MPA 408 Lab 05/14/10 Completing our Mixes

Finally we have completed our mixes. With the help of multiple late night sessions and out of class meetings, we were able to finish up. Today we focused on the song "Understand" and after closely dissecting the music we found a couple discrepancies in the performances. So in using the elastic audio and other editing techniques we corrected the issue. We also went over the pictures from our photo shoot, and chose photos for the album cover. Then we solidified the group name and the album title. Since we have completed all our mixes, we discussed listening back through the album in its entirety individually over the weekend, and then reconvening on Monday, and fixing any unsatisfactory mixes.

For more blogs from this week check out:

MPA 408 Lecture 05/12/2010 Last class
MPA 408 Lab 05/10/10 Mixing out the box
MPA 408 Lecture 05/10/10 Reviewing Projects

MPA 408 Lecture 05/12/2010 Last class

Today was a very chill atmosphere, we took time and went over the albums of group C and D. After reflection on both pieces and hearing the progression of the class projects in total Dr. Drew allotted another week to work on the albums. He recommended that each group also handle the business aspect of the album credits as well. He stated that the final project should consist of a full blown website with promotions and complete album artwork and liner notes. At the end of class Drew discussed the stipulations associated with extending the deadline, and this required that we move up the final date to Sunday.

MPA 408 Lab 05/10/10 Mixing out the box

Our lab today was very simplistic, we worked on mixing the song Fuck You Later out of the box. Because we did an extra lab over the weekend, their was little we had to edit, so we began right away. After patching our processors, and doing a rough mix of the song we realized that their was digital clips left from artifacts in the music that we forgot to eliminate. Therefore, we apple F, and apple U all unnecessary areas. By the time we finished working on that composition there was little time left to approach another song out the box, so we went in and worked on tightening up any of the remaining tasks on other tunes. We also spoke with Nicole about possibly getting a late night session.

MPA 408 Lecture 05/10/10 Reviewing Projects

With the end of the semester drawing near, this lab was used to review our current standing in regards to the completion of our album. To do so, the professor listened through to two of the groups albums and gave suggestions as to how they can complete them in a timely fashion. After checking in Drew went over the information that will be needed to complete the assignment. He also, pointed out that the album should be mixed, mastered and available for sale by Friday. Then we went over what would be required information to know for our final. He also pointed out that this was not yet the assessment week, and that everybody was still required to show up for class.

MPA 408 Lab 05/07/10 Mixing out the box

After nearly four months of building, organizing, and recording these songs, we finally reached the mixing phase. At the start of our session, we discussed a couple preliminary topics regarding our album. We each person in the group specific duties, in regards to getting ready for our cd release. It was decided upon collectively that we would use a digital release platform for promoting and selling our album. Based on this decision, we delegated one another positions that we thought each person could best fulfill. My job within the release is to set up pages on two or three social networks to help promote the awareness of the project. For this I decided that facebook, twitter, and myspace would be the most prevalent sites to attack. I will discuss more about this in a later blog. To begin mixing we chose Loving you Always, collectively this was decidedly our strongest song, and therefore would be the most exciting to mix. When we first began doing it, I was quite discouraged by the sound of the record. When we had worked on it in the pre production phase, it felt more spacious and fun loving, however when listening to it in the studio it just sounded cluttered. So after touching up on a couple EQ points within the mix, we began subtracting and eliminating portions of the music to help develop dynamics throughout the song. After this was done, the song once again took on a life that I had previously fell in love with. Next we worked on the song Eastern Blues, and because Josh had previously done a great deal of tweaking the tune at home, this song took far less time in the mixing process. Originally I thought that the extended time in the studio, (the extra two hours) would help us to do knock a couple mixes out, however I was taken back by the amount of time that each song took. Once the lab culminated, we discussed coming in over the weekend to help get ahead considering semester ends in the next two weeks. Hopefully we can find the time.

For more blogs from this week check out..

MPA 408 Lab 05/3/10 Preliminary Mixing
MPA 408 Lecture 05/5/10 In Class Mixing
MPA 408 Lecture 05/03/10 Mixing class projects

MPA 408 Lecture 05/5/10 In Class Mixing

Today I learned a valuable lesson...while in class our group was instructed to bring up one of the songs that weve been working on for our compilation album. As a group we decided to choose a song that we felt could benefit the most from an outside perspective, so we chose "Fuck you Later". Unfortunately we didnt make our intentions for the song clear before playing the rough version, so when the instructor heard the song he was clearly perplexed by our choice of vocals. After somewhat explaining our vision he then gave us a to do list to help improve the tune. Some of the key points he illuminated upon was to use elastic audio in attempt to make the vocals flagrantly out of tune, rather than approach it in the manner in which we did. He also touched on the need to fix certain points within the song, musically to help it sit better within the pocket. After reviewing the professors notes the group came to a consensus on how to approach the song. We decided to autotune as much as possible and elastic audio other aspects of the composition. Hopefully we can achieve a Biz Markie feel (Just a Friend) once its all done.

MPA 408 Lab 05/3/10 Preliminary Mixing

With our lab session today, we completed nearly all preliminary mixing, then assured all screen shots for each song, and internal and external routing was set up. We placed choruses, and did various other clean up activities to assure that we would be ready to begin mixing out the box on our next lab session. To help give a unity feel throughout the album, we went through and applied the same compression EQ and reverb to all of the albums drums. Then we attempted to find a universal EQ point for all of my vocals throughout the album. Unfortunately we ran out of time before we could delve deeply into this process. To assure that we complete all necessary steps for completing the album before the semester ends we discussed booking extra time in the studio.

MPA 408 Lecture 05/03/10 Mixing class projects

Before delving into the studio, we watched one of the remaining presentations, from a couple weeks ago. The presentation was on Brian Eno, a few aspects about him, that I gathered from the presentation included his list of collaborators, which included U2, Talking Heads, David Bowie, Robert Fripp, and many others. A few of his listed influences included Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Bo Diddley. One of the key aspects that we found interesting was that he was more interested in the process of sound and recording rather than the musicianship of the art itself. One of his important contributions to music included his album "Music for Airports". In discussion about the album we described how the music had to be non evasive, either higher or lower than the vocals. One of his other important contributions was his oblique strategy cards, of which he collaborated with Peter Schmidt. Once the presentation was over, we went in the studio, and continued mixing in the lab.

MPA 408 Week Of 04/26/10 - 04/30/10

In comparison to our previous months and weeks in class, this week was an extreme break in workload an information. In class we discussed a multitude of ways to organize our information and increase workload, using the snapshot method (enter twice). Then for the rest of the week, we practiced using these skills and having Dr. Drew mix a few of our songs. In doing his mixing demonstration he reitterated the point of mixing (by the octave). I felt that I got a better grasp for the aptitude of the other groups in our class in regards to their current progression within their prospective group albums. At points within our own progression I felt that we were hitting intellectual walls compositionally. However, after filling out some of our classmates work thus far I feel that we are right on par with where we should be. The composition that struck me the most was group C's song. Musically I found that they had organized and arranged quite the respective arrangement, however at certain points it was thrown off by the organization by the vocalists approach. After observing their track it made me take a more introspective look at my own delivery on some of our tracks.

In the studio this week we simply applied teachings from class. Within our two lab sessions we were able to successfully organize screen shots for all of our songs except for one. Because the setup process was so simplistic, the group used the time to lament important aspects of our distribution process for the group album. This week I finally feel like we are recovering fully from the spring break.