My Role
Throughout the course of the project, I maintained a strong role within the production elements of the Drum EP. I focused upon the editing elements within the songs in the acting role as producer, including some of the key editing associated throughout the project including that of pocketing and audio manipulation. In addition I focused upon the mixing elements of the project whilst in the tracking processes, and furthermore produced the final mastered product.
Book Based Research
Throughout the duration of the audio project, there have been various books which have assisted me in both the performance based aspects of the project and furthermore developed my knowledge upon various production tools and techniques used within the mixing and mastering processes. Throughout the progression of creating the EP, I have learnt tools and techniques of mixing tracks throughout a range of musical genres. In addition I have further enhanced upon my drumming repertoire, by researching into various rudimentary techniques and patterns used within musical genres. As both a drummer and bedroom producer I predominantly originate from a rock and metal music background, therefore the project has enabled the ability to gain a knowledge in other styles of recording and production of which I hope will be transferable across future recording projects. Some of the key books which assisted with the overall process of the EP included:
Dance Music Manual: Tools, Toys, and Techniques – By Rick Snoman
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dance-Music-Manual-Tools-Techniques/dp/0240521072
This book enabled me to gain a more established understanding of the production techniques involved with dance music production. As I have never produced this genre of music before, elements of this book were able to help be develop an idea of the mixing processes involved with the music genre. Elements of knowledge from this book proved particularly helpful in the development and mixing stages of the 2nd and 4th movements of the EP. Chapter 2 proved particularly helpful in increasing my knowledge of compression and effects processing in the musical genre, enhancing tools such as different ways to use parallel compression and ways to manipulate recorded audio using effects such as delay, reverb, phasers and virtual distortion. The 3rd chapter was able to reinforce my strong knowledge upon the importance of gain staging and group bussing within a project, however it provided the perspective from a different musical genre. The final chapters which provided help included chapter 6 and 9, which describe in detail the ways in which sample manipulation and sequencers are commonly used within dance related styles of music.
Secrets of Recording: Professional Tips, Tools & Techniques – By Lorne Bregitzer
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Recording-Professional-Techniques-Mastering/dp/0240811275
This book enabled me to develop an increased understanding of techniques used within commercial music production. From this book I was able to draw upon additional techniques for using sound replacement within songs, which proved crucial to the development and construction of the 3rd movement within the EP. Additionally, the book highlighted techniques for using emulated effects and pitch correction in a musical manner within tracks, which I was able to apply to the recorded drum sections both that of recorded audio from the studio sessions and what was recorded digitally on the DTX550. To summarize the final chapter touched upon elements discussed in mastering the workshop earlier in the semester with Ian Sheppard, about the use of different frequency analyzers and meters within the mastering process.
Multi-Platinum Pro Tools: Advanced editing techniques to take your projects from good, to gold, and beyond – By Nathan Adam and Brady Barnett
http://www.fishpond.co.uk/Books/Multi-Platinum-Pro-Tools-Nathan-Adam-Brady-Barnett/9780240520230
I believe that this book is difficult to obtain online, however I used this from the Universities library collection. Although this book is mainly focused around ProTools, I was able to take features of the book and apply them to my knowledge and understanding of using Cubase 5 production software. This book enabled me to get a detailed insight into the ways in which drums are pocketed. Initially before the start of the project I had a basic understanding of what pocketing entailed, however I had previously used other forms of drum and track editing such as flextiming, audiowarp and beat detective to achieve similar results. This book proved to be a crucial asset to the production of the entire EP as many performance sections needed to be edited in order to remain perfectly in time, especially with the focus solely relying upon drums and rhythmical aspects of which the majority of sections of the EP have multiple rhythms occurring at one time. The book highlighted the different ways in which drums can be pocketed, furthermore establishing upon ways in which to pocket drums without transients and those with double transients.
Behind the Glass Volume II: Top record producers tell how they craft the hits: By Howard Massey
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behind-Glass-Record-Producers-Craft/dp/0879309555
Although this book did not necessarily provide me with any full proof or solid techniques for music production, it gave me a detailed insight into the ways in which top producers approach their mixing and mastering techniques. The provided interviews and perspectives from multiple record producers spanning a vast array of musical genres. From this book I was able to gain a general understanding of the ways to approach different styles of music and apply them into the four tracks which we produced. Reading interviews within the book proved to be a slightly inspirational view of music production and enabled me the ability to think about working on the project from different perspectives.
Buddy Riches Interpretation of Snare Rudiments – By Buddy Rich
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buddy-Richs-Interpretation-Snare-Rudiments/dp/0571526543/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367998967&sr=1-2&keywords=buddy+rich+snare+drum+rudiments
This is a book which I have owned for a prolonged period of time and I further gave Ryan the book to borrow to draw inspiration for some of the more rudimentary aspects of performance throughout the project. The book was recommended to me by my old drum teacher ‘Bernie Longford’, often considered a veteran of playing drums having experience in multiple genres of music including that of marine corp style drumming. Although I have owned this book for a long period of time, it has assisted in the development of both the 1st and 3rd progressions of the EP from a musical perspective. Additionally I was able to practice and develop upon new rudimentary techniques within the book which I had not previously looked at or considered. I was able to transfer these newly developed drumming techniques and apply them to the performances across the 4 pieces.
Mastering Audio: The art and science – By Bob Katz
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Audio-Science-Bob-Katz/dp/0240808371
Bob Katz is a renown mastering engineer within the audio industry. A majority of my research throughout the project did consist of focusing upon mastering elements as I feel that mastering audio tracks is my weakest element of production. Through reading sections of this book, I was able to view mastering from a new approach, as Katz analyses and describes the mastering process from a musical point of view rather than focusing upon only getting tracks to a commercially standard volume. With the combined effort of this book with the use of Ian Shepard’s advice in person and via the website, productionadvice.co.uk I was able to feel more confident in the approach to mastering 4 tracks on an EP with many sections and genres differing across the board.
Aaron Spears: Beyond The Chops: Groove, Musicality & Technique – By Arron Spears
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aaron-Spears-Beyond-Musicality-Technique/dp/B00304FLOI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367171794&sr=1-1&keywords=Aaron+spears
Myself and Ryan both used this source to inspire elements of drumming throughout the entire project. Arron Spears focuses upon playing r’n’b and hip hop genres, incorporating groove and funk into his element of drumming. Arron Spears has always been a strong influence and inspirational drummer of mine, therefore the DVD enabled me to learn and develop new styles of drumming and think of different drum progressions to used within the EP, different to that of what I am familiarized to playing.
Video Based Research – ( Unfortunately the videos are not embedding into the blog, please use on the links provided to watch.)
Throughout the duration of the project, various videos have assisted in the understanding and development of production knowledge of different musical genres. Furthermore, many online videos have assisted in giving musical inspiration towards the drum patterns and performance aspects within the 4 tracks. Included below are some of the main videos which gave the most influence and impact upon the progression of the tracks both from production and performance perspectives.
Theoretical Videos –
http://vimeo.com/42962767 – Influences by Steve Reich
This video was suggested by tutor Dave McSherry and provided different points of view and analysis for incorporating rhythms within music. This video provided a strong basis for myself and Ryan to develop elements and ideas towards each progression and approaches to the musical style of the drum EP.
Performance Videos –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmBklvDTnbQ – Marine Drum and Bugle Corps at Arlington Park
Inspiration from this video and those similar provided the basis towards the progression of the first track. By listening to snare rudiments performed within videos like the above and combining them with the rudiments in the Buddy Rich book, I was able to gain a familiar idea and understanding of how the first piece would develop and what rhythmical elements would be incorporated throughout.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQvGghCWVDc – Arron Spears: Performance at the modern drummer festival
This video proved to be a main influence of mine throughout sections of both the second and third progressions of the EP. By watching this performance I was able to gain an understanding of the stylisic feel and relaxed sense of groove within drumming sections involved with r’n’b and hip hop styles of music. I was further able to apply inspiration from some of the more up tempo fills and solo sections towards the third progression which incorparates a jungle styled drumming effect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US7c9ASVfNc – Stomp: Video Performance
The stomp musical group were the main inspiration for the progression and feel of the third piece of drumming within the EP. This performance in particular uses sounds with pots and pans replicating that of the very similar sounds and items used and tracked in the multitrack studio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-RMgvzCb_8 – DM1 – The Drum Machine for iPad – By Fingerlab
After discussion with Ryan to establish the fourth and final movement within the EP, this short but useful video gave me a practical view and insight into how the drum machine and loop section worked within this application on the iPad.
Production Videos –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMFq0c0Tu1I – Mastering in ‘Izotope Ozone 4’: Matching EQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANxjxQUPZjU – Mastering in ‘Izotope Ozone 4’: Multiband Exciter & Stereo Imaging
The two videos linked above are created by popular dance producer, DJ Vespers. These 2 videos introduced me to the idea of using reference tracks within mastering. The video explains techniques of matching EQ patters and frequencies to any other commercially released track of your choice. Furthermore the video introduced me to what stereo imagining and using a harmonic exciter can do to adding clarity and space to an overall mastered mix. Although these video’s demonstrate techniques in Ozone 4 mastering software, the same techniques can be applied to the updated version of software Ozone 5 which I own and frequently used within all of my cubase projects.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJJ84t1J54I&list=UURNZKbfxvdyFNYWrWNNf3AA&index=10 -Cubase 6 Tips: Quick and Easy Reference Bus
This video highlights the technique I used when mastering the 4 finished tracks in terms of cross referencing the before and after effects of plugins applied to the mastering chain. In addition to using a reference track, this process proved to be extremely helpful especially when cross referencing volume levels and outputs to ensure that all four tracks remained at a constant level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbVmGsl_rPE – Mastering with multiband compression – Extract
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgA1CiF9fHc – Mastering: How to make a song louder in mastering – and the price you pay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31zHqzjRn4c – LUFS – The new loudness units. What do they mean? How to read the new breed of loudness meters
All of the above links were used as a re-cap and development upon the knowledge learnt from Ian Shepherds mastering lecture and workshop based at the university. These video’s enabled me to understand the ways in which EQ is used to balance out and boost volume of tracks within mastering and furthermore the uses of compression and limiting appropriately to ensure that clarity and punch remains within a mix. Additionally the final video enabled the ability to gain an understanding of how to read frequency analyzers within audio and use dynamic range meters within a professional and effective manner.