Unit 2 Research techniques

Album name: Fallen

Producer: Dave Fortman

Artist: Evanescence

Year/date:  23/2/2004

Genre: Rock, metal

Wikipedia. 2016. Fallen (Evanescence album). [ONLINE] Available at:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallen_(Evanescence_album). [Accessed 23 September 2016]

Why was it revolutionary?

It introduced people into a type of rock/metal. Their style includes some orchestral instruments, which makes their style of music differ to your standard rock/metal. Also, they have composed a lot of songs with just Amy Lee and her piano playing, especially with their song Hello. Their use of orchestral instruments was mainly used in their song ‘My Immortal’, which one version consisted piano and a string quartet. The other version of the song was a band version. Their music connected with a lot of people with their lyrics helping people get through hard times. For example: the songs Hello (which is the only song that Amy has not performed live) and My immortal are about loss and the song Going under (which can interpreted in many ways) can be about a break up or depression.

How was it created?

It was first created as 3 EP’s and one demo CD. This album took 8 years to compose. Each instrument was created at different times and for some at different places. The drum tracks were recorded at Ocean Studios. A drummer helped Evanescence by playing on selected songs to some click of some stereo guitars and vocals. Fortman said that for the rest of the drums, he used a D112 microphone on the inside of the kick drum, a U47 microphone on the outside and an NS10 speaker as an outside microphone. He used at least 414 microphones on the ride and hit-hat cymbals. He did a lot to record the drums to get it sound right the songs and album.

The guitars were cut at Mad Dog Studios in Burbank. Amy Lee’s (the lead singer) vocals and piano playing were recorded ar NRG Recording studios, as well as the Millennium Choir. All of their orchestral parts were arranged by 2 men named David Hodges and David Campbell, except for the song ‘My immortal’ which was arranged by Graeme Revell. The album was mixed for over a 2 week period at Conway Recording Studios in North Hollywood.

What were the effects that were used?

They haven’t used a lot of effects in their songs however some of their songs might have used guitar pedals to make their guitars sound distorted. You can hear this in their song ‘Whisper’.

Album name: The Marshall Mathers LP

Producer: Various

Artist: Eminem

Year/date: 2000

Genre: Rap

Dimery, RD, 2011. 1001 ALBUMS YOU MUST HEAR BEFORE YOU DIE. 7th ed. City Road, London: Tristan De Lancey

Wikipedia. 2016. The Marshall Mathers LP. [ONLINE] Available at:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marshall_Mathers_LP. [Accessed 23 September 2016]

Why was it revolutionary?

Eminem made a difference to rap music. He started to use stronger words making rap music sound more aggressive than it actually is. Such words like this include “bitch’ and ‘bleed’. These words were used in his song ‘Kim’ where he shouts ‘Now bleed! Bitch bleed!’

How was it created?

This album was created within 2 months and each session was 20h long in the studio. This made Eminem a ‘studio rat’. Dr. Dre came up with music and lyrics and Eminem just had to record the song.

What were the effects that were used?

Eminem had the help of Dr. Dre (who help Eminem to start off his career) to help him with effects. The effects that were used in this album were some standard sound effects, sparkling liquid bass lines and some stuttering pop rhythms.

Album name: Abbey Road

Producer:  George Martin

Artist: Beatles

Year/date: 1969

Genre: Rock

Dimery, RD, 2011. 1001 ALBUMS YOU MUST HEAR BEFORE YOU DIE. 7th ed. City Road, London: Tristan De Lancey

Wikipedia. 2016. Abbey Road. [ONLINE] Available at:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Road#Composition_and_recording. [Accessed 23 September 2016]

Why was it revolutionary?

The Beatles changed music since they started. This one made a change because both Paul and John wrote the lyrics for a lot of their songs made the fans go wild. The sweetest song that they never wrote was called ‘Here comes the sun’, however they contribute in ‘Something’ which was considered to be awe-inspiring. But what makes their album Abbey Road an essential was the amazing commentary of Paul and John.

How was it created?

The first session for Abbey Road began on 22^nd February 1969. With their song ‘I want you (she’s so heavy)’ they all recorded to a backing track with Bill Preston to accompany them on a Hammond organ. One the 6^th of May, the group took an 8 week break before recommencing on the 2^nd of July. They recorded throughout July and August for the last backing track for ‘Because’, with it being taped on the 1^st of August.

What were the effects that were used?

There wasn’t a lot off effect to be used since they weren’t widely used or even considered at that time so instruments were the only thing to make some form of effects. They did make some highlights of certain instruments; such as they did in their song ‘I want you (she’s so heavy)’ is highlighted by Paul McCartney’s bass playing.

Setting up equipment and a recording studio, effects and microphones

Setting up equipment for a live performance

Equipment

·       Yamaha EMX 5016 CF mixing desk

·       Power amp

o   ASX 18 dB for the mixing desk

o   T.amp A1400 for the main speaker

o   T.amp A 2400 for the sub speakers

·       Sub speakers (dB)

·       Main speakers (dB)

·       Support pillars

·       XLR cables

·       Speakon pillars

·       Jack cables

·       Masking tapes

·       Power leads

·       Shure SM58 microphone

Process

1.  First we take the boxes apart for the mixing desk and the amps. Making sure that the lids are out of the way to reduce any risks

2.  Move the mixing desk into place and lock the wheels in place to prevent it from moving and knocking something over.

3.  Get 2 people to lift the base bines into a stereo position. Making sure that the people lifting the base bins life from their knees and not from their back to prevent injury.

4.  After moving the base bins into position, we added the pillars to the base bins and also added the main speakers to the base bins by placing them on top of the pillars.

5.  We check to make sure that everything is secure and stable so nothing can fall over and break something or someone.

6.  Next is to connect the speakon cable to power supply underneath the mixing desk. Also to make sure that both ends are clicked in place and that the cable ends are in the right socket.

7.  Tape any loose cables to the floor to prevent a tripping hazard.

8.  Next is to connect the jack leads to the mixing desk and to plug all of the mains in.

9.  Before turning everything on, make sure that everything on the mixing desk is flat lined otherwise you will receive some unwanted sounds coming from the desk.

10.              Add the microphone to the desk, turn on the desk and speakers and start testing.

11.              Any problems, change any cables just in case one is broken and check that everything is plugged in and is plugged in the right place.

Risk assessment

Risk	Why	How to overcome that risk
Box lids	Tripping hazard	By moving them out of the way such as resting them on a corner or on a wall
Cables/wires	Tripping hazard, broken wires and electrocution	Duck taping the wires to the floor and removing any broken wires, putting them a table, putting them in a box or putting them in the bin. Also make sure that no water is able to spill over the wires
Heavy objects	Can cause back pain	The heavy objects would require 2 people to life and they would need to pick them up using their legs and not their backs and upper body strength to prevent injury
Feedback	Can affect someone’s hearing and can damage the equipment	Make sure that everything on the mixing desk is turned all the way down and that the microphone isn’t in front of the speakers because the sound will loop and get louder
Plug sockets	Risk of electrocution	Make sure that no water is able to spill on it and to make sure that all plug sockets that are going be used are turned off first before using them
Boxes with wheels	Can roll and hit someone or knock something	Lock the wheels in place when you are happy with where it is
Unwanted noises	Can effect someone’s hearing and damaging the equipment	Make sure that entire desk is flat lined before adding power to the mixing desk
Noise levels	Social laws	Due to social laws you can’t go over 120dB. To prevent this you should check the noise level that is being outputted through out the speakers being used and to also use the sound sensibly

Using microphones and their effects

Different types

·        Dynamic

o   Diaphragm is attached to a coil

o   When sound waves touch the diaphragm, the diaphragm vibrates

o   This causes the coil to move on a magnet, producing electricity

o   The current is then channelled from the microphone and along the wires

o   It’s fairly sturdy

·        Condenser/capacitor

o   Has 2 plates: front diaphragm plate and a back plate

o   They are made of a light material which makes them more delicate

o   When the diaphragm vibrates, the distance between the plates changes

o   This also changes the capacitance

o   The closer the plates, the increase of the capacitance and a charge of current occurs

o   The further away, a discharge current occurs

o   Voltage for this microphone is required

o   A battery is used to supply this voltage in the battery or by external phantom power

Effects

Equalisation (EQ)

The equalisation is the pitch of a sound or the frequency. It is measured hertz and in wavelengths per second. Sound for this is measured in decibels.

Reverb

There are different parts to reverb: Reverb time, Size and Mix. The reverb time makes the audio sound longer like if you were in a large room. Its helps to stimulate the size of the room and this is where Size comes in, it does as it says, it changes the size of the room that it sounds like you are in. the Mix effects the sound so you can make the audio sound dry and dead or you can make it sound like it has more life in it.

Compression

Compression narrows the dynamic range within a threshold.

Noise gate

A noise gate is similar to a compressor however the difference is that it won’t allow certain noises to pass through, so what this does is prevent noises that you don’t want to hear, for example: lip smacking when they are singing or talking, right down to the point to when you can’t hear it.

How to set up a recording studio

1.   Turn on the computer and log on

2.   Load up Cubase 7 NOT 6!! (This can be located in applications)

3.   Anything that pops onto the screen, cancel them

4.   Once Cubase 7 is up find file and click on new project

5.   Select empty on the right tab

6.   Make sure that the following is set up

a.   Devices – device set up. Make sure that the audio driver is connected to Onyx Firewire

b.   Devices – VST connections. The inputs and outputs should be on Onyx.

7.   Find project and add track. (Add as many mono tracks as you want)

8.   Change the inputs for each track. To do this, use the bar on the right, which should say mono. Each of these inputs should respond to the input on the desk.

9.   To test the audio coming through, click monitor on the track (It should look like a little speaker icon).