Learning Journal (WEEK 9 – AUM162)

DATA

1. Project 2

Researching online sites to gather audio atmos sounds I will be using for project 2. The song will start off with a park atmosphere: Kids playing, dogs barking, birds tweaking, leaves rustling, fountain running and a person singing and clicking their fingers. Getting the samples together.

2. EarMaster

Up to the mastery section and have at the moment stuck on the rhythmic dictation. With the mastery section I will need to get more than 90% to advance to the next exercise. At the moment with the rhythmic dictation exercise I can only get into the 80%.

Reflection

1 - Project 2

As I mentioned in the last blog, I don’t know how this project 2 will turn out, but I’ve decided to name the song for project 2. “This Is the Life to Be”. The narrative hasn’t changed and it’s going to be interesting to see if the classroom peers hook onto the vibe I think I’ve created.

I using panning and automation to create a more realistic audio sound. OK its not surround sound, but I’m hoping it will give the impression.

I’ve just been brushing up on Pro Tools sample generator plug-in Structure Free to complete this project 2s itinerary. It’s been great learning, so I’ve been creating samples and been downloading free samples that I think will do the job. By using samples techniques for project 2, I feel a lot more comfortable in my mind. So now the basic tools and ideas on how to load up any sampling doesn’t seem so overwhelming. I have more tools in my head to draw from, that will help me create some wicked sounds. I’m looking forward to learning more techniques, experiment more with samples and using different combinations of samples to create more interesting compositions

For one of the samples, I recorded a ‘finger click’ by snapping my fingers in front of a NT1 Rode microphone that captured the audio into the DAW. Then transfered the transient wav into a sampler plug-in (Structure Free) and I used my midi controller to generate the finger click at a different pitch to create a wooden block sound.

From now on I will be using midi and sampling techniques to ‘beef up’ any compositions I create, or I may be involved with.

2 EarMaster

EarMaster is now getting into becoming more of a challenge. The mastery section is awesome, and it definitely challenges my skills. What’s great about EarMaster mastery exercises, is that it points out the areas that I need to spend more time working on. I’m finding it very informative on what skills I need to improve on.