DAW Audion Composition Project

Summary

Audio File Formats and Definitions

AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format): stores standard CD-quality audio; similar to WAV (Higher Quality)

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format): CD audio; can be saved with different sampling and bit rates; similar to AIFF (Higher Quality)

MP3 (Audio File): Used to store audiobooks and music on a hard drive; Close to CD-quality sound; the higher quality sound comes from higher bit rates which also take up more storage space

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface): music data: notes played, when notes are played, how long each note is played, and the velocity of each note played; used to be able to exchange and use information between software and hardware programs; no actual audio data

All the audio file format information is found at: fileinfo.com

Song Used As Template

This is a decently long song, and I didn’t plan on composing anything too long. I love the instrumentation, and the structure is interesting. The verses are similar, and a lot of the instrumental parts rely on transitions to keep it engaging. Also, it’s a song I could listen to over and over without getting tired of analyzing it.

GarageBand Tracks

(I couldn’t change the color of the muted track, it worked fine for all the others)

My Composition

My composition is short, and I shortened the original song so it didn’t have to download as much.

What I Learned & Problems I Solved

I learned how to use GarageBand, which I’ve never worked with before.

I often struggle with procrastination, and I rarely am able to complete projects, as I often feel that my work is not good enough. This composition was difficult, as I did not feel like anything I recorded was good. I’m pretty satisfied with the final project, and I’m proud of myself for just getting something down. I think it kind of sounds like video game music.

Production Project – Session 3

SUMMARY

Role- Guitar, Banjo

Intention (SMART Goal)- By January 28, I plan to compose at least a few measures of banjo and accompanying guitar part.

PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY

Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)

Training Source(s)

Project Timeline

Proposed Budget

PRODUCTION – ACTION

The (FILM, SOUND, or GAME Creation)

Skills Commentary

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

Reactions to the Final Version

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

What I Learned and Problems I Solved

Grammar and Spelling

Editor

Imposter Syndrome Explored

cuenotes
Many people experience Imposter Syndrome. Why do we experience that? Why is it so common?

What is Imposter Syndrome? 		It’s not uncommon for people, especially performers, to experience thoughts of doubt about the quality of their work.


In response to stressful or overstimulating circumstances, people experience a feeling of being fraudulent or of being fake, as if they are lying to those that they interact with and themself.

Affects about 70% of successful people

Song Structure Resource Notes

Notes

0:13- Many songs use the structure “Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus”

0:33- The Chorus: A repeated section, the most memorable/catchy part of the song.

0:47- Why is a chorus important? Choruses “give the song its identity”, and are often the most musically complex part. Listeners will remember it.

1:41- The Verse: A simpler section, intended to tell the story that the song is written about.

1:50- What is a Verse? Verses have more complex lyrics, and the music is quieter and simpler, as it is in the background more. The lyrics change verse to verse, but the music in the background almost stays the same.

2:29- The verses shouldn’t all be identical. Choruses stay the same, so if the verse doesn’t change then the song will likely be boring.

2:53- The Bridge: a section completely different from both the verse and the chorus, so that the listener doesn’t get bored.

3:09- What is a Bridge? It is meant to tell the story in a different way, both by using different lyrics and different melody.

3:47- Songwriting is much more complex than just including these three things, but these are the basics and are applicable to any song.

A song that I think is a good example is “Let Your Heart Rule Your Head” by Brian May, as the writing is pretty simplistic and perfectly demonstrates the song structure demonstrated in this video.

Production Project – Session 2

SUMMARY

Role:

Intention (SMART Goal)

PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY

Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)

Training Source(s)

Project Timeline

For the first few weeks, we mostly were working on getting familiar with our instruments and the set up. On Tuesdays during class we would work on composing the song, first by presenting ideas and then after a couple weeks beginning recording and fitting the pieces together.

Proposed Budget

PRODUCTION – ACTION

The (FILM, SOUND, or GAME Creation)

Skills Commentary

POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION

21st Century Skills

Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)

I showed creativity by contributing ideas to songwriting in a genre that I’m not familiar with.

Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)

I collaborated with a group of people that I didn’t know well and compromising with them during the process of making a song.

Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)

I was already slightly familiar with Soundtrap from being in band last year, and through teaching myself guitar I have collected sources to find guitar music to lear.

Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)

The ability to compromise with others and to collaborate effectively is a vital skill in any career, as is adaptability in a group.

Reactions to the Final Version

Self-Evaluation of Final Version

What I Learned and Problems I Solved

It was interesting to watch how much easier it was to have ideas of how to progress when we just recorded what ideas we already had. I was surprised how easily I learned power chords and riffs, and how much easier that was on electric guitar.

Grammar and Spelling

To check for grammar and spelling errors, I copied and pasted my writing into Google Docs.

Editor

Lizzy