MTEC-310

Lab Projects #4 & #5


Genre Music Projects


Synopsis:

Use Reason to create "song-length" pieces for inclusion in the department showcase and your portfolio.


Abstract:

You will create two pieces.

One piece will be in a "Dance" music style, where the primary subdivisions of the beat will be sixteenth-notes. Music of this type is primarily uptempo, generally between 128 and 170 beats per minute.

In composing this piece, you may choose from a number of musical genres, including:

  • House Music
  • Trance
  • Techno
  • Drum'n Bass (aka "Jungle")

The second piece will be in a "Rock" music style, where the primary subdivisions of the beat will be eighth-notes. Music of this type is primarily slow to mid-tempo, generally between 75 and 120 beats per minute, though it can go faster.

In composing this piece, you may choose from a number of musical genres, including:

  • Electro-Pop
  • Hip Hop
  • Trip-Hop/Chill
  • Reggae/Dub
  • Rock'n Roll

Project Requirements:

There are no hard and set rules about what kinds of music you may submit, but here are some guidelines to help you:

  • All submissions must be "song length." This is generally between 2–5 minutes.
  • You may submit more than two pieces.
  • Instrumental music is acceptable, however, music with vocals or other recorded instruments will receive extra points.
  • Use a standard song form, such as Verse, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Bridge, Chorus, Chorus.
  • Don't forget to include an Introduction and an Ending (or fadeout).
  • In your dance piece, include a breakdown section.
  • In your Rock piece, include a solo section.
  • You must use Reason software as the platform.
  • Wherever possible, incorporate some of the Reason and general MIDI programming techniques we've discussed in class, such as pattern-based sequencing using the Matrix and ReDrum, splitting audio signals with the Spider, and MIDI automation.
  • Craft your mix:
    • Use Equalization and Time-based effects (Reverb, Chorus, Delay) on individual sounds as needed.
    • Use the Mastering Combinator for overall tonal and dynamic shaping.
  • Don't sweat the small details—"Good enough" is good enough!

Authoring:

To author your music, convert your Reason files to WAV-format audio files. You may want to fade out your song instead of writing a "hard" ending. To do this, right-click on the mixer and using the contextual menu to create a sequencer track and then assign it to the mixer. Now edit the mixer track and show the Master Fader in an automation lane. Use pencil tool to draw the master fade or record a master fadeout.

When you are happy with the fade, set up your "E" marker at end of your song, just past where the master fade ends. From the File Menu, select Export Song as Audio File. Set the file to be a 24-bit WAV format file, title it and save it to your student hard drive folder.


Submission:

Please submit the mix to me as a stereo WAV-format file by putting it in the appropriate drop box on our course server.

Due Date: November 26th, 2008