How to Record Music on Computer
- Made Easy!

All you need is a PC with a built-in microphone or an external song recording mic that is connected to the PC and ready to use. Then:

• Download Music Maker Free.
• Double-click the installation file you downloaded to install the software.
• Start Music Maker and create a new project using the start dialog.

To record your own music with vocals and/or a live instrument, do the following:

• Switch an empty track to audio recording mode. To do this, click on the red recording button on the left side of the interface in the track header until "AUDIO REC" appears.
• Start the audio recording by clicking on the red record button in the transport control.

Now, the recording will start and you can begin playing. During the recording, a sound block will be created that will become increasingly longer as the recording continues.

• When you're finished, click on the stop button.

You're done.

If you would like to retry the recording because something went wrong, simply click the red record button again. The recording will start again and the previous, flawed take will be overwritten. 

You can also record several tracks one after the other. To do this, first record your accompaniment instrument as described, then switch to another track in "AUDIO REC" recording mode and record your vocals in the second run. The first instrumental recording is played back now as well. It is advisable to use headphones while recording so that the accompaniment will not be picked up on the vocal track as well.

If you don't know how to play an instrument but need accompaniment for your song, arrange a "backing band" using Soundpool loops.

• In the top right, open the "Loops" tab.

In the beginning, only the Soundpool "Feel good" will be shown in the Soundpool list, as it is installed with Music Maker Free. You can install additional Soundpools from virtually any conceivable musical genre at any time later (we will cover this at the end of this article).

On the right, the list of instruments can be found. Here, you can select the Soundpool's sound category. In the area below, you can select the loops from the corresponding category.

• Click on a loop to begin listening to a preview.
• Drag & drop the loop at the desired position in the arranger to use it.

It works like a musical puzzle: You arrange loops to make your own music. You should keep a few things in mind, though:

• It is probably best to start with a drum track and then create a bass track. Drums and bass provide the musical backbone for many songs.
• If you move the mouse to the back edge of a loop, the mouse pointer will turn into a double arrow. Now, click on edge of the object and shorten or lengthen the loop from that point to the right to the desired length.
• Above track 1, you can see the playback range. The default length is 16 bars long and it will be played as an endless loop. This isn't long enough to make a complete song, but it's enough for one section. This can be shortened or lengthened using the mouse.
• Every loops (with the exception of drum loops) can be set to seven different pitches. You can change the pitch by clicking one of the seven pitch buttons above the loop library. This lets you create chord changes and variations.

Now that you've learned the basic idea, you can start arranging tracks for additional instruments.

Once you have finished arranging your accompaniment, record a vocal track as described above. It is advisable to use headphones while recording so that the accompaniment will not be recorded as well.

Occasionally, an otherwise successful recording is not quite perfect. To remove specific noises, simply cut them out of the material.

• Click before and after the noise and press the T key at both positions.

This will isolate the passage with the noise and allows you to delete it.

• You can shorten the beginning and end of a recording by moving the object's edge inward.

Maybe your recording sounds a bit muffled or should be more present in the mix?

• Open the "Object effects" in the toolbar.

A compressor can be found here to add volume and punchiness next to a 10-band equalizer to enhance specific frequencies, as well as reverb and echo. You can also press the "+" button to access a filter, distortion and the Vandal guitar amplifier. If you've chosen to accompany your song with a standard classical guitar, why not try processing the recording with the Vandal? This will transform the most innocuous guitar into an aggressive metal electric guitar.

• First, select the audio object in the track. Then, adjust the desired effect.

If you have several tracks, it is important to configure the volume and the stereo panning of the tracks in relation to one another. Use the mixer to do this.

• Click on the mixer button in the toolbar (or simply press the M key).

A volume control and a pan control is available for each track in the mixer. The FX button on top of each channel strip is used to apply additional track effects, which are then used on all objects in the track. This is ideal, for example, for producing a room sound that affects all percussion samples equally.

On the right in the mixer is the master section for the overall mix, with a stereo volume control for the two channels of the entire signal. The small lock icon at the bottom lets you unlock the settings and control each channel separately.

With the master effects (accessible by clicking the FX button above the master slider), you can access additional effects for the overall sound. This is where the limiter,, which is activated by default, is especially important. It prevents unwanted clipping by automatically cutting the signal as needed.

If you have recorded a software instrument, this MIDI recording can be edited even more extensively than an audio recording. Any MIDI note from the recording can be deleted or changed in length, pitch or position afterwards. To do this, simply use the MIDI editor, which can be opened by double-clicking on a MIDI object in a track.

The MIDI editor is a powerful tool that requires a little practice. The MIDI notes are displayed in a matrix and can be edited here in a number of ways, for example moved within the lines, elongated or deleted. New notes can be drawn in using the pencil tool.

Last, when your original song is recorded and finished, export your arrangement as a WAV file or in the compressed format OGG.

• Choose "File" > "Export" and the format you want.

During export, all tracks in the arranger are mixed down together with all effects and mixer settings into a new audio file. The final result will sound exactly the same as when played back in Music Maker.

In the free version of Music Maker, one Soundpool named "Feel good" and three virtual instruments are installed. MAGIX offers many additional Soundpools and instruments for installation later. Some of these are even available free. No matter which genre you want to produce, it's always good to have as wide a selection of instruments and Soundpools as possible. You can combine loops from any Soundpool to create a new, unique style.

• Click on the "Store" tab in the Media Pool.
• Sort the items in the Store using "Price ascending".

This allows you to list Soundpools, instruments and other program add-ons by price.

• Click on an icon of an article that interests you.
• Click on "Purchase" and follow the provided instructions.

Naturally, you won't be charged for free Soundpools and instruments when you "purchase" them. All you have to do is register as a MAGIX customer.