Welcome to another issue of Technolite

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In todays newsletter:

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1. Some common Question and Answers that can affect your sounds.

2. Some free VSTs

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Q. How can you match up music to video?

A. The simplest way would be to sit down and note down the various times that scenes occur and using your sequencer clock, time your music to react to the noted on screen time. This can be tedious, and hard work. The professional way would be to use one of two tools (costing under £200). Tracktion- offers the ability to load Quicktime video files. It doesn't support other video files and won't allow you to save a preview video.

The second one would be Acid Pro- offering VST support, Rewire, and time stretching loops. It is easy to use and handles video with ease.

Q. How do you record samples from film and TV, and rip audio from DVDs?

A. Asside from the copyright issues, there are some ways to do this. There are some apps on the internet that you can get. However none can rip in real-time. An easy solution would be set your soundcard up to monitor its stereo mix or wave outputs. This should allow you then to rip any audio coming from the DVD (if you use Windows Sound Recorder it can only record a minute at a time). Check your soundcards maual to see how to record the wave output.

Q. How can I tell the differnce between the sooo many plug-in effects out there?

A. True, most of the VST effects are the same, but to tell the difference you need to do a few things. Take a sound and then put it through the VST, using 100% wet setting. You will hear the differnce between the two. You see different companies use slightly different algorithms, meaning that the VST will have a slightly different sound.

Q. What do I need to do to record vocals or guitars?

A. A high quality soundcard or audio interface is what you need. If you don't think that the soundcards inputs are up to the job, then the Tapco LinkUSB would be cool. It is capable of simultaneously recording on 2 separate channels. If the maximum you need to record at any one time is a pair of mono inputs (voice and guitar) then the Tapco would do the job, also it is easy to use.

Q. I have a MAC and want to DJ (using my iTunes files)- what do I use?

A. Use the DJ1800. It features 4 CD "decks" and a four channel mixer. The demo is fully functional, and the software is cheap enough. Ableton Live and Traktor could be too much (price and effects).

Q. How do I get a "pro sound"?

A. Such a common question. You CAN get a pro sound with any sort of tools that you use. Half of people do not read the manual and just jump straight into the software, and fly it. If you want pro sounds, read the manual first and then you are guaranteed to be ahead of most of your rivals. It is all part of the fun to mix, to get the sound just right. When you are checking out your competition and you think that your music has just reached the pinnicle of your abilities, that is the time to go pro. If you want, go for Duende- but watch your wallet!

Q. Does my soundcard effect my sound?

A. If you never record any sounds into your computer (from keyboards or vocals) it doesn't matter about your soundcard inputs. All your sounds are being generated internally. But what of your outputs? you export your music as audio files and then burn onto CD. Your mix judgements are therefore based upon what you hear through your speakers or headphones, therefore any mixing will be based upon this and therefore could be substandard. If you are using your computer's built-in audio a soundcard like M-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI card will help.

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Some free VSTs:

BV 21. Morph synth. Click here to download.

TB30X. TB303 style bass box. Click here to download.

Tracy style synth. Weird sounds- Click here to download.

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To make your own songs with ease, click here to find out how.