One of the best all-round DAWs in the industry is Reaper, my go-to software for editing podcasts and spoken-word audio. While I rely on Ableton as my music production DAW, Reaper offers significant advantages when it comes to podcast audio. This guide will show you some of the best features and tricks to use in Reaper for editing podcasts, lectures, and any other recordings of people speaking. The first thing you will want to do is install the SWS extensions. These are community-based add-ons to Reaper which extend the functionality significantly. They can be downloaded from the official SWS E ..read more

AI is one of the coolest and scariest human creations. It has progressed leaps and bounds in recent history, getting closer to being indistinguishable from humans. From image recognition to text generation, it can automate a lot of tasks. The following article is written by an AI called GPT-J-6B as an experiment to see what wisdom we can glean from it. I have highlighted some of the funny parts in italics where the AI has gone a bit off-topic, but most people will be impressed with some of the generic wisdom available! Tips for increasing songwriting productivity by GPT-J-6B When I worked as ..read more

It’s time to explore some of the feature in Ableton that are hidden or less obvious. Even if you think you’ve got the hang of Ableton, you’ll find little hidden features that you wish you knew sooner. A word of caution: there may be several smug people commenting that they already knew these features. Don’t feel put off, there are so many cool tricks and options in a DAW that it takes lots of time to learn it all. EQ Eight allows selecting and dragging multiple bands This may not be the most revolutionary in the list, but it is a great feature that isn’t immediately apparent. It is especially ..read more

Getting started with making electronic music can be expensive and you may ask yourself whether you actually need a MIDI keyboard to make electronic music at home. I want to get straight to the point and say that a MIDI keyboard is not essential for producing music, but there are a number of reasons why it is great…as well as a few alternatives you may want to consider! For those of you very new to music production, a MIDI keyboard is generally a keyboard that you can plug into a computer or synth. It won’t make any noises by itself – unlike electric pianos – but it has a huge amount of versat ..read more

When it comes to production tips, you tend to focus on getting the song produced. Producer Chris Lake has shared a trick for the long term, however, that is definitely a must-know for all producers. Posting on Twitter, the hit producer explained why he can no longer revisit old tracks and how he wished he’s thought ahead. He said: “Once you finish a track, make sure you back up that project, but take into consideration how hard it may be to open this up in 10-15 years when you could get the rights back to your single (if you released it on another label). “Often, third party plugins won’t wor ..read more

Korg have announced their latest hardware in the form of a step sequencer, named the SQ-64, due out in 2021. Featuring a 64-pad matrix, OLED display, and a serious set of outputs, this compact aluminium-built sequencer means business. This device sets out to be the centrepiece in your sequencing workflow and will be able to control an assortment of hardware analogue synths, Eurorack, and drum synths. SEE ALSO: This open-source mastering tool is free…and it actually works great! Set to cost €299, the unit will provide “seamless control over all your instruments so you can focus on what matters ..read more

There are many online tools that can automatically master your track, but today I am going to show you a really cool free mastering tool called Matchering 2.0. Available on GitHub here, Matchering 2.0 is a “novel containerised web application and Python library for audio matching and mastering”. It can be compared to premium tools such as LANDR and eMastered. Simply put, it will take your mix and make it sound more like a song of your choosing (with regard to the master mix). What version to choose? It consists of two parts: Matchering Core and Matchering Web. Matchering Core: A separate modu ..read more

Ableton have release the upcoming release of Live 11, the latest edition of one of the most popular DAWs on the market today. With much-needed features such as comping and the addition of several new devices, Live 11 is a welcome update for Ableton users. Set for release in early 2021, new users can also get a 20% discount on Live 10, complete with a free upgrade to Live 11 when it releases. There really isn’t a better time to jump on the Ableton bus. SEE ALSO: What’s the difference between Compressor and Glue Compressor How much is Ableton Live 11? Download versions of Ableton Live 11 will c ..read more

FireSonic have unveiled their newest VST plugin – FireCharger – with the goal of using smart algorithms to enhance and supercharge your sound. FireCharger includes emulations of analogue tape and advanced exciters for spectral charging and “instantly bettering the sound”. It’s creators say it works by analysing audio material “to get it as close as possible to what its active audio engineering creators consider to be ideal”, resulting in a “better-balanced richer sound”. SEE ALSO: Native Instruments Supercharger GT – Compressor Review The plugin is designed to be scalable to fit any screen, a ..read more

KORG have unveiled their latest music workstation synth, the Nautilus, featuring nine synth engines and a full-colour 7-inch touchscreen screen. Coming in three configurations, the 61 and 73-key Nautilus offers synth action, while the 88-key version offers a more piano-like hammer action. Expected to start shipping early next year, Nautilus will cost £1949 for the 61-note keyboard, £2199 for the 73-note version, and £2549 for the 88-note version. Nautilus harnesses nine synthesizer/sound engines into a single, integrated musical instrument. Dynamic voice allocation and new technologies allow ..read more