Goals
- Practice piano with a backing track, instead of a boring metronome
- Record songs so I can share with friends & family.
- Learn to sing, so I have more fun at karaoke.
- Jam with musician friends at my house
- Play music to friends while on phone calls
- Record jam sessions with my friends
Equipment
Hardware
Computer Desk
- Height-Adjustable Standing Desk
- Adjustable Cell Phone Stand for Desk
- “Gooseneck” Phone mount
- Good for recording video with your phone
- Monitor stand
- Cable organizer / hider
💻 Computer
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019)
- Processor: 2.8 Ghz
- Memory: 16 GB
- Graphics: Intel Iris 655
- Ports:
- 4 x USB-C
- 1 x 1/8" Headphone port
⌨️ Computer Keyboard
⬛️ Computer Trackpad
🖥 Computer Video Monitor
Video Monitor
- LG 27UD58-B 27-Inch 4K UHD IPS Monitor
- Inputs: HDMI, DisplayPort
Video Monitor Cables
Video Adapters
Connect HDMI cable into Macbook’s USB-C port
🚎 USB Hubs
USB-C Hub
Ports:
- 1 x HDMI Port
- 3 x USB-A Ports
- 1 x SD Card-reader
- 1 x Mini SD Card-reader
- 1 x Ethernet Port
USB-A Hub & Switch
- Powered USB Switch
- Extends the reach of USB ports
🔀 Audio Interface
- Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 (3rd Gen) USB Audio Interface
- 8 x analog inputs
🎧 Headphones
- Sennheiser HD 380 PRO
- Replacement Ear Pads and Headband - Replaces the original rubber ear pads, which flake off
- HyperX Cloud II - Gaming Headset
- Comfortable for long periods of time
- Great sound
- Great microphone
- Blocks noise
- Headset Hanger Mount
- 3.5mm Female to 6.35mm Male adapter
- Plug Headphone into Monitor port of Audio Interface
🔈 Monitor Speakers
- 2 x Yamaha HS5 Powered Studio Monitors
- Cables to connect Audio Interface to speakers
- Speaker Stands
Musical Instruments
🎹 MIDI Controller (Piano)
- Yamaha P45 88-Key Weighted Digital Piano
- Floor Mat, to hide wires under
- Cable organizer / hider
🎸 Bass Guitar
- Fender Precision Bass
- Folding A-Frame Guitar Stand
- Issues
- The guitar doesn’t seem too stable
- Issues
- Guitar Case
- Instrument cables
Software
🎛 Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
- Apple Logic Pro
- Commonly used in commercial recording studios
- Easy to use
🔀 Audio Routing
Pass audio from one application to another
📲 Video Compositing, Recording & Streaming
- OBS Studio - Free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming.
Video Player
- VLC - free, open-source cross-platform multimedia player and that plays most multimedia files
- QuickTime Player - record your screen, edit movies, capture mobile device’s screen
Services
🎵 Music Services
- Spotify
- Apple Music
Setting Up
Setup Desk
- Assemble Standing Desk
- Connect Standing Desk Power Cable to A/C Power Strip
Setup Power
Setup Computer
Connect USB-C Hub
- Plug USB-C Hub into Computer (USB-C Port #1)
- ✅The Computer now has an additional 3 x USB-A Ports
Connect Computer to Power
- Using USB-C Cable, Connect Computer Charger to USB-C Hub (USB-C Port)
- ✅The Computer now has power
Connect USB-A Hub
- Using USB-A to USB Micro Cable, plug USB-A Hub & Switch to USB-C Hub (USB-A Port #1). The USB-A Hub & Switch now has power.
- Using USB-A Male-to-Male Cable, plug USB-A Hub & Switch to USB-C Hub (USB-A Port #2).
- ✅The Computer now has an additional 4 x USB-A Ports
🖥 Display Monitor
- Using HDMI to USB-C Adapter & HDMI Cable, connect Video Display to to Computer (USB-C Port #2)
⌨️ Keyboard
- Using USB-C to Lightning cable, plug Apple Magic Keyboard into Computer (USB-C Port #3)
- Issue:
- Need another USB port & Lightning cable Apple Magic Trackpad
- Issue:
- Plug iPhone into Computer (USB-A or USB-C Port) - Issue: - Need another USB port
🔈🔀 Setup Audio Interface
- Find a central spot for Audio Interface
- Using Audio Interface Power Cable connect Audio Interface to A/C Power Strip
- The Audio Interface now has power
- Set the Monitor Volume Control Knob on Audio Interface to 1/3 Volume, or to your liking
- Set the Headphone Volume Control Knobs on Audio Interface to 1/3 Volume, or to your liking
🔈 Setup Speakers
- Using A/C Power Cable, connect Monitor Speakers to A/C Power Strip
- Monitor Speakers are now powered
- Connect Monitor Speakers to Audio Interface
- Using TRS Cable, Connect Left Monitor Speakers to Audio Interface (Output Port #1)
- Using TRS Cable, Connect Right Monitor Speakers to Audio Interface (Output Port #2)
🎧 Setup Headphones
Headset with Microphone
- Attach Headphone Hanger to Desk
- Connect Headset with Microphone to USB-A Switch & Extender (Port #2)
Headphones
- Using 3.5mm Female to 6.35mm Male Adapter, plug Headphones into Audio Adapter
Setup Musical Instruments
🎹 Setup MIDI Controller
- Mount MIDI Controller on Keyboard Stand
- Connect Sustain Pedal to MIDI Controller
- Connect MIDI Controller Power Cable to A/C Power Strip
- Connect MIDI Controller’s MIDI cable to USB-A Switch & Extender (USB-A Port #1)
- The MIDI Controller is now available as a MIDI Input to the Computer
🎼 Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
- Install Apple Logic Pro
- Verify that MIDI Controller is available to Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) as a MIDI Input
🔀 Audio Routing
Install Audio Routing Software
- Download & Install LoopBack
Configure a Composite Virtual Interface
- Inputs
- Headset & Mic
- Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
🎦 Video Recording & Streaming
- Install OBS Studio
How to…
🎹🎸🥁 Practice Piano & Guitar with a Backing Track
🎵➡️📞 Stream a Live Music Performance to a friend on a Audio Call
🎵➡️🖥 Stream a Live Music Performance to a friend on a Video Call
🎵🔴 Record a Jam Session with Friends
🎵➡️🎧 Send Recorded Music Audio to a friend
🎵➡️🖥 Send Recorded Music Video to a friend
🎵➡️🌍 Stream a Live Music performance to a Public Video Streaming Service
Resources
📚 Books
- The Chord Wheel - helpful in understanding the note relationships in music