Sequencing a pop song Unit 49

Sequencing

Final Sequence: https://soundcloud.com/user-416631632/sequencing-rather-be
Sequencing without vocals: 

How to set up a Project

DAW: Digital Audio Workstation is the computer program that allows you to mix, edit and record audio. The DAW we use in our assignment is Cubase 6, with is program we are able to record instruments, write MIDI tracks as well as input a digital instrument, which is what we did in the last assignment. For this assignment we are focusing on using MIDI.

Cubase: When using Cubase 6, to add a MIDI track you go to the tool bar at the top of the window, click on project, add track, audio instrument. Then the next step we do in Cubase is to use the pencil button and draw on the track, this will allow us to later access the key editor. The key editor is a new tab, which enables us to draw notes. Key editor uses a layout to show each note on a piano to the left, then on top the bars of the recording. In this assignment I will be using this to write every note from the score.

Computer operating system: The iMac uses Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5 software with Kernel version Darwin 11.4.2. This operating system compared with Cubase 6 allows most products that are provided by Cubase to work such as Hal Lion, VST sound instrument sets and WaveLab. With all of this working there is very few restrictions when using this operating system however there is a few products that are disabled like Groove agent, Hal Lion sonic and Cubase AI. It isn't a total loss without these products.

Setting up a track with Hal Lion SE

What is MIDI?

MIDI is short for musical instrument digital interface. Basically MIDI gives the computer a set of instructions for individual notes. It can give information such as the note played, how long the note is played for and the type of instrument it plays as. MIDI can be represented in Cubase 6 using the key editor.

What is general MIDI?

General MIDI is a key used for music synthesisers which the MIDI message reads from to get the instrument that they want it. For example an acoustic grand piano is assigned to the number 1 and the acoustic bass is assigned to 33. There is a possible 128 different program numbers meaning that you can have 128 different instruments.

Software Synthesisers:

Software synthesisers are a digital program that uses samples of several different instruments to allow you to change the sound of a track. In this assignment we will be using the in built program Hal Lion SE in Cubase 6. To access this there is a little black box to the left of the screen, when you hover over it the word “programs” appears. Click this box to get the list of different instruments you can change the track to. There is also a little keyboard icon on the left of the screen, this will also bring up the Hal Lion SE workstation.

Using Groove agent for your drums

Software Samplers:

A piece of software used to replicate the analogue waves of instruments, which are recorded in a sampler. Then the software can play back the selected sample, samples can also be recorded into the system. Groove agent is the software we will use in this assignment. Groove agent is mainly used for drum tracks so, when adding a new instrument track instead of choosing Hal Lion SE, you will select Groove agent instead. To access Groove agent you will need to click media on the top toolbar, then scroll down to MediaBay. This will open a new window where you can listen to each sample. Once you have found the sample you want, open the Groove agent the same way as you did for Hal Lion SE.  Now making sure you have both the sampler window and Groove agent open, drag the chosen sample over to one of the pads in Groove agent.

Using Key editor to edit notes

Earlier we discussed the key editor can be used to write notes into a track, but here is more precise details on how to use it. Once you have opened the key editor window, to draw a new note into the track you select the pencil tool in the top of the window and click on the squares you wish the note to be. On the left there is the note of each key. On the top of the screen there is the bars of the overall recording. To delete a note use the eraser tool that is located at the top of the screen in the same toolbar as the pencil.

How to use the Key studio Keyboard to input notes

MIDI controllers: Midi controllers are used to transmit MIDI data from one device to another. Examples of controllers include synthesisers and USB DJ controllers.

MIDI IN: sending signals of data

MIDI OUT: taking in data from the controller

MIDI THRU: Sends signals through to another device

Keystudio Keyboard 49i:

This is the name of the MIDI controller we will be using during the assignment, this is the physical way to input the notes into the key editor, and this works by every note on the controller being connected to the digital key in key studio.

Recording a Pop Song Cover Unit 48

Pop Song Cover

Multi – track Recording

Producer: Jonathan Wells
Primary Sound Engineer: Daniel Meer
Name and artist of song chosen: All of Me – John Legend

 Vocals: This instrument will be recorded using a Shure SM58 microphone with a pop shield to avoid plosive sounds being present in the recording. Depending on the height of the vocalist, the microphone will be positioned in front of the vocalist at the same height as the vocalist’s mouth. The SM58 is a dynamic microphone uses a cardioid polar pattern, which is designed for vocal uses.

Acoustic Guitar: Using another type of dynamic microphone, the acoustic guitar will be recorded using a Shure SM57.  This has a cardioid polar pattern, which is useful when recording an acoustic guitar. The position of the microphone will be placed facing the sound hole about 20cm away in distance. 

Keyboard: When recording this instrument, I will use an AKG C1000 as it is a type of condenser microphone. This particular microphone uses cardioid and hyper cardioid meaning it can pick up sound levels mainly from the front of the microphone but with a hyper cardioid polar pattern can pick up sounds from behind as well.

Synthesisers: Finally I will record using the synthesisers in the recording studio to add extra sound effects to the final recording. 

The basic plan for each recording session is to set up the equipment needed whether it is microphones, stands and XLR leads. Then talk with the sound engineer using the talkback and complete a sound check of the instrument and ensure all equipment in the recording studio are working. (Check the gain levels, the equalizers and the program used.) Finally record the instruments and repeat recording until there is a professional sound ing recording.

Setting up a recording session

Every recording session I will need to set up the system, the recording equipment and the mixer before I record any instrument. First thing I will do is go onto Cubase 7 and create a new track, this will be different depending on what instrument I record (e.g. synth or guitar).

Next I will get my sound engineer to set up the recording booth. For this Dan will be using XLR leads to connect microphones to the mixer, once again the type of microphone used will have to depend on the instrument recorded. Normally the microphone will be plugged into channel one but if more microphone is needed at once we will keep a note of the channel they are in. He will also set up the microphone stand taking into consideration the distance between the microphone and the instrument itself as well as extra equipment like pop shields and reflection filters. Finally he will plug in the headphones to allow the musician to hear the backing track whilst they are recorded.

Back in the recording studio, the mixer we have to be set up to ensure an output is heard. This is done by turning up the gain on the channel we are using, turning on phantom power as some of the condenser microphones use phantom power and the overall volume level. If I ever need to talk to the musician during a sound check or the run through I will use the talkback button on the mixer.

On the computer, I will need to set up the output of the track we are recording on before completing a sound check. I will also have to set the time of the click to the original backing track. in my case it was 128bpm.  After the sound levels are good I will do a run through of the song to allow the musician to get into the rhythm of playing or singing. Then once the musician is ready, I will turn on the metronome, by clicking the on button in the toolbar, and press record.



Info about the original recording

The original recording was full of synthesisers and synth pads. It says that the synth track was strings so in my recording I will record the synth track and make it sound like strings, preferably violin. Harmonies are also used in the original recording so it might be an idea that in my recording, ask the vocalist to also help me record some harmonies, but only if we have time. I want the vocals to be very clear and have a professional standard in my recording as critics like The Guardian and NOW commented that this was a great aspect in the original track. 
(Information from Sound on Sound Magazine)

Printed Music

Lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/all-of-me-lyrics-john-legend.html
Guitar Chords: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/j/john_legend/all_of_me_ver3_crd.htm
Piano Music: The pianist was capable of playing the song using the printed music for the guitar
Synth Music:

DI
Direct Input means that an instrument is recorded directly into the computer. This is possible as the instrument is connected to the mixing desk using a jeck lead. The jack lead can be plugged into the instrument and then into the back of the mixing desk. I will use the MiniBrute Analogue synthesiser. DI recordings differ to microphone recordings as DI are direct into the recording system whereas microphones record analogue and converts it to digital. The advantages of using DI is that there is no background interference, another advantage is that DI potentially has better sound quality compared to a live instrument. A disadvantage of DI is that no acoustic reflection so that will have to be added using effects if needed in a recording.

Track List

Track 1	Guitar, sound hole
Track 2	Guitar, fret board
Track 3	Piano,  left microphone
Track 4	Piano, right microphone
Track 5	Vocals
Track 6	Synthesiser (Strings - Violin)

Recording Schedule

Date	Studio Plan	Personnel
10/11/15	Record guitarist	Dan Meer Riess Davis
17/11/15 (studio double booked, changed session date to 20/11/15)	Record Pianist	Dan Meer Jack Preece
24/11/15	Record Vocals	Dan Meer Lauren Thomas
01/12/15	Record synthesiser Check final timings	Dan Meer Jack Preece

Recording log

Section A

Number and length of session:  Session 1, 2 hours
Date of session: 10/11/15
Names of engineers: 2 (Myself and Dan Meer)
Names of musicians and instruments being recorded: guitarist - Riess Davis,

Goals of the session (at least 2):

• Upload the backing track
• Record the guitarist using the bpm from the recording track

Section B

Were all goals achieved during session? If not what reasons were there for this?
The backing track was uploaded successfully and I changed the metronome on Cubase to the correct bpm (beats per minute) at 128. But the guitarist didn't turn up to rehearsal, so we changed the plan of the recording session to learn how to use the synthesiser. This will help in future recording sessions as it will give me time to create an arpeggio before recording the final synth track. 

What are your plans for the next session in the studio?
Next time in the studio I plan to record the guitarist and then the pianist afterwards. If the musicians I have planned to record don't attend for any reason, I will also contact my back up musicians to record that session.



Section A

Number and length of session: Session 2, 2 hours

Date of session: 20/11/15

Names of engineers: Dan Meer

Names of musicians and instruments being recorded: guitarist - Riess Davis, pianist - Jack Preece

Goals of the session (at least 2):

• Record the guitarist and pianist
• Write music for the synthesiser

Section B

Were all goals achieved during session? If not what reasons were there for this?
The guitarist was recorded using two C1000 microphones, one on the fret board and the other one on the sound hole. We recorded Riess in time with the backing track as well as using the bpm. First we recorded the sound hole but we had trouble with sound until I readjusted the gain levels. Then we recorded the fret board however the first time it was out of time with so we asked the guitarist to play again until he was in time. After the two guitar tracks were in time with each other, we asked the pianist to complete sound checks which was completed using channel 3 because channel 1 and 2 were not working. I also asked the pianist to rehearse the song before he was recorded as he was not familiar with the song. After all live recordings were completed I opened a MIDI track to write the arpeggio used in the chorus of the song. I did this with help from Jack and listening to the song 'All of Me'. I didn't finish writing the score for the synthesiser so I will complete that next session.

What are your plans for the next session in the studio?

Nest session I am planning to record the vocalist and possibly record any other instrument I feel needs to be improved. Also I will finish writing the score for the synthesiser.

Section A

Number and length of session: session 3, 2 hours

Date of session: 24/11/15

Names of engineers: Dan Meer

Names of musicians and instruments being recorded: Vocalist - Lauren

Goals of the session (at least 2):

• Record the vocalist
• finish writing the synthesiser

Section B

Were all goals achieved during session? If not what reasons were there for this?
Today we started with problems with the sound not coming through, first we changed the settings on Cubase, the monitor and gain levels, but they did not change anything so instead we changed the XLR wire and the microphone used. Using the process of elimination we figured out that channel 1 was not working correctly so we used channel 3 instead. For the vocals we used the Rhode as well as set up the pop shield and the reflection shield. The first recording there was background noise from the rattling of paper so we took a second recording. For the second recording we photocopied the music so she didn't have to move any of the paper. I also finished writing the score which I will give Jack after the session.

What are your plans for the next session in the studio?
Next session I am planning to record Jack playing the synthesiser and cut any recordings that are too long.

Section A

Number and length of session: session 4, 2 hours

Date of session: 01/12/15

Names of engineers: Dan Meer

Names of musicians and instruments being recorded:

Goals of the session (at least 2):

• Record synthesiser
• Save track as MP3

Section B

Were all goals achieved during session? If not what reasons were there for this?
I used was the MiniBrute Analogue synthesiser to record as the DI instrument in my final recording. I listened to the original recording, then using MIDI on Cubase I wrote the arpeggio which is played in the chorus of the song. Printing the score of the score then allowed Jack to play the arpeggio on the synth. When using the synth I connected it via a USB cable from the synth to the computer we are using, Apple Mac. Before we recorded Jack playing, I plugged in headphones and adjusted the sound of the synth until i found something that fitted in with the rest of the recording. Then after the synth was recorded I balanced out each track recorded to make the overall recording sound professional (with no distortion). Once I was happy with the balancing and all recording were complete, I exported the tracks as mp3 files so they could be uploaded onto sound cloud. 

Final Recordings

My final recording - https://soundcloud.com/user-416631632/jon-all-of-me
Vocals - https://soundcloud.com/user-416631632/jon-all-of-me-0002-audio-vocals
Guitar (sound hole) - https://soundcloud.com/user-416631632/john-all-of-me-0005-audio-guitarsound-hole
Guitar (fret board) - https://soundcloud.com/user-416631632/jon-all-of-me-0006-audio-guitarfret
Piano (left mic) - https://soundcloud.com/user-416631632/john-all-of-me-0004-audio-piano-left
Piano (right mic) - https://soundcloud.com/user-416631632/jon-all-of-me-0003-audio-piano-right
Synth - https://soundcloud.com/user-416631632/jon-all-of-me-0007-instrument-synth-chorus

Evaluation

Vocals: The vocals were recorded using a Rode NT1A with a pop shield and reflection filter surrounding the microphone to minimalise the background noise picked up. Before the song begins the vocalist can be heard about to begin singing before she is meant to, on the final recording this can’t be heard but on this individual track it should have been cut out. Other than that the overall recording was very good, with no background noise or acoustic reflection as well as the vocalist giving expression and emotion throughout the track.

Guitar (sound hole and fret board): The twelve-string guitar was recorded using two C1000 one positioned at the sound hole and the other positioned at the fret board. The fret board track starts out quiet and but quickly gets louder which on the final recording is not too much of a problem. Throughout the track the sound is crisp and clear helping create the expression of love, which the original track had. During the first chorus the guitarist plays the wrong part and goes quiet but again recovers soon after. This happens again in a later chorus so I am thinking of recording the guitar again if I have time in order to make the recording sound more professional. The sound-hole track is very clear with good clarity of sound. You can hear the plectrum clip the strings but that is expected as this was the sound hole. Overall the guitar recordings have a nice melodic sound due to the 12 string acoustic used. 

Piano (left and right): I asked the pianist to play the intro, which was clear and had no problems. During the verse of the song the squeaking of the pedals are picked up but they are minimal sounding to the actual piano was I won’t record this again. The pedals being heard is a result of the microphones being positioned too close to them therefore next time I record a piano I shall make sure the distance is close enough to the speakers but not pointed at the pedals.

Synth: The synth track is only played during the chorus and we don’t hear this track until 1:02 in the recording. This was a direct input recording meaning that we plugged the synthesiser directly into the mixing desk. I set the synth instrument to sound like violins that was set up using the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Cubase 7. The track itself has good sound levels and no mistakes can be heard. In the final recording, the track was very loud and drowned out the vocals so I will balance the final recording again.

Final recording: The final recording sounds professional during the intro until the vocals begin. The vocal track is very quiet compared to the rest of the instrument tracks used, it is still heard but it is drowned out by the guitar track. This continues until 1:01 which is the chorus. In the chorus the synth track is way too loud as it plays over every other instrument so at this point the track sounds unprofessional. I will go into the studio one last time to work out the balancing issues and upload a second version of the final recording. The outro of the track sounds good because each track progresses from continuous playing to notes and chords playing for whole notes.