples, backtracks, beats, and songs like a pro, all from the comfort of your own home studio.

Quite honestly, when I first received this product to review I was a bit skeptical because I had never heard of it and my extensive background as a musician seems to bet in the way of what I always desire in applications involving music. But, I was pleasantly surprised, this application seemed to really have it all. I was never left with the common feeling of 'I wish it could do that' that I get with so many music applications. In this article I plan on discussing the main points and features of DUBturbo that will allow the average and the musically inclined to make beat sequences and patterns easily.

There are 3 Main components to DUBturbo which separate it from the rest of the other recording and beat sequencing softwares out there, and of course several little things that do as well, but I'll discuss these 3 big things first.

The first main component of DUBturbo is the sequencer. The sequencer is the all familar ProTools/GarageBand style screen which shows you the tracks and when they are playing or not playing. It's not too special, but what does set this apart is that it's got 16 tracks. A drum sequencer with 16 tracks is pretty uncommon because most have far fewer! It's not the unlimited that ProTools will give you, but will ProTools run on your netbook? I don't think so; DUBturbo will. DUBturbo lays out all the tracks easily in the sequencer view, I tend to think of this as my home screen.

The next main component of DUBturbo is the drum machine. It's obvious that this was very well thought out. Unlike GarageBand where you are forced into drum sequences, DUBturbo lets you create anyone you like, or modify one that already exists. It's limited to just 10 pads per track, but this allows you to 'type' in the rhythm by using your computer keyboard as the drum pad. It converts your number pad into a drum set and you get to define each sound. There couldn't be a more customized way of doing this either. You can choose either predefined drum 'sets' or make your own. To enter rhythms, you can either use your mouse and click on which part of the beat you want sound to happen or type it in on your drum pad/keyboard. This thing is awesome.

The other main component to DUBturbo is the 4 Octave Keyboard feature. This is THE thing that sets DUBturbo apart from the competition. You can insert melodic ideas, harmonic ideas, bass lines, anything with this. Beats without bass are boring, repetitive and seriously lame. But add a bass line, or some sort of harmonic or melodic interest and all of a sudden those repetitive beats seem to have some sort of flow and provide interest to your listeners. DUBturbo also makes it easy as pie to use the keyboard feature. By using your computer keyboard, you can put the notes in just like you were at a piano. It's so easy and simple to do, I wish that Sibelius or Finale notation software were this easy! DUBturbo allows you to use up to 4 Octaves which is a big range. To some that may seem limited, but if you separate your tracks it's difficult to feel limited.

Here are the other things that are really cool about DUBturbo...

There are soooo many sounds you can play with. If you've ever used GarageBand, there are a lot of different sounds and sequences you can use, but navigating them takes practice to learn and it's not that easy, with DUBturbo, all the sounds are easy to navigate. They pop up in the middle of the screen, not just at the bottom like in GarageBand. You can do more with the sounds, you can even change the keys the sounds are in. In GarageBand you are stuck to whatever key the sample is in, which may not be the key of your beat. DUBturbo makes changing keys easy.

DUBturbo lets you upload your beats and sell them to other DUBturbo users. That's right, writing music is easy on DUBturbo and getting paid for those beats is just as easy!

DUBturbo outputs studio quality sounds so you don't have to worry about loss of quality when you burn to CD.

Using DUBturbo is easy, even for the non-musical user. It includes a video tutorial series to walk you through, step by step, on how to make simple beats all the way through advanced user features. So learning the program couldn't be easier! These videos are even great for users familiar with similar style applications because it tells you shortcuts and secrets to make using the program easier.

Honestly, I haven't seen an beat sequencing application as thoroughly put together as DUBturbo. It really does have it all and it makes putting together beats from any genre easy and fun.

Ease of Use: 9/10
Quality of Application: 9/10
Features: 10/10
Overall Value: 9.5/10

This really is the cream of the crop application.

If they like electronic gadgets, for instance, a pocket digital video recorder may be just the thing. Or perhaps a 4GB MP3 player. Then again, a great laptop computer would surely be a welcome gift.

A super travel gift might be a set of luggage - both wheel-on and carry-on. Or, how about an electronic piano. This keyboard rolls up and fits into a handy slim pouch. But it has a resounding tone. It is a 49-key, 4-octave piano keyboard with tuning knobs and speaker.

What do you say about taking a closer look at a few great Christmas gifts? So, if you are ready, just grab a coffee and pull up a chair. Here we go.

Nifty Digital Camera - Chances are great that a 19-year-old would really like a a digital camera. This digital camera has an optical-zoom lens and a 3 inch LCD screen. It comes with optical image stabilization and 1GB of memory. This camera is light-weight and runs on a rechargeable battery.

Jewelry or Accessories - Now here is a gift to bring a smile to the face of your favorite 19-year-old. For a girl, a pearl necklace or necklace of gold beads is a gift of simple elegance. Add to this later with matching earrings or a bracelet. For a boy, a pair of cuff links engraved with his initials might be exactly what he wants for those special occasions. Or, consider a waterproof watch showing the time, the day and the date and equipped with an alarm.

Telescope - A telescope provides a a fascinating bird's eye view of constellations and stars. This telescope is computerized and comes with GPS to let you know your position in relation to the stars. The software makes it easy to identify celestial bodies.

UBS Guitar - If someone wants to set up a recording studio, this is the way to do it. With this UBS guitar and cable, you can turn your computer into a recording studio. Also, you can produce a full orchestra sound with MP3 songs for backup.

Fabulous Name Scroll - Here is one gift that is always a hit. This scroll contains the person's first name and its meaning along with famous people with that name. The background of the scroll is a painting of animals, flowers or a crest. There is a golden crown, a crest, a seal, and a colorful border. This treasured gift is ready for framing.

I hope that this quick peek at some gift ideas inspired you. Irresistible Christmas gifts for your favorite 19-year-old are fun to look for. In the meantime, stay warm and have yourself a wonderful Christmas.

In 1962, Neil Diamond signed a recording contract with Columbia Records, but failed to produce any hits. So, it was back to songwriting for Diamond, whose first success came when Jay and the Americans recorded his song "Sunday And Me." They went Top 20 on the Billboard charts with it.

Other artists who recorded Neil Diamond compositions include: Elvis Presley, Mark Lindsay (of Paul Revere and the Raiders fame), Lulu, and Deep Purple. He also wrote for The Monkees TV show. Even though "I'm A Believer" and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" were recorded by The Monkees, these songs were written by Diamond to record himself.

Diamond signed with Bang Records in 1966 and his first single, "Solitary Man" didn't break into the Top 40. However, it was released again in 1970 and went to #21 on the weekly charts. His next single, "Cherry Cherry" gave Diamond his first hit and he managed to have a Top 40 hit every year between 1966-1983.

Ironically, Diamond's biggest hit of all time is a duet with another Brooklyn native, Barbra Streisand. Both had recorded Diamond's composition of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" on separate albums. Two Detroit deejays, Jack Hood and Gene Krusewski, noticed the similarities in the recordings and mixed the two versions. The song's popularity sparked Diamond and Streisand to go into the studio and record it together.

Here's a look at Neil Diamond's twenty biggest hits, according to Billboard's weekly Top 40 charts.

1. You Don't Bring Me Flowers - 1978 - labeled as Barbra and Neil. In their early years, Diamond and Streisand sang in a school choir together.
2. Cracklin' Rosie - 1970 - written about a Canadian whiskey and it was Neil's first number one single.
3. Song Sung Blue - 1972 - one of three number one singles for him.
4. Love On The Rocks - 1981 - one of three singles from the film "The Jazz Singer" starring Diamond.
5. Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) - 1969 - Diamond says it took him an hour to write this song, inspired when he saw a picture of Caroline Kennedy on the cover of Life magazine.
6. I Am...I Said - 1971
7. Heartlight - 1982 - inspired by the 1982 film "ET - The Extraterrestrial."
8. Longfellow Serenade - 1974 - from the "Serenade" album.
9. Holly Holy - 1969
10. Hello Again - 1981 - also from "The Jazz Singer."
11. Cherry, Cherry - 1966 - his first Top 10 single. A live version of this song from the "Hot August Night" album was released as a single and managed to reach #31 on the weekly charts.
12. America - 1981 - the third Top 10 single from "The Jazz Singer."
13. Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon - 1967
14. Yesterday's Songs - 1982
15. If You Know What I Mean - 1976
16. Play Me - 1972
17. I Thank The Lord For The Night Time - 1967 - legendary songwriters Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich can be heard singing backups on this tune.
18. Stones - 1971
19. Desiree - 1978
20. I Got The Feelin' (Oh No No) - 1966 - a song also covered by Cliff Richard.

Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand had plans for a movie version of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", but Diamond made the remake of the Al Jolson classic "The Jazz Singer" in 1980, for which Diamond composed the music. Neil Diamond continues to tour and record, including his third album of holiday music, "A Cherry Cherry Christmas", which was released in 2009. In September 2010, Diamond was nominated for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

As many of you know, around the 80's, if you wanted to record audio to your computer, or even tape, you needed a microphone, or two, (still do), and they in turn, had to be connected to a mixing console, which in turn required tape machines typically of the open reel type, if you were serious. The reason for the open reel machines was that for any editing to take place after the fact, you had to actually move, or jog the tape across the heads of the reel to reel recorder, and know how to precisely mark the point on the tape that needed to be cut, as well as then putting the machine into play mode, while the unwanted tape segment spooled off the reel, and onto the floor, till you then found the out point, to cut the tape again.

Some of you may be thinking back to those glorious days of audio editing with some fondness, but believe me, it was time consuming, and certainly not for the every day person. The machines cost a substantial amount, and you needed to really be into the whole idea of editing, and what can be done in a matter of minutes today, by a seasoned operator, could take a good few hours back then.

I felt it important to raise this issue of history, to appreciate the tremendous strides that have taken place in audio recording today. I understand that for a new person to the recording scene, it may all still seem a little complicated, but it is relative. Unlike back then, which required the best part of a good few thousand dollars, and then some, you can be set up today for under one thousand dollars, and sometimes, much less, depending on what you already have.

So, that begs the question- what do you actually need to set off on this journey?

I would like to say at this point, that there are any number of combinations of equipment that you could use. Apart from the essentials, (again, open to variation) of a computer, microphone, mic stand and USB cable, there rest are truly options, for the more serious minded. Audio is, and always will be a possible area for sinking large amounts of cash, if you want to always be getting the next best thing. However, please remember I am talking about setting up a basic studio here, and will discuss the optional extras in future articles, as I know that some of you are interested in processing equipment, like sound finalizers, reverberation equipment, compressors, and let's face it, the list can be endless, or at least as long as your budget!

Having addressed that caveat, I would like to advise that as I understand that for many people, the budget is a big factor, many home recording enthusiasts, or artists wanting to record their work, for that matter, can start off small, and add more equipment as their success grows. However, please do not fall for the sales line that you absolutely must have product x or y, or your recording will be terrible. It simply is not true.

In fact, the audio purist line goes in favour of the least possible amount of electronics in the line, for maximum fidelity. Just a thought there for everyone.

Having said this, laptops can be purchased relatively cheaply these days, and whilst disk size is nice to have, an average laptop will really do quite well. If you need to splurge on your laptop, the best area is on greater amounts of RAM, or memory, as this will enhance the performance of your machine. In addition, there are two software packages that I recommend, one is free, being Audacity, as well as the Sony Audio Studio, that I still very reasonably priced, but if funds are tight, Audacity is fine for a start.

I mentioned the use of a mic stand, as this will make it easier to suspend over the centre of the piano, or to place with resect to any other instrument you may be playing. Please ensure that your mic is a large diaphragm type, so that you can capture the rich bass of the natural sound. The primary difference between a consumer mic and a professional or 'pro-sumer' (the mic that is above a consumer, but on the budget end of professional), is the size of the diaphragm, or part that captures the sound waves, and converts them to the digital signal. This si where the USB mic comes in, in as much as it is a plug and play arrangement, where your laptop, if running windows, or Mac software, will typically recognise and self install the drivers for the microphone to work in a matter of a minute or two.

If you were not interested in anything else, this point will get you going, albeit with less than you can actually do. I mean that the software is quite powerful, but if this is the limit of your technical interest, this much will get you started. All you need to do now is experiment with your microphone placement, for the best sound quality. Regardless of the software you are using, you need to ensure you set the recording levels to a little below the peak area on the metering.

In digital audio, unlike with analogue, you can record at quite high levels, but if you go just a little bit higher, where you over load the input, you will get a terrible distortion, as the sound wave is actually cut off in this case, whereas with analogue, the distortion is gradual, and not so immediate. Hence, look after your levels, where you are about ten decibels below total overload peak. However, please play around to test this for yourself. The technical term for the above is leaving some head room, or 'safe level' area before you clip the sound, and distort it. Digital systems allow a high recording level, but do not clip it.

To begin with, you need to have the proper tools to get a certain event on video. Environmental components must also be regarded as well as the capacity of the individual to shoot the occasion on video. Within the video records, a few of the portions are unnecessary. To be able to eliminate the useless pieces, you need good software. Reviewing is required simply because there are occasions when a thing is overlooked or certain parts are overseen during video editing. Piercing all the parts together to make top quality production material is a tough task however, you can certainly get it done with the aid of very good editing software.

Different platforms can use videos like television, family events, wedding, birthday parties, baptism, confirmation, communions, vacations, prom nights, graduation, night outs, baby showers, wedding showers, and several various other occasions or parties. No matter if you're creating a commercial, a wedding video, or perhaps a movie, you will require quality video editing software. This is a very good example. You can make a montage for your wedding. You may ask a relative with sufficient knowledge about video recording and editing to do the job for you or you can obtain a specialist. Videographers are widely obtainable and if you want to have a wonderful montage, you can seek the help of the professionals.

There happen to be unskilled individuals who produce their videos and share it on the net. Music videos are easily valued online and even if you aren't a pro, you are able to generate your own music videos. The raw video typically is concentrated on an individual or even artist performing a song. Immediately after completing the section, video editing can be performed. Even television advertisements that last for several seconds also follow the exact same process. Independent frames are easily bridged into one cohesive video while using video editing software. The professionals in the field make use of plenty of their creativity, resources, expertise, and skills. In today's modern times, also newbie's can create good videos or montage as long as they've got excellent software, mounts, stands, video cameras, suitable lighting, and most of all, creativeness. Possessing the right attitude at all times can ensure top quality work.

Have you got the right attitude? If you're creative, imaginative, and you've got the passion to create interesting videos or movies, why don't you be involved in video editing? No need to invest lots of money just to learn about video editing. Video editing is easily learned with the aid of some online resources. With the appropriate equipments and hardware, you can do video editing in your own home. Creating a montage or video is a lot less complicated these days. If you can handle the various tasks involved with video editing, you can be one of the pros. Now, its not necessary to hire videographers to capture special events in your life because you can do it by yourself. Gain knowledge from the information sources available online and do some video editing in your own home.

Recording may consist of recordings related to television, stage shows and many such things. Compromising on quality of instruments can be fatal for business. But then, spending a lot of money on new instruments and equipment may not always be feasible. Therefore, buying used music gear is the best solution.

The advantage of buying second hand or used music gear is that it will be less expensive. But sometimes the problem occurs when the cheaper gear does not prove to be of good quality. It should be taken into account that the purpose of buying used musical equipments is to get inexpensive gear but with acceptable quality.

Therefore, without getting attracted just by price, the equipment should be checked properly. The usability and the dependability should be examined properly to ensure the quality.

Again, when we talk about the quality, it not only refers to the sound but also the strength of the equipment and the material used. Therefore, the examination also includes checking the condition of the material, the finishing, the workmanship and especially the technicalities. These things are important due to the fact that used equipment does not come with quality assurance or with guarantee.

There are many places where used music gear can be bought. There are stores that organize regular auctions. Then, there are online options too, where the choices are more and even the price is comparatively lower compared to the other stores. But the problem of buying from online stores is that there is no option for checking the equipment personally. The details about the music gear is provided in the sites and you will be able to physically check them only when you get the delivery, which is after the payment has already been made.

But there are a few stores that offer a 30 day return policy. That means that the music gear can be returned in 30 days of buying, if the quality or functioning is not satisfactory. This will give the opportunity to check and examine the music gear that is bought and it can even be rejected if any kind of technical problem is found .

Gone are the days of classical hardware studio. The modern software studio require high tech music gear. Therefore, while setting up a modern studio that is faster and of a higher quality, the purchasing process should include some brand new gear. Especially, some things like multi-track recorders, microphones, audio effects; amplifiers and mixers. These things have to be in good condition since they include more technical aspects.

Finally, before making up your mind to buy used music gear, it will be helpful to have good information about the company that will provide the best products. As there are many cases of fraud registered everyday, it is necessary to be cautious to ensure that the company is real and a reputed one.

And I'm not the only one. My cousin has just become hooked as well, and all around the globe many many songwriters are falling prey to the "Call of the Cubase." After all, what once upon a time could break the bank, is now easily accessible on our desktops. Every songwriter can record his/her songs for a pittance. So is this a good thing? And should we all be doing it?

On the surface, it's a no-brainer. Well, why not record? It stimulates creativity. It liberates more music from the brains of its creators. It puts more pleasure into the world. And yet, there is a downside or two to consider when you plan to record your stuff, at least at home.

Natural selection was Darwin's theory, and it applies equally to music as well. I'll be honest, I'm not the greatest songwriter. I tend to write stuff that is too long, overly cliched, and requiring the vocal range of Luciano Pavarotti mixed with Paul Robeson. Every so often, though, almost despite my best efforts, I'll crank out a beaut. When that happens, it deserves immediate posteritizing (recording for posterity), but, alas, there is a long line of "I-really-shouldn't-record-this-but-why-not-it's-cheap-to-do-it" material in front of it. Each of those will take a good week of work to arrange, record, overdub, mix, master, remix, remaster and burn. Add to that two days of regret after I've listened to the atrocious thing, you have 9 days. If I had to pay for a studio, I'd only have gone with the winner, and those other songs would have thankfully remained mere twinkles in my eye.

That's the first thing to consider. It's not for the betterment of the world to record everything just because you can. With the advent of the home studio, the natural selection process disappeared, and people don't have the same pressure to let their material grow, become refined, and be sure that they are going for the gold before they start laying down tracks. Always ask yourself if you can do better before you start. Don't let the technology cripple creativity with its instant allure.

Now let's say you really have an ace song on your hands. No reason not to record this, you're saying, and you're right. But. Is doing it at home the way to go? The answer is a resounding... depends. Depends on what gear you have, sure. But even more, it depends on what you are capable of doing with that gear. If the ease with which one can record at home has limited creative quality, it may do the same to sonic quality when the creativity has been truly remarkable. I love those gadgets, but I will admit that I can never seem to get the sound I hear in my head when I write those songs. If I were properly trained, I'm sure I'd have a different take, but I'm not, and how many of us are?

So my compromise has been to have all the fun in the world with the songs I'm not staking my future on, while the keepers get a professional to make sure that I'll get that record deal. I would highly recommend, however, to record your songs at home as a prequel, if you will, to the studio. The benefits are knowing how your song will take to tape on a basic level, as well as seeing any weaknesses in your arrangements. It is a great scratch pad, and then, when you get into the studio, you'll have a great head start.

I hope everyone thrills to this wonderful world of songwriting, and whether your goal is simply to give CDs to your friends and family or to be a megastar (hope we make it), you'll use home studio technology to stimulate creativity, improve your craft and career and have a blast. Happy tunes!

This city's climate is usually sunny and dry. It is said that in Albuquerque, the sun shines over 300 days annually! Among the most notable schools here is the Albuquerque Recording School. Over the last 20 years, this institution has placed its students in a mentor-apprentice program within one month of applying - up to now, the school has kept such a promise. Teaching through hands-on training is at the epicenter of this school's teaching philosophy. Whether you want to become a musician that knows how to record or if you wish to make a living as a music recording engineer, this school should be on the top of your list to check out in this wonderful city. With courses in both music and audio theory as well as music and audio production, students learn every aspect of music and sound design as well as music production all within a fully equipped professional recording booth.

The Audio Recording Technology Institute concentrates on music and audio engineering as well as a music production module. Music production includes the recording of live instruments and live singing voices. The school also teaches you how to mix tracks and master a song for CD, DVD or MP3 - all these can be learned from the music recording module.

The Advanced Audio Engineer Module at the Audio Recording Technology Institute is what you should have if you are more inclined to learning the ins and outs of computer-based production software. Mixing, synchronization and a full audio recording program designed for the interests of each learner makes up this module. This program also includes advanced recording and mixing techniques for film as well as music. Because of the most advanced module that they offer, the Audio Recording Technology Institute course of study is for the very serious student who wants to walk into a music recording studio right from graduation and start his career. With emphasis also on professional dress, behavior and work ethic, these Albuquerque music schools is sure to give a full well rounded education.

The best way to think of podcasting is that it's much like a radio show on your website. You can record "episodes" on various real estate topics and upload them to your website for prospects to download and listen to when they choose.

These days, more and more consumers are listening to podcasts on their iPods and other mobile devices. It's almost exactly like a radio show without having to buy all the studio equipment. Consumers love podcasts because they can download and listen to them on-demand as opposed to being required to listen at a set time, as with regular radio.

With most marketing tools for Realtors, you have to spend a little marketing cash to use them. But with podcasting, it's not bad at all. You basically just need a microphone hooked up to your computer, a little software and you're up and running.

To make it easier for us Realtors, you can buy "podcasting kits", which have everything you need in one package. You can buy cheap, used kits for maybe all the way up to brand new kits for 0-0. After that, you can start being a real estate celebrity!

You need to know what you're getting into with any of these marketing tools for Realtors that you here about, so here's the real deal with podcasting......

You still need to drive traffic to your website for prospects to listen to your podcasts. Podcasting itself doesn't drive traffic to your website; at least not exactly. I can't cover all the ways to drive traffic now but there are plenty of them, many are a snap to use and a bunch can be free for you.

But one cool thing about podcasting that can actually drive traffic to your website is that you can post your podcasts on various websites where people are searching for specific types of podcasts. Just like you can search on YouTube for videos, there are sites where prospects can search for your podcast, download it and hopefully decide to go to your website.

Now that you have the overview on one of the essential marketing tools for Realtors, you know what type of equipment you need and what it does for your prospects, let's go over the specifics on what you're actually going to do with podcasting to become this real estate celebrity.

One idea is to create a mini-series of episodes on "first-time home buying". You can lay out all the topics and steps involved in buying a home for the first time, break them into individual episodes and record them for your podcast.

Another example would be to invite certain guests to record the podcast with you. You could invite your favorite title rep., loan officer, appraiser, home inspector, etc. for an interview. Grill them with all the questions a typical buyer or seller would have and turn them into podcasts.

Your prospects will eat this stuff up! They're craving this information and if you can give it to them in a unique, informative and fun way, guess who they'll want to work with as their Realtor? Exactly, you!

You need to realize that you're building a relationship with your prospects through podcasting; much the same way you've built a relationship with your favorite radio talk show host. Give people what they're looking for and let your personality shine through. That's what will turn these prospects into clients and closed deals.

Do you see the "dollars signs" yet?

Don't worry if you don't feel like a radio professional; you don't need to be. All you're doing is recording some great information that your prospects are looking for. Don't get nervous, just let your personality shine through and have fun.

Plus, if you screw up, you can edit it! That's the beauty of podcasting; it's not live! So feel free to screw up and start again.

Now you might be thinking, out of all the marketing tools for Realtors out there, that this is just not your "thing". You could be right. But I would challenge you to think about the affects this weapon can have in your marketing arsenal.

Think about how your prospects will view you compared to every other Realtor out there who just hands out business cards. Think about how much this will set you apart from your competition. Think about how many new clients this could bring in for you; possibly resulting in a doubling of your income.

How do you view the radio talk show hosts that you listen to? How about the personalities on TV that you watch? Even if it's unconsciously, you set them up on a pedestal as an expert, don't you? That's the same exact effect you can have on your prospects by using podcasting.

Podcasting is definitely new in terms of marketing tools for Realtors but that's even more reason to jump in and get started; you'll beat the competition to the punch! Try to step out of your comfort zone and give it a shot.

Grab a microphone, plug it into your computer, pick a few topics to talk about and turn yourself into a real estate celebrity. You never know, you just might enjoy it. Your bank account sure will!

In 1962, Neil Diamond signed a recording contract with Columbia Records, but failed to produce any hits. So, it was back to songwriting for Diamond, whose first success came when Jay and the Americans recorded his song "Sunday And Me." They went Top 20 on the Billboard charts with it.

Other artists who recorded Neil Diamond compositions include: Elvis Presley, Mark Lindsay (of Paul Revere and the Raiders fame), Lulu, and Deep Purple. He also wrote for The Monkees TV show. Even though "I'm A Believer" and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" were recorded by The Monkees, these songs were written by Diamond to record himself.

Diamond signed with Bang Records in 1966 and his first single, "Solitary Man" didn't break into the Top 40. However, it was released again in 1970 and went to #21 on the weekly charts. His next single, "Cherry Cherry" gave Diamond his first hit and he managed to have a Top 40 hit every year between 1966-1983.

Ironically, Diamond's biggest hit of all time is a duet with another Brooklyn native, Barbra Streisand. Both had recorded Diamond's composition of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" on separate albums. Two Detroit deejays, Jack Hood and Gene Krusewski, noticed the similarities in the recordings and mixed the two versions. The song's popularity sparked Diamond and Streisand to go into the studio and record it together.

Here's a look at Neil Diamond's twenty biggest hits, according to Billboard's weekly Top 40 charts.

1. You Don't Bring Me Flowers - 1978 - labeled as Barbra and Neil. In their early years, Diamond and Streisand sang in a school choir together.
2. Cracklin' Rosie - 1970 - written about a Canadian whiskey and it was Neil's first number one single.
3. Song Sung Blue - 1972 - one of three number one singles for him.
4. Love On The Rocks - 1981 - one of three singles from the film "The Jazz Singer" starring Diamond.
5. Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good) - 1969 - Diamond says it took him an hour to write this song, inspired when he saw a picture of Caroline Kennedy on the cover of Life magazine.
6. I Am...I Said - 1971
7. Heartlight - 1982 - inspired by the 1982 film "ET - The Extraterrestrial."
8. Longfellow Serenade - 1974 - from the "Serenade" album.
9. Holly Holy - 1969
10. Hello Again - 1981 - also from "The Jazz Singer."
11. Cherry, Cherry - 1966 - his first Top 10 single. A live version of this song from the "Hot August Night" album was released as a single and managed to reach #31 on the weekly charts.
12. America - 1981 - the third Top 10 single from "The Jazz Singer."
13. Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon - 1967
14. Yesterday's Songs - 1982
15. If You Know What I Mean - 1976
16. Play Me - 1972
17. I Thank The Lord For The Night Time - 1967 - legendary songwriters Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich can be heard singing backups on this tune.
18. Stones - 1971
19. Desiree - 1978
20. I Got The Feelin' (Oh No No) - 1966 - a song also covered by Cliff Richard.

Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand had plans for a movie version of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", but Diamond made the remake of the Al Jolson classic "The Jazz Singer" in 1980, for which Diamond composed the music. Neil Diamond continues to tour and record, including his third album of holiday music, "A Cherry Cherry Christmas", which was released in 2009. In September 2010, Diamond was nominated for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.