Technology/Equipment Grant for Individual Artist

Goal: Upgrade the computer hardware component of the existing digital audio workstation, the computer/audio interface component, to increase usability, ease of music production and enable me to continue to produce my own (and others) music. The chief metric for success is the production of CD quality music. Music that has more than just two tracks of guitar but has multiple tracks including drums, bass, vocals, keys and horns. Many instruments I could use are achieved by software synthesizers or soft synths. Soft synths are implemented in software and are highly CPU intensive. Drums, keyboard sounds and horns are some of these. Using additional soft synths each contained in separate tracks and that is part of a single song (or project file) presents too much load on my current computer and can't be done. This is a limitation. Step 1 Configuration: Choose a computer compatible with existing audio hardware and software. PC will meet Cakewalk Sonar X3 hardware compatibility and maximize processor and memory requirements with given monetary constraints. Step 2 Installation and Migration: Install audio drivers for new operating system. Configure secondary disk for optimal audio recording. Install Cakewalk Sonar X3 and aux programs. Copy existing audio files, project templates and project files. Step 3 Testing: a) remix and master an existing project and listen to results. b) do recording of short songs from scratch. c) tweak configuration. Repeat a-c until satisfied using Cakewalk tech support to resolve any issues. Step 4 Full Project: Produce an original song utilizing all tools and multiple tracks which will include the following elements: MIDI input, software synthesizers, audio recording, effects, mixing and mastering.