LIVE RECORDING
Live-recording of a performance
Live-recording of a performance
This sample brief involves live-recording a rock band comprising five different instruments. The brief may be amended to suit other groupings of instruments or voices requiring similar levels of skill. The brief could be adapted to suit a live concert or a classroom performance. Five or more musical parts must be recorded, with at least two recorded by microphone, using different microphone techniques. The recording must include a range of sources, so a group of identical instruments or voices is not acceptable. Any instrument recorded with more than one microphone (eg a drum kit) should be classified as one musical part using one microphone. A typical performance for this task should be around 1 to 3 minutes in length.
This sample brief involves live-recording a rock band comprising five different instruments. The brief may be amended to suit other groupings of instruments or voices requiring similar levels of skill. The brief could be adapted to suit a live concert or a classroom performance. Five or more musical parts must be recorded, with at least two recorded by microphone, using different microphone techniques. The recording must include a range of sources, so a group of identical instruments or voices is not acceptable. Any instrument recorded with more than one microphone (eg a drum kit) should be classified as one musical part using one microphone. A typical performance for this task should be around 1 to 3 minutes in length.
In this task you will plan, implement and evaluate a recording of a performance of a small group.
In this task you will plan, implement and evaluate a recording of a performance of a small group.
- A rock band comprising drum kit, bass guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboard and voice would be suitable.
- You should discuss the make-up of the group with your teacher to ensure that it is suitable.
- The recording should be 1 to 3 minutes in length.
- Before starting the task, make sure you are familiar with the music to be recorded and the instruments used.
There are three stages to this task and marks will be awarded for each stage:
There are three stages to this task and marks will be awarded for each stage:
- planning the production 10 marks
- implementing the production 30 marks
- evaluating the production 10 marks
Throughout the task, you must keep a record of progress in the Google Slides template provided.
Throughout the task, you must keep a record of progress in the Google Slides template provided.
You should update your record of progress after each stage of the task. It should explain what you have done, describing any help you needed, and listing any evidence you have produced (printouts, sketches, photographs, sound files).
You should update your record of progress after each stage of the task. It should explain what you have done, describing any help you needed, and listing any evidence you have produced (printouts, sketches, photographs, sound files).
After each stage of the task, get your teacher to check your work.
After each stage of the task, get your teacher to check your work.
Stage 1: planning the production (10 marks)
Stage 1: planning the production (10 marks)
You should discuss the task with your teacher before you begin the planning process, to ensure that it will allow you to demonstrate all of the following technical skills:
You should discuss the task with your teacher before you begin the planning process, to ensure that it will allow you to demonstrate all of the following technical skills:
- selecting and making appropriate use of at least two microphones, with placement appropriate to the sound sources
- selecting and making appropriate use of at least one of the following: direct line input, USB keyboard controller, MIDI controller or imported audio
- successfully and safely constructing the signal path for one or more inputs
- choosing and setting appropriate input gain and monitoring levels, with no distortion
- applying creative/corrective equalisation
- applying time domain effects and using compression or noise gate controllers
- applying mixing techniques including volume, panning and fade-in/out
- editing tracks (eg to remove spillage)
- mixing down to an audio master in appropriate file format(s)
In order to complete your plan, you must do the following:
In order to complete your plan, you must do the following:
a. Discuss the recording with the music group, attend rehearsals of the group, and agree a recording date and place.
a. Discuss the recording with the music group, attend rehearsals of the group, and agree a recording date and place.
b. Carry out background research to ensure that you have:
b. Carry out background research to ensure that you have:
- an understanding of the music to be performed
- the required skills in microphone selection and placement to record a drum kit, vocals and acoustic guitar
- the required skills to record more than one input source
At this stage you should be thinking about the balance of parts and making notes about this in your log.
At this stage you should be thinking about the balance of parts and making notes about this in your log.
c. Create an equipment list.
c. Create an equipment list.
d. Plan your instrument layout.
d. Plan your instrument layout.
e. Check all equipment before the recording takes place.
e. Check all equipment before the recording takes place.
f. Once you have completed your plan for the production, share it with your teacher to check.
f. Once you have completed your plan for the production, share it with your teacher to check.