Production log :

 

Programme music :

 

The idea I had for this was a beginning scene set up in the 80s much like of the popular Netflix show ‘Stranger Things’. The synth sounds provide an affect that it has something to do with Technology. However I wanted this piece of music to indicate a family loading up their car in an overcast day to go to a picnic. The music does seem fairly positive but has an underlying tone that something could be off. An ominous indication if you will.

 

• To create this piece I chose a tempo 92

Time signature being 4/4

Chose a drum loop (hip hop swirl beat instead of a metronome)

As a guide line for phrasing 

• Then we chose harmony on a synth pad (liquid dreams) edited/customised with the controls.

• With Equalizer I boosted the treble and bass and reduced medium range.

• Then I moved on to the lead (British synth lead edited) added some reverb and crunch.

• After that I improvised the drum beat on a loop but later muted the loop.

• Then I improvised a melody based on the given harmony.

• The first note was off beat as I wanted to give the piece an impression that something’s wrong.

 

 

Advert :

 

This advert was created for Ideal home show Scotland. I did some research on them. And seemingly there target audience are couples in the late 20s to mid 30s trying to build a new home together and possibly start a family. 

 

In the clip I used the furniture looks colourful and moderately priced. It is a lively advert and I wanted to portray that through the music I created for it. As it said Scotland, I thought the use of trombone or trumpet to mimic the sounds of Scottish instruments like accordion and bagpipes would be clever. As it would give the customers a sense of familiarity and comfort. It will inspire people to spend money. I feel like it has a tongue ‘n’ cheek attitude and is for people who are quite passionate about their furniture. I tried to make the music upbeat, enthusiastic, modern, warm tone and funky. It goes from major to minor.

 

• The chord progression was inspired by Bob Dylan’s Lady Lady Lay but in a synth and electronic way. 

• I used the speak easy - original drum kit

• Mississippi joint - trombone (brass instrument)

• Also used hiphop swirl beat in the background 

• Bright synth lead - tune/melody

 

 

Empathetic music :

 

We were given a clip of a busy city where a car pulls up and it shows a man exiting his car.

We were supposed to assign this clip three types of mood with the help of the music we create. We all found it extremely challenging but hopefully the attempts were successful.

 

To make the scene seem :

 

Happy :

 

• For this one I wanted to have a build up. It had to be upbeat, exciting and thrilling.

• I started off using the  ‘Rock steady beat ‘ no. 4 loop as a guide which was muted later 

• Started with a bass minor blues

• Used British stack synth lead guitar based on the baseline 

• Made a new drum beat and muted the background loop

 

Sad : 

 

• I did improvisation with grand piano

• I had a keyboard player do it for me as I cannot play the keys myself 

• I told them the vibe I was going for and then later tweaked it to my preference

 

 

Threatening :

 

• I wanted this track to have a suspenseful, aggressive, gloomy, ominous and scary feel to it.

• Used string ensemble (ostinato)

• Used British combo synth lead, the chromatic usage gives a melancholic feel to it.

• Used synthesiser pad vowel glider , played it with pitch bend and modulation 

• The musical ideas cause it to build up but never comes to a satisfying resolution 

 

Sting

 

• For the sting I started off using cosmic departure synth modulation towards the end of the jingle 

• Went to the higher octaves on a D flat major arpeggio 

• Higher octave comes in when the alphabets in the logo show up

• After my lecturer critiqued it and said it’ll need a melody, I added a track to it by using the midi keyboard. I used a lead synth initially then a lead guitar and synth combo

• I improvised the melody in D flat major (5 black keys) 

• I adjusted the timing and volume for a few notes and bounced it as mp3 finally adding it to the video in final cut pro.

 

Podcast music

 

Theme  :

 

• head to head beat number 1 loop

• Played acoustic guitar arpeggio

• Added melody

• Added gritty funk drum original improvised beat with shaker kind of beat to achieve a tropical sound

 

Sad :

 

• made a split in the keyboard, played low base

• Piano really high in C minor harmony

 

Happy :

 

• Used four on the floor drum beat