Introduction to Audio CD Production

I have been doing my own audio CD production for a few years now.

I really enjoy playing my own tracks when I DJ. If you want to be a highly respected professional DJ then you have to make your own dance music to play out on CD or vinyl.

Audio CD Production is not that difficult especially if you are really into the music and know what sounds good.

Computers are much faster and it is now possible to create professional tracks using just a PC. Audio CD production is quite demanding so you will need a good PC. Check out the Dell XPS 710 H2C Edition Desktop Computer (DXCQZH1_1) - Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz/320GB/4GB

The Dell XPS 710 H2C Edition Desktop Computer with Intel� Core�2 Extreme X6800 (4MB,3.46GHz Factory overclocked)has 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 4 DIMMs, 320GB Performance RAID 0 (2 x 160GB SATA 3Gb/s 10,000 RPM HDDs). With a 20 inch UltraSharp� 2007WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel and Dual NVIDIA� GeForce� 8800 GTX the graphics are incredible. It also features 768 MB. Dual Drives (16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+/-RW w/ dbl layer write capable) and Sound Blaster� X-Fi� XtremeMusic (D) Sound Card and the standard Dell USB Keyboard.

OK once you have a decent computer and a little computer knowledge, you are ready to get started on your own audio CD production ...

Making your own tracks is fun and you don't have to be a total geek either.

Basic introduction to the software I use for Audio CD Production.

Cubase is the main software I use. It is an audio and midi sequencer. I use Cubase to lay out audio loops and midi data.

This program is great for creating the structure of your tracks, the breakdowns and the drops etc. Audio loops could be drum loops from a sample CD or audio you have recorded from a microphone.

Midi data is used to control virtual instruments. The midi tells them what notes to play and when to play them. Cubase is professional music production software.

Steinberg Cubase 4 Studio

Designed from the ground up for professional music production, Cubase 4 set a new standard for integrated music production software by combining powerful audio and MIDI recording, synthesis, editing, mixing and effects. This streamlined Cubase 4 Studio package has 46 plug-ins to give you the power to create, record, and mix. SoundFrame universal sound integration manages any sound from any source hardware or software while the MediaBay provides an ideal way to organize media files. Cubase 4 also features Steinberg's unique Play Order Track, for creating and arranging patterns and AudioWarp for real-time time stretching and pitch shifting of audio. Harness all this production power with a user interface redesigned to speed-up your workflow and boost your creativity.

Steinberg Cubase 4

Designed from the ground up for professional music production, Cubase 4 sets a powerful standard for integrated music production software by combining powerful audio and MIDI recording, synthesis, editing, mixing and effects. 52 VST plug-ins (including 34 new VST3 FXs )and four integrated software synths (including sounds powered by the Yamaha Motif) give you the power to create, record, and mix. The Control Room eliminates the need for an external mixer and gives you virtual control room functionality right inside your DAW. SoundFrame universal sound integration manages any sound from any source hardware or software while the MediaBay file management system provides an ideal way to organize all of your media files. Cubase 4 also features Steinberg's unique Play Order Track, for creating and arranging patterns and AudioWarp for realtime time stretching and pitch shifting of audio. Harness all this production power with a user interface redesigned to speed-up your workflow and boost your creativity.

I have been using this program for years. I like it so much I went to the trouble of writing an introductory tutorial for it.

If you want to know more about this program have a look at my Cubase introductory tutorial.

If you really want to jump start your training with Cubase, check this out:

Here is a list of the virtual instruments that I use with Cubase to create the sounds in my tracks:

Audio CD Production Using Halion:

Steinberg Halion 3.1 Sampler Software

Since its launch in 2001, HALion has been pushing back boundaries in virtual samplers. HALion 3 is no exception: over 50 new features ensure that HALion stays where it always has been: at the forefront of digital audio technology. Building on the outstanding surround-capable HALion 2.0 sampling engine with support for up to 32-bit floating point files, HALion 3 adds even more new capabilities. A new output routing system allows you to create and configure the audio outputs; only the outputs you need will be routed directly to the host VST mixer. The sleek new user interface is not only easy on the eyes but has been restructured to keep switching between the different HALion 3 views to a minimum.Check out the improvements in HALion 3:New file browser with drag and drop support, favorites system, sound categorization and database indexing. An impressive set of powerful new sound management tools gives you a clear overview over all your sound files. The intuitive sound categories system lets you group related sounds, making it easy to find them quickly! Dazzling new Insert and Send Effects section 27 quality effects encompass just about any effect requirement. They can be applied to individual samples, sample groups or entire programs. Effect sends can be sent to HALion's internal FX section or even directly to the VST mixer to share plug-in resources between the host and HALion.HALion 3 now offers RAMSaveT,...

Halion is a software sampler. You can load any audio into this program and have it play back whenever you want at different pitches or through a filter. If you want to learn how to use Halion click here

Audio CD Production Using Reason 3.0:

Propellerhead Reason 3.0 Sequencing Production Software Hybrid CD Win/Mac

Propellerhead Reason 3.0 has it all: synthesizers, sequencing, samplers, drum machine, ReCycle-based loop player, mixer, effects, pattern sequencer, and more. As many of each as your computer can handle. Reason is an infinitely expandable music workstation and version 3.0 introduces the Combinator�a sophisticated software device that allows you to build elaborate chains of Reason units� and save as them as patches.Less fuss, more freedomAs a Reason user, you can forget about the downside of music production. Forget malfunctioning modules and confusing connections. Reason's cables don't tangle. Forget about steep learning curves and menus within menus. Reason is so direct you'll learn it in minutes. And forget the tedious process of gathering all the different disks and soundbanks needed to load up a song.Stellar soundThe audio quality is everything you would expect from the people behind ReCycle and ReBirth. But pristine sound quality is only half the story; the instruments and effects in Reason are loaded with character and attitude. Reason will not just impress, it will inspire you.All controls work as their real-life counterpartsEach unit in Reason's virtual rack is edited from its own onscreen front panel. All the sliders, knobs, buttons, and functions are right in front of you, ready to be tweaked, turned, and twisted in absolute real time. And all your front-panel...

This is a great piece of software that has samplers, bass synths and drum machines. It can integrate into Cubase or be a stand alone program. If you want to learn how to use Reason click here or check out these neat CD/DVD products that will guide you along the way:

Thomson Technologies Reason 3 CSI Master (CD-ROM)

Get ready to master the key operational techniques and cool new features of Propellerhead Reason 3 with this hands-on, interactive CD-ROM! If you currently use Reason and want to get more out of your rig, this CD-ROM will take you to the next level. If you're a new user, the introduction topic will walk you through set-up, first record, edit and mix. Packed with approximately six hours of CSi movie tutorials, this learning tool enables you to sit back and watch as a pro guides you through not only functionality, but also production techniques, special shortcuts, key commands, and before-and-after audio examples. Then, you can practice what you've learned with the quizzing feature. Even the most experienced Reason users will find tips and techniques to take their expertise to new heights! With the updated CSi MT Player 4 interface, you'll also enjoy a new custom movie placback bar with fast forward and rewind scan options, and location markers that provide an easy way to instantly access the key location of each movie tutorial. Work your way through easy-to-follow tutorials, including: new features of Reason 3, optimizing Reason, loop controls, Lane editors, RV7000, Reverb, Malstr�m, publishing a song, Matrix.

Audio CD Production Using Pro 53:

Native Instruments Pro-53

The PRO-53 carries on the tradition from the legendary days of vintage cult synthesizers. This virtual instrument, fashioned after the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, provides the sonic properties of the original while meeting today's practical requirements. Inspired by the immortal sound of the synthesizer giants of the '80s, Native Instruments created the PRO-53 to deliver in software those qualities that have been such a major influence on popular music in the past 20 years: brilliance, power, warmth and beauty. Through Native Instruments' creative development philosophy, these timeless aesthetics have now reached the next step in their evolution. The result is the manifest redefinition of an original that was regarded as unrivalled until now. PRO-53 The New Version With the PRO-53, the third generation of the virtual analog classic is now available. The synthesizer emulation has been vastly improved by a new oscillator technology that offers an even warmer and more brilliant sound. In addition the sonic possibilities have been expanded even further with new features like a high-pass filter mode and an invertible filter envelope. The control surface is also reworked. Using Native Instruments' highly advanced NSP-Technology (Native Signal Processing) delivers a software synthesizer that rivals its legendary hardware predecessors. The Native Instruments PRO-53 sets new standards without abandoning its...

This is a software synth that emulates the sounds of the classic Prophet 5 synthesizer.If you want to learn how to use Pro 53 click here.

Audio CD Production With A Drum Machine

I also have a Roland MC 307 drum machine that can also be controlled with midi data. I simply sequence the midi data, set the midi channel to my soundcard's midi out and record in the audio from the drum machine into Cubase.

But the MC-307 has been discontinued, so I recommend you check out these options:

Boss Dr. Rhythm DR-880 Rhythm Machine

The Boss Dr. Rhythm DR-880 Rhythm Machine is a rhythm-programming powerhouse loaded with world-class drum, percussion, and bass sounds from Roland's famous SRX library. It also includes a stunning collection of original waveforms. You can get microscopic in programming the DR-880, but you also have the option of taking the simple route with its 3 EZ Compose buttons that allow original patterns to be constructed without note-by-note programming hassles. Patterns can be taken deeper with the Groove Modify feature, where various groove and triplet feels can be applied. Ghost notes and fills can also be added automatically. Guitar and bass players can join the action by plugging directly to the DR-880's Guitar/Bass Input jack, and playing through the built-in COSM Drive/amp models and multi-effects.

If you want to learn more about drum machines and how to use them with Cubase ... click here.