After a long wait, I have finally released a new song! Electro Light is a catchy electronic song, with a lot of great synth, piano, and drums. Please take a moment to listen! Listed below are links to other streaming and download sites.
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
Google Play
YouTube
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
New Music Coming Soon!
Take a look at the album art for my new song "Electro Light". I'll post a preview very soon! In the mean time, be sure to check out the Captain Sea Breeze EP if you haven't already....click here to listen/download music for free on my website.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Don't Lose Your Tunes
One of the biggest frustrations for a composer is having an
amazing melody in your head, and then forgetting it by the time you get to a
place where you can turn it into a song. I have experienced this on many
occasions, but thankfully there are a few easy ways to combat this problem.
First of all, having a music notation app on your phone is a
great idea. There are plenty of different apps you can find that allow you to
put notes on a staff or make a quick recording. That way, if you think of a melody you can quick put it
in the app for later. If you have an iPhone you might want to download
GarageBand. It’s really simple to record ideas with GarageBand and come back
for them later.
Another simple way to remember your tunes while you’re on
the go is to record them with your phone. Most phones today have voice
recording abilities, so if inspiration strikes, pull out your phone and record
yourself humming or singing the idea. This method is one I have used often.
Lastly, there’s always the option of carrying around a small
notepad or piece of paper. That way you can jot down ideas easily whenever they
come to you.
These are just a few of the tricks I use to avoid losing
great melodies. If you have other methods that you use, please add them in the
comments below!
Thursday, September 10, 2015
How to Get Over Writer's Block
As a songwriter, you will have ups and downs with your creativity. Sometimes new ideas keep popping into your head so fast you can't even record them all. Other times, you try to come up with tunes but you just get stuck. It's a frustration all composers deal with at some point. In this article I hope to give you a few ideas for how you can overcome this "musical writer's block".
1. Take a Break
This is probably one of the first steps you should consider. Unless you have a deadline coming up, just take a break from the music. It could be a few hours, or maybe even a few days. Just set the music aside and give your brain some time to reset.
Maybe it's just one particular song you're stuck on. In that case, work on some other music and come back to it another time. Sometimes the other songs you're working on will help open up your creativity a little bit.
2. Get Inspired
Sometimes composers just need to get some new inspiration. This can be achieved in many different ways. Try watching an emotional movie. That usually gives me the inspiration I need to write a song. Another thing you can do is listen to the music of other musicians. Of course you don't want to get inspired to the point that you end up copying their music, but often times listening to other artist's music can open your mind to new ideas and styles. You want to hear more than just your own music or else you won't broaden your musical horizons.
There are many other things you can try as well, like going for a walk, visiting a beautiful place, or reading a good book. Figure out what works best for you, because we all get inspiration from different places.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Mac or PC for Music Production?
Just a couple days ago I purchased my first MacBook Pro. Until this point I have always been a PC user, but now I've decided to make the switch. It seems like Macs tend to be the computer of choice for musicians these days, so I'm excited to see how it works for me! I'm also curious to know which computers everyone else is using, so please leave a comment and let me know. I'll be writing a post about my experience with the MacBook Pro as soon as I actually have some experience with it. In the mean time I'd like to hear from you!
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Fast Music Production- A Warning
Sometimes when I sit down in my studio, the inspiration flows freely and I can practically finish a song in one sitting. I like that a lot better than spending weeks wrestling with a song to get it to work. However, you need to be careful with how fast you're producing music.
When I'm producing tracks to sell on royalty free websites, I like to get them done and uploaded quickly so I can get on to the next project, but there's one thing I've learned that I'd like to share with you:
Don't complete a song too fast.
You may think you've created an awesome tune that will get many sales, but don't be in a hurry to get it out there. When you take time away from the song and then come back, you will usually hear something that you don't really like, or you'll find a spot that doesn't quite sound the best. This is why when I'm producing a song for the royalty free market, I always wait another day or two before I upload it to sell, even if I finish it in one day. That way I can come back to it with fresh ears and catch things that I didn't hear the first time around.
Sometimes you may be rushed to get a song done for a project and not have much of a choice, but if you're making music at your own pace, don't rush to get it out there. You will hear new things every time you review your song, so take the extra time to get it right.
When I'm producing tracks to sell on royalty free websites, I like to get them done and uploaded quickly so I can get on to the next project, but there's one thing I've learned that I'd like to share with you:
Don't complete a song too fast.
You may think you've created an awesome tune that will get many sales, but don't be in a hurry to get it out there. When you take time away from the song and then come back, you will usually hear something that you don't really like, or you'll find a spot that doesn't quite sound the best. This is why when I'm producing a song for the royalty free market, I always wait another day or two before I upload it to sell, even if I finish it in one day. That way I can come back to it with fresh ears and catch things that I didn't hear the first time around.
Sometimes you may be rushed to get a song done for a project and not have much of a choice, but if you're making music at your own pace, don't rush to get it out there. You will hear new things every time you review your song, so take the extra time to get it right.
Back to Blogging!
Over the past few months I have been busy with many different things. As a result, I haven't posted on my blog in a while. I'm hoping to have more consistent posts from now on, and I'll have a new blog post up tonight! I'm also planning on releasing some new music soon, so please check out my website for more information!
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Need Music for YouTube?
Have you been looking for a place to find music that is safe and legal to use in your YouTube videos? The tracks in my royalty free music store can be downloaded and used in YouTube videos or any other type of production. There are always some free tracks available, and other songs can be purchased for a reasonable price. Once you purchase the song, you can use it in any of your projects without having to pay extra royalty fees or worrying about your video being blocked because of copyrighted music! Check out the royalty free music on my website by clicking here. If you can't find what you're looking for and would like me to make a song specifically for your project, visit my Project Request page. Please spread the word and let other YouTube video makers know about my site!
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Top Sites to Sell Royalty Free Music/Sound FX
Here is a list of my top five sites for selling royalty free music and sound effects. This is just my personal opinion based on my own experience. However, there are many other great sites out there that I have not even used, so if there's one you really like, let us know in the comments!
1. AudioJungle
2. Pond5
3. Productiontrax
4. MotionElements Stock Footage
5. Music Revolution
1. AudioJungle
2. Pond5
3. Productiontrax
4. MotionElements Stock Footage
5. Music Revolution
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Nektar Impact LX25 Review
The Impact LX25 is a compact MIDI keyboard controller made by Nektar. I bought it a while ago and have been using it a lot, so I wanted to write a quick review about it in case anyone is looking for a new MIDI keyboard.
First of all, the Impact LX25 is pretty easy to set up. The instructions in the manual are thorough and it’s not a super complicated device. The keyboard easily connects to your computer through a USB cord. It has a 25-note keyboard with velocity sensitive keys and 8 velocity sensitive pads for playing drums. The pads can also be programmed to different keys on the keyboard with just a few simple steps to be played as a MIDI note or to trigger loops. The keys aren't amazing but they're not terrible either. You could definitely find better, but considering the price of the Impact, I am fine with the keys. The Impact also has a pitch bend wheel and a modulation wheel for extra musical expression.
One of the most intriguing features of this keyboard is that it has pre-mapped integration with many of the most popular DAW's like Cubase, Studio One, Logic, Sonar, and others. This makes things very convenient when you are using the keyboard to make music! I use the Impact with Studio One and I like having so many controls on the keyboard so that I don’t always have to click controls on my computer. There are buttons on the Impact for play, record, stop, undo, and more. There are also knobs that allow you to control gain levels and edit instruments.
There are even more controls and features that I haven’t used yet or even discovered. My overall impression of the Impact LX25 so far is that it’s a great portable keyboard for an affordable price. While there are many more expensive MIDI keyboards out there that provide even more features and quality, I recommend this keyboard for musicians who don't have a huge budget or just want something affordable for their home studio. It's also ideal for musicians who travel a lot and want something that is easy to carry around. That is one of the main reasons I bought it, and I have already used it multiple times while travelling.
You can find the Impact on Amazon for $99.99. If you get this keyboard, I would also recommend getting the Nektar NP-2 Universal Sustain Pedal. It's an excellent pedal for only $19.99.
If you want a bigger keyboard, the Nektar Impact also comes in a few bigger sizes:
First of all, the Impact LX25 is pretty easy to set up. The instructions in the manual are thorough and it’s not a super complicated device. The keyboard easily connects to your computer through a USB cord. It has a 25-note keyboard with velocity sensitive keys and 8 velocity sensitive pads for playing drums. The pads can also be programmed to different keys on the keyboard with just a few simple steps to be played as a MIDI note or to trigger loops. The keys aren't amazing but they're not terrible either. You could definitely find better, but considering the price of the Impact, I am fine with the keys. The Impact also has a pitch bend wheel and a modulation wheel for extra musical expression.One of the most intriguing features of this keyboard is that it has pre-mapped integration with many of the most popular DAW's like Cubase, Studio One, Logic, Sonar, and others. This makes things very convenient when you are using the keyboard to make music! I use the Impact with Studio One and I like having so many controls on the keyboard so that I don’t always have to click controls on my computer. There are buttons on the Impact for play, record, stop, undo, and more. There are also knobs that allow you to control gain levels and edit instruments.
There are even more controls and features that I haven’t used yet or even discovered. My overall impression of the Impact LX25 so far is that it’s a great portable keyboard for an affordable price. While there are many more expensive MIDI keyboards out there that provide even more features and quality, I recommend this keyboard for musicians who don't have a huge budget or just want something affordable for their home studio. It's also ideal for musicians who travel a lot and want something that is easy to carry around. That is one of the main reasons I bought it, and I have already used it multiple times while travelling.
You can find the Impact on Amazon for $99.99. If you get this keyboard, I would also recommend getting the Nektar NP-2 Universal Sustain Pedal. It's an excellent pedal for only $19.99.
If you want a bigger keyboard, the Nektar Impact also comes in a few bigger sizes:
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Making the Tunes is on Facebook!
I created a Facebook page for my blog! Please check it out and "like" it if you want to get updates when I post on my blog- Making the Tunes Facebook
Friday, March 6, 2015
Beginner's Guide to Making Royalty Free Music
You may have heard the term "royalty free music" before, and maybe you're wondering what exactly it means. If you are a musician who's interested in learning about royalty free music, this post is for you.
When music is sold as royalty free music, it usually means that a person pays a one-time fee to download the track, and then they can use it in their projects, films, videos, commercials, etc., without paying royalties every time the song is used. Different websites have different licensing terms for what exactly the song can be used for, but that's the basic gist of it.
Royalty free music is a great way to make some money with your songs. There are many sites that you can upload your music to, and I've given an overview of those sites in another one of my blog posts. But for this article, I'd like to talk about making the music.
Depending on what kind of music you want to produce, there are different ways to go about it. Most of my music is made using just a MIDI keyboard and Digital Audio Workstation on my computer. For instruments, I use Garritan Instant Orchestra, which is a virtual orchestra that allows me to make realistic sounding recordings without using any real instruments. There are also many other virtual instruments you can find to make your songs.
You may choose to use real instruments if you have access to the proper instruments and recording equipment. However, if you want to make film music or any genre that requires extensive instrumentation, a virtual orchestra may be the best choice for you. It will allow you to make songs quickly and it won't cost you anything once you've purchased the software. You may not need to purchase any VST instruments if your production software comes with instruments, however, getting a high quality virtual orchestra really helps for making film music.
So you may be wondering what kind of music sells best on royalty free websites. Generally the corporate genre seems to be the most popular. Think of the music you would hear on a commercial. It's usually happy and upbeat, and that's what many people need for their projects. Motivational music is another great seller, as many people use it for videos. I think intense film music is another good genre for royalty free music. There's plenty of people looking for that kind of music for their films.
Even if those aren't your styles, you can still make money with other genres like rock, electronic, pop, etc. Buyers are looking for all sorts of music.
The most important thing is to create the music you enjoy. If you already compose piano music, start with some piano tracks! If you make electronic music, try selling that! The main goal is to make good music. All genres of music can sell, so don't worry about trying to switch genres simply because you think you will sell more with a different genre.
Keep your music simple. Most royalty free music is used as background music, so you want it to be appealing, but not so complex that it will take over the production.
When you've finished a song, the next step is uploading it to the websites! If you want to learn about where you can sell your music online, read this post- Make Money With Your Music- Royalty Free Music.
When music is sold as royalty free music, it usually means that a person pays a one-time fee to download the track, and then they can use it in their projects, films, videos, commercials, etc., without paying royalties every time the song is used. Different websites have different licensing terms for what exactly the song can be used for, but that's the basic gist of it.
Royalty free music is a great way to make some money with your songs. There are many sites that you can upload your music to, and I've given an overview of those sites in another one of my blog posts. But for this article, I'd like to talk about making the music.
Depending on what kind of music you want to produce, there are different ways to go about it. Most of my music is made using just a MIDI keyboard and Digital Audio Workstation on my computer. For instruments, I use Garritan Instant Orchestra, which is a virtual orchestra that allows me to make realistic sounding recordings without using any real instruments. There are also many other virtual instruments you can find to make your songs.
You may choose to use real instruments if you have access to the proper instruments and recording equipment. However, if you want to make film music or any genre that requires extensive instrumentation, a virtual orchestra may be the best choice for you. It will allow you to make songs quickly and it won't cost you anything once you've purchased the software. You may not need to purchase any VST instruments if your production software comes with instruments, however, getting a high quality virtual orchestra really helps for making film music.
So you may be wondering what kind of music sells best on royalty free websites. Generally the corporate genre seems to be the most popular. Think of the music you would hear on a commercial. It's usually happy and upbeat, and that's what many people need for their projects. Motivational music is another great seller, as many people use it for videos. I think intense film music is another good genre for royalty free music. There's plenty of people looking for that kind of music for their films.
Even if those aren't your styles, you can still make money with other genres like rock, electronic, pop, etc. Buyers are looking for all sorts of music.
The most important thing is to create the music you enjoy. If you already compose piano music, start with some piano tracks! If you make electronic music, try selling that! The main goal is to make good music. All genres of music can sell, so don't worry about trying to switch genres simply because you think you will sell more with a different genre.
Keep your music simple. Most royalty free music is used as background music, so you want it to be appealing, but not so complex that it will take over the production.
When you've finished a song, the next step is uploading it to the websites! If you want to learn about where you can sell your music online, read this post- Make Money With Your Music- Royalty Free Music.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Using Two Screens to Increase Productivity
Up until this point I have been using my laptop with Studio One to produce most of my music. It's worked for me but I wanted a setup that would help my production process move along more smoothly.So I went out and bought a cheap monitor to connect to my laptop so that I would have two screens to work with. Already I can tell this was a good choice. I have my main DAW screen on the monitor (because it's bigger than my laptop), and then on my laptop screen I have the mixer or track editor in full screen mode.
This setup accomplishes a couple of different things. It's nice to have the mixer on a second screen so that it doesn't get in the way of things on the main screen. Now I can just leave it up there the whole time and if I need to make a quick adjustment on one of the tracks I can do it immediately since I already have the mixer up.
Having the full screen mixer in Studio One allows me to see all of the effects that are assigned to each track. I no longer have to expand anything to see which effects are on each particular track.The two screen setup is great with Studio One. If you want to try it out, you can find plenty of affordable monitors on Amazon. It's really easy to set up and definitely worth a try.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Just Upgraded my PreSonus Studio One
For a while now I have been using Studio One Artist to make most of my music. PreSonus has four levels for the Studio One software- Free, Artist, Producer, and Professional. The Artist edition has worked well so far, but there are some awesome features that are only available in the Professional version.
Yesterday I took advantage of a sale at Sweetwater and upgraded my Studio One to the Professional edition. I was able to get it for $179.97, which is an amazing deal! (The upgrade would usually cost around $300). I've had just a little time to use it so far and I can already tell it was worth upgrading!
Here are a few features that I received by upgrading to Studio One Professional:
-VST plug-in support- I can now add other plug-ins and virtual instruments to use in Studio One.
-More Effect Plug-ins Included- Upgrading the software added some sweet new plug-ins for mastering.
-Mastering Suite- Automatic mix updating, CD burning, digital release, export to SoundCloud, and more.
-Integrated Melodyne Pitch Correction
-Export/Import MP3's
-QuickTime Video Player
Studio One Professional gives you everything you need to produce music. I recommend you take a look at this software if you're looking for a DAW that will allow you to do everything from recording to releasing the finished product!
Yesterday I took advantage of a sale at Sweetwater and upgraded my Studio One to the Professional edition. I was able to get it for $179.97, which is an amazing deal! (The upgrade would usually cost around $300). I've had just a little time to use it so far and I can already tell it was worth upgrading!
Here are a few features that I received by upgrading to Studio One Professional:
-VST plug-in support- I can now add other plug-ins and virtual instruments to use in Studio One.
-More Effect Plug-ins Included- Upgrading the software added some sweet new plug-ins for mastering.
-Mastering Suite- Automatic mix updating, CD burning, digital release, export to SoundCloud, and more.
-Integrated Melodyne Pitch Correction
-Export/Import MP3's
-QuickTime Video Player
Studio One Professional gives you everything you need to produce music. I recommend you take a look at this software if you're looking for a DAW that will allow you to do everything from recording to releasing the finished product!
Saturday, February 7, 2015
The Guitar Doorbell
For all you guitar players out there!
This guitar doorbell strums a chord every time the door is opened or closed. It's a fully playable guitar and it comes with the hardware to mount it above your door. Click here to learn more!
This guitar doorbell strums a chord every time the door is opened or closed. It's a fully playable guitar and it comes with the hardware to mount it above your door. Click here to learn more!
Friday, February 6, 2015
Can You Make Money Selling Sound Effects?
Making sound effects sounds like a cool way to make some money! But is this even possible? The short answer is, yes! You can make money with sound effects and this post will tell you how!
Now before you get your hopes up, it's important that you understand that you will probably (definitely) not make a living selling sound effects. But if you like making sound effects, why not try selling them to make a little cash! Even if you have never made sound effects but think it would be cool to try, it's really not that hard to do!
Keep in mind that you will need a decent sound recorder to record the sounds if you plan on selling them. Unfortunately your phone probably won't be good enough. You should be able to find a microphone on Amazon if you don't already have one. You'll also want to get some sort of software like Audacity for editing your sounds. You can download Audacity for free here.
Now let's talk about where you can sell your sound effects, and then we'll talk about how much you can make and what kind of sounds sell the best.
Pond5 is a website that sells stock media. They sell a few different things, including music, video footage, photos, and sound effects. You can easily make an account and upload your sound effects, and if they pass the review, they'll be up for sale in a few days!
Now you're probably wondering just how much money you can make from this, so I'll tell you about my personal experience with it so far. I made an account with a friend to sell sound effects on Pond5. We started about nine months ago, uploading 50 sound effects. We really haven't done anything with it since then. We've made about $36 and it only took us a few hours to make the effects. The nice thing is that even though we haven't been uploading anything or doing any work, we can still make money from downloads!
I also recently added a few sound effects to my personal Pond5 account (which I mainly use for my music), and I have made $6 within the first month. Obviously that's not much but hey, it hardly took any work and maybe I'll keep getting sales from those sounds!
The amount of money you make will depend on the time you put into it. If you make a ton of quality sounds, you might make a decent amount of spending money over time. Like I said earlier, you won't make a living doing this, but if you like making sound effects, why not try making a little money with them!
To find out what kind of sound effects sell best, take a look around Pond5 and see how many sales different sounds are getting. That will give you an idea of what types of sounds do well. Below is a list of some sound effects I have made. Click the links to view them on Pond5.
Trumpet Fanfares
Stick Snapped
Whoosh
Trombone Failure
If you decide to make an account with Pond5, please go through one of the links on this post to get to the site, because I can get some referral commission if you use my links! Also, please let me know how you do selling sound effects!
UPDATE (2/16/2015)- Just thought I'd add that I just sold 7 sound effects between yesterday and today! That was a nice unexpected bump in sales. Good luck with your sounds!
Now before you get your hopes up, it's important that you understand that you will probably (definitely) not make a living selling sound effects. But if you like making sound effects, why not try selling them to make a little cash! Even if you have never made sound effects but think it would be cool to try, it's really not that hard to do!
Keep in mind that you will need a decent sound recorder to record the sounds if you plan on selling them. Unfortunately your phone probably won't be good enough. You should be able to find a microphone on Amazon if you don't already have one. You'll also want to get some sort of software like Audacity for editing your sounds. You can download Audacity for free here.
Now let's talk about where you can sell your sound effects, and then we'll talk about how much you can make and what kind of sounds sell the best.
Pond5 is a website that sells stock media. They sell a few different things, including music, video footage, photos, and sound effects. You can easily make an account and upload your sound effects, and if they pass the review, they'll be up for sale in a few days!Now you're probably wondering just how much money you can make from this, so I'll tell you about my personal experience with it so far. I made an account with a friend to sell sound effects on Pond5. We started about nine months ago, uploading 50 sound effects. We really haven't done anything with it since then. We've made about $36 and it only took us a few hours to make the effects. The nice thing is that even though we haven't been uploading anything or doing any work, we can still make money from downloads!
I also recently added a few sound effects to my personal Pond5 account (which I mainly use for my music), and I have made $6 within the first month. Obviously that's not much but hey, it hardly took any work and maybe I'll keep getting sales from those sounds!
The amount of money you make will depend on the time you put into it. If you make a ton of quality sounds, you might make a decent amount of spending money over time. Like I said earlier, you won't make a living doing this, but if you like making sound effects, why not try making a little money with them!
To find out what kind of sound effects sell best, take a look around Pond5 and see how many sales different sounds are getting. That will give you an idea of what types of sounds do well. Below is a list of some sound effects I have made. Click the links to view them on Pond5.
Trumpet Fanfares
Stick Snapped
Whoosh
Trombone Failure
If you decide to make an account with Pond5, please go through one of the links on this post to get to the site, because I can get some referral commission if you use my links! Also, please let me know how you do selling sound effects!
UPDATE (2/16/2015)- Just thought I'd add that I just sold 7 sound effects between yesterday and today! That was a nice unexpected bump in sales. Good luck with your sounds!
Monday, February 2, 2015
Sell Your Products Online
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Sheet Music Ideas for Piano Players
Are you looking for some new sheet music to play? Here's a few ideas from SheetMusicPlus that you might enjoy!
River Flows in You
A beautiful piano song by Yiruma. Every pianist should learn this one!
Say Something
This is one of my favorite songs and I love playing it on the piano! Here's the sheet music for it.
Frozen
This book has ten songs from the popular movie Frozen. People will love listening to you play these tunes!
I plan to post sheet music ideas every couple of weeks. So if you like the three I picked for this post please follow my blog or come back soon for more!
River Flows in You
A beautiful piano song by Yiruma. Every pianist should learn this one!
look inside
|
River Flows In You By Yiruma. For piano. New Age; Pop. Piano. 4 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music (HX.182166). |
Say Something
This is one of my favorite songs and I love playing it on the piano! Here's the sheet music for it.
look inside
|
Say Something By A Great Big World. For easy piano. Pop. Easy Piano. 8 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music (HX.281520). |
Frozen
This book has ten songs from the popular movie Frozen. People will love listening to you play these tunes!
look inside
|
Frozen (Piano Solo) (Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack). By Various. By Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. For Piano/Keyboard. Piano Solo Songbook. Intermediate to Advanced. Softcover. 40 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.128220). |
I plan to post sheet music ideas every couple of weeks. So if you like the three I picked for this post please follow my blog or come back soon for more!
Thursday, January 29, 2015
A Complete and Inexpensive Composer's Set-Up
Do you want to compose music? Getting the right equipment for composing does not have to be super expensive. Here are two basic items you can get to be a productive composer.
2. Keyboard
Using a MIDI keyboard will allow you to be more productive and get more music written. When you use a MIDI keyboard with Finale, you can play the notes on the keyboard and they will be notated in Finale as you play them. It's quicker than trying to notate every single note on the computer. The good news is that you don't need a super expensive keyboard for this. Just a basic keyboard that can connect to your computer will work. Look for MIDI Keyboards on Amazon.
You might also need to purchase a MIDI cable to connect the keyboard to the computer. Here's one that will get the job done.
VicTsing USB IN-OUT MIDI Cable
1. Notation Software
Assuming you already have a computer, you should consider getting a notation software for writing music. Finale Songwriter is the one I would suggest for starters. It's not expensive but it will get the job done. If you have a bigger budget you might want to check out the full Finale software.
2. Keyboard
Using a MIDI keyboard will allow you to be more productive and get more music written. When you use a MIDI keyboard with Finale, you can play the notes on the keyboard and they will be notated in Finale as you play them. It's quicker than trying to notate every single note on the computer. The good news is that you don't need a super expensive keyboard for this. Just a basic keyboard that can connect to your computer will work. Look for MIDI Keyboards on Amazon.
You might also need to purchase a MIDI cable to connect the keyboard to the computer. Here's one that will get the job done.
VicTsing USB IN-OUT MIDI Cable
Selling Royalty Free Music- Productiontrax
Selling royalty free music can be a great way for composers to make some extra cash with their music. There are quite a few websites available that allow you to sell your music on their site. In this article I’m going to go over the website Productiontrax.com.
Productiontrax was one of the first websites I uploaded my music to. My first few royalty free music sales were made on Productiontrax and I would recommend it to any composer. Productiontrax allows anyone to make an account and upload music. There is no review process for your music so you can upload it and make it available for selling in minutes. Some may view this as a disadvantage because there is more potential for less quality in the music with no review process like other websites, but most of the music I have listened to on Productiontrax has been quality music.
The site itself is pretty nice. In fact recently they have made a lot of changes to make it even nicer. It is easy to get around the site and the contributor control panel is easy to work with. There is a graph that shows how many track views you have been getting each day. The only downside here is that you don’t know which tracks are getting viewed. As far as track exposure goes, I have around 60 tracks on the site and usually get anywhere from 3-20 views a day. However it is not unusual for that to spike up to around 30-40 some days. So it seems like there is good exposure for your music compared to some other sites.
When you make a sale with Productiontrax, you get 65% of the money. This is a better deal than most royalty free music sites where you get 50%. You can also set the prices for your music, which is a feature that some websites don't offer. There are two different options for someone who is buying your music. They can download a commercial or private license. You can set the price for both, and get a lot more money from selling a commercial license. In fact, most of my sales have been commercial licenses.
My sales have not always been consistent with Productiontrax, and I am not sure how well other composers are doing because you can't see how many sales other people are getting, but I think it is definitely worth putting music on there.
Overall I would say that Productiontrax is a good website that gives composers control over their music. Check it out by clicking here.
Productiontrax was one of the first websites I uploaded my music to. My first few royalty free music sales were made on Productiontrax and I would recommend it to any composer. Productiontrax allows anyone to make an account and upload music. There is no review process for your music so you can upload it and make it available for selling in minutes. Some may view this as a disadvantage because there is more potential for less quality in the music with no review process like other websites, but most of the music I have listened to on Productiontrax has been quality music.
The site itself is pretty nice. In fact recently they have made a lot of changes to make it even nicer. It is easy to get around the site and the contributor control panel is easy to work with. There is a graph that shows how many track views you have been getting each day. The only downside here is that you don’t know which tracks are getting viewed. As far as track exposure goes, I have around 60 tracks on the site and usually get anywhere from 3-20 views a day. However it is not unusual for that to spike up to around 30-40 some days. So it seems like there is good exposure for your music compared to some other sites.
When you make a sale with Productiontrax, you get 65% of the money. This is a better deal than most royalty free music sites where you get 50%. You can also set the prices for your music, which is a feature that some websites don't offer. There are two different options for someone who is buying your music. They can download a commercial or private license. You can set the price for both, and get a lot more money from selling a commercial license. In fact, most of my sales have been commercial licenses.
My sales have not always been consistent with Productiontrax, and I am not sure how well other composers are doing because you can't see how many sales other people are getting, but I think it is definitely worth putting music on there.
Overall I would say that Productiontrax is a good website that gives composers control over their music. Check it out by clicking here.
Get Your Music On iTunes and Spotify For Free!
Spotify and iTunes are two of the most popular places online for music, and many new musicians wonder how they can get there music on these sites. There are distributors that you can pay to put your music up there, but then if you don't end up getting many sales, you could lose money. So many new artists need a different solution.
Thankfully, there is a great way to get your music on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, and many other stores with no upfront charges! So if you're a new musician looking to make you're music available online, keep reading!
Amadea Music is a digital distribution service that will put your music online for free. Once they approve you as an artist, you can upload your music and they will distribute it to online stores all over the world. You have complete control to pick the stores you want your music sent to. Their website is very easy to use and you can get your music uploaded in a short amount of time. Usually your music will be available in stores about a month after you submit it. When you have sales, you get 90% of the money and Amadea Music keeps 10%, which is a good deal. Also, your agreement with them will be non-exclusive, which means you can still sell your music through any other sites while using there service!
This is a great way to get your music online without taking any risks. Check out Amadea Music today and send your music all around the world for free!
Thankfully, there is a great way to get your music on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, and many other stores with no upfront charges! So if you're a new musician looking to make you're music available online, keep reading!
Amadea Music is a digital distribution service that will put your music online for free. Once they approve you as an artist, you can upload your music and they will distribute it to online stores all over the world. You have complete control to pick the stores you want your music sent to. Their website is very easy to use and you can get your music uploaded in a short amount of time. Usually your music will be available in stores about a month after you submit it. When you have sales, you get 90% of the money and Amadea Music keeps 10%, which is a good deal. Also, your agreement with them will be non-exclusive, which means you can still sell your music through any other sites while using there service!
This is a great way to get your music online without taking any risks. Check out Amadea Music today and send your music all around the world for free!
Three Compact MIDI Keyboards That Won't Break Your Bank
Whether you are an amateur musician, hobbyist, or experienced producer, a MIDI keyboard is an important part of your studio. There are many different keyboards to choose from, but here are three that have a good reputation and a low price.
1. Nektar Impact LX25
This is the MIDI controller I currently use, and I love it. It’s easy to set up and it has pre-mapped integration with many popular DAWs like Cubase, Studio One, Logic, and others. It has 25 full sized keys and 8 pads, all velocity sensitive. There are plenty of controls to work with on the keyboard and it really helps make the production process run smoothly. You can also get this keyboard with 49 or 61 keys if you’re looking for something bigger. Check out the Nektar Impact LX25 on Amazon.
2. Akai Professional MPK MINI
This keyboard controller also has 25 keys (mini keys) and 8 pads. An interesting feature on this one is the 4-way thumb stick for dynamic, pitch, and modulation control. Like the Impact, it also has 8 knobs that can be used for different controls. This little keyboard is the #1 Best Seller on Amazon for Computer Recording MIDI Controllers. So, while I have not personally used it yet, it looks like a great option for a MIDI keyboard. Check it out on Amazon.
3. Novation Launchkey Mini
This keyboard has all sorts of awesome features. It has 25 mini keys and 16 velocity sensitive pads that allow you to do all sorts of cool things. It comes with Ableton Live Lite and a Loopmasters sample pack. There are also free iPad apps that you can use with this keyboard. This isn’t even everything that the Launchkey has to offer, but as you can already see, it’s pretty versatile. Learn more about the Launchkey’s features here.
1. Nektar Impact LX25
This is the MIDI controller I currently use, and I love it. It’s easy to set up and it has pre-mapped integration with many popular DAWs like Cubase, Studio One, Logic, and others. It has 25 full sized keys and 8 pads, all velocity sensitive. There are plenty of controls to work with on the keyboard and it really helps make the production process run smoothly. You can also get this keyboard with 49 or 61 keys if you’re looking for something bigger. Check out the Nektar Impact LX25 on Amazon.
2. Akai Professional MPK MINI
This keyboard controller also has 25 keys (mini keys) and 8 pads. An interesting feature on this one is the 4-way thumb stick for dynamic, pitch, and modulation control. Like the Impact, it also has 8 knobs that can be used for different controls. This little keyboard is the #1 Best Seller on Amazon for Computer Recording MIDI Controllers. So, while I have not personally used it yet, it looks like a great option for a MIDI keyboard. Check it out on Amazon.
3. Novation Launchkey Mini
This keyboard has all sorts of awesome features. It has 25 mini keys and 16 velocity sensitive pads that allow you to do all sorts of cool things. It comes with Ableton Live Lite and a Loopmasters sample pack. There are also free iPad apps that you can use with this keyboard. This isn’t even everything that the Launchkey has to offer, but as you can already see, it’s pretty versatile. Learn more about the Launchkey’s features here.
Garritan Instant Orchestra Review
A few months ago I purchased Garritan Instant Orchestra, a software program that allows composers to make realistic sounding orchestrations right from their computer. I have been using this program a lot lately and wanted to write a post about it for any composers who are looking at virtual orchestra programs.
To start with, Garritan Instant Orchestra is a good choice for composers on a budget. You can get it for under $200, which is not that expensive compared to other virtual orchestra programs.
Garritan IO gives you many options to make different moods and styles of music. You can make anything from a small string group to a full orchestra with big brass and drums. One of the coolest things about this program is that there are built-in moods and combinations of instruments that can immediately give you the sound you want. Instead of having to build a section using violins, violas, cellos, etc., you can click on one of the preset groups and immediately have a full sounding string section. There are many other presets as well to make brass, woodwind, or string sections and even full orchestras. This really helps the whole process of creating a song go a lot faster.
Most of the instruments and ensembles in Garritan Instant Orchestra sound pretty similar to real instruments. Some of the samples don't sound quite as good as some other, more expensive virtual orchestras. Personally I think the brass instruments could be better. But there are definitely enough great sounds in Garritan Instant Orchestra to make some good music. There are also ways you can edit the instruments and combinations to get different sounds and styles.
I would definitely suggest taking a look at this program if you are getting into composing and would like to hear the music you are making. It is especially helpful for composers who want to get songs done quickly, because there are so many preset combinations to work with. You can build a full sounding orchestra in a short amount of time. The quality of the Garritan IO is definitely worth the price! Listen to the sample below that is created with Garritan Instant Orchestra. You can check out Garritan on Amazon by clicking here.
To start with, Garritan Instant Orchestra is a good choice for composers on a budget. You can get it for under $200, which is not that expensive compared to other virtual orchestra programs.
Garritan IO gives you many options to make different moods and styles of music. You can make anything from a small string group to a full orchestra with big brass and drums. One of the coolest things about this program is that there are built-in moods and combinations of instruments that can immediately give you the sound you want. Instead of having to build a section using violins, violas, cellos, etc., you can click on one of the preset groups and immediately have a full sounding string section. There are many other presets as well to make brass, woodwind, or string sections and even full orchestras. This really helps the whole process of creating a song go a lot faster.
Most of the instruments and ensembles in Garritan Instant Orchestra sound pretty similar to real instruments. Some of the samples don't sound quite as good as some other, more expensive virtual orchestras. Personally I think the brass instruments could be better. But there are definitely enough great sounds in Garritan Instant Orchestra to make some good music. There are also ways you can edit the instruments and combinations to get different sounds and styles.
I would definitely suggest taking a look at this program if you are getting into composing and would like to hear the music you are making. It is especially helpful for composers who want to get songs done quickly, because there are so many preset combinations to work with. You can build a full sounding orchestra in a short amount of time. The quality of the Garritan IO is definitely worth the price! Listen to the sample below that is created with Garritan Instant Orchestra. You can check out Garritan on Amazon by clicking here.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Make Money with Your Music- Royalty Free Music
Selling royalty free music can be a good way to make a some extra cash as a producer. If you’re not familiar with the term “royalty free music”, I’ll give a quick explanation. Basically, when someone buys music that is “royalty free”, they are essentially buying a license to use the song in their production (commercials, YouTube videos, films, etc.). Rather than paying royalties every time it is used, they pay a one-time fee for permission to use the song in their projects. There are many royalty free music sites (also known as stock music sites) where you can upload your music to sell. When your music gets downloaded from the site, you make money! Most sites will give you 50% of the money for each sale. Sometimes you can get a higher percentage depending on the site.
There’s a brief overview of what royalty free music is. Below is a list of some of the websites that I suggest taking a look at if you want to sell your music.
Pond5- Anyone can upload music to this site. They review it though before it can be put up for sale. The review process is pretty quick, so you can upload music and have it up for sale within a few days. The payout is 50/50 which is generally the average for these sites. Overall it’s a good site and probably one of the first ones I would recommend for someone looking to start selling royalty free music.
Productiontrax- This website also allows anyone to make an account and upload music. Unlike most sites, they do not have a review process, so you just upload your song and it’s available for sale. Productiontrax gives you 65% of the money from each sale which is higher than most stock music sites.
AudioJungle- One of the biggest royalty free markets out there. This one has a strict review process, but if your music is good, AudioJungle is a great place to sell it. Almost every song I’ve uploaded on this site has gotten at least one sale so it’s been pretty successful for me so far. The system for the payout percentage is a little more complicated so I’ll just let you read about it on their site. You can get 50% or 35% depending on the type of account you have. It’s all explained on their website here.
There are other websites out there that you may want to look into, but these are my top three picks. If you start selling royalty free music, please let me know how it goes! If you already sell royalty free music, comment below to let me know what sites you like!
There’s a brief overview of what royalty free music is. Below is a list of some of the websites that I suggest taking a look at if you want to sell your music.
Pond5- Anyone can upload music to this site. They review it though before it can be put up for sale. The review process is pretty quick, so you can upload music and have it up for sale within a few days. The payout is 50/50 which is generally the average for these sites. Overall it’s a good site and probably one of the first ones I would recommend for someone looking to start selling royalty free music.
Productiontrax- This website also allows anyone to make an account and upload music. Unlike most sites, they do not have a review process, so you just upload your song and it’s available for sale. Productiontrax gives you 65% of the money from each sale which is higher than most stock music sites.
AudioJungle- One of the biggest royalty free markets out there. This one has a strict review process, but if your music is good, AudioJungle is a great place to sell it. Almost every song I’ve uploaded on this site has gotten at least one sale so it’s been pretty successful for me so far. The system for the payout percentage is a little more complicated so I’ll just let you read about it on their site. You can get 50% or 35% depending on the type of account you have. It’s all explained on their website here.
There are other websites out there that you may want to look into, but these are my top three picks. If you start selling royalty free music, please let me know how it goes! If you already sell royalty free music, comment below to let me know what sites you like!
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