Group items tagged

A cloud-based DAW, free and easy to use. It is very similar to GarageBand, and users with little music knowledge can easily create quality compositions by dragging and dropping loops. Users can compose music, record live instruments and voice tracks, use MIDI controllers, and export projects to many known file types.

Soundtrap is a browser-based DAW that allows users to create and collaborate compositions or podcasts. Soundtrap offers a paid subscription allowing teachers to setup a private classroom and monitor/grade/comment on their students work. This DAW can be used for a plethora of creative tasks in music. It's primary affordance is that it is browser-based and compositions are saved via cloud storage.

Soundtrap is a free, cloud-based DAW, with a library of looped sounds and the ability to enter new audio. Users can also easily collaborate with others, and the program can be accessed via computer, tablet, or cell phone. It provides a user-friendly experience that music students can work with to express creativity through composition.

Splice is a cloud platform for music creation, collaboration and sharing.

Splice is a cloud platform for music creation, collaboration and sharing.

This service creates a live back-up of work being completed in a digital audio workstation (or DAW). On the site it boasts ease of use, flexible collaboration (by allowing you to share work with other users), endless inspiration (in the form of a vast library of loops and sounds within its DAW), and most importantly, unlimited space! Sign up is free.

Digital audio workstation software for PC (or Mac with Bootcamp). The software comes in three versions: Home Studio, Recording Studio, and Pro Studio, each with increasing features. The DAW supports MIDI, digital audio and video, and has integrated VST and loop libraries. These products are highly rated in online reviews and comparisons, mainly for their combination of low cost, full features, and ease of use. The website also features a library of training videos for Mixcarft. Topics cover topics including basic software and hardware setup, virtual instruments and plugins, and software functions.

If you teach Music Technology, check out this FREE resource related to Ableton. There are great lesson plan ideas that can be adapted for use with any DAW. The site links to sample chapters from the book of the same title.

If you teach Music Technology, you simply MUST check this site once a month at a minimum. The Splice community area usually has at least one active remix contest where you can download professional STEMs (multitracks) to use in your own DAW projects / lesson plans. Your students will LOVE this!

Pro Tools is a professional level digital audio workstation. It is used in many professional recording studios and music production facilities. Pro Tools is often praised for its near-limitless capabilities, but its high cost and memory and processing requirements may make it difficult to use for teachers or hobbyists with lesser computer systems. Avid offers different versions of the software that ranges from the free, limited capability Pro Tools "First" to the full-featured Pro Tools Ultimate, which is designed for professional recording and processing. The free version, Pro Tools First is an excellent way for new users to try out professional DAW software without making a large financial commitment.

Hooktheory is a DAW that allows musicians to create music based on chords. They offer access to two volumes of music theory book for students and teachers, as well as the ability to create assignments and keep a grade book for music teachers.

Looking for additional loops to add to GarageBand, Logic Pro X, or Pro Tools? Looperman is a fantastic place to find additional material for your DAW based projects. Music technology classes will greatly benefit from new material (loops) in addition to those already included in their DAW. All of the audio loops, samples, wav files, sounds and other related files are completely FREE!

Hookpad is a DAW program that shows the creator what chord they are using. This program could be used in conjunction with music theory courses to allow students real application of the material learned.

Similar to Soundtrap.com; this online DAW is a great resource for student to create music with loops. I've used this in a technology class and students enjoy the variety of loops.

Soundation is a fully functioning cloud-based DAW, similar to Soundtrap. The look is darker and more professional, and the effects processing is more sophisticated. This could be a good option for college-level recording and collaboration, whereas Soundtrap's colorful look and simplicity would be more appropriate for middle- and high-school use.

Soundation is a Digital Audio Workstation similar to sound trap though soundation appears more professional, and the effects are more sophisticated. With soundation, students learn to do recording, editing, mixing, instrument patches, and MIDI input. Soundation is good for university level whereas Soundtrap's simplicity is good for middle and high school. Like soundtrap, it has a free one month trial with limited accessibility and to access the full premium, one has to pay. Soundation helps students acquire the 4Cs i.e Collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. It is a good resource for teaching studio composition and for enhancing the musicianship of non traditional music students.

Sound trap is an online Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) that one can use to create loops and tracks online. One doesn't need to download any software to install sound trap, it is typically online and is a very good resource for teaching creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking (4 Cs). I like sound trap because it enables students and teachers to continue work anywhere any time (in and outside the classroom). Teachers can easily add projects and invite students to work on the project any time anywhere. The fact that one can invite another person to work on the same project and/or even record a track together is mesmerizing. With sound trap, it is easy to record any instrument, download a track, and best of all, you can record using a microphone and/or use the free loops, MIDI, and effects that come with the software. A school has to purchase the software and add students to start using it. However, the software has a one month free trial which teachers can try out with their students before purchasing.

Don't have Audacity or your favorite DAW handy to convert an audio file to another file type? What about converting a .pdf file to Word .doc or related file formats? This is a fantastic site that converts practically any file format to other related formats for that file type ONLINE with no need to download software! For example, an audio file to another audio file format; one document format to another document format, etc.

Garritan is a virtual instrument provider often bundled with Finale Notation Software. The virtual instrument player is called Aria, and various sound collections are available for purchase. In my experience, the VST works well with Finale, however, does not work well by itself or with other DAWs. This may be due to the low memory and processing speed of my computer.

The Recording Revolution blog and joint YouTube account, are great resources for teachers who are introducing the concept of mixing to students. The blogs cover a wide range of FAQ from beginners and feature videos that use Pro Tools as the DAW, but can be applied to any DAW that has comparable plugins and effects.

Blog for home studio recording by Graham Cochrane. Graham provides excellent posts as well as videos on music production, engineering, recording, and mixing that are geared to home studio enthusiasts but would be a great resource for high school music technology courses as well.

MusicTech is music technology (music production) website that shows and details all new and reviewed music technologies. Besides articles and reviews, there is a great Tutorials page that includes DAW how-to and interviews.

HUGE collection of free loops and samples (you may need to click "Skip Survey" to see the content on the page)

20 Great Lesson Plans for your Beginning Music Technology Class! Here you will find projects that can be adapted to your own music technology class - very simple, progressing to a more advanced Final project. Great source with PD opportunities! Contact information is on the website.

Another GO TO site for Music Technology lesson plan ideas! A listing of project based assignments for Digital Audio Production or Music Technology. The link to Ethan's Google Spreadsheet is worth the click to this site - trust me!

Digital audio products including Cubase, VSTs, and USB audio interfaces.