== Prior Assumptions ==
''Recording with '''Audacity is easier to use than Ardour'''For this tutorial, but it lacks I am using the power of Ardour. Nonetheless, Audacity is a great sound editing tool...''following Hardware to connect to Ubuntu Studio:
= Prior Assumptions =
I am using the following Hardware to connect to Ubuntu Studio:
* '''installed Ubuntu Studio with the Real-Time Kernel'''
* '''Connected a Tascam US-122 Audio/MIDI USB device ''' (confirmed that green light is "on").
If you haven't been able to get your Tascam US-122 device to work, click on the link below and <u>CAREFULLY</u> READ THE INSTRUCTIONS:
[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/TASCAM_US-122 https://help.ubuntu.com/community/TASCAM_US-122])
This instructional tutorial assumes that you have already setup the '''Jack Audio Server''', and are running '''Qsynth'''.<br />
'''Perform this <u>previous</u> tutorial on how to setup the Jack Audio and run Qysynth before proceeding with this tutorial (link displayed below).<br /><br />''' [ [[Quick & Simple - Setting up Jack Server and Q-synth]] ]
= Using Hydrogen (Drum Machine) =
[[Image:hydrogen.png|thumb|350px|right ]]
Hydrogen is a drum machine application. It is useful to allow the user to record drumming patterns (to be looped), or entire drumming patterns for a song.
Although I prefer a REAL drummer, you can use a drum machine as a basis for your song. After the song has been recorded (via Audacity), you can mute the drumming pattern and replace with real drums...
Steps to Launch Hydrogen Drum Machine
# Select '''APPLICATIONS''' -> '''SOUND & VIDEO''' -> '''AUDIO PRODUCTION''' -> '''Hydrogen'''
# The hydrogen application will appear.
The Hydrogen drum machine is pretty easy to use. Just press RECORD, and then click on an appropriate drum sound. The drumming pattern loops, so you can take your time to build more complex drumming patterns. Various drumming patterns can be saved and then can be added in a sequence to build a song... This application also has a "pattern" mode and a "song" mode...
'''Here is a link to the Hydrogen Manual:'''
[http://www.hydrogen-music.org/content/tutorial/manual_en.html http://www.hydrogen-music.org/content/tutorial/manual_en.html]
== Using Audacity (Multi-track Recording) ==
* '''System''' (Vocals via Microphone)
Let's add in each of these elements, track-by-track
=== Using Hydrogen (Drum Machine) ===
[[Image:hydrogen.png|thumb|350px|right ]]
In the Audacity Preferences dialog box, under devices, select Hydrogen (Drum Machine), and close the dialog box.
'''NOTE: Each time you want to "lay-down" a track using a different device, you MUST go to Audacity Preference dialog box and select your Recording Device...'''
Hydrogen is a drum machine application. It is useful to allow the user to record drumming patterns (to be looped), or entire drumming patterns for a song.
Although I prefer a REAL drummer, you can use a drum machine as a basis for your song. After the song has been recorded (via Audacity), you can mute the drumming pattern and replace with real drums...
The Hydrogen drum machine is pretty easy to use. Just press RECORD, and then click on an appropriate drum sound. The drumming pattern loops, so you can take your time to build more complex drumming patterns. Various drumming patterns can be saved and then can be added in a sequence to build a song... This application also has a "pattern" mode and a "song" mode...
Create a drumming pattern, and press play on the hydrogen application to test out the drumming pattern. Stop the drumming pattern.
When you are ready to record, click the record button in the Audacity transport toolbar, and then click the play button in the hydrogen application. Don't worry if there is blank audio, since you can always cut the unwanted portions of the track after recording. When finished, then click the stop button in Hydrogen, and then click the stop button in Audacity. It is recommended to immediately click the rewind button to set the position to the beginning of the track.
Here is a link to the Audacity User's Manual:
[http://audacity.sourceforge.net/manual-1.2/ http://audacity.sourceforge.net/manual-1.2/]
To be completed...
= Sample Recording Demo =
Here is a song demo that I quickly created to demonstrate the quality of the recording:
[ [http://matrix.senecac.on.ca/%7Emurray.saul/megan_green_eyed_lady.mp3 http://matrix.senecac.on.ca/%7Emurray.saul/megan_green_eyed_lady.mp3] ]
'''Some Interesting Facts:'''
* I quickly put together this recording on Monday May 10, 2010. It was spread over the day, but I estimate it '''took me approx one hour to produce'''.
* Downloaded for free ('''Hammond B3''' with slow Leslie sound) from Internet for free (called a "Sound Font" . There are hundreds if not thousands of these available for free and legal). That Hammond sound is for real folks. I'm just missing a half decent midi keyboard to create the modulation for certain sections...
* Never had played '''Sugarloaf's "Green Eyed Lady"''' before. '''Got lyrics and Bass chord progression from Internet for free'''. Played with the organ background (from ear). Had it in approx 20 minutes.
* Started studio application, and recorded drum loop (pretty cheesy, but can be replaced by a real drummer (even this recording...)). Application used for the drum machine is called '''Hydrogen''' and works automatically with recording software (called '''Audacity'''). Recording system is pretty simple to use (with proper instruction).
* Recorded on <u>separate</u> tracks for Drums, the Hammond for bass, and Hammond for organ background, for Vocals. Application called '''Qsynth''' was used to generate the organ sounds.
* Got Megan (my daughter) to practice song (she never sang this song before). She wants to redo this, but you are listening to her sing from only the second take folks (no dubs or "punch-ins").
* Did some post production ('''amplification''' and '''reduction''', '''slight reverb''', and '''fade-outs''').
* '''Exported to an MP3''' and '''finished at approx 4:15 pm.'''
* I can now "farm-out" this recording (file in format to add more tracks) to other friends (musicians) to add guitar, replace with other drums, vocals, effects, etc...
'''Costing Information:'''
* Computer System: '''Free'''
* OS and Recording studio applications: Ubuntu studio ('''Linux=Free(dom)''')
* Keyboard :'''Have one''' ('''i.e. free''' - as long as the keyboard has MIDI, you're in business!)
* Computer to music interface: '''Have one''' ('''i.e. free''', but usually those devices costs approx $90 - $120 Cdn)
* Microphone: '''Have one''' ('''i.e. free''')
* '''Total cost to produce song: $0'''
This is the reason why I'm excited about this project.
I see the power of encouraging the building of this inexpensive recording studios in order to create a wide spectrum of talented individuals for musical collaboration...
Happy Multi-tracking!
Murray Saul
==Interesting Features==
====Creating Playback Loops====
To be completed ...
==Additional Resources==
==== Tutorials ====
To be completed ...