Mix

1. I turned everything down and then started again with the lead vocal by turning it up, and levelling it with rest of the bvs. Then checked to see if the output was going above red.

2. After i levelled the vocals i started on the Guitars and tried to make sure that the levels were loud enough, but yet it was able to blend with the vocals. Then the bass and the rest of the instruments.

3. I began to pan the vocals either left or right, I panned the lead Vocal to the left -15, lead and bvs i panned to right +31 and then i panned the actual Bvs to the left -21. I did this to create a well round sound of the vocals.

4. I then panned synth2 -18, synth3 +31 to give the listener something new to listen to.

5. I then bussed the vocals into one bus and so i was able to control all of them on one fader, and i did the same for the Guitars.

6. Then i put reverb on the vocals and so the bus controlled how loud the vocals were gonna be and i also did the same on the same on the guitar and i used the GuitarAmpPro. 

7. I also put a compressor on the Kick Drum.

https://soundcloud.com/shevz20/futures-mix-shevelle

Disco

Disco

Disco was never taken seriously in the USA, because it united homosexuals, people that were disabled and gay as well, it was really hard for these people to be accepted in society. Society saw this as an mental illness, and discriminated them. It was worst if you were black, lesbian and disabled, that's when things would get out of hand.

In the late 1960's Homosexuals were the only people getting discriminated at the time, and because the civil rights movement was just ending or about to end, ethnic origins had almost equal rights to the white people. But it was really hard because people still didn't like the fact that Black People had something to say, but if you were gay and black, you would have to hide it. Gatherings were mostly done underground, like in houses, they would have house parties and take drugs. It was a place where everyone could be them selves and just have a good time but society did not see it like that.

Stone Wall Riots

The stone wall riots was a number of events that took place, these riots were very violent and it demonstrated the frustration of Homosexuals and how they felt about being oppressed because they liked the same sex. Homosexuals were very angry at the fact that they had no voice. How the riots began was because the Gay community had a local club that they would go to, it was owned by the Mafia who supplied, drugs and the freedom to be who they were. Gays and Lesbians, Drag Queens, Transvestites and Transsexuals, were all in the same place. The first Riot took place in the early hours of the morning of June 28, 1969. These parties would be held in Greenwich Village neighbourhood of New York. A Police raid had come in and tried to take over, and a overflow of people came out of the club, while everyone was busy standing outside and just merely having conversation and joking, word had got out that the police held 3 Drag Queens and a bartender in the back. When the police van came to pick them up people began to get annoyed and began protesting with calling the Police, Pigs and saying we shall be free! This riot was brutal and it lasted for a couple days!

Disco began in the late 1960's early 1970's, it was a genre of music that had a black influence and Homosexuals would have a good time in the underground scene, it was place where everyone was accepted for who they were or what they did! It brought hope to every one that was discriminated in society or classed different. Disco brought many diverse groups together, weather it was Black Men, Black Men that were Gay at the time, Women, White Gays and the disabled. This was provided for people to come and be open about who they were and what they did, freedom and hope was given to these people. Drugs like: Cocaine and Marijuana were common as almost every one took part in sexual behaviours as well as getting high, and not having shame for hiding the way they felt, it was a very open scene.


Politics was a main reason as to why people were discriminated this can be compared to Punk in the UK and how the people were treated because the government had taken away their jobs and their source of income was very low, Punk Music was a form of expression with anger, they felt trapped in a never ending job/workplace, they worked long hours but got such a little pay and because these people had a family to provide for they found it really hard to even come to terms with everything and so Punk was created for them to escape from their Jobs, Family and the Governments rules. 

1979 was a crucial moment in history for Disco not only for the genre but for the people. In 1979 a sports game was in play at the Chicago White Sox Stadium, Punk Rockers didn't like the fact that Disco was so big at the time and because Rock was almost dieing they were angered and furious at the fact that Disco was alive and well not to mention most of them were homophobic against homosexuals. These people began to get some of the records from Disco and began to burn them, they also went around destroying the stadium and screaming and shouting. This event was called "Disco Demolition Night" This was year of the death of Disco it died in a horrible way. 

Something that is quite similar to the topic of equality and freedom, is that Disco can also be compared to what is currently going on in Iran. In Iran they are not allowed to listen to music that they want to listen to because the Iranian government has put everything under censorship and so the people are not free to do as they please and that's only to do with music, so their rights have been taken away. Just like in America and how they would be arrested if they were caught doing gay acts or if they were at a gay club or even if someone in high authority thought they were gay they would get locked up for it! They saw it as a disease, as an illness that could not be treated. The Iranian Government believe that by taking away these peoples right to listen to music would help their country, but what they cease to understand is that if you try to keep the people under control they will find a way to rebel against them. But because the Iranian Government want to keep their culture, they think that best way about going through that is taking away these peoples rights.

The Iranian Government feared that if they allowed their people to listen to Westernised Music around the world that it would corrupt the younger generation and that these people will begin to rebel and start some form of uprising against the government and so that would begin a war! But what they fail to understand is that these should be free to make their own decisions and it should not be dictated about weather or not they should listen to music, i mean almost all their life is controlled by their government and now they want to control what the people listen to! Its Just Wrong!

Homosexuals stood up for what they believed in fought for their rights, even in today's world they have been granted the access to marry same sex in some places of America and even just the other day it had been spoken about that England was going to allow same sex Marriage. They fought for their freedom and so they have it today! 


Equality and Freedom should never be depicted by someone else! Fight for what you believe in and make sure you win the fight!
  

Elements Of A Score

Sir Duke : Stevie Wonder

A. G#m = It is a G-sharp-minor-chord and its in the 2nd bar, it tells the person to play G# B D#.

B. In bar 14 there is a quaver and a minim with a slur on top because a quaver is half a beat and a minim is 2 beats but the slur on top tells the player to play the same note for 2 and a half beats but they should sustain it. The Note is a G#.

C. In bar 21 NC = stands for No Chord 

D. In bar 28 it says D.C al Coda this means "Go back to the beginning" telling the player to go back to start of the score and start again. The al coda part means that the player should skip to forward to the next coda sign. 

E. In Bar 30 it says x3 meaning that something needs to be repeated 3 times but the repeat mark at bar 28 and bar 30 is saying that it should go back to the beginning of bar 28 and start again but only from 28 to 30 but just play it 3 times.

F. Bar 37 is a Semi quaver rest but its just before a crochet, but because its a semi quaver rest it is telling the player to take a breathe for 1/4 seconds. 

Is She Not Passing Fair?

A. Bar 1 above the bar it says Allegro molto means to perform the indicated passage of a composition at a very fast tempo.

B. Its called Brace but can also be called Curved Brackets, this is used to connect two or more different staves together in a musical score system.  The brackets are what connect the two piano parts witch is the bass and treble cleff and this helps the player to understand how it should be played.

C. In bar 9 dim. is at the top of the bar witch is the abbreviation of diminuendo this means that the volume has to be smoothly decreased  in a specific part of the passage.

D. Ped. tells the performer to depress the damper pedal and the marking to indicate the release of the damper pedal or that the pedal should be pressed.

E. Colla Parte is an italian term for with the voice. This means that at the part of the song it should be sang in that part of the song.

F. Accel. is the abbreviation of Accelerando this means gradually accelerating or getting faster. This tells the player that, that specific part should be played faster.

G. a tempo means that it will go back to the original tempo it was before after its been speed up or slowed down it would go back to its original tempo it started of at.

Dub-Step

Dub-step

Dub-step began in the late 1990's, and was originated in south London this was something that had been taken from different genres, its influences was 2-step garage, broken beat, drum and bass jungle. dun and reggae. These sounds had been working its way through a whole decade, to become what it is today, the Jamaican party scene is one of the heaviest influences of why dub-step is about, this can be traced back to the 1980's.

Dub-step was originated in the UK, its a genre of electronic dance music. Dub-step is mostly known for its over whelming bass line pumping through the speakers. Also its sampled vocals, normally taken from an original song and remixed to underground scene of dub. In the time of dub-steps first release, around 1998 it was mainly just sound fused together and hardly any vocals. Dub-step attempted to incorporate elements of break beat and drum and bass into 2-step. In 2001 dub became quite popular as they began to start playing this type of music in the night clubs as well as garage. But everything was a darker yet deeper sound. A lot of websites became dedicated to the genre and decided to help its growth through out the UK. Dub-Step began in Croydon and then it spread to Brixton and stretch through out the country and spread beyond small local scenes.

The rhythm of dub step is normally syncopated and the tempo is nearly always in the range of 138-142 beats per minute. Dub-step Is known now for its bass lines and its crazy sounds that cause destruction to our ear drums but the feeling is amazing. Dub-step tends to do this thing where it will have a drop, meaning that everything in the track will be silenced to a split second and then everything is louder and much harder mostly unexpected as to what is going to come from the drop. Or a build up for something louder to come.

Some famous dub-step artist/performers : Skrillex, Scream, Zomboy and Knife Party. These are all dub-step artists that are around today. Some of the earliest dub-step artists are Benga, Excision, Borgore and Datsik. These are the people that set the bar for the dub-step artists out there now.

Censorship In Music 

The UK has some of the most advanced technology, when it comes to media, we are surrounded by it 24/7. Where ever we go it is present, with out even thinking, it is presented to us in a such a way, where sometimes we can question something for what it actually is. 

Some countries do not have the opportunity presented to them, to explore the emotions music brings to one self.  Iran is one of the few countries that still have not been able to listen to music freely with out having to hide, or having to wait at a certain time to express their music beliefs or express what they have inside. Instead an underground urban scene is created for musicians in Iran, knowing that this is illegal they do it any way.

In order to keep their power the Iranian Government believes that if music is censored then power and control is no longer questioned. They believe that by cutting of their access to media/music, it can bring the people on their side, the people are being forced to do what ever the government wants, this only pushes the people further away and just makes them want to rebel against them. The government are worried about the corruption of the younger generation, they believe that with the music that is among us is quite dominant and very revealing when it comes to female artists in the music industry. Because it is not apart of their believes they think it is best to cut it of entirely.

You see when it comes to culture, they would put their culture above anything else. But what they don't see is that with out freedom of speech or an allowance for the people to do what they want (essentially when it comes to music) this will most definitely create a problem not only for the government but for the citizens as well. The censorship of the music has taken away the peoples rights. In order for the people to even make music they have to smuggle instruments in to the country, therefor putting them selves in danger and probably their family also. This it self is a crime, making music is a crime and listening to music is a crime. In what way are the people able to make a stamp on something they have created, the government stuck in their own ways not willing to learn or experience anything new is holding the country back. 

The underground scene in Iran is very dangerous to be apart of, but the people risk it any way just to be heard in some way or the other, some of them would go as far as leaving the country to perform their music. But because these people are so determined they would sell their cd's and perform even though this is illegal, this proves what the love of music can do because even their lack of equipment and technology they still make it work. And what ever technology they do have or get they learn instantly about what it can do and how it can help them make their music.

This to me is inspirational to think that these people have not even half of what i have but their potential and hard work and determination they believe it will pay of one day, and hopefully it will. Take It Easy Hospital are an example of what musicians in Iran have to go through, because even their family didn't trust the younger generation to do what they love and be good at it. What these people do not see is that music brings everyone together and makes it a good time for everyone. 

What the Government of Iran and the UK need to understand is that the Youth are the future generation, we are the ones that are going to be running these countries in many years to come. So i ask; Why restrict us from the things that could potentially make the country/world a better place. No all music is bad, Music is a good thing in it self but if you teach the young ones about the good of music and make them aware of the potential bad in music, it could not only teach them a lot but you could have more trust in the youth, that you wont have to question them all the time or judge them. 

Music is apart of life weather they like it or not! No matter how much the Iranian government would like control, music is everywhere so regardless of what they say, everything they are hoping wont happen if they continue like this, its gonna happen anyway.

Microphones

1)  As a general guideline, it can be said that dynamic microphones are best suited for live sound work, and that

condenser microphones are more suited for use in a recording studio.

Give technical and practical reasons for why this may, or may not, be a valid statement (include diagrams if

necessary).

The Dynamic Microphone is best suited to work in a live workshop environment because it has good sound quality, it works really well with loud sounds that don't have a very high frequency, its rugged and robust, they are insensitive to changes in humidity, they don't need external or internal power to operate. The Dynamic mic is best used in this environment because it is not easily damaged and can take a hit time to time (not very fragile). Dynamic Mics are usually Uni-Directional capturing a more focused or specific sound, meaning that they pick up sound from only one direction, this making it easier for  just the artist to be heard. This is a good thing because instead of the mic picking up everything and being so sensitive to every little sound, it just mean who ever is in front of the mic can be heard. Example if i should perform an ac-appella piece it would only be me that is heard and not the silence of the room/air con. 

The Condenser Microphone is suited more in a recording studio because it is high-fidelity, it picks up detailed sound with lots of clean high frequency, they have a extended low and high frequency response, they do require external or internal power, phantom power, it can be affected by the humidity and temperature of a room. This mic picks up everything, this is why its best to be used in a recording studio where you as the artist wants everything to be heard. It can not be used in a live workshop because it would pick up everything from the band to even what the audience is saying. The condenser mic is fragile to sound, very sensitive to the energy sound brings and when shouted into the feed back for who ever listens would probably not be the most pleasurable thing to hear, and because most of them are expensive it has to be taken care of with a delicate approach. 

So yes your statement is true Grant because if used in the wrong places, time can be wasted and damage can be done. Both are mics but each mic is made for different purposes and if put into the wrong situations a lot can go wrong. 



2)  What are the three main polar patterns found on microphones? Describe the differences and give examples of how each could be used.


Polar Patterns : Omni-Directional, Uni-Directional/Cardioid and Bi-Directional.

Omni-Directional picks up sound from all directions, its great for capturing natural or ambient sounds. Omni-Directional picks up sound equally from all directions, this doesnt mean that the frequency response is always equal in all directions though so its still best for the front of the mic to be focused on where the sound is actually coming from so that it can pick up the sound most accurately  This does work well in studios because it can pick up the natural sounds of the drum-kit, guitar, bass or even woodwinds. Omni-Directional mics are very good to pick up vocals, and can be used in a group session, every harmony can be heard equally to the main vocal. Omni-Directional mics can be used in big halls or places with a large room space, it works well in this environment because then the person speaking/speakers can be heard clearly. Or where a choir is singing cause then it picks up all harmonies from different directions on the stage.

Uni-Directional or known as Cardioid it picks up best from the front of the microphone but can still be picked up a bit to the side or to the back. It mainly picks up the sound from one direction and captures a more focused, specific sound. Uni-Directional/Cardioid microphones can be used in live performances, with singers, it can also be used in radio stations, also in a hall of people if there is particularly 1 person speaking singing.

Bi-Directional it picks up equally from the front and the back, but picks up nothing to each side. Frequency is usually slightly better from the front of the microphone than the back and it sounds a bit brighter coming from the front of the mic than it would the back. A possible way for this type of mic to be used is in an interview, where only 1 mic is provided and one person sits at the front of the mic while the other sits at the back.




3)  Dynamic and condenser microphones are the two most commonly used type of microphone found in the studio. Can you name any other types? Also include their basic technical features and how, or why, they might be used.


Ribbon Microphones operates almost the same as the dynamic microphone but instead of a heavy coil of wire it uses a strip of ex-streamly thin aluminum foil in its diaphragm. This means that it responds quicker than the Dynamic mic would and can pick up sounds faster, it has a great high frequency as a result. One of the problems is because the foil is so thin, it has weaker out put signal than a dynamic microphone. A ribbon mic has a smoother response than the dynamic mic also. One of the biggest down sides to using a ribbon mic is that the mic is fragile because the aluminum foil is so thin that any sort of air blast or pressure from a loud vocal, kick drum or even slamming the protective case can pop the ribbon so fast before you even notice. Some mics are immune to it, but they have to be well taken care of but regardless these mics are great because the sound quality is amazing. Ribbon mics have a relatively flat frequency response, they have a better high frequency response than a dynamic mic, they dont need external or internal power to operate, but the are fragile and require care when being used. These mic can be used for Cymbals, Bass, Piano, Electric and Acoustic Guitars and Brass Instruments.


Laser Microphones are often seen in action films or spy films and it can pick up sounds from a distance from the microphone equipment it self. When being used a laser beam gets in contact with a surface of a window or a plane surface that is affected by sound. These vibrations from the surface changes the angle of where the beam is reflected plus the motion of the laser beam is then detected and is converted to an audio signal. It can be used in films.

4) Give suggestions as to what you might use the following microphones for and explain your answer:

a) Audix D6

b) SE Electronics titan

c) microtech gefell M300

Audix D6 is mostly used for low frequency instruments like, a bass drum or a bass guitar, and large toms. It picks up very low frequencies that a normal mic wouldn't pick up. The D6 is Lightweight, compact and easy to position. The D6s transformer less design, low impedance and balanced output allow for interference-free performance.

SE Electronics titan is a condenser microphone that has a large-diaphragm. In order to work it needs a 48v phantom power. It can be used for picked guitars, slap bass, kick drum, percussive recordings (instruments).

Microtech Gefell M300 is a compact cardioid condenser microphone that pick up sounds from the from of the mic but can also pick up sounds from the back, it picks up every little sound that is clear and to detail. It can be great for recording instruments such as parts of the drum kit and piano.

5) When using microphones, why is a mic pre-amp necessary? What features would you expect to find on a professional pre-amp (either standalone or as a part of a mixing desk)?

Pre-amps are used to help or boost the sound from the microphone to a higher level or more useful level, all mic pre-amps will come with a gain control and an overload indicator. The gain controls how much sound is amplified through the pre-amp. The overload indicator tells you how much sound is being pushed or let out, showing weather or not it is too quiet or too loud. The input pad is a switch that keeps the hot signal from the mic from overloading the input sirkitery of the mic pre-amp, it is mostly used when trying to catch a very loud sound source like a snare drum or electric guitar. The phase switch on the pre-amp changes the quality of the sound. The HPF (High Pass Filter) only allows frequencies to pass which means that the low frequencies are attenuated which is why its sometimes called the low cut filter. There is also a phantom power switch that condenser have to use witch usually comes at a standard 48V. The last switch is HI-Z switch that you should switch on when recording other instruments that you can just plug straight into the pre-amp box, becomes an active direct box.