So we have compiled an overview of your ceremony music options, including pros and cons of each, with the aim of making your decision a little less overwhelming:

PART 1

String Quartet

Versatile and expressive, a string quartet (or trio) remains a popular choice for wedding ceremony music. Suitable for both religious and secular ceremonies, string quartets can perform from a large repertoire of classical and popular songs, and it is common for them to accept song requests (as long as they are given enough notice – leaving it until the day itself is a little late!). They also add a fantastic visual element to the occasion, and will stimulate an atmosphere of classic elegance.

String quartets can perform outdoors at garden ceremonies, although they will require cover or shade, as sunlight (or rain!) will damage their instruments.

Hiring a string quartet for your ceremony will cost around $600.

A good idea if you like: ‘Canon in D’ – Pachelbel, ‘Spring’ – Vivaldi, ‘All You Need Is Love’ – The Beatles, ‘Air on G’ – Bach.

Harpist

Hiring a harpist for your wedding ceremony is another more traditional option, however like string quartets, they are suitable for both religious and secular ceremonies. If you have a romantic wedding in mind, a harpist will be ideal, as they exude romance both musically and visually.

The repertoire of a harpist is far more limited than other options, as they have a narrower range of sound and expression. They also have quite a soft dynamic, so are more suited to intimate ceremonies. If you are having an outdoor wedding, the harpist will require shade or cover to avoid damage to their instrument.

A harpist will generally cost around $350.

A good idea if you like: ‘Greensleeves’ – Traditional, ‘Raindrop Prelude’ – Chopin, ‘Moon River’ – Henry Mancini

Guitar (or Keyboard) and Vocal Duo

This option is most suitable for secular ceremonies, particularly if you want a relaxed vibe, and more contemporary songs to be performed. Duo’s can perform from a large repertoire of well-known pop, acoustic, groove, rock and even indie favourites. If your guests are on the younger side especially, this choice will be perfect as the audience will connect with and relate to the music.

If the duo is performing with electric guitar or keyboard, they will require a power source for their instruments, which can be problematic for some garden ceremonies.

As this duo will come with a vocalist, there are lyrics to consider as well as the music. Lyrics are a very powerful expressive tool, and can communicate to your guests how you and your partner feel about one another. Just make sure you consider the lyrics of your chosen music carefully – some songs don’t have the meaning that you initially expect them to!

A duo will range in price from around $500 to $900.

A good idea if you like: ‘I’m Yours’ – Jason Mraz, ‘It’s Only Natural’ – Crowded House, ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ – Alicia Keys, ‘Just The Two Of Us’ – Bill Withers, ‘Better Together’ – Jack Johnson

Jazz Band

Hiring a jazz band to perform at your ceremony will add a unique and sophisticated edge to the occasion. They can perform from an enormous instrumental repertoire, however a jazz band won’t be able to perform ‘conventional’ wedding songs that many of your guests will expect. Generally, a trio or quartet is best, and you have the option of selecting the instrumentation eg. saxophone, guitar and drums, or trumpet, guitar and bass.

If the jazz band is acoustic, there won’t be the issue of requiring power if the ceremony is outdoors. Also, a jazz band will also project sound further than most other groups (particularly if you choose to include a horn player) so your guests will be able to enjoy the music without struggling to hear it.

A jazz trio will generally cost around $900, and a quartet will start from $1200.

A good idea if you like: ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ – Frank Sinatra, ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ – Michael Buble, ‘So What’ – Miles Daves

Other Options (Covered in Part 2)
• Organ Player
• Wind Quartet (flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon)
• A Capella Group
• Church Choir

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The first thing you must do is make sure that you know all the correct terminology of the instrument. Many people fail at learning an instrument because they don’t do their homework. Much like a sailor on a ship, there is much about the violin that you will need to memorize. This probably the most uninteresting part about learning any kind of instrument, but by doing this you are not only making it easier to learn how to play the violin but you are also demonstrating to yourself and others that you are determined and will succeed.

The correct way to hold a violin is rather unique and this actually is a big stumbling block for most beginners. Because the position can feel awkward for some people you may want to start off by holding it like you would a guitar or banjo. Obviously when holding it in this position you are unable to play it correctly, so pluck the strings instead. Continue holding it like this and plucking the strings until you feel comfortable holding it in the proper position under your chin.

While you may find experimenting and learning how to play the violin on your own exciting, the truth is that most people will never be able to master any instrument by teaching themselves. The violin is no exception and it is strongly recommended that you either get a personal violin tutor or instruction of some kind. There is a lot that you can’t teach yourself because you simply don’t know or you will find that you can learn much faster with someone else teaching you. Everyone learns at their own pace so be sure that any tutor you hire understands your needs and can customize classes to suit your personal preference.

Sometime you may feel that mastering the violin is near impossible, but with the above tips you are already ahead of the game. All that it takes is persistence and determination and you will find that mastering the violin isn’t as hard as you originally thought.

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You will be able to get urgent cash of payday loans when working with Fast Cash Online. All you have to do is just to fill out provided fields of application form as your loan request. Then, you can get instant cash at your bank account only within 24 hours. Not to mention, there is no need to be complicated to get payday loans, such as providing a stack of document and collateral. The fact shows that many people can solve financial problem by payday loan and therefore, you have to consider taking the loan.

Since you can get urgent cash of payday loan, it seems that you have to take your time applying for the loan at Fast Cash Online. What you have to do now is to log onto this site and follow all steps recommended.

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Here you can apply for payday advance especially designed to meet people’s demand of urgent cash. You do not need to wait for long time to get urgent cash since Pacific Advance will work on your behalf to gain payday loan approval. That way, you should fill our provided application form in order that Pacific Advance can follow it up. After all things of payday loan completed, you just need to check cash on your bank account within 24 hours.

Make sure you work with Pacific Advance to get easy way of getting urgent cash. All you need to do is just to stick with all recommended steps of getting started for payday loan. In the end, you should take your time to check out content of Pacific Advance.

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Drumaxx is a virtual instrument (VSTi, AU & FL Native) that gives total control of 16 physically modeled drums. Each drum can be routed to independent output for external effects processing. Drumaxx includes 130 drumkits, 900 drum patches, 200 drum patterns and not a single sample in sight.

Drumaxx is not based on samples or even commonly used ’synthesis’ techniques, where oscillators are mixed and the result is ‘electronic’. Drumaxx is a truly ‘modeled’ drum with a huge repertoire of sounds. Drumaxx can model bass drums, snares, realistic and yes, electronic sounds. In addition, Drumaxx also models hi-hats, cymbals & metallic ‘ethnic’ percussion instruments with impressive realism.

Drumaxx is available for Windows and Mac and can be used as a standalone program or as FL Studio plug-in.

Image Line Software is offering Drumaxx by the “Pay what you think it’s worth” pricing system allowing customers to pay only what they think is a fair price for the product. The minimum, to cover the transaction fees and handling fees, has been set at 9 EUR, but after that, it’s entirely up to customers what they are ready to pay based on their experience with the demo version and their willingness to support future development. This offer is valid until March 31st, and thereafter Drumaxx will be $99.

For each Drumaxx sold during the Pay what you think it’s worth period, Image Line will donate 1 USD to charity in support of the Haitian people affected by the devastating January 2010 earthquake.

Key features:
• 16 Physically modeled drum pads
• Multi-output for individual effects processing on each pad
• Huge range of modeling possibilities covering sounds from cymbals to kettle-drums
• Velocity modulation matrix for detailed expressiveness
• Integrated Stepsequencer with trigger-key playback
• Integrated effects
• MIDI learn
• Single-pad version ‘Drumpad’ available for tight integration with FL Studio Stepsequencer
• VSTi (2.4 Win/OSX), AudioUnit (OSX) & FL Studio native formats.

System requirements:
• Pentium 3 compatible CPU with full SSE support
• Intel CPU or G4 PowerPC (Mac) with full Altivec support
• 512 MB RAM
• 30 MB disk space
• Windows XP/Vista/7; OSX 10.4 (Tiger); OSX 10.5 (Leopard)

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Designed as a comprehensive digital recreation of Alicia Key’s own custom Yamaha “C3 Neo” grand piano, and based on Native Instruments’ industry-leading KONTAKT 4 sampler platform, ALICIA’S KEYS provides a soulful and intimate piano sound that perfectly accommodates R&B, soul and pop styles. The instrument was meticulously recorded in Alicia’s personal studio by her engineer Ann Mincieli and renowned sampling expert Thomas Scarbee over the course of two years, using vintage microphones and high-end outboard studio gear that produced an exquisite piano tone with supreme sonic fidelity.

“I love this software so much that I used it on my entire new album. Not once did I record a live piano because there was just no need”, says Alicia Keys. “I plan to tour with this sound and use it all around the world. I love how it gives those who may not be able to buy an acoustic piano a true piano experience.”

Utilizing 17 GB of high-resolution samples with 12 discrete velocity layers per note, and sophisticated emulation of crucial sonic aspects like key release, sustain pedal functionality and sympathetic resonance, ALICIA’S KEYS sets a benchmark in the digital recreation of acoustic instruments. The convenient user interface of the software gives intuitive control over the sound to further adjust it to the specific musical context and personal playing style, and also includes a studio-quality convolution reverb that provides various authentic room ambiences ranging from a small piano chamber to a large stage or concert hall.

ALICIA’S KEYS can be used on any Windows and Macintosh computer with the included free KONTAKT PLAYER, and can also be loaded into the full-featured professional KONTAKT 4 sampler for additional in-depth sound editing.

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More Gear, More Feel, More Power, More Tone. AmpliTube 3 gives you More!
More Gear. In fact, twice as much gear!
- Over 160 gear models included (with nearly 100 added models), more than double the amount of other packages, from the most sought-after vintage collections to modern-day workhorses
- 51 Stompbox effects, 31 Amps, 46 Cabinets, 15 Studio Mics and 17 Rack effects
- 30 brand new models for the most complete anthology of gear, ever
- 70 re-worked and superior sounding models from packages like AmpliTube Metal™ and AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™
- A new collection of bass gear models also makes it the most complete package for recording and performance of bass by the engineer or musician
- Can be directly expanded with packages like AmpliTube Fender™, Ampeg® SVX™ and future packages
- New preset management and keyword system allows you to organize and quickly recall the massive library of included and custom preset tones

More Feel. Nothing even comes close.
- New cabinet module inside now provides double miking per cabinet, with freely movable microphones thanks to IK’s VRM™ (Volumetric Response Modeling) technology, giving you a level of control and sound accuracy never experienced before in software
- All models in AmpliTube 3 have been ultra-accurately “remastered” with our new 3rd generation modeling technology (the same found in AmpliTube Fender™), using IK’s exclusive DSM™ technology (Dynamic Saturation Modeling), then painstakingly compared with the originals in “A/B” style to ensure that the sound you hear from the software is the same sound you’ll be hearing from the gear.
- New impulse-based reverbs are now used in the entire chain, from spring reverb to room ambience, which ensures the most realistic possible representation of your recording environment
- New rotary speaker module sets the new standard for accurate emulation of these types of cabinets – until now, there had never been such a great sounding rotary cabinet in software

More Power. Unleash more creative power.
- New creative Effects: featuring the new Step Filter, Step Slicer, TapDelay, Rezo and Swell stomp and rack effects that allow you to sculpt your sound and create inspiring rhythmic patterns or amazing drone and pad-like effects
- New full-stereo path allows you to use the huge collection of analog and digital effects on your vocal tracks, keyboards and drums
- New Drag & Drop functions in the stomp and rack modules make experimenting with effects’ combinations a breeze
- New “MIDI Learn” feature allows you to assign any software control or parameter to an external controller with a simple click on the parameter’s knob
- New, integrated 4-track recorder/player allows you to capture and layer your ideas quickly and easily – right at the moment of inspiration!

More Tone. Every Sound You Can Imagine.
AmpliTube 3 is the voice for your soul. With the largest collection of ultra-accurately modeled gear, creative effects and flexible routing features, you’ll never run out of sonic possibilities. Every sound you’ve heard before, and even new ones you haven’t dreamed of yet…find them here in AmpliTube 3.

Pricing and Availability:
AmpliTube 3 is now shipping as VST, RTAS and Audio Unit plug-in formats, and also as stand-alone software for Mac OSX® and Windows®, currently available in the following versions and MSRP prices*:
• AmpliTube 3 $349.99/€269.99
• AmpliTube 3 Crossgrade $269.99/€199.99 (available to any IK registered user)
• AmpliTube 3 Upgrade $199.99/€149.99 (available to all previous AmpliTube 2, AmpliTube Metal, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™, AmpliTube Fender™ or Ampeg® SVX™ registered users)
• AmpliTube 3 Pedal $399.99/€299.99 (AmpliTube 3 bundled with StealthPedal™ USB/MIDI controller and audio interface)

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When you start your new life as a careful observer of sound, a whole new world opens up to you. We are naturally visual creatures. In a world flooded by the constant influx on visual stimuli, many people who begin field recording feel as though a deeper visceral dimension unfolds within their world.

Begin by engaging with objects and spaces in search of their acoustic identities. You will start to discover familiar places in your life that innately have unique resonances. Sound is very intimate, very much like our sense of smell. Think of the feelings that are conjured when you smell your mother’s perfume, or the sound of a melody that ties you with a distant lover from the past. These sensations are irrefutable and deeply personal. With sound recording, you can tap into these universal memories, adding layers of complexity to your postproduction, video or strictly audio work. Get in touch with what noises fill your life and try to detect how they create your mood or interpretation of that environment.

Inescapable Waves: Sound Fills the Shape It’s In

Shout in a hallway, then in a bottle. Listen to the difference between water filling a bathtub and a coffee cup.

Are you documenting, engaging or participating? Sonically, how would you distinguish between the three?

If there are things engaging with each other in the field of space, get in between them. Experiment with locating the most exaggerated distinctions. Consider different times of the day. A good exercise is to make audio studies of a certain subject, using varied positions, equipment and times of day. What is lost between these examples? Which version is closer to the truth?

This leads me to the next obvious thought: listen to what you record. So many times what you record, and what you thought you recorded are two very different things.

Earth-shattering Silence

Think about the dynamics of what you are recording. What does the silence between two loud sounds impart to a sonic “sentence?” How long should that silence linger? How can you layer textures to create a mood? Silence can be your most profound tool. Do not be afraid to use it. See if you can record silence. By remaining acutely aware of the delicate layers of acoustic happenings within your environment, you can begin to experiment and live within a more meaningful, rich world that constantly unfolds and dances within your (and your audience’s) field of perception.

Essential Creative Techniques for Digital Sound Recording
Develop your sensitivities towards your acoustic world, creating compelling digital audio recordings with virtually any type of equipment. Work with the limits of the environment, equipment and the position of your body to enhance your work with post production, video and individual sound projects.

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There are many things to consider if you are considering recording live music digitally. One of the decisions you have to make has to do with what type of microphone you will use. There are all different types of microphones and each one is made for a specific purpose. Here I will give you an overview of what you need to know when choosing yours.

Condenser or Dynamic

There are two main types of microphones to choose from, condenser mics or dynamic mics.

A condenser microphone typically has a thinner plastic diaphragm which is placed closely to the back plate. The diaphragm and the back plate create a small pocket of air creating a condenser or capacitor. This electrically charged capacitor is affected by sound waves and the diaphragm vibrates, changing the voltage. The changes in voltage are a representation of the sound based on the disturbance caused by the frequencies passing through.

A dynamic or moving coil microphone can considered a reverse loud speaker of sorts. The idea behind a dynamic microphone is there is a wired coil that is placed in the pocket of air between the diaphragm and backing. When sound passes through the coil itself vibrates and creates a magnetic electrical impulse which is then recorded.

When taping a live show you will use a condenser microphone. Condenser microphones can be miniaturized and record a much broader frequency of sound. If you can afford to add the second mic for stereo always use the exact same duplicate.

Polar Pattern

Microphones have what is called a polar pattern. It dictates the area in which the microphone will focus upon when recording.

A cardiod polar pattern is a heart shaped recording range which will focus upon frequencies coming from the front and some side sounds, but tapering around the back. Picture the top of the heart as shooting out from the microphone and a little behind, and the bottom of the heart going toward the stage or source of input. This limits the amount of background noise that is heard when recording at large venues.

A hypercardiod polar pattern is similar to the cardioid pattern but allows a little more sound from behind the mic’s point of reference to filter through. The hypercardiod is more so used for vocal recordings, and are usually noisier than cardiod mics for live music recording.

Omnidirectional microphones are not recommended for recording live music at all. These mics will record in all directions equally, thus reproducing a lot of unwanted crowd noise.

When choosing a microphones frequency range, you are deciding on what frequency will be accepted by the microphone. The human hearing range is from 20hz to 20khz, and so this is the recommended range for a recording mic for live music.

Conclusion

When you are choosing a microphone for recording live music, remember to do a lot of research, and determine the style that will fit best for your recording campaigns. There are many out there, and some are very expensive. If you are patient however, you should be able to find the perfect microphone for all your live music recording endeavors.

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Staying Ahead of the Game

Ever been to someone’s studio to do a song and you notice that all of their music equipment is dusty? This is the result of what happens when people don’t take the time out to care for their studio equipment. Any experienced music producer or artist will tell you that if you don’t take care of your equipment, it won’t take care of you.

Leaving the Dust in the “Dust”

Look at all of the sliders and open spots on your music equipment such as mixing boards, keyboards and audio interfaces and you’re sure to see a great place where dust would love to hide. Dust loves to get in the cracks and crevices of your music equipment. By dust getting into these areas, not only will your equipment run slower, it will also build up dirt and grime on the inside of the equipment.

For instance if you get tons of dust in the spaces of your mixing board sliders, not only will it make it difficult for the sliders to slide smooth, it can also effect the way your track comes out. You may find yourself having to push extra hard on slider to get them on the level of your choice. With keyboards, dust will settle in between the keys rather than on the outside of the board. If you have a black keyboard, prepare to attract dust like a magnet! Black music equipment collects 10 times as more dust than off white or grey colored pieces.

Covering Your Equipment

So you just had a studio session and don’t plan on recording in your studio for another week? If that’s the case, you must cover up all of you music equipment. This can be done with professional covers or can be done by simply using a soft blanket, pillow case or sheet.

There’s no real big secret when it comes to keeping all of you equipment looking new, all you have to do is take care of it the right way. For keyboards, if you don’t have the proper covers that can with them, use a towel or lightweight sheet to drape across the area. It doesn’t matter if the sheet touches the floor at the bottom; it matters about the top of the keyboard being covered.

Microphones and microphone stands require the same amount of attention! If you leave your microphones, hooked up on the stands, cover the entire stand and microphone with a blanket or sheet to protect it. A lot of times you can find microphone stand cover for under $20 at stores such as Guitar Center and Musicians Friend. Although it may be hard to cover all of the interfaces on your music rack, try to look for music rack covers or create one of your own by joining sheets or soft towels together, your equipment will thank you for it!

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