Synthetic Vocals
I have been producing musical arrangements since the 1990's, using synthesizers to play different instruments in digital multitrack recordings. The arrangements are for small bands like the ones I used to play in and feature Hammond organ, Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos, bass guitar, drums, electric and acoustic guitars, and acoustic pianos. These can be simulated on synthesizers, like my Yamaha MX88. Singing was hard to simulate until recently, so all of my compositions have been instrumentals ... until now.
Voice synthesis has suddenly gotten much better. The ACE Studios software can convert notes played on a keyboard into a realistic human voice singing the lyrics that you supply. At last, I can add vocal parts to my songs. On this website are some of my recent original songs and arrangements, sung by non-union, royalty-free, ACE Studio synthesized vocalists.
The FL Studio Software
I am currently using the FL Studio DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) PC software for making multitrack recordings. Like other DAWs, FL Studio provides a selection of tools that broadly mimic a real recording studio. The screen shot below shows the main components. The channel rack (lower right) contains all the instruments and audio clips used in a project. The piano roll editor (behind the channel rack) is used for editing the MIDI performance for an instrument. The playlist (upper right) shows the recorded instrument tracks, where you can arrange the various MIDI, audio, and automation clips. Audio clips can be edited in Edison (upper left). The volume and effects on each track are controlled in the mixer panel (lower left).
FL Studio has a large selection of built-in virtual instruments, and there are thousands more available as third-party free or paid plugins. For most instruments I prefer the sounds of the preset voices in my Yamaha MX88 synthesizer, which I also use as a MIDI controller (i.e., it is the keyboard I play most of the parts on).
The ACE Studio Software
ACE Studio uses AI to add realistic nuances to their synthesized singing voices. To create vocal parts, I record a monophonic melody (one note at a time) on the keyboard and create a MIDI file with that part. This is repeated for the harmony parts. Separately, in FL Studio I produce a band track with just the instruments (no vocals) and mix that down to an audio file, which is imported into ACE Studio along with the MIDI vocal tracks. The song is arranged in ACE Studio by moving the clips around on the playlist. Initially, the singers sing the default lyrics “da da da da …”. These are replaced by typing the real lyrics directly on the notes in the piano roll editor (lower half in screen shot). Part of “Dance Like a Caveman” is shown in the screenshot.
My Synthesizers
The Yamaha MX88 is my main controller (keyboard) for performing. It has a full 88 weighted (piano style) keys and some good built-in preset instruments. My second synth is a Casio CTK-4400. This is the highest numbered of the CTK models that flooded department stores for 30 years. I like the drum patterns in the CTK, and also their auto-strumming guitar feature (where you hold a chord down and it comes out strummed).
Cover Art
Spotify and other streaming platforms require cover art for albums and singles. As a retired artist I have a lot of my own paintings to draw from without worrying about copyright issues, so I am just using those. You can see more of my paintings at RobertJEstep.com.