Project 1

NEW UPDATES

Please read carefully and pay attention to instructions in class.  Grade 11s (AMM3M1) and Grade 10s (AMM2O1) have different projects.

Grade 10:
Introduction to Mixcraft
Open Mixcraft 6 from the desktop or in the program menu.


You will be creating a 12 bar composition using sound loops that has a Beginning, Middle, and End.


Objectives:

• To learn the basic functions of Mixcraft including, start-up, library, loops, tracks, editing editing length of loops. 
• Experimenting with track volume, pan, and FX including Mastering (Compressor).
• Mixing down to MP3.

Instructions:

1. Open a new project.  (File: New Project)
2. When prompted, name your project FIRST! Project 1 Your Name
3. Select "Build Loop and Beat Matched Music"
4. Open the Loop Library Tab.
   
5. Label your tracks as in the photo.
   
6. Undock the library to make it easier to navigate.
   
7. Sort by: Instrument
   
8. Choose Drums.  Note the way they are organized by Name, Tempo, # Bars, Instrument,  and Style.
   
9. Find a loop that is 4 bars long. "Audition" the Sounds by pressing the play button. 
10. Drag the name of the loop into the track pane when you have chosen a sound or sounds.  
11. Now find, another, different 4 bar sound.  Drag it into the same Track beside your first. 
12. Repeat this process again until you have 3 different 4 bar drum loops for a total of 12 bars. 
13. Now select the loop button. 
    
14. Now choose "Bass" as your instrument and repeat this process in a new track until you have 3 different 4 bar bass loops for a total of 12 bars.  Put the bass loops right above the drum loops.  
15. Repeat for a Chord instrument like Guitar or Piano and a melody instrument of your choice.  Here is an example what a complete project will look like.
    

NEW! Adjusting Volume, Pan, and Effects

1. After your project is done, you will make adjustments to the volume levels in order to balance the sounds of your project. Watch the demo to understand.  Here are some screenshots to help you afterwards.
2. 
   
   

Grade 11s:

• You will a song using loops in an AABA form.  
• Each section is 8 bars long using Drums, Bass, chord instrument and Melody. 
• You will be composing a melody for you song using MIDI keyboard. 
• Remember to write your melody in 4 bar phrases.  
• Choose a tempo for your song that is not the standard 120BPM
• You will use Track volume, pan, effects and Mastering before completing composition. 
• Mixdown to MP3 and submit as Mixcraft and MP3 format. 

Objectives:

• Review use of program.
• Review concepts of A section and B section.
• Review concepts of melody and phrases. 
• Review use of mastering and effects.  

You must select the KEY of your song as C in order to use the C major scale notes in your song. 

Make sure all your loops match this key.  

 C Major Scale Notes

Choosing the key of your song. 

Producer Trademark Logo

After you have completed the "Who Am I?" presentation, create your own trademark logo that includes your Producer name and an image or icon that represents you. Your trademark logo will be displayed on the classroom wall.

Your submission must:

1. include your producer name
2. include an icon or image that represents you
3. be no bigger than a regular 8.5 by 11 sheet of paper
4. be handmade or digitally created

Due Thursday, Sept. 24

Only 1 copy allowed to be printed by each student in the classroom!  Please think before you print!

Some examples:

WHO AM I? (Musically) Project

This project is a presentation about your musical background, your musical influences, your favourite song, and your new producer name.

Presentations begin Wed. Sept 16

Read the project instructions for details.

Welcome to AMM201 and AMM3M1

Welcome to Gr. 10 Music and Computers and welcome back to Gr. 11 Music and Computers!

At the beginning of each class, please log in and check this blog page for instructions.  This is a paper-free classroom (mostly) so consider this page your text book.

Today's Topics:

Your TDSB Google Account and Student Survey

1. Open the JCI Libary Page 
2. Click on the AW Icon

3. On the AW page, click on the Google Apps Tab and select drive.



4. You will be prompted to log in.  Use your school computer password.

NEXT:

Today: Complete this Student Information Survey

Submitting your Project

Steps:

1. Read and complete the checklist.  This is your final check to see if everything is done.  DO NOT simply put a Y beside each question.  You get no marks for completing the checklist with "Y"s.  
2. Make a New Folder. Give the folder a title like this: YOUR NAME Final Project
3. In Mixcraft File Menu select Copy Project Files to... Folder. Select your new folder.  
4. Say yes to Copying the files and No to copying library.  Say yes to the final dialog box.  
5. Into this folder place the MP3 version of the project and the planning sheet.
6. Answer the reflection questions below in a word document and submit them in the Course Reflection folder.

Course Reflections Questions: Be specific.

1. What element of this course did you find most interesting or enjoyable?
2. What element of this course did you find most challenging?
3. What would you like to have learned or experienced in this course that we didn't do or learn?
4. What element of this course would you omit for the students next year?
5. What other suggestions or comments would you like to share as the first students at Jarvis to do this course?

Recording for your Project and Auto Tune

When you record you MUST remember a few things:

1. recording artists need written MUSIC, CHORDS and/or LYRICS! 
2. recording artists need to hear the track in headphones WHILE YOU RECORD.
3. you may need to convert your file to MP3 or WAV.  Google "online convert to MP3" etc...

Why?
1. Written Music: Unless you are telepathic, your musician does not know what chords, notes or rhythms you want them to play.  Musicians need chords, notes or lyrics written out for them.  That is your job as the composer.  Do the work and your musicians will be able to play your music.

Guitar: Write out your chords in the blocks from the "Planning" file.  This gives your guitar player the correct order and length to play each chord.  TUNE YOUR GUITAR with an electronic tuner!

Bass: Write out the bassline notes in the blocks from the "Planning" file and demonstrate the rhythm to your bass player.  TUNE YOUR BASS!

2. Listening and Recording: If you do not have your artist listen in headphones while you record, your recording will not line up with your song. Mix down to MP3 before your record and send them to recording.  

3.Your phone probably doesn't record with the best quality, so it uses smaller, more compressed file types not recognized by Mixcraft.  Convert it.  

I encourage you to use the high quality microphone here in class.  It will give you the best results. 

Auto Tune: 

After you have recorded a vocal track, you can adjust it subtly or drastically using the "Gsnap Pitch Correction" effect under the FX menu in the track.  You can choose how much you want the pitch corrected in this window.
Click Edit and "Set Key" to C Major in the Gsnap Window.  

If you wish to set it to match a MIDI track. Choose "MIDI Fun"

Theory Review

Work through the following 3 theory exercises (yes they are graded!)  Upon completion you should see your grade and beneath that, a “View Report” link.  Click into “View Report” and type in your name under the “Verification Code” section, then click “Sign Report”.  A verification code will come up.  Copy and paste your code and send it in an email to ms.shi.music@gmail.com

1.    1.    Note naming in treble and bass clefs www.musictheory.net/exercises/note/deteoyryyynyykdb

2.    2.    Naming notes on the keyboard

 www.musictheory.net/exercises/keyboard/y9dyyynyerb

3.     3.   Note name to keyboard

www.musictheory.net/exercises/keyboard-reverse/dgte1yryybnkry