Funky Town Sequence

Create a MIDI Sequence using a DAW

This unit will see you get to grips with entering a piece into a DAW, not just using loops, but inputting MIDI Data yourself!

For this activity, we will be using a piece of online software called BandLab. However, you may use any appropriate DAW like Garage Band or Logic.

The first few tasks will help you practice the skills you will need for this.

For this task you will need access to a computer with internet capability, a browser that supports BandLab (Chrome seems to work well), and if possible, a MIDI Keyboard or controller.

For this activity you will need to know the following key terms:

DAW: Digital Audio Workstation (like Logic, BandLab, Soundtrap etc.)

MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface - the data that is carrying the information that allows you to create music in a DAW

MIDI Editor: Software to edit and manipulate MIDI data

MIDI keyboard/controller: A physical device to play and edit midi data. Ofter a keyboard.

Quantize: To lock your MIDI notes to time using a metronome grid

Velocity: How hard you play a note (the intensity of the note)

Metronome: A click track that gives you the pulse of the music

Automation: a awy to automatically programme things like volume, pan, FX leve etc. over your track

Pan: Where you music sits within the stereo spectrum from left to right.

Record: To save the music you play into your DAW

Play: To play back what you have saved or recorded

Playhead: The 'curser' that shows you what part of the track is playing

Plugins: Any extra effects or manipulations you add to a track.

Practice Activities:

Practice Activity 1

Log into BandLab. You may need to create an account if you have not used it before. See the BandLab 101 information at the end of this document.
Set up a pitched instrument of your choice (not drums).
Turn on the Metronome Click.
Change the Tempo to a crotchet = 80bpm.
Enter the short piece of music to the right. Make sure you click record. You may need to practice it first. You can use a MIDI Keyboard, Musical Typing, or click to enter.

Select all of your notes in the MIDI Editor and Quantise to 1/8. Experiment with the % and find what sounds best with your instrument.
Check that the Velocity of your notes is even and edit if you need to.
Copy and paste your melody to repeat it.

Practice Activity 2

Add a simple drum beat. Make sure you follow the above steps to quantize and check velocity.
Double the above melody an 8ve above using a different instrument. Follow the above steps to edit as needed. You may also copy and paste it into another instrument and change the 8ve.
Add a C Major Triad that is held for the length of each bar. Think about which instruments are able to do this.
Add a simple bassline using an appropriate instrument. This could simply be a held note if you would like.

Practice Activity 3

Edit the Volume Automation to make each melody line get slightly louder and then slightly softer over the two bars.
Pan each melody so one is slightly to the Right channel and one is slightly to the left.
Add some subtle reverb to at least one of your tracks to make it sound more realistic.
Make sure your tempo is back to 100bpm.
Export your track as an MP3.

Practice Activity 4

Enter the above piece of music on your DAW.
You will need at least 3 tracks. Make sure you are choosing a selection of instruments that sound good together and make sense timbrally.
Make sure you are editing your piece as required to make it sound as realistic as possible. This should include quantizing, editing velocity, volume/dynamics, pan, and reverb. Select an appropriate tempo.
Add a drum beat/percussion line.
Once you are happy with it, export as an MP3.

Additional Activities: Your teacher may set you additional activities to prepare you for you final activity.

Activity 1 - 3 refer to this piece above.

Key Terms: Reverb and Delay.

Both of these are effects that can be added to a track. Here is a great link that explans to the difference between these similar effects.

Reverb vs. Delay: Essential Guide for Music ProducersDiscover the differences between reverb and delay, how they affect your music, and when to use each in this essential guide.

Activity 4 refers to the piece below:

Summative Activity

Create a MIDI sequence of the score below using the features and functions of a digital audio workstation (DAW). Your piece must have a minimum of three individual tracks. You can input your MIDI data by recording along with a metronome click, or by using step input mode, or using a pencil tool.

Your sequence should demonstrate cohesive track management and have appropriate musical instruments assigned to each track. Basically, this means you should be trying to recreate the piece in a way that makes musical sense and utilises the functions of the DAW appropriately.

You may use drum loops or samples in addition to the MIDI tracks you create.

You should edit your MIDI notes to ensure accuracy of pitch and rhythm, using quantisation where appropriate.

Tips:

Think about what instruments sound good together.
Check the clefs and that your pitches are correct.
Listen back to your work regularly - if it sounds weird, you may have made a mistake
Add effects etc. last and think about how they add to the effectiveness of the piece.

Submit your final piece as an MP3. Make sure you listen back to this file and check it sounds the way you want it to.

Also share the collaborator Link on BandLab with your teacher so they can see your work.

Below is a copy of the score that you will recreate. Ensure you check this closely and complete both pages!

Copy of FunkyTown Score.pdf

Use the table below to self assess your progress:

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