Guides: Jazz: Recording equipment, resources and music notation software

Recording equipment and resources

The Music Library offers loans of audio/video recording and playback equipment to McGill students, faculty, and staff.

Video cameras, microphones, stands, audio recording devices as well as Mac laptops with music and video editing software may be reserved by music students and faculty. Please see the Library's audio/video recording and playback equipment page for more information.

Recording resources

In addition to the recording equipment, the Music Library has a number of resources on recording techniques which can help you with your recording project.

Search the library's catalogue using the following subject headings to browse books and resources on jazz composition and arranging:

Below are just a few examples of items available at the library to get you started.

Select books on recording:

Eargle's the Microphone Book by Ray A. Rayburn
The Microphone Book is an invaluable resource for learning the 'why' as well as the 'how' of choosing and placing a microphone for any situation.
Mic It! by Ian Corbett
Beginning with essential audio theory and a discussion of the desirable characteristics of "good sound", Mic It! covers microphones, mono and stereo mic techniques, the effect of the recording space or room, and large classical and jazz ensemble recording.
On-location Recording Techniques by Bruce Bartlett; Jenny Bartlett
Dividing classical and popular music recording into two distinct sections, this book focuses on the special techniques used for recording outside the confines of the studio.
Recording Orchestra and Other Classical Music Ensembles by Richard King
Features sections on how to listen, understanding microphones, concert halls, how to set up the monitoring environment, and how to approach recording each section of the orchestra.
From Still to Motion: a Photographer's Guide to Creating Video with Your DSLR by James Ball (Contribution by); Robbie Carman; Matt Gottshalk
Includes a real-world example of a music video and promo package throughout the book to demonstrate concepts in action.

Software: music notation, transcription, audio and video editing

Sibelius, Finale, Dorico and Transcribe!

Available in the Music Student Computer Room, on select laptops from our circulating collection, as well as a few computers on the 4th and 5th floors of the Music Library.

See options for free music production software (audio editing, video editing, music notation)

For more information about each software title, please see the Music Software Resources library guide.

Location and contacts

Music Library Staff

Email me

Contact:

Marvin Duchow Music Library
Elizabeth Wirth Music Building
3rd floor - 527 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1E3

514-398-4695

Subjects: Music

Resource key

McGill users only
Open access resource
Free resource
In-library use
Catalogue record