Embedded Files
ACTIVITY ONE - MUSIC FOR ADVERTISING
Creating music and soundtracks for advertising is big business and provides excellent opportunities and job prospects for musicians who are seeking to collaborate with film and TV engineers and producers.
Assignment Details
You have been commissioned to recreate the soundtrack for a recent TV commercial (see left) in a different style.
The advertised product is from a well known fashion label.
The producer wants you to emulate the aesthetics of a high end, aspirational product whilst incorporating elements of street culture, e.g. lo-fi production, background noise etc.
The brief from the advertising agency includes details of market; whilst appeal should be as wide as possible, the target market is sophisticated, moneyed urban 18-30+ age group. You need to consider this in the design of your sound track.
Composition Brief
General
Your original soundtrack should capture an appropriate "vibe" to convey the required characteristics detailed in the scenario above. It should reflect and sync to the onscreen action. Take notice of cues, scene changes, any change of pace or mood. Use different textures (layers of sound) to add interest to your track and help to build momentum
Consider your instrumentation choices carefully
You may wish to add "field recordings" to capture appropriate street sounds to incorporate into the soundtrack
Your track must include
A beat (or beats) - these may be multitracked and created from midi, drum machine or sampled
A memorable melodic "hook" or signature idea that target audience will immediately associate with the product
bass line that develops as the scene shots change ( a synth bass allows for use of filters, other effects)
Optional
One or more chord progressions
Lyrics - you may choose to compose a song to accompany the track
Production
Make use of any of the production techniques you have learnt to develop your track ideas and sound quality. Ensure it is well mixed before completion
Useful MIDI FX - arpeggiator, drum machine
Useful AUDIO FX - Flextime, Flex pitch, Reverse effect
Useful MIXING techniques - EQ, Reverb, Delay, Compression, Automations (volume, panning)
Project Resources
Download the Commercial VIDEO mp4 file HERE
Open a new Logic File and set tempo to 107 (turn click beat on initially, this will help you to sync your track to the onscreen action)
Save VIDEO mp4 onto Desktop, then drag and drop it into Logic.
TASTER ACTIVITY 2 - RE-IMAGINED SONG
@LennyKravitz x Y Eau de Toilette ｜ Y ｜ YSL BEAUTY.mp4"Are you Gonna Go My Way" the original single, right, for reference, right. KEY: E minor BPM 129.
Lead Guitar Riff below:
Scenario
The commercial, left, formed part of Yves Saint Laurent's 2020 AW advertising campaign and showcases Lenny Kravitz. The original soundtrack on this clip is a slow tempo version of his 1993 single "Are You Gonna Go My Way?"
Your task is to re-create the soundtrack for the commercial based on this song.
You have complete control over the choices of instrumentation, vocal style, beats and any other elements you wish to include.
The tempo, however, should remain fixed at 69bpm to sync with the onscreen action.
Project Resources
Download the Logic File for this project by clicking on the link (right)
YSL Lenny K.zipUseful Links to Advertising Industry Websites
TASTER ACTIVITY 3 - WILDLIFE DOCUMENTARY
Criminal Penguins - Frozen Planet.mp4Scenario
Wildlife documentary film score
Template, Inserting Video & Zimmer
Template, Inserting Video & Zimmer
Template
Template
Go here, log on and download the whole folder by clicking download at the top (don't open the folders, or download just 1 of them, you need the whole folder).
Open the Logic Template File.
Inserting Film
Inserting Film
Go here and download the film clip for the Man of Steel Trailer.
In the Template Logic Project click File - Open Movie and then add your movie file. You DO want to extract the audio.
Ideally 'keep' the frame speed setting but the Audio Sample rate should be 48kHz and the bit depth as standard in Logic X 24bit.
Sounding like Hans Zimmer
Sounding like Hans Zimmer
Take a look at this article analysing Zimmer's Dark Knight score. Musical Themes in the Dark Knight Trilogy, Part 3 of 6: The Dark Knight – Film Music Notes
He regularly uses simple chord progressions such as:
He regularly uses simple chord progressions such as:
Dm (D, F, A) to C# (C#, E# G#)
(Keep in mind an E# is really an F note on the piano.
Build Octaves of these using a chord per bar in the strings, you might want to layer it so they come in gradually.
Extension - Add volume automation swelling through the first chord and falling in the 2nd chord to create a more realistic string sound.
He also uses a 16th note pattern, nearly all the time. Zimmer has previously referred to this as 'the clock'.
He also uses a 16th note pattern, nearly all the time. Zimmer has previously referred to this as 'the clock'.
It is very effective at giving your music momentum. Below are some patterns used in the Dark Knight score.
Extension - right click (Ctrl) on your MIDI Piano Roll notes - Articulations. Try out either Staccato or Spiccato for a more cinematic and articulate sound!
Lastly write a Melody line for French Horns which moves through the chords. For instance you could play an F in the Dm chord then move this to the G# in the C# chord.
Zimmer's melodies often do this and are quite simple. For instance in the Dark Knight the main theme moves from D to C# notes, or D to F (E#).
Spotting Sheet - Hits & Sound Design (Pack)
Spotting Sheet - Hits & Sound Design (Pack)
What is Modern Film Composing?
What is Modern Film Composing?
Watch the video and listen for the various sonic elements which make up the cue. Note the amount of 'notes' and 'markers' used.
Open your project from last week.
Lets 'spot' moments for impact hits and sound design as a class using the sheet below.
Download this pack of Royalty Free, Free audio samples to use in your Music to Media Projects. It includes Atmospheres, Brams, Hits, Impacts, Risers etc.
Start placing in your project. You can add from a Finder Folder, or by locating in Logic's media browser.
Spotting Sheet - Emotions & Interesting Scales to evoke them
Spotting Sheet - Emotions & Interesting Scales to evoke them
Use the Spotting Sheet above to note emotions. It is good to think both about the emotions you want the characters to feel and the emotions you want the audience to feel. This can be the same, but can also be different. Work through the following Slides session to discover some interesting scales you can use to evoke different emotions and feelings.
Guess Who with Leitmotifs
Guess Who with Leitmotifs
Develop your own Film Project
Develop your own Film Project
Choose a 1 min piece of film, TV, game, advert etc and get hold of the video file.
Complete the spotting sheet for this clip.
Create an imaginative and creative score using music and sound design for your clip.
Analysing Music to Media
Analysing Music to Media
Who?
Leitmotif themes for characters, objects, places etc. how does the theme characterise them?
Do leitmotifs have to be a melody? Can they be sound? Listen the Joker theme.
Themes and the development (reuse) / adaptation of themes.
(example of the development of Darth Vader’s Leitmotif)
When and where?
How does the music tell you where you are (geographically)?
Instruments, rhythms and scales are very important! (James Bond)
How does the music tell you what time period you are in?
(drums and pentatonic scales used in Back to the future).
What?
Emotion – how does the music convey emotion? (emotion of the characters and emotion the audience should feel)?
Tension – how does the music build and release tension?
Is the music Diegetic or non- diegetic?
Identify and discuss the effect of Sync points where the music punctuates the visuals.
Musical techniques – Pedal tone, ostinato, contrary motion, musical sequences etc.
Film Music Notes Website.
Great website to check out for ideas: www.filmmusicnotes.com/
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