musicstudentblog-blog

[musicstudentblog-blog]

Final task (option 4)

Please refer to sound cloud for the audio track. Check the link below 

https://soundcloud.com/user-471230187/dream

For this creative journey, I was to “manipulate a single sound” which would make up 50 percent of the final composition. The sound I chose to use as the foundation of this track was a garage band vocal sample. There are 3 distinct vocal parts which repeat their individual pattern throughout the track (please refer to Image 1, 2 and 3 for notated parts). Each part enters after 8 bars and continues through to a repeat from the top of the track and was eq slightly differently in order to give each part space.

 Image 1

 Image 2

Image 3 (Cross-rhythms)

To enhance the vocal part foundation, atmospheric synths were added in addition to, spoken and sung vocal parts. the atmospheric synths added at various places to identify section changes and create a build to lead into the repeated section. Percussion section played a very syncopated pattern with which repeats throughout the track. Bass added to fill in the lower end of the track and create some contrast between the high-end vocal samples and atmospherics synths. following the layer cake method, Eq was used on all tracks as to create space for each instrument. 

Image 4 Shaping low elements (Bass Synth) kept mono. Higher frequencies were cut to only allow lower frequencies to pass.

image 5 (all tracks)

Image 6 (all tracks continued)

In regards to experimentation I chose a section from a famous poem by Omar Khayyam called “The Rubayyat”, with which I had my mother recite a section from it.(page 7 Khayyam) I added eq, compression, and reverb to the vocal track to make it a bit more punchy then duplicated it and added heavy delay to the duplicated track in order to place emphasis on certain word and make the narrated vocal track more dreamlike. This vocal track made the foreground elements and also could be thought of as the chorus section of the song. In reflection, with further practice using DAWS, eq, filters, and effects along with using a better sound library will enhance the music I create.    

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Student Group Recording assignment task.

Song: Cover of John Mayer’s track “Im Gonna Find Another You”.

Link to Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-471230187/cover-gonna-find-another-you

Recording assignment took place in the Seymour center practice rooms in the morning. Recording session began with a meet and greet with soloist along with a quick group discussion on how we were going to approach the recording session. This entailed what room we wanted to use, for example, choosing a room that didn't have any instruments, such as piano, in order to get the best quality sound out of the room. In addition, we also discussed where we wanted the soloist to sit and where we wanted to position the zoom recorder as well as a look through song form. Due to time constraints, the Zoom recorder used to capture live performance was one I purchased myself recently. XY microphones were used to capture the live recording session. Batteries were fitted, additional power chord was also brought along as a precaution. I and T worked together on the operation of the zoom recorder while J took the recording track notes for the session. 

In all, there were 17-20 recordings captured during the recording session. Some of these recordings were whole takes, one or two warm-up recordings, and others where sections of the song. Throughout the recording session after each take, group members listened to the recordings to check whether adjustments needed to be made to microphone placement, levels, and soloist performance. Each group member took initiative in queuing soloist, such as asking how he was going, is there anything he'd like to do differently after listening to playback as well as asking a soloist to do sections separately. Difficulties with tempo and surrounding unwanted sounds made it difficult to capture a complete recording of the track without any interference. In reflection choosing a better space would have enhanced the quality of the recordings and also would have ensured time was used sufficiently as there were many interruptions due to outside sounds. However so, there were a few good sections of the live performance which were captured then later sliced together, cutting out all unwanted sounds. 

To move now to the editing stage, for this part of the task I wanted to use Audacity, however, due to my lack of familiarity with the program I decided to go with a program I am familiar with, such as Garageband. I began with dragging the tracks I felt worked the best into Garageband. The two tracks I chose were 0003 and 00017. 0003 recording was used as the main track because I felt it has fewer interruptions. I sliced sections of the 00017 recordings and added them to the parts within track 0003 which had interruption (please refer to image 1 for example). Then once I had the sections that I wanted to replace I then dragged the sections from track 0017 into the empty spots in 0003 (refer to image 2 for example). Automation was then used to make the sections transition smoother (refer to image 3 for example) 

Image one. Below

Image 2 Below

Image 3 Below

[musicstudentblog-blog]

https://open.spotify.com/user/zmsltwboh6r5st1qeuj8ulj3u/playlist/5RUrTRCC1LRcxrrb7CPSZN?si=5k72UeOtRcOGAwbYrSgBmw

Iv created this online blog as a means to explain my “creative journey in composing this piece of music”. I hope to explain what inspired me, things that I learnt along the way, how I created particular sounds, my creative process, and reflection of things I could have done better. I will include screenshots of the project as a means to visually show my creative process. As this track was created for a marked student project, there were certain guidelines which needed to be followed in order to successfully complete the task. For instance, I was to “learn the structure of Cataplexy using an attached Structure Map”, based off the “structure of the gun”, as guidance then recreate my own composition using “Cataplexy” as a template. Although our instructions were to replicate a pre-existing composition structure, we were also given total freedom in the genre and vibe we wanted to create for the track. Although my composition doesn't fully follow the structure of the gun, I did use fundamental concepts from Cataplexy in regards to the arrangement, orchestration, layering, melodic focus, and contrasting sections.

Throughout my studies, I always tended to lean towards creating musical works that could be considered somewhat unconventional. This could be due to an approach to music composition, with which I favor, which is to create with no particular idea in mind or start with one melodic motific idea. I find it to be freeing which inturn stimulates my creativity. Working from the ground up, letting the layers of my ideas inform grove, feel and atmosphere determines the final demo. Arranging stage is where I will do my final edit. In some cases, during the arranging stage, my idea I began with could change completely. For example, the composition I will discuss in this blog started out as having a stronger pull towards major tonality with little minor tonality reinforcement, played straight with little forward movement. Later morphed during the arranging stage where sections were more polished. With the addition of feedback from the teacher, arranging stage seen composition changes, in regards to, stronger minor tonality section with a contrasting major tonality section, now set to swing.

moving on, my short analysis of Paul Mac’s track Cataplexy, Structure map provided, detailed to me three important features within the track; the strong focus on the main melody, which re-entered throughout the track each time different and new in regard to timber. Secondly, there was a distinct contrast for the bridge section of “Cataplexy”, which I would describe as being more dark and ominous as compared to the melodic driven verse sections. Thirdly, there was no use of vocals in Cataplexy, however so, the musical atmosphere created, exciting the imagination. How I used the idea’s from Cataplexy within in my composition. Layering and introducing new melodies, as a means to make the piece grow and have a forward moving effect. In addition to, dropping sections out whilst simultaneously introducing a new melodic idea helped to create interest within my own track. I felt this technique helped to make the second verse feel somewhat new. In reflection, the vocal line could have better- represented feel and tonality of the verse section, in addition to, possibly being more atmospheric through the use of more effects. Moving on, in addition to Cataplexy, I drew inspiration from a track called Tuscan Leather by Drake. The offbeat bass synth emphasis in Tuscan leather was something I wanted to replicate in my own composition. I used this off- beat pattern throughout my track however it is heard more clearly within the chorus section.

Due to me using a limited version of GarageBand, sounds had to be manipulated in order to create new and interesting sounds dissimilar to the standard garage band library. Two loops were used, the clave; which was cut up to create a rhythmic pattern which better fit the track, and the preset arpeggiator synth, which is heard in the outro section. All other elements were played into garage band and later manipulated with eq, compression, reverb, and filters. These many layers within my composition each underwent individualised manipulation, for that reason I will not go into detail what I did for each track. However, I will discuss what I consider to be the most important steps I took in overall equalisation, compression and effects. All instruments equalisation consisted of cutting off all unwanted and unnecessary frequencies, In particular frequencies outside the human hearing spectrum. Automation was not used, however, will be added when I revisit this track for the final assignment.

Shaping foreground; Vocals (equalisation settings)

Shaping foreground; Vocals (compression settings)

As I am still understanding compression manipulation I chose a preset which affected the track minimally.

Shaping foreground; Vocals (reverb settings)

In addition, I duplicated the vocal line twice, one I modified with heavy use of delay and the other with distortion, something I learnt in class from the teacher in the class analysis of a Sia track.

All tracks were set to the below swing pattern.

Shaping low elements (Bass Synth) kept mono. Higher than usual frequencies were allowed to pass due to the fact that the synth had two simultaneous sounds; one low and in a higher register.

Shaping low element (bass kick) kept mono.

Shaping middle ground elements (guitar sound); panned hard last and hard right. As this sound originally was an electric keyboard reverb and pedal board filters were added to make the original sound more like a funky guitar.

Shaping middle ground (steal pan riff); Panned left and right. Again this sound began as an electric keyboard, which was manipulated to sound like steel pans. this Sound was achieved through the use of echo and a preset amp.

In conclusion, this blog has shown, my musical process in addition to, highlighting how I created different sounds within a limited version of Garageband. In addition, this blog has shown how I have drawn on concepts from the different composer previously mentioned in order to help inform and inspired my creativity. Further practice using these features previously discussed, one would get a better understanding and enhance one's digital songwriting abilities. This task has helped me to better understand digital music songwriting techniques and my own musical limitations with which I need to develop more. Also, this task has provided me with the motivation to share my student progress with a larger audience.