Recording - March 2012 - 29
that will make latency shrink to the vanishing point. But as of this writing, there are very few Thunderbolt devices out there, and none of them are meant for music (although that will change soon—see next issue’s NAMM report). So I am labeling that little port as having a lot of potential without yet impacting the MacBook Air’s usefulness for music. For basic mixing and listening, the 1/8" headphone output provides good audio quality, but it’s easy to add an audio interface and a MIDI controller to the two USB ports for serious music work. If you need an optical drive to load software or audio files, you can buy one as a USB peripheral, or use DVD or CD Sharing to wirelessly pull data from the optical drive of a nearby Mac (or PC, reportedly, although I didn’t test this). What about cost? The Airs are Apple’s cheapest MacBooks now; the base 11" model, which would be fine for GarageBand use, sells for $999, and a maxed-out 13" model is $1699. In comparison, you can get a 13" MacBook Pro with all the ports and drives established music recordists might miss for $1199, but that model will be only marginally faster than the fastest MacBook Air. To get dedicated graphics hardware and a quad-core processor, you’d need a 15" MacBook Pro, which starts at $1799. As always with Apple, you pay a premium for high-end power and connectivity, but that doesn’t make the work experience with the MacBook Air any less satisfying for the entrylevel/small-rig user. Speaking of the work experience, Mac OS X Lion is up to version 10.7.2 as of this writing, and it’s an intriguing take on the familiar Mac OS. Folks who have only worked with older Macs may scratch their heads at some of the new offerings in Lion, but anyone who’s worked with an iOS device will immediately see where Apple’s taking the Mac. For better or worse, the Mac is becoming more iPad-like with Lion; multitouch gestures, full-screen apps, and organization/control features like Mission Control and Launchpad, all point toward a very iOS-like interaction with the Mac... one that’s sped along by the newest Macs’ multitouch trackpads, but remains slightly awkward simply because their screens aren’t (yet?) touch-sensitive. But much of what made Snow Leopard such a worldbeating OS is still here, and certainly Lion hasn’t hurt Apple’s DAW software any... which brings me to GarageBand ’11. Learn, flex, groove, and twang There are a fair number of new features in GarageBand ’11; on the educational/ tutorial side, for example, there are a variety of new HD videos for teaching guitar and piano, and a “How Did I Play?” analysis of your technique that tracks your improvement over time. But for recording musicians, the most significant new features
RECORDING MARCH 2012
29
http://www.radialeng.com
http://www.radialeng.com
Recording - March 2012
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - March 2012
Recording - March 2012
Fade In
Contents
Talkback
Fast Forward
Emmylou Harris: The Songwriter And The Studio
BOSS MICRO BR BR-80 Digital Recorder
Songwriters—Turn Your Songs Into Money!
Reviewed & Revisited: Apple MacBook Air and GarageBand ’11
Ronan Chris Murphy: Sage Advice For The Recording Singer/Songwriter
Cakewalk Music Creator 6
Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 3: Introduction To Audio—Part Two (Where Do The Mics Go?)
Slate Pro Audio Fox Mic Preamp
From Songwriting To Final Master: A Recording Project
Reviewed & Revisited: Steinberg Cubase 6
A Demo In A Day
Once Over—Reviews In Brief
Readers' Tapes
Advertiser Index
Fade Out
Recording - March 2012 - Intro
Recording - March 2012 - Recording - March 2012
Recording - March 2012 - Cover2
Recording - March 2012 - 1
Recording - March 2012 - 2
Recording - March 2012 - 3
Recording - March 2012 - Fade In
Recording - March 2012 - 5
Recording - March 2012 - Contents
Recording - March 2012 - 7
Recording - March 2012 - Talkback
Recording - March 2012 - 9
Recording - March 2012 - Fast Forward
Recording - March 2012 - 11
Recording - March 2012 - Emmylou Harris: The Songwriter And The Studio
Recording - March 2012 - 13
Recording - March 2012 - 14
Recording - March 2012 - 15
Recording - March 2012 - 16
Recording - March 2012 - 17
Recording - March 2012 - 18
Recording - March 2012 - 19
Recording - March 2012 - BOSS MICRO BR BR-80 Digital Recorder
Recording - March 2012 - 21
Recording - March 2012 - Songwriters—Turn Your Songs Into Money!
Recording - March 2012 - 23
Recording - March 2012 - 24
Recording - March 2012 - 25
Recording - March 2012 - 26
Recording - March 2012 - 27
Recording - March 2012 - Reviewed & Revisited: Apple MacBook Air and GarageBand ’11
Recording - March 2012 - 29
Recording - March 2012 - 30
Recording - March 2012 - 31
Recording - March 2012 - 32
Recording - March 2012 - 33
Recording - March 2012 - Ronan Chris Murphy: Sage Advice For The Recording Singer/Songwriter
Recording - March 2012 - 35
Recording - March 2012 - 36
Recording - March 2012 - 37
Recording - March 2012 - Cakewalk Music Creator 6
Recording - March 2012 - 39
Recording - March 2012 - Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 3: Introduction To Audio—Part Two (Where Do The Mics Go?)
Recording - March 2012 - 41
Recording - March 2012 - 42
Recording - March 2012 - 43
Recording - March 2012 - Slate Pro Audio Fox Mic Preamp
Recording - March 2012 - 45
Recording - March 2012 - From Songwriting To Final Master: A Recording Project
Recording - March 2012 - 47
Recording - March 2012 - 48
Recording - March 2012 - 49
Recording - March 2012 - 50
Recording - March 2012 - 51
Recording - March 2012 - 52
Recording - March 2012 - 53
Recording - March 2012 - 54
Recording - March 2012 - 55
Recording - March 2012 - Reviewed & Revisited: Steinberg Cubase 6
Recording - March 2012 - 57
Recording - March 2012 - A Demo In A Day
Recording - March 2012 - 59
Recording - March 2012 - Once Over—Reviews In Brief
Recording - March 2012 - 61
Recording - March 2012 - 62
Recording - March 2012 - 63
Recording - March 2012 - Readers' Tapes
Recording - March 2012 - Advertiser Index
Recording - March 2012 - 66
Recording - March 2012 - 67
Recording - March 2012 - 68
Recording - March 2012 - 69
Recording - March 2012 - 70
Recording - March 2012 - 71
Recording - March 2012 - Fade Out
Recording - March 2012 - Cover3
Recording - March 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_20205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/nxtd
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com