Unit 49: brief 2 - Sequencing a pop song

Process of sequencing project

How to set up a project:

To set up a project you must have a DAW, this stands for a Digital Audio Workstation. A DAW is device or computer software that is used for recording, editing and producing an audio file; the file can be anything from a song to a basic piece of human speech or sound effect.

The DAW that I use is called Cubase, the system allows us to produce a project where we digitally insert and instrument, within the software we can be precise with the notes we want to use, DAW systems allow you to produce a file that can be manipulated so that an instrumental piece is done without a note out of place, it offers procession that you cannot get from a studio recording.

My class uses a MAC computer to operate Cubase, the mac has a 4GB memory, this allows use to make big files and complex software without having to worry about not having enough memory to save it internally, if the MAC did not have much memory the class would have to use memory sticks to save our work, through this we would be put at risk of losing the USB therefore losing the work we have produced.

Setting up a track with Hal Lion SE:

Before you set up a project you need to know about MIDI, which stands for Musical Instruments Digital Interface, it allows a variety of digital instruments to work together

To set up a new project you have to:

Firstly open up the program

(Cubase Logo)

you will be shown a menu , along the to there is an option labelled “more” on the menu you click on “empty”

(Cubase empty document option) 

From this you will have a completely blank work space, to insert an instrument you need to find the option “project” along the tool bar , the project option will open a list of options, in this list you need to choose the option “add track”  on the next menu you must choose “instalment”.

(cubase header)

(cubase prodject)

(cubase add track)

A box will pop up on your screen. This will give you the options has to which type of virtual instrument you want to use, for example if you wanted to use a virtual drum, or if you wanted to use a synth, the first instrument I chose to work on was strings therefore I needed to use a synth track.

(add instrument track)

(DI options)

The synth menu give you the options of synth you would like to use, my project required me to use the HALion Sonic SE. this option allows any Cubase user access to a wide range of sounds, it focuses on aspect of producing music that some people would see as essential such as having a good clear sound, it also makes the virtual analogy synthesizer have a powerful effect.

(Synths options)

Once you add the track it will be put on your workspace, at the point you can focus the side bar that would have now appeared along side your track, this bar will allow you to choose which specific instrument you are choosing to use. In order to pick your specific instrument you need to click on the blank space that can be located within the side bar below your option for MIDI input.

A new pox will appear will different types of basic synth, ay the top there is a search bar where you can search for a specific instalment, my project required me to search for strings, once you have searched a verity of your instruments will appear.

(cubase screen)

(instrument options)

(instrument type/strings)

(instrument string options)

What is MIDI
Midi gives instructions to the computer telling it what sounds to play,. at what pitch and for how long

software synthesisers
software synthesisers allows you to change the sound of an instruments due to it using serval samples from the existing instruments, this allows you to edit the instrument to suit how you personally want it to sound for your project.

using a groove agent for drums
instruments are recorded and use as part of the software, it can be used as a sample for people to use as part of their projects. groove agents are mostly used for drum tracks. to use a groove agent you take all the steps you would take to insert any other instrument but instead of selecting "Hal Lion SE" you would select "grove agent" instead, then go over to the toolbar and select "media" and then "mediaBay". this will bring up the options for what samples you can use, you ,can listen to each one until you find the one that you want, once you have found the perfect one you take all the steps as before to get the groove agent up, now with both the groove agent and the samples windows open, just drag and drop the sample into the groove agent.