How to Record, Mix and Master on BandLab (For Free!) - Part 2
In the second part of our guide, we cover recording multiple instruments, using MIDI keyboards, and understanding quantization to help bring your music to life.
Read the first part here.
Recently, I wrote this article on getting started on BandLab. If you missed the first part, please check it out. I talk about how to record your guitar/keyboard, the difference between recording, and how to use a click track.
This article will be an extension of the first part. We will now get into fun stuff like recording multiple parts.
What sort of MIDI keyboard should I use?
I'm going to use the scenario of recording a song through MIDI as opposed to recording the audio for this example.
Before I get into it, I want to share my opinion on MIDI keyboards. Most MIDI keyboards are 2 or 3 octaves. Sometimes people buy these tiny instruments because they think they can always transpose the octaves up or down, just like a full-sized piano/keyboard.
I recommend getting a MIDI keyboard with 88 keys with weighted or at least semi-weighted keys. The reason I say this is because it is a lot easier to play the keyboard parts in, as opposed to playing each part separately, because you run out of keys!
This MIDI keyboard has 88 keys and is super cheap.
M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3
New project (Song name)
This will seem like I am simplifying things, but I can assure you I'm not.
The first thing you need to do when you start to record a new song is to name it! If you don't and you record a few songs that week, they will all save as 'New Project'.
This is how easy it is:
Go to the top of the page where it says 'New Project', click the bar it is listed in, and put in the name of your song.
Step 1
Step 2
Choosing an instrument
When you first open Bandlab and plug in your MIDI keyboard, the default instrument will be a 'Studio Grand' from the Keyboard section.
If I click on 'Studio Grand', it will give me all the other types of keyboard sounds I can have.
Once you decide on the right type of keyboard sound, just click it to make that the new sound of your MIDI keyboard. For this example, I'll use the upright piano.
Keeping track of what is being recorded
Now that I know I'm happy with the upright piano sound, it is important that I name 'Instrument 1' Upright piano.
This is important because I might record 8 instruments and want to know what track number corresponds with which instrument.
If you look at the top left, you can see it says 'Instrument 01', 'Instrument 02', etc. I can click on 'Instrument 01' and then change it to 'Upright Piano'.
Pressing Record
The first thing you need to do before you press record is check your metronome settings! (Please see the last article for this!)
It will make it easier on yourself if you know what tempo in BPMs (beats per minute) your song is.
I have recorded 4 bars of upright piano. If you look over the music I've recorded, you will see a light red bar. This is another cool feature of Bandlab - it's the Loop function.
I can make this last for as many bars as I want by holding it down and dragging it across the screen.
To activate the loop function, all you need to do is click on the light red bar above the music. Once activated, the bar will become dark red and the music will repeatedly play that 4 bars.
You can see the bar above the music is now DARK red, which means the loop function is on.
This function is great if you have an idea for a melody or some lyrics. Looping the chords means you don't have to record an excessive amount of bars while you hum over the chords.
What does quantize mean?
The majority of music that is recorded on a computer via MIDI will be quantized. This means what you recorded on the keyboard will be played perfectly in time.
Now, this is where things get tricky.
If I click on the upright piano part and right click it, you will see this menu come up with quantize down the bottom.
Once I click on the menu, it gives me more options.
The sub-menu, when I hit the Quantize button, has a series of fractions. These are note subdivisions. ¼ means quarter notes (or crotchets), 1/8 means eighth notes (or quavers), 1/16 means sixteenth notes (or semiquavers).
The T after each set of subdivisions stands for triplets.
So what does this mean exactly?
Whatever subdivisions you choose to quantize your music to will affect how the computer puts it in time. As a rule of thumb, anything you record which has lots of notes and is quite busy should be recorded with a higher subdivision (1/16 notes are fine).
Something slow like a ballad with not much movement in the chord progression should probably use 1/8 notes.
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to quantizing. Try recording a piece of music and quantizing it using different subdivisions. This will dramatically change the sound of your song.
Recording multiple parts
After you are happy with the first track, it's time to put down the next part. If you click on the current instrument you are recording (Upright piano in this case), you will see a menu on the left-hand side with different instruments.
I can now choose a drum kit and record that part on track 2. You can repeat this process to record bass guitar, strings, and so on.
Keep Recording, Keep Experimenting!
In closing, I will say the trick to getting great at recording your own music is to do a lot of it. Also, don't be afraid to experiment! Bandlab is incredibly user-friendly.
I got started by pressing buttons and seeing what happened.
Until next time. Keep practicing!
About Magesh Magesh
Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
He released an instructional drumming DVD called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk
Contact Magesh Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com
In this section of the blog you will find recording advice, tips and tricks from fellow artists and music producers.
Interested in writing a story for this section as a guest or joining the Musicngear team as a Contributing Author? Contact us at info+newauthor@musicngear.com
