Recording

Recording

is the process of capturing data to a storage medium. In music, this means capturing music to the media so that it can be put onto media that is wanted to be distributed to listeners.

In a process of capturing, sound waves are electronically or mechanically inscribed onto media. There are two main classes and these are analog and digital. The Analog detects changes in atmospheric pressure and records them as graphic sound waves. Digital uses the same technique, but there is digitization of sonographic data and signal. The digitization allows the media to be captured and distributed on a wider variety of media.

The first forms were of simple sounds like bell chimes that appeared in barrel organs, musical clocks, barrel pianos, and music boxes. These devices could play back the bell chimes in order to create musical tunes.

The phonautograph was the first machine that could make music

. However, it could not play it back. People were able to enjoy a type of stored music with the invention of the player piano. The music was "recorded" by paper with holes punched in it that made the note of the piano sound when it moved over a sensor.

It was Thomas Edison who made the phonograph cylinder that could capture music and also play back sounds. It is true that he recorded "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on it to test if it worked making it the first played back music. This allowed phonograph cylinders to be mass produced.

It then got advanced from this to the disc phonograph. Then it went to electrical format. Other formats were then created as well. There's magnetic, stereo and hi-fi, and digital.

It is important now that artist are able to make their music. It is not only live performances that will get them the recognition they want, even if it is small. Most albums for bands who are just starting often are done in bathrooms and shower stalls on simple computer equipment or cassette tapes. These types are known as demos.

It is when the demos are heard that bands may be offered deals with other companies in order to record. Sometimes bands can afford to buy time in a studio and make a more professional sounding albums.

There is also the option of home album making. This requires learning which equipment is needed and which room is the best for the job. Sometimes friends or family are willing to help if there are good rooms for the proces in their houses.

Obviously the one done at home, takes more work than the ones done professionally in studio. However, this can cost much less than the ones done professionally in studio. The choices that are made for this, always depend on the quality and the sound that is desired for each and may easily differ from song to song or album to album.

A tool that may be used is something that is known as voice-to-note. This refers to the ability of computer programs to recognize notes that are sung, hummed, or whistled and then the music is converted into a midi file. This is a great tool for artists who are coming up with ideas and want to share with others but do not have the capability to write music onto paper.

This record tool can also come in handy if a person wants to try different sounds to find the exact sound that is wanted. Once it is found, then it can be saved and perhaps written down in order to be shared.