GET SMART

May 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Len Sasso

           
 

Digital Music Doctor's Know It All

Digital Music Doctor (digitalmusicdoctor.com) has released three new titles in its Know It All series of DAW video tutorials. The new videos ($34.95 apiece) — which cover Cakewalk Sonar 8, Digidesign Pro Tools 8, and MOTU Digital Performer 6 — are available on DVD and as downloads. The tutorials begin with a quick-start overview of the application and then go into greater detail in separate sections on audio, MIDI, loops, and remixing. The Sonar 8 tutorial contains an additional section on new tools and techniques. The company's aim is to get beginners up and running quickly, then delve deeply into all aspects of the software.

Human Factor's Brand, Buzz, & Success

Artist-development and music-production consulting firm Human Factor (hfproductions.com) has just published Brand, Buzz, & Success: Your Guide to the New Music Industry, by Blake Althen ($12.95). The book aims to show musicians, composers, and lyricists how to navigate the challenges of the 21st-century music business in order to become their own brand. After a brief look at past practices, the author focuses on the Internet, technology, production, marketing, and distribution. He goes on to explore opportunities in gaming and advertising. The emphasis throughout is getting your image out there and creating a buzz.

MusicWorks Interactive's Finale DVD

Whether you're new to MakeMusic Finale scoring and composition software or have just upgraded to Finale 2009, composer Paul Gilreath will get you up to speed in his series of videos The Finale 2008-2009 Tutorial DVD (Mac/Win, $49.95 [MSRP]) from MusicWorks Interactive (musicworksinteractive.com). The 156 videos (running roughly 9 hours) use a custom Flash player and were captured in 960-by-600 format to avoid resizing and provide crystal-clear viewing. Gilreath begins with the basics: navigation, score setup, playback, and simple entry. He then covers alternative note-entry options; editing; articulations, text, and lyrics; advanced score layout; and time-saving extras.