Digital Performer 7 – New Mixer, Guitar Amp & Score Features

MOTU recently released a new version of Digital Performer, and we have now added a new training course for Digital Performer 7. The most notable improvements in this upgrade involve the Mixing Board and the QuickScribe score editor as well as a set of guitar and bass amp simulation plug-ins. This blog covers the highlights of these new features. (more…)

Sound Forge 10 – Building on Strength

Sony recently released a new version of Sound Forge, and we have now added a new training course for Sound Forge 10. Sound Forge, like most Digital Audio Editors, is a mature product. Thus the new features and functions are relatively incremental. Nonetheless, these enhancements do add significant value to this audio workhorse. We cover the major new functions in-depth in the new tutorials, but I’ll go over the highlights here. (more…)

FL Studio 9 – More Plugs, Fewer Bugs

ImageLine recently released a new version of FL Studio, and we have now added a new training course for FL Studio as well as updating our DAW Shootout. This new version has a few new plug-ins and major features as well as a long list of minor enhancements and bug fixes. We cover the major new functions in-depth in the new tutorials, but I’ll go over the highlights here. (more…)

Sonar 8.5 - Cakewalk Takes a Breather

For the past 7 years every Fall like clockwork Cakewalk has released a new version of Sonar, more frequently than any other DAW manufacturer. So I suspect it’s either the economy or that even the Sonar faithful are becoming a little burned out on new releases (or probably a little of both) that prompted a different strategy this year — Sonar 8.5. Unlike some manufacturers normally Cakewalk only does bug fixes in “point” releases and doesn’t charge for them. The upgrade to Sonar 8.5 costs $99 and has a surprisingly generous amount of new content. In response we decided to issue a free course upgrade for our Sonar 8 customers instead of doing a new course. Here’s my take on the new features in Sonar 8.5. If you’re a first-time Sonar customer, you may also want to take a look at my blog on Sonar 8. (more…)

Logic Pro 9 – Drums, Grooves & Guitars

Apple recently released a new version of Logic Studio, and we have now added a new training course for Logic Pro 9 as well as updating our DAW Shootout. The new versions of most Digital Audio Workstations during the past year have focused on drums, grooves, and, to a lesser extent, guitars. So Logic is basically keeping up with the Joneses. Here are some of the more notable new features. (more…)

Mixing & Mastering (Version 3) – Mo Betta Mastering

We recently released Version 3 of our popular Mixing & Mastering course. What started out as a basic update of the versions of the software products used in the course, turned into a major overhaul – especially for mastering. Somewhat to my surprise we wound up adding about 40 minutes of new content on mastering. I thought it would be worth discussing the rationale for some of the subjects that we added. Here is a summary of the big hitters: (more…)

Ableton Live 8 – Modest but Balanced

Ableton recently released Live 8, and we have now added a new training course for Live 8 as well as updating our DAW Shootout. This upgrade is fairly modest in terms of the number and scope of new features, but it does provide updates for both the basic Digital Audio Workstation functions as well as new functionality for performers and the Electronica music crowd. (more…)

Cubase 5 – Loop & Remix Bonanza

Steinberg recently released Cubase 5, and we have now added a new training course for Cubase 5 as well as updating our DAW Shootout. Although Cubase has always ranked at or near the top as a heavy-duty Digital Audio Workstation, it has never gotten much attention from the loop and remix crowd. Steinberg appears to be on a mission to change that. Cubase 4.1 added integration with Sequel, Steinberg’s recent attempt to compete with Apple GarageBand. Cubase 5 features several plug-ins aimed squarely at the loop and remix market. (more…)