Making Music
  Computer Music Software and Hardware

Not fade away

Considerably less popular with songwriters and producers than the fade-out is the fade-in. However, this very fact can be used to make a song a little different. Fade-ins work exactly like fade-outs - but in reverse of course. In most cases it's a good idea to keep a fade-in short unless you're after a particular effect. The fade function in a sequencer or audio editor can often be used here very quickly and effectively.

Crossfades

Unlike a fade which is performed on one piece of audio, a crossfade requires two pieces of audio and is the process of fading one out while simultaneously fading the other one in.

In recording, this is primarily used to make one track on an album fade or merge into the following one. When done successfully, it's a great effect.

As with fades, you can perform a crossfade manually. You need mixed versions of the two songs routed to two different sets of faders. The two songs must be on different tracks and the end of the first song must overlap the start of the second. As with fades, make sure there is enough overlapping material for the length of the crossfade you want to do.

Ways to fade

There are several ways to do a crossfade. The most obvious is to fade the first track out at a uniform rate while simultaneously fading in the second. However, you might want to fade the first out for a short while before fading in the second. Or you might want to fade up the second track so it's bubbling under the first one before fading out the first. Unless you're after a special effect, use the first method.

Performing a crossfade is a little more involved than doing a fade so it's worth looking at the help you can get from your sequencer or audio editor. Most have a crossfade function and, again, some offer a choice of curve. You may also be able to use one curve for the fade out and a different one for the fade in.

Loopmasters

The principles of crossfading are nowhere more essential than in sample and loop editing and creation. Being able to crossfade well is the mark of a polished loop maker. Whereas our ears can be quite forgiving if two songs are crossfaded in a slipshod way, if you don't get the crossfade in a loop or sample right there will be a very noticeable click.

Software can help, of course, and you'd be ill advised to try looping without some soft assistance. There are a few wizened loopers who profess to do it by touch and sense of smell but why make life difficult?

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