Final Major Project

[grantrobinson-fmp]

Collaboration video with James Andrew Harris and Keith Horner.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

Personal Resources

Throughout the year I have been attending my sessions on time. My final major project lessons are on a Thursday morning from 11pm. At 10pm until 11pm we have our music studies lesson in the same classroom. This made it a lot easier as we we're already at the class ready by the time final major project started.

The resources I brought to every lesson was my headphones including a jack adaptor, pen and paper and my memory stick.

The memory stick was used to save all more years work on that I have done on the computer. I used my pen and paper to write notes down during our sessions.

Also during the year I have been attending my Skills Development Sessions on time. Our lesson started at 4pm and we finished our tutorial lesson in the same room at 3:30pm giving us 30 min break. During each recording session I brought my pen and paper to write down ideas or track lists if we were mixing. The equipment we used to record with was the college's equipment such as bass guitar, drums, microphones, xlr cables and of course the control room equipment.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

Reflective Document

When I first had to initial idea to create a sample pack I wanted to create a trance pack as I thought it would be easier. I then later changed it to a drum and bass sample pack when I was doing my final decisions for the final major project proposal.

After deciding on creating a drum and bass sample pack I decided to go home and just listen to a bunch of new tracks. I then discovered that Chase & Status had released a new track called "Count on me" and this was a massive inspiration for me. The track I wanted to create out of the sample pack was to be energetic, had trance-like leads and breaks within the drums.

During the creation of the sample pack I had some issues such as losing the original lead sounds and exporting individual notes one by one. I had also lost management over my planned time for the sample pack. I was not able to create the second track out of the sample as I originally planned.

Even though I didn't get to create the second track from the sample pack I still enjoyed creating the drum and bass track out of it. I used techniques I learnt from other lessons such as Skills Development where I learned about mixing, equalization and filters.

If I had the opportunity or time I would definitely create another sample pack. I would create a more manageable plan that I can stick to the best I can. I would also do more in-depth research within sample pack to see how many files they actually provide and what other sort of files they add.

Creating this sample pack has given me the interest in creation of other sorts of packs. For example Patches or Presets packs. 

Overall I am very happy with the outcome.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

Tutorial video on how to create basic trance chords.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

Completed Tasks

I have completed most of my tasks that I have set out. The tasks I have completed are Finding a new lead preset, exporting sounds down for sample pack, create another collaboration video and basic mixing / mastering on the track.

What I haven't completed;

- Create a second track: I have ran out of time to create a second track out of the sample pack. I have had some issues exporting down sounds and finding the original lead preset.

- Create a video tutorial: I have tried to create this tutorial multiple times. My video recording software seems to pick up my voice well but the ableton sounds kept skipping. I plan on getting this completed tonight (June 19th).

[grantrobinson-fmp]

This is a good example of good health & safety make sure that all drinks and food are away from the equipment.

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This is an example of bad health & safety as it shows a drink on the mixing desk which if the contents we’re spilt it could damage the equipment. We used a bottled drink to make sure that no liquids would actually be spilt and the bottle was only on the desk for a very short period of time to take the picture.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

Planned Tasks

This post is going to be setting myself tasks for my Final Major Project to get it finished by the due date which is June 12th.

What I have left to do on my Final Major Project is to finish off getting my synth sounds exported and get each sound exported into multiple keys such as C2, D2, E2 etc. I have also lost the lead preset sounds so what I need to do is try find which sounds I used or find new sounds that will fit well for my FMP track. I need to create a tutorial video which includes prepared material (samples etc) and creative production. I also need to create another collaboration video with Keith and James going in depth with the track, contribute and implement ideas. Using my sample pack I am wanting to create a second track with a different genre other than drum and bass (I am going for dubstep). Lastly, I am wanting to try out some mixing and mastering on both the tracks.

Schedule

- Export sounds (even different keys) (June 19th, 1pm)

- Find or Change Lead Preset (June 19th, 2pm)

- Create a tutorial video (June 19th)

- Create another collaboration video (29th May, 3pm)

- Produce another track using Sample Pack

- Basic Mix and Mastering on the track. (June 19th, 2:30pm)

[grantrobinson-fmp]

Here is a couple of pictures of us during a production stage in the college studio's. At this stage in the production the track had it's main structure and chords created. We were talking through the creation of second lead which we used one of our favourite presets in cubase (Simplicity). We had scheduled to come in on a Wednesday before lessons our session was from 10am - 1pm. We actually started early and got to the studios about 9:30am and finished roughly 12:45pm.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

This is a picture of me playing some chords on the piano for the collaboration track that myself, Keith and James are working on. All 3 of us decided to improvise and put our ideas together. We decided to put our track in the key of A minor. The chord progression is A minor, E minor, F major, G major Grant chose; E minor James chose; A minor Keith chose; F major For the ending of the progression we just copied over the F major on the 4th bar and started moving it up and down keys until we all agreed on a key that we all liked. The key we agreed on was G major.

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This is a video of myself, Keith and James listening to the track we are working on together. We are talking about some of the good and bad points of the track and giving ideas on some improvements that could be made.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

Recording a Jam

On Monday 28th me, Keith and Danny decided to to setup the drums, bass and synth ready for recording. We then started the 2424 recording and we just started playing even though we weren't in key or played very well.

We used different techniques like having an extra mic setup for recording the room ambience / reverb sounds. We also the overhead mics on each side of the drum kit to get the stereo effect of the cymbals and hats.

On our next session we plan on getting a balanced mix on the recordings and possibly use some effects such as compression on the kick etc. We will then be mixing the track down in wavelab.

We scheduled the jam to take place during our Skills Development lesson on Monday evening from 4pm. After setting up and getting record ready we actually started jamming about 4:40pm and finished about 5:10pm when we started to pack everything away for our lesson finishing at 5:30pm.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

Performance

On Thursday 3rd of April we had a performance session within the studio which everyone in the class was included. Everyone participated in setting up the rig (and taking down) and having a go on the DJ Decks.

We had Danny and Dean doing the Live Sound for the Performance.

Michael and Curtis doing DJ Sets.

Myself, Keith and James performing live composition tracks using Ableton Live and the Launchpad.

We we're all video'd and pictures taken for the course website and we we're asked to make a song for the course video.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

Skills Development and Practice Demonstration

Last Thursday we had our skills development and practice demonstration on skills that we have learnt through the year.

During my presentation I demonstrated a basic balanced mix on the mixing desk of a track I transferred over onto the 2424. After that I demonstrated EQ'ing on each channel as well as why I used high pass filters on all except the kick. I also demonstrated how to use a compressor.

I personally feel confident using the mixing desk for recording and mixing, I also feel confident recording instruments from the live room onto the 2424 recorder.

When i started the Access Course in September I didn't have a clue what a mixing desk was and I was very confused when looking at one as it has a lot of controls. 

I'm really happy and proud of what I have achieved so far as it's in the right direction for the career choice I want which is working within a recording studio.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

On Thursday 20th March last week we had the opportunity to get some experience as front of house engineers in the college theater. We set up 4 microphones ready for the college bands to use and we also had to opportunity to use the lighting desk.

Evaluation:

Even though I felt we didn't do that great and at some points we we're struggling such as tripping the pre amps a few times. I thought we done really well overall considering it was out first time. I feel the experience we had will help us on future events and our live sound lessons.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

I made a tutorial on how I make my chords for my trance tracks. Even though I have no microphone you can see what I'm doing quite clearly.

[grantrobinson-fmp]

Embracer

I'm a Musician mainly producing Drum & Bass, Chillstep and Dubstep. Whatever inspires or motivates me to be creative at the time really. I h...

Here is a track I have been working on the past couple of weeks. On this track I have used techniques Jack taught us in our studio sessions such as writing a list of the most important tracks first (in my preference) from top to bottom and then mixing the channels / instruments 1 by 1. I also used the frequency balancing technique on multiple instruments where I had 2 similar sounds (plucks / leads) which I boosted on 1 frequency point and reduced on another I then do the same thing on the other sound but in the opposite order so whatever I boosted on the other sound will be reduced on this 1 vice versa. I also used oppositional panning in this track.