4/24 Film Scoring

Presentation - A discussion on how music is used in film and movies. A film score uses music to follow and enhance the action on screen. It specifically follows the film. 

• The Scariest Pieces of Classical Music

• 11 ways to use music in Film (Slides)

2/28 Rap Improvisation Project

Rap Beat Voting Link

Rap Improvisation Project - Assignment Sheet

Rap Instrumental Example

Tips For Creating Hip Hop/Rap Drums 

Jimmy Fallon Freestyle 

The Alpha Sampler:

The Alpha Sampler allows you to take any sound and play it like a piano on any pitch. It is particularly useful for writing in a melody using sounds that you find or record in that don't have multiple pitches to them.  The video explains how to add sounds to the Alpha Sampler.  This also works well for 808 Bass Samples and writing bass lines. 

2/26 Recording Audio with Mixcraft 

Today you will learn how to record into Mixcraft with a microphone. I will detail the process in class, but the video included here can help you at a later date as can the written instructions below. You will be creating and recording a Madlib for today's assignment. 

1. Recording Audio In Mixcraft - Instructions

2. Jimmy Fallon madlib example!

3. DON'T OPEN THIS YET!!! Madlib!  DON'T OPEN THIS YET!!!

4. Mixcraft Madlib: Record and Edit Audio. Add Compression, EQ, and additional effects as needed. When finished upload to Google Classroom as a .MP3 File. 

2/10 Mixcraft Automation 

1. Adding Master Effects to 60-Second Beats?

2. Listen to 60-Second Drum Beats

3. MIDI Controller - How To Assign MIDI Controls

4. Automation

• Please watch the video covering Automation and how it is used. 

• Allows you to control and preset changes within Mixcraft

• Track Volume Automation with MIDI and MIDI Keyboards

• Effects and MIDI Controllers

• Advanced MIDI Functions

• Take time to add automation to your 60-Second Drum Beats as practice. 

2/5 Two 60-Second Drum Beats

Today we will start our Two 60-Second Drum Beats Assignment. Using the skills we have been working on with drums in Mixcraft, create two different 60 second drum beats with two different tempos. You will create them in the same project, but use different kits, instruments, and tempos. No loops please, only one shot samples. You can use the step sequencer, midi keyboards, launchpads, Omni-Sampler or any other tool to create your music. Be sure to Quantize as you work!!!

When finished, Mix down to a .MP3 file and upload to the Google Classroom assignment. You have two days to work on your beats and we will listen on Wednesday. Save the project file, we may use these beats later for another assignment.

1/30-31 Rhythmic Dictation

First, Grab a MIDI Keyboard out of the cabinet and plug it in. Please hit the Octave DOWN button one time to correctly sync up the keyboard with the notes you need. 

DO NOT OPEN MIXCRAFT YET. It uses the whole sound card and won't let you listen to a youtube video. 

Please Watch this video to start the assignment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnC0foBvJYc 

The video screencast goes over how to complete your Rhythmic Dictation Assignment. Please refer to the video first if you have questions. 

Drum Set Rhythmic Dictation - 

1. Open Mixcraft, Create a Virtual Instrument Track and load in Standard Kit 1. 

2. Change your tempo to 100 BPM!!!! Turn On the Metronome. The following rhythms are recorded at that tempo and you must record in tempo in order to quantize correctly. 

3. Next, listen to Rhythm 1. After listening, you will practice and figure out how to play the rhythm on your own.

4. Arm the track and record the rhythm with the metronome. You can record each part separately in lanes (Kick, then Snare, then Hat), or all together. 

5. After recording, be sure to quantize and fix any errors, then move to the next rhythm. 

6. When finished, line all the rhythms up in sequence so they play 1 at a time with 1 measure in between. 

7. This should be turned in on Classroom.

Rhythm 1            Rhythm 2           Rhythm 3

Rhythm 4            Rhythm 5           Rhythm 6

Extra Challenge 1  Extra Challenge 2   Extra Challenge 3

1/28 Mixcraft Drums

1. Don't open Mixcraft yet.  It can cause problems allowing you to watch the video. It uses the whole sound card and won't share with youtube or other programs. 

2. Watch this video -------> Creating Drums in Mixcraft

3. Now you can open Mixcraft

4. Creating Mixcraft Drums - Virtual Instrument tracks allow us to play or write music  with software MIDI instruments. We will be utilizing the drum kits in Mixcraft on Virtual Instrument tracks to create beats. The screencast goes over how to get started creating drums in mixcraft

Drum Input Options:

1. Piano Roll

2. Step Sequencer

3. Midi Keyboard

4. Launchpads

Sequencer - Each box is 1 sixteenth note by default, but can be changed by zooming in/out or clicking the "step" button. Change the instruments within a kit by selecting "add/edit" in the editor. You can copy and paste, write, move, and erase notes, with the mouse options. 

Midi Keyboards - Octave up and down to change instrument sets. Can record. Quantize, Quantize Quantize

After completing the Tutorial, spend time on Mixcraft creating your own drum beats. 

1/21 Mixcraft Loops and Launchpads Project:

Click here for the Project Assignment Sheet: Mixcraft Loops and Launchpads Project

1/16 Novation Launchpads

Today, we will be setting up Novation Launchpads for Loops.

The video will walk you through the process we are going over today. If you have questions while working on your own, please check the video tutorial.

• Connecting the Launchpad

• Mixcraft Performance Panel

• Adding Loop Sounds

• Setting Parameters and Controls

• Recording

1/14 Mixcraft 10 Basics

Mixcraft Basics:

• Markers - Tempo Changes, Key Changes, Time Signature Changes, Automation

• FX - Effects, Effects Chains, Presets, Editing Effects