Video & Audio Recording Software

The Attic is located on the 4th floor of the James E. Brooks Library and is open to all CWU students, faculty, and staff. Technology within the space supports music, video, and audio production and enjoyment.

Equipment you can find in the space includes:

• Turntable for listing to records
• CD and cassette players
• Composition pianos
• Computers with audio software

While there are plenty of freely available audio software options for download, computers in The Attic include the following extra software options for users to explore and use:

• Audacity
• Finale
• Sibelius
• Garage Band

What are they and where are they located?

Composition pianos are located on the 4th floors in room 401C and on the 3rd floor of Brooks Library, in room 355C. Computers include 5 additional types of software (Finale, Sibelius, Audacity, Premiere, and Garage Band).

How do I use them?

Composition pianos are already connected into computers with audio production software installed. Once you open the selected software app, pianos will be ready for use. Detailed written instructions will be available on the 3rd floor in the music room. To use headphones, plug headphones into the audio jack located behind the piano. The piano on the 3rd floor will already have headphones connected; headphones are also available for loan at the front desk.

Features

• Record live audio through a microphone or mixer, or digitize recordings from other media
• Import, edit, and combine sound files. Export your recordings in many different file formats, including multiple files at once
• Spectrogram view mode for visualizing and selecting frequencies
• Easy editing with cut, copy, paste and delete; unlimited sequential undo (and redo) in the session to go back any number of steps

Hosting

Audacity its own hosting platform, files can also be exported to the computer device.

Access

This free software is downloaded on computers on the 4th floor in room 401. Audacity is available for free download on any desktops (Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, & other operating system). Internet connection is required for software download and activation.

Features

• Listens in real time to track your progress, beat your best scores, and improve your skills
• Wireless control to Garageband from your iPad with the Logic Remote app
• Play any software instrument, shape your sound with Smart Controls, and hit stop, start, and record from across the room
• Includes editing effects such as reverb, visual EQ, volume levels and stereo panning
• Includes a library of prerecorded instrument beats and clips to use in music production

Hosting

Not a hosting platform, allows for export to host elsewhere, files can be saved to iCloud.

Access

The computers in the music commons and music lab include this software for free. GarageBand is available for download on any Mac desktops. GarageBand is a default software usually already installed on Mac computers.

Features

• Human playback feature, a comprehensive utility designed to interpret virtually every aspect of your score including articulations, expressions, hairpins, and other markings, in order to generate playback that simulates a live human performance
• Web-based interactive sharing, by uploading your music to SmartMusic, where it can be easily accessed by performers, students, or anyone else for efficient practice and collaboration
• MusicXML import, to bring your MusicXML files from other music notation apps to continue your music creation
• SMuFL (Standard music font layout) compliant fonts
• Outputs publisher-quality printable files as well as PDF and graphic files

Hosting

Is its own hosting platform, files can also be exported to the computer device.

Access

Software is accessible through computers in the library music commons and music lab include this software. Finale is available for download on any desktops (Windows and Mac OS X) and mobile devices. Finale is not free for download; however, they do offer a 30-day free trial. Internet connection is required for software download and activation.

Features

• Virtual guitar and piano
• Ability to create a "Score Subset" that contains, as the name would suggest, a subset of staves from the full score
• Automatic correction, automatically adds the correct rests and note appearances
• MusicXML import, to bring your MusicXML files from other music notation apps to continue your music creation
• Social media sharing
• Includes a 36 gb professional sound library and Espressivo 2.0 playback engine

Hosting

Is its own hosting platform, files can also be exported to the computer device.

Access

The computers in the music commons and music lab include this software for free. We have the Sibelius First version, which is free for everyone to download on any desktops (Windows and Mac OS X) and mobile devices. Sibelius offers other upgraded versions for purchase (Sibelius Artist & Sibelius Ultimate), with additional features and include a student discount if purchased. Internet connection is required for software download and activation.