Each DAW may be unique, but how you will install them is not.

First: determine whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit computer.

If you have purchased a computer in the last 4 years, chances are it is 64 bit.

On Windows 10 you can check by simply typing “System Information” into the Cortana search bar. For other versions of Windows or for a visual guide, click here.

On Mac computers click the apple logo and select “About This Mac.” Since Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard is the last release that a 32-bit Intel Mac can run, if you have Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and up then you have a 64-bit computer.

Second: ensure you download or purchase a DAW that is the same “32-bit” or “64-bit” as your computer.

64-bit programs can use more of your computer’s RAM which improves their performance significantly when you start running multiple instruments and fx.

If your computer is 32-bit, consider purchasing a newer computer. If that isn’t in the budget, no worries, just download or purchase a 32-bit version of the DAW you want.

Third: double click the install file and follow the below rules when the installer asks you where to install everything:

• If your computer has more than one hard drive, make sure to install your DAW on your SSD (Solid State Harddrive)
• Install the DAW either in the default path it suggests or in your Program Files/ folder. If your Operating System is 32 bit, install the DAW in the Program Files(x86)/ folder.
• When/if the installer asks you where to locate your samples, loops or other sound clips, create a new folder anywhere on your computer that you will remember and for the lifetime of that computer you will locate all samples, loops and recorded audio clips inside that folder!
• When/if the installer asks where to set your default VST or Plugin folder, create a new folder anywhere on your computer that you will remember it (other than the desktop or system folders)
  For the lifetime of that computer, you will never install a Plugin or .VST anywhere other than that folder!
• When/if the installer asks where to install additional programs, install them in the default path or inside the same folder you installed the DAW itself.
• When/if the installer asks you where to install libraries of any kind, create a folder somewhere on your computer that you will remember it (other than the desktop or system folders) and for the lifetime of that computer you will install every library from every plugin in this folder!
• If the installer asks you where to install VST3 plugins, make a new folder in the same directory as you did in bullet point 3 and any VST3 plugins you download now or in the future will be installed here for the lifetime of your computer (are you noticing a trend yet?)
• If you run into an issue I did not cover here, submit a help request in the classroom discussion form below!

Purchasing:

I will be creating an advanced purchasing guide for students who are ready for my master class, but for everyone else the guidelines are simple:

If you absolutely cannot afford to spend $100 or above on an external sound card (sometimes called an Audio or Recording Interface), you can still take this class, but expect to run into some glitches and slowdowns here and there, especially when you start making multi-channel music.

For everyone who can afford it, if you don’t already have an external soundcard, any USB soundcard designed within the last 3 years that costs $100 or more will work fine for this entire course! If you have concerns you may purchase the wrong thing, comment below in the classroom discussion and I’ll help you choose one based off your unique needs and budget!

In the future, you can sell it and upgrade to something fancier but there is little benefit to spending more than $200 on an external soundcard/recording interface when you are just beginning to learn unless you are planning on hooking up multiple microphones or musical instruments simultaneously to it.

In the case of individuals looking to record multiple microphones and/or instruments at the same time, simply purchase an interface with the same amount of inputs as you have microphones/instruments and don’t go cheap on the cables!

Setting Up:

Read the setup guide included with your purchase and once it is installed and plugged in, ensure you update the drivers to the latest version by googling the following:

“TheMake&ModelOfYourSoundCard” then the word “Drivers” and choosing the top result from the manufacturer’s own website.

DO NOT DOWNLOAD DRIVERS FROM ANYWHERE OTHER THAN THE MANUFACTURER’S WEBSITE.

Once you are up to date, restart your computer, then open your DAW and under your DAW settings or prefereces, find a section called audio, drivers, ASIO, devices, soundcard, or something similar until you find “Audio Input Device” or “Audio Type.”

You should see the name of your audio interface somewhere on the list of available devices. If not, ensure you have selected ASIO as your driver type.

See below for DAW-specific setup guides.

This is where it gets a little tricky. Each DAW has a slightly different way of configuring it so click the link corresponding to your DAW below:

• Ableton Live
• Cubase
• Fruity Loops
• Pro Tools

For DAW-Specific video guides, go to YouTube.com and type in “TheMake&ModelOfYourSoundCard” “TheNameofYourDAW” and the words, “Setup Guide.” If you cannot find a video guide, submit a support request in the classroom forum below!

There are many powerful synthesizers and effects that come preinstalled in most DAWs, but they can only get you so far.

Below I have listed over 20 of the best, completely free synthesizers and effects available in 2019! Click the blue link on any of the below plugins that interest you to download them for free use in any of your projects!

After you download a plugin, double click the installer file and when it asks where you wish to install the .vst, .DX, .RTAS or .AU files, choose the folder you created during Step 3: Part 3. If the plugin has a standalone version (meaning it can be executed outside of your DAW as a program) it will ask where you wish to install the program files themselves. Keep this default unless you want to create a folder called “Free” in Program Files/VST Plugins/Free so that all the plugins you install from this website will show up under a tab in your DAW.

When/if the installer asks you where to install the VST3 files, choose the VST3 folder you created during Step 3: Part 3.

When/if the installer asks you where to install any libraries, choose the libraries folder you created during Step 3: Part 3.

When you finish, open up your DAW, open the settings/preferences menu and find the option titled “Plugin Directory” – It should be near an option to “Scan for New Plugins” or “Rescan Plugin Directory.” Make sure you change your plugin directory or user plugin directory to the plugin folder you made in Step 3: Part 3. Keep in mind I am being vague because this process is slightly different for all DAWs. 

Here is what that process looks like in Ableton Live:

Required Download: U-he Tyrell N6

This synth is a required download for our class, as it is used in multiple lessons.

Acoustica Nightlife

Genres: EDM & Electronica

Synister

Genres: Atmospheric & Symphonic Electronica

Digits 2

Genres: EDM, Experimental & Retro Electronica

Audjoo Helix

Genres: EDM, Dance, Electronica

Dexed FM Plugin Synth

Modeled after the Yamaha DX7. This is a unique Frequency Modulation synth with a distinct sound.

Brain Control Tunefish 4

Genres: EDM & Electronica

Bassline by Muon Tau

Modeled after the Roland 303.

Martinic Combo Model F

Versatile Organ Synth

Tytel Helm Synth

Customizable and Versatile Electronica Synth

OB-Xd

Modeled after the Oberheim ob-xa, ob-x, and ob8 synths.

U-He Protoverb

Unique and simple to use Reverb with randomizer built-in

TDR Nova EQ

Four-band, dynamic Equalizer with visual feedback.

TAL Stereo Chorus-LX

Modeled after the Roland Juno-60. Used to widen and add a “chorus” effect to your sounds.

Softube Saturation Knob

Analogue emulated saturator used to distort or add gain to your sounds.

Valhalla Freq Echo

Chorus, phaser,  flanger and frequency shifter with analog echo emulation.

Shattered Glass Audio- SGA1566 Tube Preamp

A more complex and powerful saturator.

Tone Boosters- TB Reelbus Tape Emulator

A simulator of analogue tape effects such as tape hiss, wow, flutter, and saturation.

TDR SlickEQ

Simplified hree-band EQ with a unique sound.

CableGuys PanCake 2

Panning plugin capable of automation and complex panning not possible in the DAW alone.

Tritik Krush Bit Crusher

Bit crusher to add distortion or retro sounds to your instruments and recordings.

As you learned in the foundations course, one of the 4 key elements of music production are samples, yet even many experienced producers run into issues when creating their sample libraries down the road!

Below you will find a list of the best free websites to download drum samples, loops and SFX for your projects.

But first, let’s set you up for success so a year from now you don’t run into 100 problems with your sample library.

Step By Step Guide:

1. Create a folder, preferably on your SSD (Solid State Hard Drive) called “Samples” and a few folders inside that folder called “Drums,” “Loops,” “SFX,” and “Recordings.”
2. Inside the “Drums” folder you will place all individual drum samples you download. In other words, every drum sample you download that isn’t a loop (made up of multiple drum sounds) goes into this folder.
3. Inside the “Loops” folder create a folder called “Drums” and a folder called “Melodic” – All drum loops you download go into the Drums folder, and all other loops (pads, leads, basses, anything that plays a melody and isn’t a one-shot sample) go into the Melodic folder.
4. Inside the SFX folder, you will place all the sound effects you download. Basically, anything that isn’t a melody, an instrument, a loop or a drum sample goes here.
5. In your DAW you will set up all new recordings you make (including resampling) to be saved into the “Recordings” folder. You may have to look this one up or submit a support request in the classroom forum below!
6. Keep all sample packs, loop packs and etc. in their original folders when you copy them into your sample library! Example: You download a hip-hop drum pack called “MadDrumzYo,” – You place it in Samples/Drums/MadDrumzYo so in the future, you don’t lose track of samples that are supposed to go together!

That’s it! You should now have your first DAW installed, a selection of free synthesizers & effects plugins to play with and some samples or loops to get started making beats!

This is in no way an exhaustive guide so if I didn’t address one of your questions, please create a new topic in the classroom discussion forum below and ask away! I answer all student questions in the order they are received!

Also, do me a huge favor and share this link: https://jordanwinslow.me/classroom anywhere you can so more aspiring producers can learn for free what colleges are trying to charge thousands of dollars for!

See you later, creators!