NCFE Unit 1

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Unit 01 Set up and operate audio /

MIDI sequencing software

Name _________________________

Tutor Group ____________________

Assignment Content:

Task: Narrated Soundscape Design

Assessment Criteria - 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7

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Unit 01 Set up and operate audio/MIDI sequencing software

What youve done to show this Portfolio

page

number

Additional

links to

evidence

IM/EM signature if

sampled

You will: Be able to set up a software based audio/MIDI sequencing system

You can:

1.1 Select and launch

appropriate sequencing

software

1.2 Connect peripheral MIDI

hardware to a computer

using appropriate interfaces

1.3 Connect audio sources to a

computer using appropriate

interfaces

1.4 Configure software

preferences to correctly

route MIDI inputs and

outputs

1.5 Configure software

preferences to correctly

route audio inputs and

outputs

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Unit 01 Set up and operate audio/MIDI sequencing software

You will: Be able to operate a software based audio/MIDI sequencing system

You can:

2.1 Create new sequencing

projects

2.2 Add and delete sequencer

tracks

2.3 Describe the key differences

between audio and MIDI

tracks

2.4 Load pre-recorded audio

onto audio tracks

2.5 Record new audio onto

audio tracks from external

sources

2.6 Select instruments/voices for

MIDI tracks

2.7 Record MIDI information to

MIDI tracks using a MIDI

controller

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Narrated Soundscape Project

Objective:

To create a recording that combines some music or sound effects with spoken

recorded audio and some aspects of MIDI performance.

Background:

In a world of fast moving deadlines it is commonplace for media projects to feature

some pre-recorded material, some MIDI information, and some new recordings in a

variety of combinations in order to deliver the work on time and on budget.

In this project you will combine a pre-existing audio bed (which could either be a

sound effects bed such as the Bridge of the USS Enterprise, or a musical bed such as

Adagio for Strings) with a brand-newly recorded spoken audio reading of a poem.

You will then add some sound effects which are triggered through the MIDI controller.

Tips:

All video tutorials and files for this unit are available on the Frog VLE

Subjects / Expressive Arts / Music Technology / NCFE Music Technology / Unit 01:

Set up and operate audio/MIDI sequencing software

For each part of this unit there are three resources that you will need to use in

conjunction with each other:

1. This work booklet must be kept up to date as you complete the work,

recording all evidence on pages 2 and 3.

2. The evidence PowerPoint which can be downloaded from the VLE. When the

unit is complete you will need to print the pages marked with this symbol:

3. The video tutorials and other resources are available on the Frog VLE.

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Process:

1. Log in to your user profile and also log into the Coombeshead Academy VLE.

(tick when complete)

2. Navigate to Subjects / Expressive Arts / Music Technology / NCFE Music

Technology / Tutorial Videos then load the Frog webpage called 01. Course

Setup and watch the tutorial video. Then set up your H:\ drive folder structure

to match that shown on the video.

3. Watch the tutorial video called 02. Setting Up A Project and load the software

depending on which room you are in. If you are in A8 then you need to load

Cubase 7:

Start > All Programs > Curriculum Areas > Music > Cubase 7

If you are in IT4 then you need to load Mixcraft 6:

Start > All Programs > Curriculum Areas > Music > Mixcraft 6

[Whilst navigating the Start Menu, take a screenshot / print screen of the

menu navigation and add it to slide 5 of your evidence PowerPoint] (1.1)

4. Carefully place an M-Audio Keystudio MIDI keyboard on the desk next to your

computer and connect the USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable to the keyboard

and the computer [take a photograph of this connection and add it to slide 3

of your evidence PowerPoint]. (1.2)

5. On the following page, draw cable diagrams to show how you would connect

three different MIDI devices to a computer. (1.2)

6. On the page after that, draw cable diagrams to show how you would connect

audio instruments such as a bass guitar or a microphone to a computer

through an USB audio interface. (1.3)

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7. With your DAW (digital audio workstation) software loaded, first watch the

tutorial video 03. MIDI Setup and Recording then adjust your settings so that you

can hear in your headphones if you press a key on the keyboard

[Whilst adjusting your MIDI settings, take a screenshot / print screen of the


8. Watch the tutorial video 04. Audio Setup and Recording then adjust your

settings so that you can hear any audio file (samples, loops, previews) in your

headphones.

[Whilst adjusting your audio settings, take a screenshot / print screen of the


9. Watch the video tutorial 01. Course Setup and create a new project file as per

the demonstration. Save the project as [Student name Unit 01].

[Whilst adjusting your audio settings, take a screenshot / print screen of

the menu navigation and add it to slide 11 of your evidence PowerPoint] (2.1)

10. As per the 01. Course Setup video tutorial, add two new audio tracks (1 stereo

and 1 mono if applicable) to your project file.

[After adding your audio tracks, take a screenshot / print screen of the


11. Answer the question below:

What are the key differences between an audio track and a MIDI track?

(2.3)

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12. Navigate to the VLE folder

Subjects / Expressive Arts / Music Technology / NCFE Music

Technology / Unit 01: Set up and operate audio/MIDI sequencing software

/ Audio files to import

and download a suitable audio file to serve as a background bed for your

recording. Remember that having the sound of a low bass rumble in the

background will produce a very different mood in your final piece to a quiet

piece of piano music so choose carefully. Save your audio file into the Unit 01

folder on your H:\ drive.

13. Watch the tutorial video 05. Importing Pre-existing Audio Files then import your

downloaded background sound into your project.

[After importing your audio file, take a screenshot / print screen of the

project window and add it to slide 15 of your evidence PowerPoint] (2.4)

14. Watch the tutorial video 04. Audio Setup and Recording then connect the

microphone to the computer as per point 1.3 above.

15. Record into the empty audio track a spoken voice over, using the poem shown

below. Make sure that the levels of volume are not too high/low.

[After recording your audio file, take a screenshot / print screen of the

project window with the recorded waveform visible and add it to slide 17 of

your evidence PowerPoint] (2.5)

The waves quietly lapped onto the shore. High above, birds

were singing as a new day dawned. As a man walked down

the beach, his breath frosted in the cool air, and he looked

around at the calm scene around him and smiled.

Suddenly, a loud gunshot broke the stillness. The man folded

like a house of cards; his ears pounding with the sound of his

own heartbeat. In the distance he heard a helicopter coming

closer as he started to drift away. As he lost more of himself,

he faintly heard his telephone ringing but would never again

be able to speak...

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16. Watch the tutorial video 02. Setting Up A Project then add between 5 10

Virtual Instrument channels to your project file.

[After adding your MIDI tracks, take a screenshot / print screen of the


17. Read / listen to the poem again. There are some highlighted key words that

also feature as general MIDI (GM) sounds see GM table below. Watch the

tutorial 03. MIDI Setup and Recording and assign either suitable GM sounds to

some of your MIDI channels, or add appropriate sound effects instruments.

[After adding your MIDI tracks, take a screenshot / print screen of the


18. When the highlighted word is said in the recorded audio track, record a sound

using the MIDI keyboard which goes with it. An exemplar track is on the VLE. Do

this for each of the highlighted words (pay particular attention to the volume

level of each sound).

[After recording your MIDI tracks, take a screenshot / print screen of the

project window and add it to slide 23 your evidence PowerPoint] (2.7)

19. Watch the video 06. Mixing and Exporting Final Projects then check that the

final mix between all tracks is balanced and has a sense of unity.

20. Save your work to your H:\ drive as a project file and export your final mixdown

as an .mp3 file.

21. Ensure that all parts of this booklet are completed and signed off by your

teacher(s) which includes the process sheets and evaluation questions. Print all

of the slides from your evidence PowerPoint which contain the symbol below.

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Recording + Producing Process:

In your log sheets ensure you write down all the details concerning your recording process.

In this section below you need to attach any images / screen-prints which are necessary to

evidence the process you have gone through to achieve your final mix.

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Evaluation

Answer the questions below:

1. How effective is your final mix?

2. Did everything go to plan?

3. Did you have enough time to produce your recording?

4. What problems occurred during this task?

5. What did you do to overcome these problems?

6. What improvements could you make if you were to do this unit again?

7. Which part of your final mix is particularly satisfying?

NCFE Unit 1

Documents

Transcript of NCFE Unit 1