I seem to be asked this question rather frequently, in various forms, but always asking “do you play all of the instruments in your songs?” I got it again today so here’s a quick post explaining. It isn’t a big deal, chances are you could do it too!

Basically, I (and you) can purchase and install on your computer fake versions of instruments. ANY instruments! The only  things I can’t really pull off with software is any kind of guitars, bass guitars and vocals of course. I say fake, but really I mean sampled. The makers of the software instrument will record samples of each note being played by the real instrument. Many, many samples. Soft, loud, everything in between. I can then turn on this software instrument and play the instrument with a keyboard (connected to the computer).  So while the instrument – such as a cello, may not actually be a cello, I’m still playing the cello part in real time with a fair amount of dynamic range and expression. Most often I use software instruments for piano, drums, synths, orchestra instruments, etc. I don’t often do any computer ‘magic’ to fix bad performances on takes. I do some takes dozens and dozens of times. Ask my wife!

See – no big deal. The last piece of the puzzle is a multi-track recording program, such as Garage Band (included on all Apple computers). With such a tool you can now write a song and record each track one by one, each mixing with the prior until finished. That’s about it! If you have a Mac – open up Garage Band and give it a try!

Too prove the point: In 2000 I had a Dell pc with a SoundBlaster 16 sound card in it ($15 at CompUSA). Even this old-school completely low grade device had a chip on it that contained all of your basic sounds. Pianos, drums, bass, some orchestra instruments and synths. Granted these were like old ass keyboard sounds that SUCKed! Like a Casio in Sears. BUT, they were there and I had gotten a copy of Cakewalk (now Sonar) from a friend. I sat down that night and made my first all computer recording. I started with a Bach song that was included as a sample with the recording software. The sample file had a single piano part that was the entirety of the Back piece. I took that piece, wrote vocals to it, and added a pile of more parts on different instruments. Everything you hear in the song below, was made with sounds from that old crappy sound card. If I can do this with what I had, you people with Macs should be able to make masterpieces!!!