Module 2 of 6: Computer Music Studios

Summary

If you want to be a music composer in today's marketplace, as outlined in the Composing Music module, it is very important to have good, solid grounding in music technology, both hardware and software. At least you'll need a basic understanding of how to use technology to get your ideas down. Anytime you want to present your work it is highly unlikely you will be playing a song on a piano or guitar in someone's office! Much of your writing will be done at home or in small studios, not the traditional large scale recording studios which used to dominate the industry before the advent of modern home-based digital recording. This module shows you how the gear works.

Content

Introduction

How to set up your computer for making music with Logic Pro

System requirements & soundcards

How to use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

What is MIDI? Hardware and software instruments

Audio Units and MIDI programming in Logic

Drum Programming

How to make a beat in Logic Pro using Ultrabeat

Tempo & styles: Hip hop to house, drum n bass and beyond

Add groove and feel to your beats

Editing: quantize, velocity and note length

Building custom drum kits: create your own sound

Synthesizers & Sound Modules

Using Audio Units in Logic Pro

Classic synthesizers: Juno 106 and Roland TB303

Editing using waveforms, oscillators, filters & envelope

How to modulate and give expression to your sounds

Effects & Dynamics

Setting up insert and send effects in Logic Pro

Types of effect: how and when to use them

Delay, Reverb, Chorus, Phase, Flange, Filter, Distortion

Compression: Threshold, Ratio, Gain, Attack, Release

Final Mixdown

Make a track with knowledge gained in this module

Mix down all the elements of your track in Logic Pro and burn to portfolio CD

One to one session with your tutor to finalise your mix

Complete assessment: submit your completed piece of music