theedwinherrera-blog

[theedwinherrera-blog]

Mobile Song Process

The app I used is called Launchpad, and it was really simple to use. Before I started to record, I listened to each sound on the soundboard, I would then just randomly play different sounds, to see what would flow and sound the best. Lastly, I kind of improvised, but also got the sound I really wanted in the recording. Overall, it was easier to produce a song on the app, but the options were limited. I did perform the song live but it was not made up on the spot.  

[theedwinherrera-blog]

Self-Remix Process

So for I choose to remix my song Ying to the Yang. I wanted to keep the tracks it has, while still adding something to it. I was listening to Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, while producing the song and decided to include and samle the drums and the final guitar into the song. Overall, I did add a few inputs into many of my tracks, and upped the tempo to 120bpm. Really fun process, but very difficult in a sense that I didn’t know what I wanted, but overall I am happy with my result.

[theedwinherrera-blog]

Sampling Ethics

I believe it is okay to sample without permission but, I do believe that credit should be given where credit is due. Sampling can really be a benefit, especially if a song that is really popular because it can really bring in more listens to the sampled songs, and even more purchased songs.

[theedwinherrera-blog]

Peer Remix Process

For the peer remix song, I used Hope’s “Loop Song”. The reason I chose this song is because when I hear it in class I really enjoyed what Hope had produced. A very good song! It fit really well, and it sounded phenomenal. But I did feel like it was missing a bit, so I decided to remix it. I downloaded it from Soundcloud and started from there. I split the song into many regions. There were some parts I removed, for instance, the guitar, because I felt as if though it did not fit. I proceeded to manually record the claps, as I felt it sounded great and kind of kept rhythm to the tracks. For some odd reason, the song reminded me of the video game, Mortal Kombat, so I proceeded to add a few Mortal Kombat sound effects. Overall, I wanted it to sound different while also adding different components to it. This was by far the most fun I have had working on a song, but the most difficult. The song included 14 tracks which is a personal record. 

[theedwinherrera-blog]

Sample Genealogy

The new hit “Mask Off” by Future, is easily one of my favorite songs to listen to, the fact that it is so good to listen to. I knew that the wind sounds were definitely a MIDI file, what I found out today, is that it is actually a sample from a song, which is “Prison Song” by Tommy Butler. After hearing both songs, I finally can see how well the producer mixed the sample of “Prison Song” into “Mask Off”.  The sample was used for the entire song, and it was used as a main track in the entire song. It flowed nicely with the beats that were also included into “Mask Off”

YES! Two of my favorite songs from talented artists, “Paper Trail$” by Joey Bada$$ and “C.R.E.A.M. by Wu-Tang Clan. The song “C.R.E.A.M.” is sampled lyrically into “Paper Trail$” but not entirely the whole lyric “Cash ruled everything around me” which is the orginial lyric from “C.R.E.A.M.”,  as to where  in “Paper Trail$” Bada$$ says “Cash ruined everything around me”, which is very intriguing. 

“Paper Trail$” - Joey Bada$$ 2:33

“C.R.E.A.M.”- Wu-Tang Clan - 0:21 

[theedwinherrera-blog]

Found Sound Documentation

Before I started creating my song, I listened to everyone’s found sound, they were all very difficult to incorporate into a song, so I decided to use the firetruck sound. I used the firetruck sound because when someone hears it, they can tell what it is. My attempt I wanted my song to be pretty laid back and chill, while also being not too obnoxious with the firetruck sound. I had to go through many loops to really find what went along with others. After choosing all loops adding plug-ins to each and every track, I decided to mix every track to really make everything pop. I experimented with many plug-ins and used a bit of them. I feel wasn’ t really successful into making the sound “enjoyable” because it is pretty difficult to. But overall, this was a difficult but pretty fun assignmnent

[theedwinherrera-blog]

Blog post: Real vs hyperreal vs surreal

1. Realistic Recording - “Monotonia“ by The Growlers This is a realistic recording because the band is playing their instruments in one go, no repeats no going back to see if it sounds good. The singer is also singing at the moment. The sound that makes this more realistic, is the fact that the crowd is singing along as well.   

2. Hyperreal Recording - “Mama Said” Cover by The Growlers - This is a more enhance version of a live recording of a cover song they did during a show. This song appears on none of their records and can only be found on youtube. The song sounds mixed and produced to make them sound better. Also, this song was done in one go, and the producer had to mix it to make it sound better than it already did.

3. Surreal Recording - “Make it Bun Dem” by Skrillex & Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley. This song was mostly made with a lot composed digitally if he did use any life instruments he probably used a synthesizer. But he mostly used a board that already has sounds implemented and or samples from other instruments. It could be played using acoustic instruments, but it will not sounds entirely the same, because there is no instrument that can replicate the sounds.

[theedwinherrera-blog]

MIDI Song Process

To begin my song, I used Groove Pizza to make a beat. I had no idea of what beat I wanted, so I just started playing around with the Pizza, the final beat I made was really amazing! I wanted to the beat to be used on a medium tempo kind of song, with pianos and a bit of synth. I decided to use a long intro to kind of hype up the song, hopefully, it hypes up the listeners. Secondly, I put in synths and pianos which I thought sounded great!! I tried to add drums, but it would sound “overlapped” so I did not add any. Overall, I really wanted the song to be kind of a “voicemail” that you hear, after someone didn’t pick up, but overall I am really happy with what i produced.

[theedwinherrera-blog]

Groove Pizza Beat

The beat I made using GroovePizza can be used in a majority of genres. It can be used in a hip-hop, techno, indie, and even on some raps songs. The beat is diverse and can be used for a bunch of different genres.

[theedwinherrera-blog]

Loop Song Process

Song

I first started off with listening to different loops. I really wanted a misleading intro into the song, to confuse and really change up the vibe of the song. When I found the orchestra I listened to it for about 6 mins non-stop of the same loop. For some odd reason, this loop really got to me, I knew there was potential in this one loop. I then proceeded to have an ongoing kind of synth, I was thinking more of an arpeggiator, but I did not like any sounds I tried to produce. For the structure of the song I decided to kind of have a breakdown somewhere, and at one point have all instruments silenced out, with a bass solo in it. Then I would bring all the instruments after a breakdown also with a small “meme-ish” kind of thing going on today, which is why I decided to add the “Cash me ousside how bout dat” meme audio. I would say I did plan out the song but there were at times such as the outro, in which I had to improvise a bit, I was confused at what I wanted and what the outcome is. In the end, I really loved what I have produced. I feel creating music this way is a real way of creating music. I put in a lot of thought into creating this song of loops. It was also very time consuming, and difficult to structure a song out. Which is why this type of way is considered a legitimate way of music creativity.

[theedwinherrera-blog]

The Structure of Beach Rats by The Growlers

YES! One of my favorites, Beach Rats by The Growlers, is a very groovy song, it has many different components when it comes to the structure of a song. Beach Rats looks a little something like this! 

Beach Rats Song Structure

The song includes 3 different verses, the chorus repeats 4 times, the pre-chorus only repeats 3 times, one bridge, one solo, and consists of 2 breakdowns. What is really interesting about this song is the fact that the 3rd verse is the longest of the 4 verses in total, and it completely overwrites over the pre-chorus. The artist, Brooks Nielsen, decided to not include the pre-chorus, and instead chose to make Verse 3, longer. My favorite part of the song includes the solo near the ending of the song. It can be considered as a breakdown, but I considered it a solo as the guitar simply out shadows the other instruments during the “breakdown”/outro. Overall, the song is very well structured and very enjoyable to hear. 

Beach Rats Lyrics

This song is about depression, and going towards drugs as a “reliever”, in this case, a surfer. The writer was going through depression as well and tells the surfer to just enjoy the sun, the beach, and the ocean instead of turning to drugs. Also even though when at sea, you may feel like you are free, but it’s a lifestyle you can't live forever, everything dies eventually. Don’t turn to drugs, and just live life.

[theedwinherrera-blog]

Favorite and Least Favorite Songs

Favorite Song

My Name is Human by Highly Suspect

I remember hearing it when the song was released, I listened to it nonstop. The way Jonny, the vocalist, sang certain lyrics made it a very appealing song. This is one of my favorite bands, that I discovered at a show. The production of the song is just so very well done. The song has a good meaning, which is about self-actualization and realizing that everyone is human, no one is perfect in this world.

Least Favorite Song

Bad and Boujee - Migos ft Lil Uzi Vert

I really hate this song, sure the production is very good. The song doesn't make any sense. It just has no meaning, it’ s just rhyming words. The song talks about guns, and women and it’s just not very appealing to me. It just doesn’t sound good to me.