Throughout the second audio project module, the production of an EP solely based around the aesthetics of drumming has proven to be both insightful and challenging. The project has enabled the ability to expand my knowledge within a variety of different musical and audio based areas. It has enhanced upon both my production knowledge and further expanded the approach I now take when performing specific styles of music. Throughout the duration of the project, I have been able to expand my knowledge through applied research, gaining both practical and theoretical insight into styles of music which I would have never considered playing or producing, prior to the initial project establishment. I strongly feel that the new skills I have gained throughout the module will be applicable to new areas of recording production and the tools and techniques enhanced will play an influential impact on the way in which I approach my style of music production towards the future.

One of the main areas in which I feel that I have gained a substantial amount of knowledge in throughout the cause of the final university semester is that of mastering. Prior to this project, I had mainly produced tracks for both my own external band projects away from university and for other bands. The majority of these recording sessions have all been sent to external mastering engineers. Although I had a very brief knowledge in mastering through lessons and research engaged within my level 1 and 2 studies, this project enabled the opportunity to create a full CD master to a higher standard. My knowledge has expanded upon the importance of correct metering when mastering an EP session and furthermore the way in which a frequency analyzer is used to gain a perspective the overall level balancing of a recorded track. In addition to these elements, I was able to experiment with multiple techniques and tools within areas of plugins including the use of techniques including EQ matching and using dynamics to gain punch and clarity within a mix such as multiband compressors,harmonic exciters and stereo imaging. Additionally the project enabled me to focus upon my production work ethic in terms of the organisation of a project session involving routed sends and returns and multiple group bussing within a project session.

The opportunity to work on a project with another drummer off the course specifically related to drumming has always been something which I have wanted to attempt since the beginning of my studies at university. I feel that the project has enabled the ability to develop upon my musicianship skills and work ethic with fellow drummers. Furthermore I feel the project has given myself and Ryan the opportunity to create a fresh idea that has not been previously attempted by other students who have studied the audio production course. From a performance perspective, the project has enabled me to experiment with new playing genres and rudiments such as percussion associated with jungle and African rhythms, which can be evident within the third track on the EP. Additionally I have been able to experiment with the effects of using multiple implements within drumming such as brushes and mallets to see what recorded sound they can achieve.  In addition to creating a new idea, I feel that the opportunity to work alongside another audio production student was thoroughly enjoyable and provided a different experience in comparison to the previous film production I was associated with in the previous semesters audio project.

In regards to the tracks included on the EP, I strongly feel happy with the level of production applied throughout the project and furthermore the musical rhythms that myself and Ryan have been able to create within each style of music genre. The project enabled the ability to experiment with new ways of microphone positioning in both mono and stereo pairs, in particular with the progressions and techniques used throughout the first and third tracks included on the EP. Using multiple microphone positioning techniques on individual sections of the drum kit has increased my confidence within creative decision making and further experimentation within all aspects of producing. I feel that similar microphone techniques I have used throughout the duration of time recording in the multitrack studio could not only be applied to drum recording, but could be additionally experimented with when recording other instruments.

I feel that the amount of research collected throughout the project both individually and group based has been very extensive,  however has proven to be applicable and relevant to fully engage with the initial project aims and objectives. The research I have discovered throughout the duration of the project has introduced me to new producers and recording techniques of which I had no knowledge of previously. I feel that the research I conducted throughout the duration of the project can be evidently seen in particular throughout the progression of the second and fourth movements within the EP compared to my previous production works .

If I was to repeat the process of creating the same EP again I would like to experiment in further detail with the use of microphone techniques. Although this was achieved to a certain level within the project, I feel that experimenting with recording techniques in a further detail and using different rooms for tracking would have opened new ideas for the project both creatively and in the post production format. In addition to recording in different rooms, the ability to experiment with multiple drums not only that of the drum set provided within the multitrack studio at university would have resulted in an alternative outcome to the one achieved. Although I feel the production of the naturally recorded drum tracks was of a high standard, the use multiple drum sets within higher budget ranges combined with professional quality drum skins would have achieved a superior quality recording. Finally I feel that if repeating the project again it would been nice to have had the ability to create a final drum piece to increase the overall duration and amount of tracks similar to a standard EP release.

I feel that the drum EP created by myself and Ryan is something of which we will both be able to use to showcase our drumming abilities and furthermore be incorporated into my show reel of production and performance works.