A tip/hint for all you software instrument users or should be users

Question

unless Apple starts making thicker, fuller sounding instruments for midi usage
or sound fonts get better or the interfase is built up to allow for easy and good midi out functioning thus the ability to layer external synths, you are stuck with the sounds you get.
But a tremendous perk for your musical compositions in GB is the ability to copy a track of midi data or audio data and even triple or quadruple it. Using the same or different instruments and effects will certainly come close to professionalizing the sound. You might need lots of power to do this. I dont know and its a shame that GB is a RAM eater. It might seem like a severe neurosis or ridiculous overkill but i run GB without any other app on except mail and with 10 GB RAM on a MACPRO and as soon as the new ones come out soon
<edited by host - see the [Terms of Use|http://discussions.apple.com/help.jspa#terms] section 2.1.1>. I cant see fully enjoying GB without lots of power. Its ease of use has me hooked and what can be done with it with a lot of patience and tricks like the one i gave you is astounding. I bought LOGIC EXPRESS a few years ago and threw it in the Garbage it tortured me so and stopped me from making music. I dont want more manuals. I want melodic passages.
So triple your data tracks and add effects and save up for a powerful MAC and make GB really do a better job for you.
<edited by host - see the [Terms of Use|http://discussions.apple.com/help.jspa#terms], section 2.6.3>
take care best of luck,
glenn

Answer 1

Mastering is a life long pursuit. No matter how much you do there is always something more you can learn and do. Long term practice of the art of mastering often leads to ones "style" or technique but the learning never stops.
I think the best way to get an overall grip on modern mixing today for me at least is from absorption from the magazine Computer Music.
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/
It is available in the U.S.
It may seem overwhelming at first read but over time if you read the articles even without fully understanding them the process of osmosis begins to set in.
I think the articles in this magazine can really enlighten the reader to a lot of different approaches to mixing and mastering.
Its really a great wealth of technique. After a year of just exposing yourself to it you will be light years ahead in mixing and mastering technique. That includes everything from compression on ward.
If you do not work with or in a pro mixing house it is not all that easy to learn many of these techniques. This is the advantage of a magazine like Computer Music. Its like visiting Bob down in mixing bay A and sitting with him while he does a session.