Group
Project; from Drama 262, Sound Design, Spring 2006
CHALLENGE:
Create a multi-track recording of an original song.
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"Insinuación" MIDI
Composition by Michael Rasbury based on Music and Lyrics by
Matt Marcus.
(6
MB download) |
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In
this track, the MIDI Composition is muted. This reveals all
tracks recorded and performed by the students of DRAM 262. (6
MB download) |
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This
is the full mix of both the above recordings. (6
MB download) |
 |
Download
this .pdf file (320 KB) to see a screen shot of our virtual
mixer for "Insinuación" in Digital
Performer 5. |
| Or
listen to the recording in stages... |
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March 3, Preparation of Student Composition for Recording
Demonstration
March 17, MIDI Demonstration and Student Recording (6 MB
download) |
After seeking approval
from the class, I started working on a base MIDI track
based on a musical idea and lyrics by Matt Marcus.
I created the basic MIDI musical track of our original
song.
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Friday, March
24, Student Recording (6
MB download) |
We began recording
the acoustic elements of the song by adding acoustic guitar
(performed by John Hopke) and bongos (performed by Greg
Sloan). I
added a small wood block track to the recording
I made an .mp3 mix of
the song to send to the students via email for review. This
allowed them to come ready to propose additional instruments
and tracks.
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Friday, March
31, Student Recording (6
MB download) |
Today we recorded trumpet
(performed by Nathan Redabaugh) and flute (performed by Teresa
Wood). I demonstrated the power
of signal processing in recording. We shifted the dynamics
of the acoustic tracks by editing equalization and compression. Reverb
and delay processing were discussed.
We also added the entire
class making general "party" sounds for a middle section
of the song. We recorded a second track of the group clapping
in unison.
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Friday, April
14, Student Recording (6
MB download) |
Today we added our
first vocals. Melissa McDowell added
double-tracked chorus lyrics and Matthew Marcus added double-tracked
the verse lyrics. Double-tracking voices creates a
thicker voice timbre. Matt Marcus also added some single
claps for later editing.
In order to accomplish these recordings, we used different
microphone techniques for capturing clear vocals.
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Friday, April
21, Student Recording (6
MB download) |
Today we added Nathan
Redabaugh and Matthew Bass (4th year Anthropology major)
and a guest to our classroom, to the recording. Both
added original spoken parts (rap) to the song. We used
unidirectional microphones, one dynamic and one condenser
to record them. Both
microphones had improvised windscreens for close microphone
placement.
At the last moment, we added Anjili Pal and Melissa McDowell
speaking a very small part toward the end of the song.
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Friday, April
28, Student Recording |
We listened critically
to the final mix of our song and decided upon a final name
for the work. We all agreed to "Insinuación",
which means "overture" in Spanish.
Using digital audio
editing techniques, we lengthened the original time of
the "party" noises underneath the second rap in the middle
of the song.
We prepared the song for placing on the Internet and posted
it.
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RECORDING INSTRUMENTS: 2
Audio-Technica 4030 condenser microphones, G4 Powerbook, 1.5
GHz, 1 Gig RAM, M-Audio Firewire 410 Audio Input/Output Device,
Digital Performer 4.61, and Propellerhead’s Reason 3.0. |
