n-Track Studio's Featured Artist of the Month

DECEMBER 2002


The Five W

Featured Artist's Web Page: http://www.tonos.com/wendellmroden


Where:

Tamuning, Guam U.S.A

Who: Wendell M. Roden ( Keyboards, Drum Programming, Vocals, Lyrics and Composition )

When:
Started writing and recording in 2001

Why:
Because music/home recording is so much fun. It's like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. It's very exciting.

What:
I am a 31 yr old songwriter who dabbles in recording and singing.

In Short:

Since 2001:
I've had my first song published, have had songs played at weddings, local radio and television, and am still trying to finish a 10-song album of original songs

Influences: Steven C Chapman, Sting, PhilCollins,
Dianne Warrens.

Preferred genre: Adult Album Alt (Triple A).

Equipment used: Gateway PC, run-of-the-mill soundcard, Yamaha PSR-170 Keyboard, AKG D2300S mic, Boss Br-532 4-track recorder for Drum Patterns.

Wendell M. Roden
by Alessandro De Murtas

Featured Songs: 

You'll Be In My Heart
#note: by Phil Collins
Wherever You Will Go
#note:
by The Calling


[..] I am a recent transplant to L.A. from the beautiful pacific island of Guam. I love writing power ballads especially and am a big Dianne Warren fan. I have 2 ultimate goals in songwriting. The first is to write a theme song to a blockbuster movie. The other is to write an absolute standard like Somewhere Over The Rainbow. I know it's inside of me somewhere and will materialize as I mature stylistically and lyrically. Wish me luck!

Besides songwriting, I also love playing keyboards and singing, so the last few songs here are songs where I did everything(instruments, vocals and background vocals) in my bedroom. Home recording is really fun!

Tips and Tricks from Wendell M. Roden using n-Track Studio.


[..]
I'm still really new at n-track and discovering neat new things all the time. Basically, once I pick a song, I set the drum pattern for it using the Boss BR-532. Then I ad the bass next and then keyboards, strings and some other instruments that fit the mood of the song. "Wherever You Will Go" only has drums, bass, piano, keyboard guitar sound, and strings for a short while. I don't play guitar and I wish I did, and the "distortion guitar" on my keyboard sounds dreadful, but luckily with n'track, I added a bit of an echo and stereo flange, and voila, it sounded better.

One thing that I learned (duh) while recording "You'll Be In My Heart" is how to use the volume/effects envelope features. Silly me was mixing down manually and raising and lowering the volume while the song played. With the volume/effects controls, you can change the volume/effect at any section, word, or even syllable on a track if you zoom in on the track close enough. I also learned the power of doubling or tripling tracks for power!
Just be careful with the balances of frequencies and use the equalizers on each track to cut out all unnecessary frequency for that instrument. For example, for high strings, I totally cut out the low bass on the equalizer.
Lastly make sure every instrument is panned in a different space left right, even if it's just a little. It prevents crowding and everything just getting muddled in the center. Oh and for vocal, you might wanna try using one track normal and one with just a LITTLE pitch variation. It sounds great for certain types of songs. Isn't digital recording wonderful?

Well, that's all for now. I'm still learning alot and can't wait for each new project. I can't imagine what it would be like without having n-track studio. It has truly made my computer and bedroom a home studio.

Last Bit of Advice: Always have fun with your music!

What's Being Cooked Up?

Featured Artist of the Month - Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Are you an n-Track Studio's User? Would like to be reviewed? Send email to alex@n-track.com, reporting as much info as you can. Also including your recording equipment, procedures, tips & tricks for advantage of all the n-Track Studio's users.


More songs coming soon...