How to Use Plug-Ins for the Digital Audio Workstation

Recording studios first used digital equipment in the late 1970s. Technology has advanced through the years and now almost anyone can use digital audio workstations. The workstations allow users to record, edit and create music. Plug-ins are small programs used with a digital audio workstation to change the sound of a recording.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Pull the recording up into the digital audio workstation. Click "Open" and pick the recording you want to edit.

2. Choose a compressor plug-in. This allows you to control the dynamic compression of the sound. Controls like output, threshold, compression, attack and release are usually included in a compressor plug-in. Change the levels to find the sound that fits the recording or music.

3. Add reverb to a specific area or sound in the recording with a reverb plug-in. Reverb is short for reverberation. A reverb plug-in adds an echo to a sound, word or phrase.

4. Change the pitch of a note or a whole recording with a pitch shifting plug-in. This plug-in changes the pitch of any element in a recording.

5. Add virtual instruments to a recording. A virtual instrument plug-in allows users to create sound with no musical instruments at all. Virtual instrument plug-ins range from solo piano to any variation of 150 different instruments.

6. Synchronize the recording with a synchronizer plug-in. This plug-in allows you to match recordings and blend them together.

Tips & Warnings

• Many plug-ins are available for digital audio workstations. They range in amount of effects and price. Some digital audio plug-ins are free or open source.