Productions

I took my first steps in the world of music production by starting with a simple introduction and outro. This allowed me to familiarize myself with the basics of music production such as matching beats, studying the tempo (bpm) of a song, and learning about different instruments and how to use them within Ableton Live, a popular digital audio workstation (DAW) software. As I continue to produce music, I will likely continue to learn and improve my skills in various aspects of music production, such as sound design, mixing, and mastering.

For the panning project, I attempted to find different instruments that could work well for each other, I then tried matching the tone or flow of the music by starting with deep bass. After I tried to find proper instruments with specific beats to match the other instruments I tried to match the flow together by using different volumes and fading the instruments in and out with each other. I raised and lowered the pitch of some of my instruments and involved reverb in my tracks

I learned how to use the EQ and how to make sounds seem like they appear from the left and then the right. As well as higher-pitched sounds and lower-pitched sounds. Using these skills was really cool and fascinating. I learned how I could fade some instruments into one another to create a better flow.

When I first analyzed the mix, I was left in a state of shock at how the previous producer really had left me in quite a predicament. I realized that this mix could be a mystery game that involves detectives moving around quietly and really needing to focus. This led me to really take out the drums and lower the volume of the overall mix so it's more of the background music of a cut scene almost. Afterward, I removed the guitars since there was no need, and then I increased the bpm from 70 to 108 to really change the flow of the mix. Then I lowered the shakers as they seemed to be too loud compared to the other instruments and then I made the pianos fade in and out of the mix to add this eerie effect to the mix. That was my interesting take on this bizarre mix. 

What I learned was interesting, I learned that in order to fix a track you don't have to add loads of tracks and other mumbo jumbo. Unlike my last project where I thought the solution was to add several more sounds and try to use all of them too frantically, I calmed down and really listened to each individual track. I did not add anything this time but removed several tracks and one could hear the actual song and the intention of the previous producer. After lowering the volume I learned that clarity in music can be found with a few tracks and sometimes a few tracks get the job done better than adding a  lot more tracks.

By remixing music live, I learn about music production techniques such as beatmatching, blending, and layering different tracks. I also learn how to improvise and make quick decisions in a performance setting, as well as how to read and respond to the audience's energy and reactions. When I remix music live, I am constantly making decisions and adjusting my performance in real time. This requires quick thinking and the ability to react to the audience's energy and reaction. This experience helps me develop my ability to perform under pressure, improve my improvisation skills and make instant creative decisions.

Additionally, live remixing allows me to test out new production techniques and ideas in a live setting, which helps me understand how certain elements of a track or mix might play out in front of a crowd. This leads to a deeper understanding of how to craft a track that will connect with an audience on a visceral level. Live remixing also helps me develop my skills in technical proficiency such as beatmatching, blending, and layering different tracks. I learn how to synchronize different elements of a track, such as drums and melody, to create a cohesive sound. This improves my ability to produce tracks that are polished and tight.

In order to create this work of art I started by copying the melody and bass MIDI files into Ableton, and then creating two bass and two melody tracks. I would experiment with different sounds and effects, using fesliyanstudios.com or the Clips library in Ableton Live to find suitable sound effects that I can sample.  I then copied the Doctor Who TARDIS sounds to a new audio track in Ableton, setting the track to loop and selecting the beginning and end of the loop for playing.  I would then record automations of pan and volume for my song. Using my Push, I would launch the scene together to trigger all my pads at once and record a 2 to 3 minute recording of my song, ensuring that I reset the transport time to 1.1.1 before starting. Finally, I would use the rightmost rotary to fade the song out and hit the "Back to Arrangement View" button in the Arrange view in the software.

Throughout the process of creating my own version of the Doctor Who theme, I would hope to learn various skills and techniques that I can apply to my future productions. I believe that working with MIDI files and sound effects can help me to incorporate external sources into my music projects, and by using automation, I can create more dynamic and engaging tracks. I also think that using Ableton Live and Push can help me to develop a more efficient workflow and experiment with different sound design options. Ultimately, I believe that creating a remix of the Doctor Who theme can be a fun and rewarding experience, and can help me to develop my skills and creativity in music production.

In this project I began by searching through the 'Samples' category for some beats. I used a filter of 'bpm' in the search bar to find drum beats and I put some regular sounding beats on one channel and some more exotic sounding beats on another channel. I panned one channel left and one channel right and put four or five beats on each channel. I then found and downloaded some shout-outs from fesliyanstudios.com, movie-sounds.org, and moviesoundclips.net and I put them in a new audio track. I added a bass sound to one of the MIDI tracks and found a bass sound from the 'Sounds' category in the browser. I recorded some short bass riffs and pressed 'Quantize' on my Push after to make sure my bass riff was lined up to the grid. I copied my bass riffs from the other bass track into a new track and recorded a mix of my beat lasting between 90 seconds and two minutes.

Through this project, I learned how to create a beat in Ableton and export it as a wav. I also learned how to use filters to modify the sound of a track, as well as how to use the Launch pane to set the launch quantization of a clip. I also gained a better understanding of how to use MIDI instruments to record riffs and how to use the Push to quantize my riffs. Overall, this project was a great way to practice my Ableton skills and gain a better understanding of how to create music in the program.

I had a great time working on the mix for "Blind Man Driving" by Joey Stuckey. I learned a lot about panning instruments from left to right to create a wider stereo image. I also focused on positioning instruments from front to back using volume sliders to add depth to the mix. Applying compression to the bass and drums helped control their dynamics and maintain balance. Using the Multiband and Limiter plugin, I determined the spatial placement of each track in the mix. I added sound effects and extra beats, automated their panning, and applied a fade to the master channel after the last chorus for a smooth ending. Overall, the experience taught me valuable techniques in mixing for a more professional and polished sound.