Choosing a keyboard for its action
Some players prefer a lighter action, while some like more resistance. Test out a few models in person at a retailer, being sure to test different styles for at least 10 to 15 minutes, playing both faster synth riffs and heavier piano passages; make sure
Should I record a real drummer or use a drum sampler?
If you want your acoustic drum tracks to be truly ‘human’ and authentic, you might think the best way to do it is to record a real drummer and kit. This route presents you with challenges though.
To begin with, you’ll need a suitable recording space – not something that many of us have access to – and also a decent set of microphones. And there’s no point having these mics if you don’t also know how to position them properly.
It’s at this point that you start to realise that a piece of drum sampling software might be a better option. This will provide you with a massive library of carefully multisampled drum sounds that have, in all likelihood, been recorded by a professional engineer in a top studio using high-end microphones. Most of us just can’t compete with that.
But what about that all important ‘feel’? Again, most drum samplers have you covered to some extent as they come with a wide range of MIDI files featuring performances by pro players, but if you do have a particular drummer you want to use, the best option is to get them behind a decent e-kit that’s hooked up to your software. This way, you can have the best of both worlds: a real drummer triggering top-quality sounds. What’s more, because you’re dealing with MIDI data, you’ll also have total flexibility when it comes to editing the timing and drum kit elements after the recording has been made. Sorted.
Is it worth using more than one DAW?
Ultimately, every piece of software that’s worthy of DAW status is designed to do pretty much the same thing: provide an end-to-end solution that enables you to create a track from start to finish. All you have to do is to decide which one suits you best.
That’s the theory, but as anyone who’s tried multiple DAWs knows, each one has its own strengths and weaknesses and operates in a slightly different way. And that’s why, even when you’ve found what you consider to be the package that best meets your requirements, you might consider using another DAW as well.
Before you go off and find your ‘bit on the side’, though, you need to ask yourself if you really need it. When a flashy update for a DAW that’s not yours is released, it’s always tempting to think that it might add something to your workflow, but if your creativity is flowing just fine in your main production software, you’d be foolish to start looking elsewhere.
However, with some modern DAWs feeling more like playable instruments than virtual tape recorders, there can be creative benefits to working in different environments. We’ve spoken to a lot of pro artists who are committed to one DAW for mixing duties, but like to work on ideas and arrangements in another. You might also find that having a different DAW can be a cure for writer’s block, with a change of software scene being all you need to inspire you.