AS Music Technology Unit 1 - LOGBOOK

There are two stages to completing the logbook: 1. Download the file called AS Logbook template then complete questions 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 & 10 as a GOOGLE DOC. You will need to upload the AS Logbook template to your google docs. Then please rename the file to include your surname i.e. Smith Unit 1 Logbook. Now SHARE this renamed document with fisherd and ausitnd. 2. Complete questions 4, 5 & 6 on the printed log book templates. If you dont have one they are available as a link via the blog. Once you have completed this draft copy, submit this to the music tech. department. We will review and mark your logbooks and return them to you with any suggested alterations. You will then have to write them up in full during a class lesson after Easter. This document contains detailed guidance on how to complete each question in the logbook. Please make sure you have a copy of this to hand when you are completing you draft copy.

Notes from the 2009 & 2010 examiners report on completion of Log books: Many examiners commented on the disappointing standard of response to questions 9 and 10. This part of the portfolio carries 20 marks half those allocated to the other tasks and it is therefore to be expected that care and attention is given to it, the more so since it does not have to be completed under exam conditions and notes may be referred to whilst writing up the questions. Moreover, the necessity to meet criteria for QWC (Quality of Written Communication) resulted in a loss of marks when answers were disorganised and full of elementary spelling errors. Many candidates achieved less than half marks. Whilst the first part of the log is not marked it is worth remembering that the examiner may not be able to credit a particular feature of the work if the logbook documentation is missing or inaccurate. An example of this is given above, where details of edited timbres in the sequence need to be clear if they are to receive marks. Most answers suffered from a lack of detail. There is no requirement to write long passages of critical prose (bullet points are acceptable) but references need to be supported by clear examples and locations. For example, a response such as the one below is simply not specific enough for a high mark: The songs [sic] texture varies a lot in the song starting off thin then getting thicker building up to a bigger emphasis on the bridge and chorus On the other hand this is far more illuminating and shows evidence of thought and planning: The original Light my Fire had 2-3 minute guitar and organ solos but this structure was suited to the time the song was composed and doesnt suit an 80s rock song so I changed

AS Music Technology Unit 1 - LOGBOOK

the structure to Intro, V1, Chorus, V2, Chorus, Guitar solo, Chorus, Outro. Common errors are repetition of material and failure to provide detailed and accurate references to the candidates own arrangement. Whilst a statement like I was influenced by..... will attract some credit, more marks will be earned if the candidate goes on to explain how they were influenced and to give an example.

QUESTION 1 & 2
Questions 1 & 2 focuses on Task 1a. When answering question 2, please make sure that you list ALL the instruments (including drum sounds and any sample used). This question gives you the opportunity to explain to the examiner the detailed work you have put into editing and shaping the timbres (software instruments) in Logic. So here you can talk about how you have used the various software synths, (i.e. ES1, ES2 etc) to sculpt sounds that accurately imitate the timbres used in the original recording. The answers to question 2 come from one of last years submissions, this should give you some idea of the level of detail required. Please note the answer below is NOT THE COMPLETE answer but an excerpt, outlining timbres of just some of the parts:

Electric Guitar I found it difficult to recreate the guitar sound in the original track with any one sample library, so I used a combination of the Heavy Metal Guitar and Crunchy Muted Guitar in EXS24, and then used Flanger, Guitar Amp Pro and Stereo Delay effect plugins to complete it.

Vocals I chose a tenor saxophone virtual instrument from Logics EXS24 sample library because the timbre of a reed is the most similar to a human voice of the available instruments. I used the EQ to boost the higher frequencies and liken the sound to the almost whiney voice in the original track. Lead Synth I used the Another Comp preset in EXS24, and applied the Bitcrusher plug-in to reduce the fidelity of the sound, then shelved the higher frequencies using the EQ to produce the restricted frequency range of the original part.

QUESTIONS 3, 4, 5 & 6
THESE all refer to Task 1B. You have already had a printed copy of this part of the log book. Question 4. You MUST USE PHOTOGRAPHS for this question. If you did not take any while recording, take some NOW to show the examiner how you set up mic placements for all the instruments recorded in your task. This does not need to include anything D.I.d. Question 5. List all instruments recorded, including D.I. capture. Add more sheets if necessary.

AS Music Technology Unit 1 - LOGBOOK

Question 6. This deals only with MIXDOWN, i.e. the settings you used in Logic when you created your mix. EQ include something about Hi, Mid and Low frequencies, use the terms boost or cut FX list any processing used reverb, delay, chorus, distortion etc. but NOT compression or gating, that comes next DYNAMIC PROCESSING this is all about noise gating and compression. When describing gating, juts mention if you used it on the given track or not. When describing the amount of compression used include the ratio and threshold settings. PANNING indicate the position of the track in the stereo field, i.e.

(LPanning R) Level

-38

LEVEL indicate the level in Db i.e. -2.7Db

QUESTION 7
Computer and processor: Apple iMac 5.2 - 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Main Digital Audio Workstation software: Logic Express 9 Additional software: Logic native software instruments Audio/MIDI interface: M-audio Fast track pro Keyboard: M-Audio keystation 49e

QUESTION 8
Here you must list ALL the instruments used in your arrangement and clearly include any editing of software instrument parameters and any effects processing used reverb/delay/guitar amp pro, etc. Make sure you include and use of loops/samples and any processing that you applied to these too.

AS Music Technology Unit 1 - LOGBOOK

QUESTION 9
Question 9 draws attention to the optional criteria in the mark scheme. This gives you an excellent opportunity to point out specic areas you wish to bring to the examiners notice. Focus on development of the areas listed rather than just describing the piece in words to accompany the audio. This applies to how you have developed your piece from its initial working drafts to the nal version and also to how you have musically developed the thematic material. Note that this is worth 10 marks, so must make at least 10 clearly justified points to be awarded full marks. Melody: Have you developed the melody? If so how? Have you added notes, changed the melodic rhythm, added any harmony parts? Have you used any countermelody? Have you chosen a particularly interesting instrumental voice for the melody? Harmony: How have you reharmonised the stimulus? Is your arrangement in a new key, if so why? How is the harmony expressed, is it using block chords, broken chords or arpeggios? Is the harmony expressed by one instrument or more than one instrument? What type of chords have you used? Power chords, sus chords, triads, extended chords (7th, 9th, 11th, 13th etc.) Bass line does the bass line state the harmony? How does the bass reflect what is happening harmonically? How does the bass work rhythmically? Rhythm: How have you created the rhythm track? Does the rhythm track uses drum kit sounds or drum machine/sampled elements? Have you integrated any sampled drum loops? Have you used any percussion? Are there any drum fills? How have you created contrast in your rhythm track? Does it vary from verse to chorus, intro etc. Have you used percussive layers? Texture & Instrumentation: Texture: Terms to include when discussing texture include: thick, rich, thin, open, spacious, multilayered, sparse, dense. Texture: How is there contrast in the texture? i.e from verse to chorus, or from intro to verse etc.

Instrumentation: Have you chosen any particularly interesting

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instrumentation that is different from the stimulus but that reflects your chosen style? Instrumentation: You can comment on performance techniques that you have used, i.e. strings pizzicato, arco (bowed), staccato. Guitar strumming, fingerpicking, broken chords, power chords, lead solo lines, pitch bends, vibrato, slides, double stops. Instrumentation: Use of processing and FX, how has this been used.

Form & Structure: Have you used a different structure from the original stimulus, if so outline in detail, explain why you made those choices.

QUESTION 10
Question 10 requires you to focus on the ngerprints of your chosen style. To gain the highest available marks for this question, you must link the stylistic ngerprints to examples in your arrangement using high levels of detail to justify. Additional pages may be used if required. Please ensure that you have at least 10 clearly identified points that link the stylistic aspects of your chosen style for the arrangement with demonstrable aspects of your arrangement.

RHYTHM Extensive use of sampled drum loops, often manipulated.

Stylistic Fingerprints of: TRIP HOP

Loops often combined with programmed rhythmic parts.

Some use of percussion and percussion loops. Commonly 4/4 time signatures. Predominance of slow tempos.

INSTRUMENTATION Extensive use of sampled sounds. 1970s influence - electric piano, beats. Processed vocals. Some use of guitars often sampled parts. Some guitar FX wah, distortion. Some use of synths TONALITY & HARMONY Minor keys are common Simple chord sequences. Some jazz/blues influence with use of extended chords and bluesy figures. Common root note bass lines. Some use of pedal.

AS Music Technology Unit 1 - LOGBOOK

TEXTURE Mixture of some very sparse textures and some dense (especially Tricky). Some use of repetitive broken chord figures. Some use of pedal figures and repeating bass lines. Some use of riffs PRODUCTION/FX Much use of reverb and delay - especially on vocals. Extensive use of processing an all instruments including filter sweeps, overdrive/distortion etc. Some use of sub bass.

Stylistic Fingerprints of: ROCKNROLL

RHYTHM Almost exclusive use of 4/4 time signature, occasional 12/8 or 6/8 Common use of swing/shuffle feel Common use of fast tempos 140bpm and faster Ballads sometimes very slow Strong back beat on beats 2 and 4 INSTRUMENTATION Electric and acoustic (steel string) guitar, bass (often double bass), drums (sometimes with brushes), horns (often just tenor saxophone), piano. TONALITY & HARMONY Common use of major keys Common use of blues influenced I, IV, V chord sequences. Some use of chord extensions, especially 7th and 6th TEXTURE Bass often outlining triads from the chosen chord sequence Walking bass line, four notes per bar often including root, 3rd, 5th, 6th, flat 7th , Walking patterns often doubled on electric guitar Use of stops in arranging, often just before vocal phrase begins. Use of flamboyant guitar solos Guitar parts often include double stops, slides and pitch bends. Common use of blues and pentatonic scales. Common use of guitar riffs Call and response often used between vocals and guitar and/or horns and other instruments. Piano parts if used often follow similar role to guitar. Chordal chops and rhythmic vamps, sometimes following walking bass.

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Use of horn sections often with call and response parts, taken from RnB. Use of backing vocals typically call and response Use of blue notes in vocal and guitar phrases.

PRODUCTION & USE OF FX Use of Slap-back echo common for guitars and vocals. Use of overdriven valve guitar amps. Some use of tremolo for guitar. Some use of echo chambers for reverb/delay effects.

On the following two pages there are the criteria from the mark scheme for completion of the logbook:

AS Music Technology Unit 1 - LOGBOOK

QUESTION 9 MARK SCHEME

AS Music Technology Unit 1 - LOGBOOK

QUESTION 10 MARK SCHEME