Assignment 3: Project Output

When I first planned this project, my idea was to do a full-on music cover. I imagined myself recreating a song from scratch, following a music sheet, recording vocals, and even mixing everything to sound professional. But as I sat down and really thought about it, I realized how ambitious that plan was, especially for someone like me who isn’t musically inclined. Learning to read a music sheet and learning a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) at the same time felt like setting myself up for frustration. So instead of pushing myself too hard, I adjusted my plan: I decided to work with pre-recorded audio files, while maintaining vocals and recording of the rain as background, and shifted my focus on learning the editing process. Looking back, I think this was the right call, it allowed me to really understand the basics of audio editing without overwhelming myself.

Another big change I made was moving from GarageBand to FL Studio. Originally, I thought GarageBand would be enough since it’s simple and beginner-friendly. But I switched to FL Studio because I wanted that additional bonus points for using a different DAW as an incentive.

Breaking Down the Process Step by Step

To give you an idea of how I built this project, here’s the process I followed from start to finish.

Preparing the Track Materials

I didn’t just sit down and have all my files ready right away. I prepared them one at a time. For example, I wanted the sound of rain as part of the background, so I had to wait until the weather actually cooperated. Luckily, I was awake one night when it started raining, so I decided to record it right then and there.

Before recording, I debated whether I should install a new recording app or just use the built-in tool on my laptop. In the end, I went with the built-in recorder—it was simple and available right away. The downside was that the result came out much softer than I expected. I tried a few takes, but the rain eventually stopped, so I had to work with what I had. Even though it wasn’t perfect, I decided to make the most of it.

Collecting My Files

I had five separate files ready to go:

- Pre-recorded instruments
- Pre-recorded Bass
- Pre-recorded Drums
- A recording of rain sounds I captured myself
- Vocals (recorded by my friend)

These were the “building blocks” of my project. Think of them like puzzle pieces that needed to be arranged, adjusted, and polished.

Loading Files into FL Studio

I opened FL Studio and dragged each audio file into the playlist. FL Studio shows these as “tracks,” kind of like layers stacked on top of each other. Seeing them lined up this way helped me understand which part was which: drums at the bottom, vocals in the middle, rain sounds in the background, etc.

Adjusting Volumes (Mixing Basics)

The first big task was making sure nothing sounded too loud or too soft. For example, my recording of the rain was too quiet—it was barely audible. So, I clicked on the mixer and raised the volume of that track until it had more presence. I didn’t want it to overpower the music, but I wanted it loud enough that listeners could feel that lo-fi vibe.

Looping the Rain Sound

Since my recording of the rain was shorter than the full length of the song, I looped it in FL Studio so it would play seamlessly throughout the entire track. This way, the rain became a consistent background element instead of fading out midway. It gave the song a more cohesive and immersive atmosphere, like you’re sitting in your room during a rainy night.

Layering for the Lo-Fi Effect

Lo-fi music usually has this cozy, imperfect feel—like it’s meant for relaxing or studying. To get that effect, I made sure the instruments, bass, and drums blended smoothly together. I lowered the sharpness of the drums a bit so they wouldn’t sound too crisp, then balanced the bass to sit under the melody instead of fighting with it.

Working with Vocals

The vocals were probably the most challenging part of the project. My friend and I planned to do the recording early in the morning so we could minimize any background noise. Before he sang, he practiced the song a few times on his own while I prepared what I jokingly called my “mini studio.” I checked if all the basic equipment was ready, locked the doors, and even turned on the AC for comfort.

Once everything was set, we started recording. And this is where things got tricky. I honestly lost count of how many times I hit the record and stop button. My friend hadn’t been doing vocals seriously for years, so even though he knew what he wanted to achieve, it was tough to execute perfectly. Some notes cracked, some took off, and frustration naturally kicked in. But we kept going, repeating the process until he finally had a version he was somewhat satisfied with, even if it wasn’t as polished as we originally imagined.

Just like the rain track, I eventually realized I had to make the most of what we recorded. I chose the best take we had, then polished it inside FL Studio. I adjusted the volume, cleaned up the balance with the instruments, and added a touch of reverb (a subtle echo effect) to help his voice sit better in the mix. While it wasn’t perfect, it carried authenticity, and that actually matched the lo-fi concept really well.

Adding Atmosphere

With the rain looped and balanced, I now had a track that carried a strong lo-fi vibe. I played around with its timing, making sure it flowed naturally with the instruments and vocals, and faded it in and out slightly so it didn’t feel too static.

Checking the Balance

At this stage, I basically listened to the song over and over. Sometimes on headphones, sometimes on speakers. Each time, I made little tweaks—like lowering the vocals a bit when they felt too strong, or nudging the drums slightly softer so they blended better.

Finalizing the Output

Once I was happy, I exported the project as an MP3 file. But here’s where I ran into another challenge: FL Studio started asking me for a subscription when I reopened it. Since I didn’t want to lose progress, I kept the app open for the rest of my editing process until the output was finalized. Stressful, but it worked!

The Final Output

The Challenges Along the Way

This project wasn’t without its struggles. Some of them were expected, and others completely caught me off guard:

The Subscription Scare: Like I said, FL Studio suddenly asked me to subscribe after I closed it once. I had to adapt by leaving the program running until I was done.

Lack of Experience: I came into this with zero audio editing experience. Honestly, I just trusted the process and Googled or watched tutorials whenever I got stuck. I know I’m not the only beginner who feels overwhelmed by all the knobs and buttons, but once you start, it’s less scary than it looks.
The Vocals: My friend, who kindly helped me, didn’t have much time to rehearse. We recorded several takes until he was satisfied. The final version wasn’t flawless, but he enjoyed the process, and that energy added something special to the track.
Feedback from Friends: To make sure the output matched my concept, I asked for feedback from a few friends, including the one who sang. Their reactions reassured me that I was on the right track.

What I Learned

This whole experience taught me a mix of exciting discoveries and hard truths. On one hand, I realized that making music doesn’t always have to feel intimidating. Even if you’re not musically trained, you can still put pieces together, experiment with effects, and create something that carries meaning. Lo-fi music in particular helped me embrace imperfections, it’s not about sounding flawless, but about capturing a mood.

But to be honest, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were plenty of moments when I felt lost in the software. FL Studio has so many buttons and knobs that it’s easy to click the wrong thing and suddenly mess up your track. At times, I felt like I was spending more hours troubleshooting than actually being creative. I also learned that even if lo-fi “celebrates imperfection,” there’s a fine line between intentional roughness and just sounding sloppy. Getting the balance right was harder than I expected.

Another reality check was the vocals. My friend and I both knew they weren’t perfect. He didn’t have enough time to rehearse, so we had to settle with what we got. Part of me wanted to keep re-recording until it sounded clean, but the more takes we did, the more I realized that neither of us had the energy or technical skill to polish it the way professionals do. In a way, this was humbling, I had to accept the limits of my project and my skills.

And then there were the small annoyances, like the subscription problem with FL Studio. It made me realize how dependent these projects are on software access. At one point, I was afraid I’d lose everything just because I hadn’t paid for a license. It was stressful and took away some of the fun.

So what did I really learn? That audio editing is rewarding, but also demanding. It requires patience, persistence, and sometimes just accepting that things won’t sound as perfect as you want them to. On the bright side, I still felt proud of my project, but I also understood that creativity comes with a lot of trial and error, and that frustration is part of the process, not something to avoid.

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