Creative Sequencing Techniques for Music Production, 2nd Edition

Creative Sequencing Techniques for Music Production, 2nd Edition

by Andrea Pejrolo
Released July 2012
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781136114052

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Book description

An inspirational guide for all levels of expertise, Creative Sequencing Techniques for Music Production shows you how to get the most out of the four leading audio sequencers, Logic, Pro Tools, Digital Performer, and Cubase. Using real-life examples, Andrea Pejrolo demonstrates a wide range of technical and creative techniques, giving you tips and new ideas to help you take your work to the next level. If you are producing music and looking to build your skills in orchestration, composition, and mixing you will find all the techniques and practical advice you need in this book. Featuring essential tools, that are now part of the everyday creative process in a digital production environment, to give you the most recent and cutting edge techniques- including swipe-comping, time-stretching, pitch correction, elastic-time, advanced-freezing, and new software synthesizers. The material on the website contains loops, templates, audio examples, and end of chapter exercises to practice new skills, this illustrated practical guide provides all the tools you will need to give your music the vital edge. Whether you are a student or amateur aspiring to more professional results, or a professional wanting to master new skills, this book will help you to improve and take the quality of your work to the next level. *Covers all key sequencing topics such as recording and editing techniques and automation groove quantization, converters, sounds layering, tap tempo, creative meter, tempo changes, and synchronization *Teaches mixing techniques that takes advantage of plug-in technology, maximizing the use of effects such as reverb, compressor, limiter, equalizer, and much more *A website loaded with more than 90 examples of arrangements and techniques, giving you advice on how to troubleshoot those common mistakes and perfect your music production.

Table of contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Dedication
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright
  6. Contents
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. Introduction
  9. CHAPTER 1 Setting up Your Creative Environment: The Studio
    1. 1.1 Basic Studio Information
    2. 1.2 Setting up Your Production Space: The Project Studio
    3. 1.3 The Music Equipment
      1. 1.3.1 MIDI Equipment and MIDI Messages
      2. 1.3.2 Channel Voice Messages
      3. 1.3.3 Channel Mode Messages
      4. 1.3.4 System Real-Time Messages
      5. 1.3.5 System Common Messages
      6. 1.3.6 System Exclusive Messages
    4. 1.4 MIDI Components: Controllers, Hardware Synthesizers/Sound Modules, Software Synthesizers and Sequencers
      1. 1.4.1 MIDI Synthesizer
      2. 1.4.2 Keyboard Controller
      3. 1.4.3 Sound Module
      4. 1.4.4 Software Synthesizers
      5. 1.4.5 Sequencers: An Overview
      6. 1.4.6 Which Controller?
      7. 1.4.7 Sound Palette
    5. 1.5 Connecting the MIDI Devices: Soft Synth-Only, Daisy Chain, and Star Network Setups
      1. 1.5.1 The Software Synthesizer-Only Studio
      2. 1.5.2 Daisy Chain Setup
      3. 1.5.3 Star Network Setup
      4. 1.5.4 The Future of MIDI
    6. 1.6 The Audio Equipment
      1. 1.6.1 Mixing Board and Monitors
      2. 1.6.2 Computer and Audio Connections
      3. 1.6.3 Audio Interface Inputs and Outputs
      4. 1.6.4 Audio Interface Connections
      5. 1.6.5 Software and Audio Interface Compatibility
    7. 1.7 Which Digital Audio Workstation?
      1. 1.7.1 The Primary Goals You Want to Achieve with Your Audio Sequencer
      2. 1.7.2 Ease of Use and Learning Curve
      3. 1.7.3 Which Features Suit You Best?
      4. 1.7.4 Other Factors to Consider
      5. 1.7.5 What About the Computer?
    8. 1.8 Final Considerations and Budget Issues
    9. 1.9 Summary
    10. 1.10 Exercises
  10. CHAPTER 2 Basic Sequencing Techniques
    1. 2.1 Introduction
    2. 2.2 The Sequencer: Concepts and Review
    3. 2.3 How a Sequencer Works and How it is Organized
    4. 2.4 MIDI Tracks
    5. 2.5 Audio Tracks
    6. 2.6 Organizing Your Projects
    7. 2.7 Flight-Check Before Take-off!
    8. 2.8 The First Session: Click Track and Tempo Setup
      1. 2.8.1 Who Plays the Metronome?
    9. 2.9 Recording MIDI Tracks
    10. 2.10 Basic MIDI Editing Techniques
      1. 2.10.1 The Graphic Editor
      2. 2.10.2 Level of Undos
      3. 2.10.3 The List Editor
      4. 2.10.4 The Score Editor
    11. 2.11 Basic Principles of MIDI Note Quantization
    12. 2.12 Audio Track Basics
      1. 2.12.1 Destructive and Nondestructive Audio Editing
      2. 2.12.2 Playing it Nice with the Other Tracks
    13. 2.13 Basic Automation
      1. 2.13.1 Static Automation
      2. 2.13.2 Dynamic Mix: Real-Time Automation
      3. 2.13.3 Editing Automation Data
    14. 2.14 Practical Applications of Automation
      1. 2.14.1 Volume Automation
      2. 2.14.2 Pan Automation
      3. 2.14.3 Mute Automation
    15. 2.15 Exporting and Importing your Work: Standard MIDI Files
    16. 2.16 Summary
    17. 2.17 Exercises
  11. CHAPTER 3 Intermediate Sequencing Techniques
    1. 3.1 Introduction
    2. 3.2 Groove Quantization and the “Humanize” Function
      1. 3.2.1 Quantization Filters
      2. 3.2.2 Swing Quantization
      3. 3.2.3 Groove Quantization
    3. 3.3 Layering of MIDI Tracks
    4. 3.4 Layering of MIDI and Audio Tracks
    5. 3.5 Alternative MIDI Track Editing Techniques: The Drum Editor
    6. 3.6 Alternative MIDI Controllers
      1. 3.6.1 Guitar/Bass-to-MIDI Converters
      2. 3.6.2 MIDI Drums and Pads
      3. 3.6.3 MIDI Wind Controllers
    7. 3.7 Complex Tempo Tracks: Tempo and Meter Changes
      1. 3.7.1 Creative Use of Tempo Changes
    8. 3.8 Tempo Changes and Audio Tracks
      1. 3.8.1 Time-Stretching Audio Files
    9. 3.9 Interapplication Protocols: ReWire
      1. 3.9.1 Setting Up ReWire
    10. 3.10 Synchronization
      1. 3.10.1 Synchronization of Nonlinear Machines
      2. 3.10.2 Sequencer Setup for MC and MTC Synchronization
    11. 3.11 Safeguard Your Work: Back it Up!
      1. 3.11.1 Backup and Archive
      2. 3.11.2 How to Calculate the Size of a Session
    12. 3.12 Summary
    13. 3.13 Exercises
  12. CHAPTER 4 Advanced Sequencing Techniques
    1. 4.1 Introduction
    2. 4.2 Advanced Quantization Techniques
      1. 4.2.1 Custom Groove Creation
      2. 4.2.2 Editing a Groove
      3. 4.2.3 Audio to MIDI Groove Creation
      4. 4.2.4 Audio Quantization
    3. 4.3 Advanced Editing Techniques
      1. 4.3.1 Advanced MIDI Editors
      2. 4.3.2“Offline” Global MIDI Data Transformers
      3. 4.3.3“Real-Time” MIDI Effects
    4. 4.4 Overview of Audio Track Effects
      1. 4.4.1“Insert” Effects
      2. 4.4.2“Send” Effects
    5. 4.5 MIDI System Exclusive Messages
      1. 4.5.1 SysEx Custom Consoles
      2. 4.5.2 SysEx “MIDI Dump” Function
    6. 4.6 Summary
    7. 4.7 Exercises
  13. CHAPTER 5 Elements of MIDI Orchestration
    1. 5.1 Introduction
    2. 5.2 Rhythm Section: Overview
      1. 5.2.1 The Piano
      2. 5.2.2 The Guitar
      3. 5.2.3 The Bass
      4. 5.2.4 Drums and Percussion
    3. 5.3 String Section: Overview
      1. 5.3.1 Sequencing Strings
      2. 5.3.2 Sonorities and Sound Libraries
      3. 5.3.3 Panning and Reverb Settings
    4. 5.4 Wind Instruments: Overview
      1. 5.4.1 The Brass Section: The Trumpet and the Flugelhorn
      2. 5.4.2 The Trombone
      3. 5.4.3 The French Horn
      4. 5.4.4 The Tuba
      5. 5.4.5 Sequencing Brass: Libraries, Pan, and Reverb
    5. 5.5 Woodwind: Overview
      1. 5.5.1 The Saxophones
      2. 5.5.2 The Flutes
      3. 5.5.3 The Clarinets
      4. 5.5.4 The Oboe and the English Horn
      5. 5.5.5 The Bassoon and the Contrabassoon
    6. 5.6 Synthesizers: Overview
      1. 5.6.1 Hardware and Software Synthesizers
      2. 5.6.2 Synthesis Techniques
      3. 5.6.3 Analog Subtractive Synthesis
      4. 5.6.4 Additive Synthesis
      5. 5.6.5 Frequency Modulation Synthesis
      6. 5.6.6 Wavetable Synthesis
      7. 5.6.7 Sampling
      8. 5.6.8 Physical Modeling Synthesis
      9. 5.6.9 Granular Synthesis
    7. 5.7 Summary
    8. 5.8 Exercises
  14. CHAPTER 6 The Final Mix
    1. 6.1 Introduction
    2. 6.2 The Mixing Stage: Overview
      1. 6.2.1 Rendering MIDI Tracks for Hardware Synthesizers
      2. 6.2.2 Rendering MIDI Tracks for Software Synthesizers
      3. 6.2.3 Track Organization and Submixes
      4. 6.2.4 The “Rough” Mix
    3. 6.3 Panning
      1. 6.3.1 Balance
      2. 6.3.2 Frequency Placement
    4. 6.4 Reverberation and Ambience Effects
      1. 6.4.1 Specific Reverb Settings for DP, CU, LP, and PT
      2. 6.4.2 Synthesized Reverbs
      3. 6.4.3 Convolution Reverbs
    5. 6.5 Equalization
      1. 6.5.1 Equalizers in DP, CU, PT, and LP
    6. 6.6 Dynamic Effects: Compressor, Limiter, Expander, and Gate
      1. 6.6.1 Dynamic Effects in DP, PT, CU, and LP
    7. 6.7 Bounce to Disk
      1. 6.7.1 Audio File Formats
    8. 6.8 Premastering: Introduction
      1. 6.8.1 The Premastering Process: To Normalize or Not?
      2. 6.8.2 Premastering Equalization
      3. 6.8.3 Multiband Compression
      4. 6.8.4 The Limiter
    9. 6.9 Summary
    10. 6.10 Exercises
  15. CHAPTER 7 Working with Video
    1. 7.1 Working with Video: Importing Movies in Digital Format
    2. 7.2 SMPTE: Synchronization of Linear to Nonlinear Machines
    3. 7.3 Synchronizing and Working with Nonlinear Video Media
      1. 7.3.1 Video Syncing in DP, LP, CU, and PT
      2. 7.3.2 Adding a “Two-Beep”
    4. 7.4 Using Markers
      1. 7.4.1 Beat-Based Markers
      2. 7.4.2 Time-Code-Based Markers
    5. 7.5 Bouncing to Movie
    6. 7.6 Stem Creation
    7. 7.7 Summary
    8. 7.8 Exercises
  16. Further Reading
  17. Index

Product information

  • Title: Creative Sequencing Techniques for Music Production, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Andrea Pejrolo
  • Release date: July 2012
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781136114052