Ralph, Adam, Shane and John worked on a Hip Hop inspired track today. It started with a break beat that Ralph has sampled and edited on his new Mac book laptop. Once the low end was cut out we could add a bassline. (Pete where were you??) The track is funky and is in Dm but also sounds like it could work well in A (A dominant scale), thats what the bline on the break is playing anyway. It will sound very cool once Ralph brings his decks in and does his DXT thing. (Think Herbie Hancock meets the Roots)
John provided tasteful guitar playing and listened well to the dynamics of the track. Nice delay sound and a cool riff. Adam used Ableton Live software to cut up and trigger recordings of telephone conversations (Scanner style). With effects added and using a hardware controller (M Audio XSession DJ controller) Adam was able to create interesting sounds. The best one (I think) is a sample of a ringtone that flows across the beat of the break. Shane used Reaktor and Logic software to create space age drones and synth sounds. He also cut up a voice sample used on a famous track by Mylo.
This is shaping up to be a cool track that will benefit from having some live bass (Pete!), some electric piano, maybe some vocals and definitely some improvised sax and trombone playing (see Dennis Rollins style !!!)
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Monday, 23 February 2009
CD Launch Project 2009 -- Adilla Records
A Dilla Records is a new record label organised and run by the music technology students to release and promote new music in Somerset. The students are in the process of recording, mixing and producing music and designing CD covers ready to launch their products online at the official 'Launch Party'Logo designed by Tegan Viner
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Dziga Vertov's The Man with the Movie Camera (1929)
Information and links will be added to this post as the project progresses.
The Cinematic Orchestra
The Cinematic Orchestra (on Ninja Tune (one of the greatest labels ever to exist -- ever!)) produced a sound track for the film we are using for this project "Man With A Movie Camera." They have also released a DVD of the film with live sound track - have a look here -We have already heard some of the album and will be getting hold of a copy of the DVD to watch in one of our performance sessions. Maybe this soundtrack will become an important influence on the music that we produce live (?)
Technology and Techniques - questions
Each of the students involved in this project have been given specific assignments to complete that link with this project and will give them important grades towards their ND in Music Technology qualification.
To start with each person needs to decide what equipment they want to use and then decide what kind of techniques they will be using to produce their music or sounds. This links closely with their study into the development electronic music and the various techniques used. One of the key composition techniques looked at is 'Music Concrete' where sound recordings are used to create music. This technique was most famously used 'reel to reel' tape recorders and was pioneered by French musicians called Pierre Shaeffer and Pierre Henry (although the earliest works were actually recorded direct to disc - so maybe these guys were the first mix DJs!?)
Over the next few weeks everyone involved in this silent film project will be encouraged to write a blog that explains what equipment and techniques they plan to use and what part they will be playing in the live performance. Here are the questions that will be used to review and evaluate the student's work after the performance at Strode Theatre.
Data
To start with each person needs to decide what equipment they want to use and then decide what kind of techniques they will be using to produce their music or sounds. This links closely with their study into the development electronic music and the various techniques used. One of the key composition techniques looked at is 'Music Concrete' where sound recordings are used to create music. This technique was most famously used 'reel to reel' tape recorders and was pioneered by French musicians called Pierre Shaeffer and Pierre Henry (although the earliest works were actually recorded direct to disc - so maybe these guys were the first mix DJs!?)
Over the next few weeks everyone involved in this silent film project will be encouraged to write a blog that explains what equipment and techniques they plan to use and what part they will be playing in the live performance. Here are the questions that will be used to review and evaluate the student's work after the performance at Strode Theatre.
Data
- Details of performance(s)
- Related art form(s)
- Musicians
- Music technology equipment I used
- Sounds / Samples I used
- Composition / Performance Technique I used
- Explain how you worked with the related art form.
- Explain how you worked with the other musicians
- Explain how you used technology in an innovative way. What special technique or method did you use?
- What went well?
- What didn’t go so well?
- What composition method or composer/performer has influenced your performance?
- How have you made the best use of the technology available to you?
- What limitations did you place on your music, if any?
- How did the musicians fit in with what you were doing?
- How does your music compliment the art form?
- What is it about the art form that has influenced your music?
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Music Tech Performance Project
,
This BLOG follows a Live Music Performance Project to a Silent Film by BTEC ND Music Technology students at Strode College, Somerset, UK.
Work has started on an exciting music performance project where we will use music technology kit like laptops, music software, effects units, electric drum kit, DJ decks and samplers to play live to a silent film. The film is a classic black and white called "Man With A Movie Camera" and will be shown at Strode Theatre on Wednesday 10th of June. There are a number of BTEC ND Music Technology students involved in creating this live soundtrack as well as some guest jazz and classical musicians that will join us later in the project.
The students will be experimenting with the technology, collecting samples jamming, improvising, arranging and composing music over the coming months in preparation for the one hour performance.
Here is who is involved in the project...
This BLOG follows a Live Music Performance Project to a Silent Film by BTEC ND Music Technology students at Strode College, Somerset, UK. Work has started on an exciting music performance project where we will use music technology kit like laptops, music software, effects units, electric drum kit, DJ decks and samplers to play live to a silent film. The film is a classic black and white called "Man With A Movie Camera" and will be shown at Strode Theatre on Wednesday 10th of June. There are a number of BTEC ND Music Technology students involved in creating this live soundtrack as well as some guest jazz and classical musicians that will join us later in the project.
The students will be experimenting with the technology, collecting samples jamming, improvising, arranging and composing music over the coming months in preparation for the one hour performance.Here is who is involved in the project...
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