Introducing Samsara

This year Project Illuminations has got to be progressive. Last year, it was the poems in texts and the music supporting the poems. This year we want to add more elements in our presentations where besides poems and texts and music, poem reading and singing should be included. However, we encountered this problem where I can’t really sing and and poem reading is even worse, so we had no choice but to look for singers and poem readers.

Project Illuminations is very fortunate to have Samsara as a new member. Preferably as an anonymous, she is very essential in helping out for the improvements.

In future presentations, Samsara is the main vocal of the pieces.

Project Illuminations is Words by Azly Rahman, Song and Music by Fakhri and Vocals by Samsara.

My Audio Mixing – Closed Hi Hat

I consider Closed Hi Hat as part of the cymbal-like instrument. The frequencies spectrum does not overlap much with the bass and anything between 40 Hz to 100 Hz and 300 Hz to 600 Hz.

The main frequencies for Closed Hi Hat are detected to be between 3680 Hz – 3880 Hz.

Steps taken to mix Closed Hi Hat:

1. Boost the frequencies between 3680 Hz to 3880 Hz:

Adobe Audition > Effect > Filters > Parametric Equalizer:


2. Compress Cymbal-like Frequencies

My Audio Mixing – Crash 2 Cymbal

I consider Crash 2 Cymbal as part of the cymbal-like instrument. The frequencies spectrum does not overlap much with the bass and anything between 40 Hz to 100 Hz and 300 Hz to 600 Hz.

The main frequencies for Crash 2 Cymbal are detected to be between 2650 Hz – 2650 Hz.

Steps taken to mix Crash 2 Cymbal:

1. Boost the frequencies between 2650 Hz to 2650 Hz:

Adobe Audition > Effect > Filters > Parametric Equalizer:


2. Compress Cymbal-like Frequencies

My Audio Mixing – Crash 1 Cymbal

I consider Crash 1 Cymbal as part of the cymbal-like instrument. The frequencies spectrum does not overlap much with the bass and anything between 40 Hz to 100 Hz and 300 Hz to 600 Hz.

The main frequencies for Crash 1 Cymbal are detected to be between 3250 Hz – 3450 Hz.

Steps taken to mix Crash 1 Cymbal:

1. Boost the frequencies between 3250 Hz to 3450 Hz:

Adobe Audition > Effect > Filters > Parametric Equalizer:


2. Compress Cymbal-like Frequencies

My Audio Mixing – Chinese Cymbal

I consider Chinese Cymbal as part of the cymbal-like instrument. The frequencies spectrum does not overlap much with the bass and anything between 40 Hz to 100 Hz and 300 Hz to 600 Hz.

The main frequencies for Chinese Cymbal are detected to be between 2220 Hz – 2420 Hz.

Steps taken to mix Chinese Cymbal:

1. Boost the frequencies between 2220 Hz to 2420 Hz:

Adobe Audition > Effect > Filters > Parametric Equalizer:


2. Compress Cymbal-like Frequencies

My Audio Mixing – Splash

I consider splash as part of the cymbal-like instrument. The frequencies spectrum does not overlap much with the bass and anything between 40 Hz to 100 Hz and 300 Hz to 600 Hz.

The main frequencies for Splash are detected to be between 3470 Hz – 3670 Hz.

Steps taken to mix Splash:

1. Boost the frequencies between 3470 Hz to 3670 Hz:

Adobe Audition > Effect > Filters > Parametric Equalizer:


2. Compress Cymbal-like Frequencies

My Audio Mixing – Compressing Cymbal-Like Frequencies

I must admit that more researches should be done on how to compress the drums instruments that somewhat cymbals hits. Meantime, to compress frequencies of the cymbals hits – crash cymbals, hit hats, splash:

Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effect > DirectX > Sonitus:fx > Compressor:

My Audio Mixing – Vibra Slaps

Vibra Slaps is part of Drums and Percussions. The frequencies spectrum does not overlap much with the bass and anything between 40 Hz to 100 Hz and 300 Hz to 600 Hz.

The main frequencies for vibra slaps are detected to be between 890 Hz – 1090 Hz.

This one is a bit tricky. The frequencies overlap with the targeted main frequencies between 600 Hz to 1000 Hz. The best way to deal with this is to arrange vibra slaps not to coincide with the vocal frequencies.

Steps taken to mix Vibra Slaps:

1. Boost the frequencies between 890 Hz to 1090 Hz:

Adobe Audition > Effect > Filters > Parametric Equalizer:


2. Compress Drum-snare like

My Audio Mixing – Low Wood Block

Low Wood Block is part of Drums and Percussions. The frequencies spectrum does not overlap much with the bass and anything between 40 Hz to 100 Hz and 300 Hz to 600 Hz.

The main frequencies for low wood block are detected to be between 1280 Hz – 1480 Hz.

Steps taken to mix Low Wood Block:

1. Protect the vocal frequencies between 600 Hz to 1000 Hz.
2. Boost the frequencies between 1280 Hz to 1480 Hz:

Adobe Audition > Effect > Filters > Parametric Equalizer:


3. Compress Drum-snare like

My Audio Mixing – High Wood Block

High Wood Block is part of Drums and Percussions. The frequencies spectrum does not overlap much with the bass and anything between 40 Hz to 100 Hz and 300 Hz to 600 Hz.

The main frequencies for high wood block are detected to be between 1600 Hz – 1800 Hz.

Steps taken to mix High Wood Block:

1. Protect the vocal frequencies between 600 Hz to 1000 Hz
2. Boost the frequencies between 1600 Hz to 1800 Hz:

Adobe Audition > Effect > Filters > Parametric Equalizer:


3. Compress Drum-snare like

My Audio Mixing – Claves

Claves is part of Drums and Percussions. The frequencies spectrum does not overlap much with the bass and anything between 40 Hz to 100 Hz and 300 Hz to 600 Hz.

The main frequencies for claves are detected to be between 2130 Hz – 2330 Hz.

Steps taken to mix Claves:

1. Protect the vocal frequencies between 600 Hz to 1000 Hz
2. Boost the frequencies between 2130 Hz to 2330 Hz:

Adobe Audition > Effect > Filters > Parametric Equalizer:


3. Compress Drum-snare like

My Audio Mixing – Compressing Drums Snare-Like

I must admit that more researches should be done on how to compress the drums instruments that somewhat similar to snare. Meantime, to compress frequencies of the snare-like – claves, high wood block, low wood block, etc, I compress them as how I do to snare:

Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effect > DirectX > Sonitus:fx > Compressor:

My Audio Mixing – Protecting Frequencies between 600 Hz to 1000 Hz

As more and more musical instruments are being introduced, I have no choice but to narrow the main vocal frequencies from 400 Hz to 1000 Hz to only 600 Hz to 1000 Hz. Thus these frequencies need to be protected:

Adobe Audition 1.5 > Effect > Filters > Scientific Filters:

Free M4a to MP3 Converter

I downloaded a Free M4a to MP3 Converter here:

http://www.maniactools.com/soft/m4a-to-mp3-converter/?ref=m4a-home&version=6.2&b=6202

Mao of Love: Preamble – The Musical Arrangement – The Poem Reading Part

Below are the Musical Arrangements for the poem reading part where the bird tweet is not included:

Mao of Love: Preamble – The Musical Arrangement – The Transition Part

Below are the Musical Arrangements for the transition part:

Mao of Love: Preamble – The Musical Arrangement – The Singing Part

Below are the Musical Arrangements for the singing part where drums and percussions are not included:

Mao of Love: Preamble – The Musical Instruments

Project Illuminations is making a progressive move. Thus far, we have poems presented in music videos with texts, some graphical displays and accompanied music but the latest piece is represented with added singing. Mao of Love: Preamble is going to be presented by additional element – Poem Reading.

Also, Project Illuminations has an added member – XXXXX. (to be updated). She is adding the niche to the project through her vocals – singing and poem reading.

The musical arrangement for Mao of Love: Preamble is divided into 3 parts:

a) The Singing Part
b) The Transition Part
c) The Poem Reading Part.

The key vocal ranges for both the singing and poem reading is expected to be between 600 Hz to 1000 Hz.

The Musical Instruments and their targeted main frequencies for The Singing Part are:

Kick Bass (40 Hz – 100 Hz)
Acoustic Bass (100 Hz – 300 Hz)
Synth Bass (100 Hz – 300 Hz)
Harpsichord (300 Hz – 600 Hz)
Shamisen (300 Hz – 600 Hz)
Shamisen (300 Hz – 600 Hz)
Koto (1000 Hz – 2000 Hz)
Electric Guitar – Clean (300 Hz – 600 Hz)
FX Rain (300 Hz – 600 Hz) and (1000 Hz – 2000 Hz)
String Ensemble 1(1000 Hz – 2000 Hz)
Synth String 2 (1000 Hz – 2000 Hz)
Pedal Hit (1000 Hz – 2000 Hz)
Claves (2130 Hz – 2330 Hz)
High Wood Block (1600 Hz – 1800 Hz)
Low Wood Block (1270 Hz – 1470 Hz)
Vibra Slap (890 Hz – 1090 Hz)
Chinese Cymbal (2220 Hz – 2420 Hz)
Splash Cymbal (3470 Hz – 4670 Hz)
Crash Cymbal 1 (3250 Hz – 3450 Hz)
Crash Cymbal 2 (2650 Hz – 2850 Hz)
Closed Hit Hat (3680 Hz – 3880 Hz)

The Musical Instruments and their targeted main frequencies for The Transition Part are:

Acoustic Bass (100 Hz – 300 Hz)
String Ensemble 2 (1000 Hz – 2000 Hz)
Synth String 2 (1000 Hz – 2000 Hz)
Grand Acoustic Piano (Various but the bass and the vocal frequencies are cut)

The Musical Instruments and their targeted main frequencies for The Poem Reading Part are:

Acoustic Bass (100 Hz – 300 Hz)
String Ensemble 2 (1000 Hz – 2000 Hz)
Grand Acoustic Piano (Various but the bass and the vocal frequencies are cut)
Bird Tweet (above 2000 Hz)

Mao of Love: Preamble – The Chord Progressions

Above are the chord progressions.

The temp is at 96 BPM.

The chords used are C#m, Bm, E, F#m, A, Faug, D, G#dim, and Caug.

Next is to do the Musical Arrangements.

Mao of Love: Preamble – The Melodies

The melodies are written as above. Unfortunately, the poem is too long to be catered by melodies so I thought the singing part has to stop at the verse … As what dreams give me: benefit of the doubt.

The rest of the poem should be done in Poem Reading Mode. I hope to do it intuitively. I hope that’s going to be cool.

Just like Snow-covered bamboo leaves, the key scale is A Major.

Next is to write the chord progressions.

Mao of Love: Preamble – The Vocal Notes

As I prefer to write songs based on melodies, I need to have some melodies which I just had which is the beginning of the poem. Next is to capture the vocal notes.

Picture above is the vocal frequencies captured by Adobe Audition 1.5 on the word “I had a dream”.

The Frequency Analysis is showing the notes starts with C#3 and B3 for ‘I had’.

Next is to write the melodies for the whole song in order to know what is the key scale for the song.

Mao of Love: Preamble – The Musical Genre

As previously mentioned regarding The Concept, the tempo of the song has to be flexible enough to cater the length. It is going to be a very lengthy song for sure as it is derived from a lengthy poem. It is the length that is going to be the most challenging phase in the songwriting process later on.

Anyway, as the poem has this Chinese elements, the song must be somewhat Chinese both in melodies and instruments selections.

The vocal genre hopefully is Chinese Folk and Ballad.

The Melodies

I am going to have a lot of fun writing Chinese melodies. To me, Chinese melodies can be very dynamic and flexible to play with. So however complex the words written, the melodies should have the ability to say the words.

As Project Illuminations is yet to have a better singer, I still am going to sing, the singing is going to be the melodies.

The Harmonies

I am not sure whether there shall be some elements of surprises or not, I however have this feeling that there will be changes of tones played throughout the song. It is going to be lengthy so I cannot just write a song with almost the same instruments play. To avoid boredom is a must.

Okay, I have not yet decided on what instruments to act as the harmonies. I am thinking of some riff play of somewhat Chinese musical instruments.

The Rhythms

I have decided that the acoustic bass is going to play the bass and yet to write the Chinese drums and percussions play.

The Dynamics

The key to the dynamics of this song should be the tone changes. Also, I hope to do well in a wider vocal range.

The Timbres

I have not fingered out the EQ just yet. Hope the selected musical instruments will yield nice and suitable sound.

Mao of Love: Preamble – The Concept

Without doubt, Mao of Love: Preamble by Azly Rahman is both expressive and communicative. This time, I am a bit lucky as Dr. Azly did give some hint on what the poem is about. Still, it is deep as chaotic and as complicated as usual. The chaos and complexities theories reveal where some political ideas are being cynically criticized. This is obvious as lately, Dr. Azly has put forward a lot of discussions on Capitalism.

Most probably, the poem is based on a visit to Beijing or somewhere in China. So, the melodies have to be a bit Chinese either through music or singing. I think, I can play around with the tempo. It is quite a long poem so the tempo should play the trick in curbing the song to not be too lengthy.

I think the poem is 30% attitudinal, 60% situational and 10% a story. Although, the poem is likely more a story, it is the attitude to a political and the economical ideas that makes the attitude more revealing.

I think the poem is 30% specific feeling, 70% specific thought with 0% specific action.

As usual, the target is our friends listed on our facebook pages and surely we both don’t mind it be shared.

Mao of Love: Preamble - The Poem

Mao of Love: Preamble

by Azly Rahman

March 5, 2011

I had a dream

Of reading a Rilke

Whilst in a Rimbaud state of mind

Unfinished was my reading

of the Duino Elegies

of terrifying angels and of love

In that dream too

In-between my readings

I looked yonder

Three teens

In broad daylight slowly climbed up an apartment building

Scaling the height

To burglarize

And they took only umbrellas

Three beautifully crafted ones

And they opened the umbrellas

And together ... through the window

Smilingly, they ascend to the ground

That image: like a freeze frame of a postmodern clip

of The Matrix

In that dream

In a room

Full of people I saw her

In red cardigan

Or was it a turtleneck I was not sure

As what dreams give me: benefit of the doubt

In her lies a childhood

A landscape of raw emotions

A tapestry of dialiectics

Amidst the world of growing materialism

Dialiectical materialism ... of love

I woke up

Time collapses

Persisting like a memory still, like a Salvador Dali

Flashed in front of my unseeing eyes are the words:

Mao of Love ... Mao of Love ..

Forcing me to seek inside of me

This strange sensation of love

That constructs and deconstructs and reconstructs

That is a thesis and an anti-thesis and synthesizes and the cycle continues

That proposes and disposes and recomposes

That lives and dies and reincarnates

That loves and hates and reconciles and comes back in forms anew

That walks and marches tens of thousand of miles and sacrifices for the Mao of Love

That has no fear to abandon love of materials for higher love

Mao of Love I was writing

Beyond the Tao of Physics

I too was contemplating

Out of the dream that came a-visitin'

These words repeatedly I was chanting

My chants of the Mao of Love

Brought me back to my dreamstate

As every cell in me chants the mantra

incessantly

Like the wise one under the bodhgaya tree

Becometh of me was something I have never seen

A body and soul there is --

yet without boundaries

There are only words inscribed unto my entire body

Like tombstones glowing in a wasteland of warm lights aplenty

Like a apparation in front of me

I saw myself like clouds moving

in a pompous ceremony

Entering the room where the one in red sat alone

In the smoke-filled room

With multicolored strobe lights dancing

till eternity