Band-lab PRACTICE

Thanks to Brandywine Heights High School for this project idea.

By the end of this project, you will have lots of practice in using the BandLab editing tools, and will be ready to move to the next step in music production!

In this project you will learn how to:

• Create a new project

• Record your voice

• Create a new track

• Use the split tool

• Name each audio clip

• Trim audio clips

Procedures

Step 1: First, we need to create a new BandLab project and make a recording of the alphabet recited backwards.

1. Open the BandLab link in Classsroom. Find the "Alphabet Project" assignment and click the green "Start Assignment" button.

2. A window opens that says, "Choose where to start." Select "Teacher's Assignment." An empty BandLab project will appear.

3. To start the project, the "New Track" window opens. Select the red "Voice/Mic" button. If asked, allow permission to use the mic on your computer/Chromebook.

Step 2: Now it is time to record your voice.

First, make sure the metronome is OFF. Check the icon at the top of the screen.

If the "Assignment Brief" window is in your way, click the green "Assignment Brief" button at the bottom of the screen to close the window.

Find the round, red record button at the top of the screen.

• Click the record button and say the alphabet backwards, slowly and clearly, leaving about a second between each letter:
  Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F E D C B A

• Click the spacebar to stop recording. Notice that the region that appears is red - this is the audio recording of your voice. (Sometimes audio is blue, as we'll see later.)

• Move the playhead to the beginning and click the spacebar or PLAY button to hear your recording. (Make sure the volume is up on your computer.)

• If you don't like the recording, you can undo (Ctrl-Z) or delete the region and do it again.

Two suggestions...

• Put a brief bit of silence between each letter - this will make it easier to edit.

• Say the letters with different vocal inflections for a fun result.

Save your work!

2. You are going to use the Split tool to separate each letter in the alphabet, starting with the letter “Z.”

• Press Play and then press Stop immediately after hearing “Z” and before you hear “Y.” Notice the white playhead arrow that moves across as you play, and stops when you stop playing.
  NOTE: You can also use the spacebar to start and stop playing.

• At the end of “Z”, click the "Split at playhead" button.

• Continue this process for each letter, until all of the letters are split into new regions.

• SHORTCUT: Drag the playhead into place, then press the "S" key on your keyboard to split the track.

Save your work! BandLab saves automatically, but it is still a good idea to save your work manually every once in a while. Click the "Save" button (not the Submit button!) in the top-right corner to save.

Step 4: Name each clip so you know which is which

Click somewhere in the black area of the window to deselect the audio regions. Now you are going to name each clip.

1. Each clip is called "Voice/Mic" by default. The clips are pretty small, so you may not be able to see some or all of the names.

2. Click on your first clip once to select it. You'll know it's selected because it will be outlined in white. Then click where it says "Voice/Mic" and replace it with "Z."

Save your work!

Step 5: Now you are going to put the alphabet back in order. The easiest way is to create a new track.

1. To create a new track, click the "+ New Track" button, near the top left. Select "Voice/Mic."

2. Scroll to the end of the project. Click on the clip labeled "A" and drag it down to the new track; then drag it all the way to the left (the beginning of the project).

4. Repeat this for each letter until the alphabet is back in order.

Note: If you find that the clips aren't going exactly where you want them to go, make sure "Snap to Grid" is OFF. Click the View menu, and make sure there is not a green check next to "Snap to Grid" at the top of the menu.

When you're done, it should look something like this:

Save your work!

Step 6: Smooth everything out, get rid of gaps and weird sounds

1. Now that everything is back in order, you need to listen to the file to evaluate your edits.

• Listen to the file. You want the speech to flow smoothly, without any gaps in the sound. You can tell that there will be gaps in the sound if you see black space between each clip.

• You want to drag the regions closely together so there are no gaps. You can even overlap the regions a little bit, as long as you don’t lose any of the text.

• When dragging regions around, use the magnifying glass icon to zoom in and see a more detailed view.

2. We don't need the original Voice/Mic track any more. Click on the 3-dot menu icon in that track, then select "Delete Track" at the bottom of the menu.

3. If you messed up, remember that Ctrl-Z (command-Z on the iMac) is your friend! It will undo your mistake.

4. Once you're SURE that you are done, click the GREEN "Submit" button in the upper-right corner.

Project Extension: If you get done early, click the three-dot menu icon on the Voice/Mic 2 track, then hover over "Presets." Explore and experiment! ("Fuzz Starpower" is my favorite.)

SCORING RUBRIC

Steps 1 and 2.

You recorded each letter clearly. [2 points]

You split each letter into a new region. [5 points]

Step 3.

You renamed each region with the appropriate letter name. [5 points]

Step 4.

You created a new track. [3 points]

You dragged the regions from the first track into the new track until the alphabet is back in order. [5 points]

Step 5.

There are no gaps in sound in the new track. [5 points]

TOTAL: 25 points.