How
to tackle the AS Music Technology ‘Sequencing’ course work using Logic software
Tactics
One
option would be to input everything you can from the score first then start
work on getting the parts to sound good.
Related
issues include
- Your notes may sound ‘robotic’ and will need
editing
- You may end up relying too much on the score
Another
option would be to work on a section of the song at a time getting the sound
and sequencing exactly right before moving on. Play the music in as much as
possible
Write
down the exact arrangement of the song and input this into Logic using
‘Markers’
- Note down all the sound and instruments playing
- Keep a paper copy of your arrangement and make notes
on the score
- Remember – you can do this at home!
Use
all the information available to you. The score, the music track, advice from
tutors and research you have done via youtube and other websites.
What’s the Score?
- The score you are given is only a ‘skeletal’
representation of the music.
- If the music were to be played exactly from the score
it would sound bland, robotic and even wrong in places. There would also be a
lot missing in your track!
- Use the score as a guide to check pitches and basic
rhythms
- Quickly move on to the Piano Roll edit page to edit
the notes
- Listen to the track to get the exact ‘feel’ of each
line or rhythm
-
Piano Roll Edit Page
- Note Position: Small changes can create the right
groove or ‘feel’
- Note Velocity / Volume: Create accents in a line or
beat
- Note Length: Listen then copy what you hear.
Quantisation
- Don’t leave timing errors in your work!
- Don’t ever use 100% quantisation strength - try 50% -
80% strength
- Practice playing the parts in live as this may sound
better in the long run
Tips and
Tricks
Use
‘Screen Sets’ to improve your workflow and make your life easier
Listen
to the original track:
- Not all the sounds have been included in the score
- The score is not exactly what is being played.
Work
out which parts can be copied and pasted.
- Copying is easy in the Arrange Page but you can copy
in Score as well
- Make sure that you slightly alter each copy if needed
(listen to the track again!)
Take
a mix or ‘bounce’ home to have a listen.
- Make notes on how to improve it
- First impressions count! - Make sure your sequence
sounds spot on at the start
- Focus on the vocal part as a priority as this carries
a lot of marks
- A / B your sounds and parts at every stage with the
original music track
Melodies / Vocals
- Do not use
a Polyphonic setting – singers cannot sing two notes at a time!
- Use the
Monophonic / Legato settings in the synthesiser
- Use pitch bend… but be aware that you will need to
duplicate tracks if you change the pitch bend value later in the track
Use
HYPERDRAW to create and edit
Expression, Pitch Bend and Modulation
Select
Hyperdraw inside the ‘piano roll. You can see the notes above and a line that
represents the pitch.
Better
than ‘track automation’ as you can get right inside each note and create very
small, subtle changes in pitch, volume and vibrato.
You
can even use the ‘Curvy Line’ tool to create realistic bends, crescendos or
vibrato
Notes
can get louder or quieter as they are sustained (its what singers do!)
– Edit the ‘Expression’ of each note using Piano Roll/View/Hyperdraw/Expression
Most
singers will have an element of vibrato in their voice.
Vibrato
can be added in a very musical way using the modulation wheel and the LFO (available
on most instruments)
The
speed and depth can be adjusted and a delay time chosen to adjust when the
vibrato comes in. Edit in Hyperdraw.
Choosing Sounds
- One approach: You could choose ‘OK” sounds first then
change them later
- Another approach: Getting the sound right early on
may help you sequence correctly. Changing sounds may affect the length, volume
and articulation of the notes being played. Getting the sound right can make
all the difference
- Using EQ, compression and effects can help ‘fine
tune’ sounds
- The synthesisers and the sampler have filters and
ADSR envelopes that can help fine tune the sound you are after. Drum sounds can
be tuned in pitch
- Consider splitting your drum sounds out onto
different tracks so you can treat each sound separately. (This can be done
later as part of the mixing process)
- An electric bass guitar sound is a result of the make
and model of bass, amplifier, microphone, loudspeaker, recording format (tape
or digital) EQ and compression.
- Check out the guitar and bass amplifier simulators
and FX pedal board in Logic
- Sometimes adding a second track playing the same part
but on a different sound will create the overall sound you are looking for
- Sounds / timbres do sound different in isolation
compared to how they sound ‘in the mix’ (We will be discussing mixing
techniques later in the course)
Panning for Gold
- Recreate the stereo position of each sound in the
recording
- Sometimes sounds will be ‘double tracked’ (two of the
same sound panned L&R)
- Sometimes the sound can be on one side while the
effect may be on the other
- Sounds are rarely panned hard left or hard right
unless for special effect
- Kick, snare, bass and lead vocals are always panned
central
Checking Your Track
- Wrong notes and bad
timing are the two worst things to leave in your track
- Listen to the feedback you get from your tutor
- Listen to your track on loudspeakers and through
different systems / headphones
Ask for help
If
you don’t know how to do any of this stuff please ask
- You are allowed to ask for ‘technical’ help during
your course work time
- Check to see if there are any tutorial videos or
notes in Moodle
A
Smith - Last updated: 21/10/11
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