STACK #225 July 2023

TECH FEATURE

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Modern keyboards offer ways to get into composing and playing without years of piano lessons. Providing you can discern what sounds good, you’re set – and some keyboards can ensure

that everything you play is within a set key, so no bum notes. Many also include touch sensitive pads, programmable to trigger sounds or functions at a press.

Novation Launchkey MK3 MIDI Keyboard Controller Available at JB in three

convenient sizes, ranging from 25 full-sized, velocity sensitive keys through to 37 and 49, plus in a 25 mini-key setup, Novation’s Launchkey works

seamlessly with Ableton Live Lite , which is amongst the impressive suite of included

Whether you want to make your own music, or get creative with tunes made by others, it’s never been easier.The tech is ready and waiting, you just need to add some talent! Words Amy Flower Y ou really don’t need a lot to get creating when setting up a home recording studio, and you can even start small and gradually expand. Paired with a Windows or Mac computer, here are some great places to start.

software. All models include 16 programmable trigger pads, pitch-bend and modulation wheels, and a raft of knobs to delight even the most compulsive twiddlers.

Novation Launchpad

After something more compact and portable than a keyboard for making sounds in any situation? The Launchpad from Novation is for you. Like their Launchkey range, both the Launchpad X and smaller Mini MK3 are fully

If you plan on recording vocals, or want to connect a guitar, bass, or old school synth, then your first necessity is an audio interface. This connects to your computer via USB and acts as a conduit for analogue signals to be converted to the digital domain needed for music recording software. For vocals, a good microphone is another must-have – that old SingStar mic may work at a pinch, but you’re best going with one that's more up to the task.

Ableton Live Lite integrated and are a more tactile way of composing music or triggering sounds than clicking a mouse. 64 velocity and pressure sensitive pads offer heaps of control, and the included software could have you pumping out master mixes in no time.

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio A superb one-stop shop for getting your home studio started, you get a studio-quality audio interface, a condenser microphone, XLR and USB cables, and a pair of headphones for monitoring – or for working in the wee hours. Focusrite’s Scarlett 2i2 audio interface has two preamps for microphone and/or instrument input, while the CM25 Mk2 mic delivers a clear tone that’s perfect for any vocal style. A broad selection of software is bundled, which includes the Ableton Live Lite and Pro Tools First DAWs, and several apps and plugins covering instruments and effects.

More into getting creative with existing tunes? There’s DJ gear that’ll have you mixing things up with

ease. Numark make decks suitable for everybody from beginner to pro, kicking off with the super-fun Party Mix II DJ Controller . With two big wheels for scratching, just plug it into a PC or iOS device full of tunes (or hooked into a supported streaming service) and let loose your DJing creativity. It comes with Serato Lite DJ software, and even has built-in party lights! Moving up the range, the Mixtrack Pro FX ups audio quality and convenient features, while the Mixtrack Platinum FX goes all the way with the ability to layer four audio tracks, plus even more useful functionality added.

WELL, DAW! You’re likely to hear the term DAW when talk turns to home studios – we’ve already dropped it here. It stands for Digital Audio Workstation, which is software used to record, edit, and produce audio. It’s basically a recording studio inside your computer, allowing recordings of analogue audio like vocals and guitars to be combined with computer-tracked sounds and samples, then mixed and processed with effects, ready for sharing.

38 JULY 2023

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