Quick Start: Recording a Song

Follow these steps to record a song and make a CD:

Step 1: Make new Song

Make a new (empty) Song using the Song->New menu option. A new (empty) folder is created automatically.

Step 2: Add Click Track (optional)

If you're recording a song from scratch you'll probably want to add a Click track (metronome). You can use the Tempo Editor to adjust the tempo.

Step 3: Create Audio or MIDI File

Create a file in the empty Track by clicking on the File Display and entering a filename. The file extension you use determines the file type. Examples: 'Guitar.gjm' and 'Vocal.wav' are Audio files, 'Piano.mid' is a MIDI file.Use a mono audio file if you're recording a mono source like a microphone.

Step 4: Record the Track

Click the track's Rec button. If you're recording audio you can use the Audio Input Control to set the recording level and/or select the input you want to use. Now you can start recording by starting the Transport. You will hear the Click Track, which was created in step 2, while recording.

Step 5: Record more Tracks

Add more tracks (drag them from the Shelf) and record them (repeat step 3 and 4). You will hear the previously recorded tracks while recording a new one. At this stage it is quite common to add Reverb to vocal tracks using an Effect Return section.

Step 6: Mix down to master file

Now you can fine-tune the individual track's volume levels and add any effects. If your song sounds fine you can mix it down to a single .wav file using the Song menu's Mix Down to file option. This new file can be used for burning a CD.

Note (Pro Plus edition only): make sure it's a 16 bit stereo file if you want to burn it to CDR. CD burning software typically can't read 24 bit (or higher) files.

Step 7: Play back master file (optional)

Use the Song menu's Playback mixed down file option the play back and verify the master file.

Step 8: Burn CDR

Now you can burn the file recorded at step 6 to a CDR using the software that came with your CD-writer. It's recommended to close MultitrackStudio before burning to CDR (the CD-writer software will fail to read the master file if this file is still open in MultitrackStudio).