Read how the song is processed here.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Snow-covered bamboo leaves – Processing The Song
The song is written based on a poem by Azly Rahman – Snow-covered bamboo leaves.
Before the process of song writing begun, The concept of the song is determined to accompany well with the poem. The first plan was to write a music of ambient slow blues genre BUT after testing things out, the bass and drums beats were a bit confusing so the genre is changed to Ambient Ballad. As the song is poetic, the main tonal frequencies between 400 – 1,000 Hz are preferred.
As writing any song can start from any part of the poem, the earlier melodies from the beginning was written This allows the vocal notes to be calculated. Once the notes are detected, melodies for the whole song were written.
After designing the song structure, the chord progressions were determined. Then, the musical arrangements were written using MIDI Programming.
After that, all the instrument were converted from midi files to waves. Then audio mixing was done.
Adobe audition 1.5 is used to record my singing. Then the vocal mixing was done.
After all the audio wave files were mixed, they were then panned accordingly and overall-mix.
Vocal Recording
Of course to record the singing I need a headphone to listen to the music, the microphone to record the singing and adobe Audition 1.5 …
Adobe Audition 1.5 > File > New > OK …
Snow-covered bamboo leaves – Audio Mixing
Once the MIDI files are converted to Waves files in MONO, audio mixing is done to all files.
Kick Bass – Refer to Mixing kick drum
Fretless Bass – Refer to Mixing bass
Snare – Refer to Mixing snare
Side Stick – Refer to Mixing snare
Rhodes Piano - High pass filter protecting the kick drum frequencies, then Band stop filter protecting the bass frequencies, then Compress syntheziser frequencies then Sound softerner.
Warm Pad – Refer to Mixing main harmonies
Synth Strings – Refer to Mixing main harmonies
Celesta - High pass filter protecting the kick drum frequencies, then Band stop filter protecting the bass frequencies, then Band stop filter protecting the snare frequencies, then Band stop filter protecting the vocal frequencies, then Compress syntheziser frequencies, then Sound softerner.
Vibra - High pass filter protecting the kick drum frequencies, then Band stop filter protecting the bass frequencies, then Band stop filter protecting the snare frequencies, then Band stop filter protecting the vocal frequencies, then Compress snare frequencies, then Sound softerner
Crash Cymbals – Refer to Mixing crash cymbal
Guitar Harmonics – No Mixing is done.
Converting MIDI to Waves
All MIDI files are converted to wave files via Sonar 6 Producer Edition …
File > Open MIDI File > Select MIDI Instrument to be converted …
THEN … Insert > Soft Synth > Cakewalk TTS-1 …
THEN …
File > Export > Audio …
Note that the waves are converted as 16-bit Mono NOT Stereo FOR AUDIO MIXING PURPOSES.
Snow-covered bamboo leaves – MIDI – Song Structure
The song is writen having 7 parts:
Part 1 – Introduction
Part 2 – To sing … Today I looked out of my window … to … Of the longest story ever told.
Part 3 – To sing … each snow fall become one … to … that will be concluded in white.
Part 4 – To sing … Today I looked out of my window … to … what a child’s dream is made of.
Part 5 – To sing … I saw a child barefoot … to … he is a child of nature.
Part 6 – To sing … He looked at me as I looked outside … to … not a frown he offered as a gift.
Part 7 – Ending with … in between the snowflakes … to … END.
Snow-covered bamboo leaves – MIDI – Musical Instruments
That I am just a mathematician and no musician, writing song is done via MIDI Programming. Musical instruments selected for this song are Fretless Bass, Rhodes Piano, Warm Pad, Synth Strings, Celesta, and Guitar Harmonics.
On Drums and Percussions: Kick Drum, Side Stick, Snare, Crash Cymbal, and Vibra.
Since my targeted main vocal range for this song is expected to range between 400 – 1,000 Hz, except for drums and percussions, I must arrange the rest of the instruments to play mainly play within the range.
On Fretless Bass – is the tonal part of the music. The bass is arranged to help me later on with my singing dictating the music. The notes are arranged to be between C#2 – D3.
On Rhodes Piano – is the harmonious part written for the introduction and the ending part of the song. The notes are arranged to have the idea of my vocal range and tone between G#4 – F#5. That the notes are within my vocal range, this is okay because vocals are not involved during the groove. As it is harmonious, it shows the chord progressions.
On Warm Pad – is the harmonious part written for during singing on for parts of the song. the main frequencies are targeted to be between 900 – 1,300 Hz. The notes are arranged between E5 – B5. As it is harmonious, it shows the chord progressions. The lower tone depicted by this instruments should provide some varieties to the music.
On Synth Strings - is the harmonious part written for during singing on for parts of the song. the main frequencies are targeted to be between 900 – 1,300 Hz. The notes are arranged between E5 – D6. As it is harmonious, it shows the chord progressions. The higher tone than the warm-pad should provide some varieties to the music.
Celesta – is written to provide both rhythm and harmony to the song. Hopefully, it gives some environmental effect and together with warm pad and synth strings, the combination give the ambient sound. Since the instrument is played not really to be harmonious, it is arranged through riffs. The notes are arranged between G#5 – F#6.
Guitar Harmonics – is the additional sound hopefully to assist celesta. The notes are arranged between G#6 – B6.
Drums and Percussions – To provide the beat and rhythm and major during transitions.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
My Audio Mixing – Overall Mix
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > DirectX > Sonitus: fx > Compressor:
THEN
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > DirectX > Sonitus: fx > Multiband:
My Audio Mixing – My Standard Panning
Kick Drum – Left -5
Bass – Right 5
Snare – Right 10
Side Stick – Right 10
Vocal - 0
Main Harmonies – Left and Right 100
Other Drums and Percussions – Between Left 40 and Right 40
Second Harmonies – Left and Right 50
Solos – 0
Crash Cymbal 1 – Left 30
Crash Cymbal 2 – Right 30
My Audio Mixing – Main Harmonies
My Audio Mixing – Vocal
Steps in audio mixing vocal:
High pass filter protecting the kick drum frequencies
Band stop filter protecting the bass frequencies
Band stop filter protecting the snare frequencies
Band stop filter protecting the vocal frequencies
Low pass filter protecting frequencies above 5000 Hz
Compress vocal frequencies
My Audio Mixing – Vocal Chorus Effects
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > Delay Effects > Chorus > 5 Voices (Pro)
My Audio Mixing – Vocal Pitch Correction
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > Time/Pitch > Pitch correction
My Audio Mixing – Vocal Noise Reduction
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > Noise Reduction > Capture noise reduction profile
Then
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > Noise Reduction > Capture noise reduction
My Audio Mixing – Filtering Vocal Hissing Frequencies
Adobe audition 1.5 > Effects > Filters > Scientific Filters > Low Pass:
My Audio Mixing – Multiband – Crash Cymbal
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > DirectX > Sonitus: fx > Multiband
My Audio Mixing – Compress – Vocal
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > DirectX > Sonitus: fx > Compressor:
My Audio Mixing – Compress – Kick Drum
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > DirectX > Sonitus: fx > Compressor:
My Audio Mixing – Compress - Synthesizer
My Audio Mixing – Compress - Synthesizer
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > DirectX > Sonitus: fx > Compressor:
My Audio Mixing – Compress - Bass
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > DirectX > Sonitus: fx > Compressor:
My Audio Mixing – Boosting Vocal Frequencies
I need to boost the vocal frequencies which are between 400 – 1,000 Hz:
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > DirectX > Sonitus: fx > Equalizer:
My Audio Mixing – Boosting Snare Frequencies
I need to boost the snare frequencies which are between 385 – 473 Hz:
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > DirectX > Sonitus: fx > Equalizer:
My Audio Mixing – Boosting Bass Frequencies
I need to boost the bass frequencies which are between 100 – 300 Hz:
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > DirectX > Sonitus: fx > Equalizer:
My Audio Mixing – Boosting Frequencies 900 – 1,300 Hz
I prefer the main harmonic frequencies to be around 900-1,300 Hz. Thus, these frequencies range are boosted: 
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effects > DirectX > Sonitus: fx > Equalizer:
Saturday, February 19, 2011
My Audio Mixing – Low Pass – Protecting Frequencies Above 5,000 Hz
Every time I do audio mixing, I protect the specialized high frequecies above 5,000 Hz. Those audio are know where these frequencies are not required are filtered.
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effect > Filters > Scientific Filters > Low Pass:
My Audio Mixing – Band Stop – Protecting Vocal Frequencies
Every time I do audio mixing, I protect the Vocal Frequencies which are between 400 to 1,000 Hz. Thus, most audios except the vocal are filtered.
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effect > Filters > Scientific Filters > Band Stop:
My Audio Mixing – Band Stop – Protecting Snare Frequencies
Every time I do audio mixing, I protect the Snare Frequencies which are between 387 to 473 Hz. Thus, most audios except the snare are filtered.
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effect > Filters > Scientific Filters > Band Stop:
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effect > Filters > Scientific Filters > Band Stop:
My Audio Mixing – Band Stop – Protecting Bass Frequencies
Every time I do audio mixing, I protect the Bass Frequencies which are between 100 to 300 Hz. Thus, most audios except the bass are filtered.
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effect > Filters > Scientific Filters > Band Stop:
My Audio Mixing – High Pass – Protecting Kick Bass Frequencies
Every time I do audio mixing, I protect the Kick Bass Frequencies which are between low to 100 Hz. Thus, most audios except the kick bass are filtered particularly other basses.
Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effect > Filters > Scientific Filters > High Pass:
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Snow-covered bamboo leaves – Musical Arrangements
Musical Arrangement is Key to Audio Mixing. My vocal range is expected to be between F3 and F#4. Thus, exceptional to Drums and Percussion, all other musical instruments are arranged to not having notes between the said range.
Next is Audio Mixing
The Musical Instruments are:
Fingered Bass – F2 – E3
Warm Pad – G4 – F#5
Synth Strings – F#5 – F6
Celesta – F#5 – F6
Marimba – F#5 – F6
Rhodes Piano – G4 – F#5
Drums and Percussions
Below are the Musical Arrangements (Bass and Rhythms)
Next is Audio Mixing
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Snow-covered bamboo leaves – Writing The Melodies
The melodies are written as below:
Now that I have the melodies, next is to determine the key scale which is A Major Scale.
That the key is A Major, the chords associated with this key is
A Major
B Minor
C Sharp Minor
D Major
E Major
F Sharp Minor
G Sharp Diminished
The Accidental Chords are
A Sharp Augmented
C Augmented
D Sharp Minor Augmented
F Augmented
G Major
Next is to do the Chord Progressions
Snow-covered bamboo leaves – The Vocal Notes
I like to write songs based on melodies. Melodies can be written from any part that come first – be it from verses or chorus or intro or ending or anything. For this poem, I decided to start at the beginning of the poem having some ideas on the beginning.
The Vocal Notes
Next is to start recording the singing with the melodies I had in mine. The idea is to capture the vocal notes anywhere from the melodies.
Picture below is the vocal frequencies captured by Adobe Audition 1.5 on the word Today.
The Frequency Analysis is showing two notes D3 and C#3 on the word “Today”.
Next is to write the melodies for the whole song in order to know what is the key scale for the song.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Snow-covered bamboo leaves – The Musical Genre
As previously mentioned regarding The Concept, the song has to be in fairly slow tempo so I am thinking of Slow Blues. However, since the music is derived from a poem, the Ambient sound should be there. So, I am thinking of a genre personally classified as Ambient Slow Blues.
The Melodies
First of all, the melodies have to align well with the words, verses, paragraphs and all. That currently we both have no choice but I am to to the singing, hopefully my voice is going to be tonal centered. My singing is the melodies. I think, this is where the Ambient Slow Blues has the advantage. Knowing that I have no ability singing the dynamic blues ranges, the genre allows flexibilities.
The Harmonies
There shall be no surprises whatsoever. However, the song is a bit unstructured as the poem is written in such way.
The smooth synthesizers sound should be the base for the chord progressions (2 or 4 notes chord playing) with some suitable sound-effect.
I am thinking of some riffs celestial percussions playing according to the chords. Hopefully both synth and percussions project well the intended ambient sound.
The Rhythms
It is going to be a typical fingered electric bass and drums and percussions jazzy blues thing.
The Dynamics
The key to the dynamics of this song should be smooth playing. It has to be as smooth as possible.
The Timbres
I have not figured out the EQ just yet. Hope the selected musical instruments will yield nice and suitable sound.
Snow-covered bamboo leaves – The Concept
Without doubt, the poem, ”Snow-covered bamboo leaves” by Azly Rahman is both expressive and communicative. I personally believe, the poem is not meant to be easily understood. As usual, Azly Rahman loves letting us all to do the thinking.
So the main focus here is to give the suitable melodies to the words. With the environment of snow falling, the tempo has to be fairly slow. Hope that will align well with what Azly Rahman is trying to express.
So how the song and the music going to accompany the poem?
Project Illuminations should start taking a step forward. The words required singing. I think the poem is 20% attitudinal, 45% situational and 35% a story. Though Azly Rahman has repeatedly mentioned the words “story”, I have the feeling that it is more than just a story. The poem is a projection of 60% specific feeling, 40% specific thought and 0% specific action. Hopefully, the singing won’t kill the entire mood and I must admit that this is going to be the biggest problem of the whole anatomy.
As usual, the target is our friends listed on our facebook pages and surely we both don’t mind it be shared.
Snow-covered bamboo leaves – The Poem
"Snow-covered bamboo leaves"
by Azly Rahman
Today I looked out of my window. The world was white.
As white as the snow: falling and falling as if each snowflake must become
A postscript.
Of the longest story ever told.
Each snow fall become one amongst millions and billions.
Of snowfalkes that will become a blanket of whiteness
That will be weaved like an endless design of a carpet of a story.
Again, postscripts of a life that will be concluded in white.
Today I looked out of my window. I saw not a single snowflake.
The world was not white.
Leaves from those bamboo trees fall: falling as if each must
Become what a child’s dream is made of.
I saw a child barefoot
Playing with a blowpipe he made out of the postscript of his future.
Running, laughing.
Away from his sorrows I suppose.
He is a child of Nature.
He looked at me as I looked outside of my window.
We locked eyes.
I saw snowflakes.
I did not know what he saw. From amongst the bamboo trees his eyes pierced into mine.
He disappeared.
Not a smile.
Not a frown
he offered as a gift.
In between the snowflakes and the bamboo leaves lie our story weaved.
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