Productions 

During The Blind Man Driving project we were assigned to mix the stems of the original song Blind Man Driving by Joey Stuckey. In this project we learned how to mix professionally recorded instruments using Ableton's Mixing and Mastering audio effect. Using this effect audio rack we were able to manipulate the sound of individual instruments by adjust the low's, mid's, and high's frequencies. We also used compression on the Bass and Drums to make sure quiet sounds are balanced with the loud sounds on that instrument. 

During this project I learned many different things about mixing a song. For example making sure you are making sure instruments are panned and a correct volume so you can hear every element. Then for drums and bass to add compression to make everything fit together. It was also amazing that we had the opportunity to meet Joey Stuckey himself in person at our school. Being able to hear him talk about what he went through in his life and still does today is incredible. Having him come into class was very special and I enjoyed hearing him talk about everything he had to say. 

In this project Dilla Style we learned how to use Ableton's Sample library as well we learned about the history of sampling and J Dilla's and others music. In this project we added interesting instruments and percussion loops from Ableton's Samples. Then I added one Auto Filter to each of those interesting percussion and panned them accordingly to make them have an unique sound. I then looked up samples on YouTube and stumbled upon something call Dusty Fingers, which includes various artist with "Rare Original Break Beats". This is where I found the main sample used in my project. There are many volumes of this collection YouTube and I will definitely listen to them in the future. 

In the Dilla Style project we learned alot about J-Dilla and how he used all kinda of different samples in his beats. J-Dilla would look on the back on records looking for different instruments. We incorporated that in our project by searching in Ableton's Samples library and listening and finding interesting percussion loops as well as a main drum beat. However I looked on the internet for samples and breakbeats to find better more organic sounds. On the interesting percussion we use a Audio Effect called a Auto Filter. The Auto Filter provides a classic analog filter emulation that can be modulated with a envelope follower and a LFO to create moving effects. 

The Hypnotic Art project we were tasked to make 3 different pieces of music to go with the Hypnotic Art video. Along with that we used WeVideo to add our 3 pieces of music to the silent video. In each pieces of my music I used the Ableton Push to make chords and melodies along with other sounds like drums, bass, and ambient pads. In WeVideo I did things like volume automation to fade each songs into each other. 

During the Hypnotic Art project I learned how to use WeVideo to add audio and video into the timeline and my media. I also learned how to use Ableton's Push more in depth. For example, changing what scale, key and mode I'm in as well as changing the scale mode to change it to 3rd's. 

In this project we were tasked to make a Lo-Fi song. We used Ableton Live Intro for this project which I liked. During this project we used the Push to record drum beat, make melodies, chords, and automations. In class while preparing for this project we listen to Lo-Fi music to get an idea how the songs are arranged and sound. I did all of those things as well as adding other ambient sounds like water flowing and vinyl static. When i composed the whole song I added an other audio track and change the Ext- in to Resampling, then i pitched that audio track down 3 semitones to make it slightly slower and have a different/deeper sound. 

In the Lo-Fi project we learned a couple of new things. We learned how to create a melody with the Ableton Push. As well as making chords with the Push. Lo-Fi is a simplistic type of music to create but to get it to all fit together and sound good is very important. 

The Remix in Live project was the first assignment this year we did in Ableton Live Intro. There were 5 different projects we could choose from, I picked project 4. I also used Ableton's Push to launch different samples and then later rearrange them in arrange view. I also used the pots on the Push to pan and control volume of individual tracks. 

In this project Remix in Live learned several things about how to use the Push with Ableton and create a new work flow aside using the mouse and keyboard. Also using the push I was able to change the tempo and volume of the master track. I could fade out the end of song just by turning the pot and it would record the automation live.  

In the Fix The Mix we had to fix a mix of a track for a video game project that someone was working on and then quit. I changed the track a lot, moving things around, reversing clips, adding new sounds, and using all 16 tracks that BandLab allows. I used lots of different synths sounds to try to get the right feeling for the track. I recently bought a new game called bonelab, an expansion of the game boneworks. The composer Micheal Wyckoff that wrote the OST for both games gave me inspiration for re-writing this track. The way Micheal Wyckoff is able to use all the synths and other sounds is really interesting and fun to listen too. I really enjoyed writing new notes to the original melody and building off of that. I also found little drum/perc loops online that I incorporated into this track like the Shaker, Hard texture, and the chime hat loop. I think that those percs really added to the track. 

The Fix The Mix project taught me some new things. For example using the eq to boost the instruments frequencies. Also using effects to make the bass sound more distorted or adding reverb to a track. I think the most important thing that I learned is learning how to build off just a couple tracks and completely re-write a entire song. 

In the Pop Shuv It project we learned how to mix a simple song. We used pan pots to pan the different instruments left or right in the mix. We used the faders in bandlab to make the instruments sound closer or further back in the mix. We also used bandlabs graphic EQ to boost the frequencies in which that particular instrument needs more of or less of. We then used some FX on the instruments if needed like reverb or some kind of modulation. 

During the assignment Pop Shuv It I learned how to use the pan pots to make sure you can hear every instrument individually without adjusting volume. I also learned how to use Bandlab's graphic EQ to boost certain frequencies so the instrument would sound more prominent as well as removing some frequencies so other instruments can fill that space. 

In the "Getting to Know Bandlab" assignment I just messed around in bandlab getting used to how it worked. I tried to go for a phonk type sound. Bandlab is different from ableton which Im used to using. I found Bandlab some what harder to use because it is on a small laptop with the touchpad and doesn't have seem to have somethings that i'm used to using in ableton. 

While completing the assignment "Getting to Know BandLab" I learned the workflow of bandlab. I used loops from Bandlab's huge library, did a little bit of panning, and gain adjustments to make sure certain sounds sounded louder or quieter.