We made art with Singing FingersWe were to make pictures using Singing Fingers on the iPad. It was the first time that I have done something like this and will more than likely be the last time. It is a great idea, but it had a problem recognizing other pitches and would even cut out. It is a great idea that if pulled off correctly, works. This app could be used to help people with pitch. And the age group for this sort of app is kids. The worst part is that looking back, all I can remember is having to deal with the sudden cut off on the mic.
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Rock star Drummer
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For this project we once again used Garage Band, and this time it was to make a steady drum beat on both the Rock drum set and the drum machine. I used the Live Rock drum set and the House machine drum. We were to use the technique of merge recording for this, which is where you add in a beat and then build on that. While I tried really hard to use merge recording, it wouldn't sound right to me. The only explanation for this is that I wanted it to sound like how a professional drummer would play it, and to me merge recording didn't feel like it. Looking back, the project was probably to teach us how to use merge recording, which was the one thing that I didn't use.
Transforming the Blues
Tango Blues
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For this project we used Garage band, and we had to make a blues song. What we had to do before anything was first set up the tempo, which was set to 100. The next thing was setting up the measures, which was set to 12 measures. The final thing before finally making the song was setting up 2 sections: section A and section B, and one of them had to be different from the other to show contrast. Looking back on the project, my biggest priority was making the sections sound different, and I did this by making section A more of faster and up beat, and section B slower and less up beat, which seemed to be the better choice to do. I wanted to make it to where section B had different instruments, which I first did, but that changed section A's instruments which made it sound different, so I kept the same instruments, which was then the idea of contrasting the different feeling of the sections came in. As stated before, section A was to be faster and more up beat, and then section B was to be slower, and feel less up beat. That is the path I took for it, and it worked really well for me. The biggest example of this were the drums. section A's drums were faster, loud, and complex, giving it that up beat feeling , where section B's drums were slower, softer and more simpler, giving it that down beat feeling. If there is anything that I would change in it would be the instruments as I feel that could have made the contrast more recognizable. This was by far my most favorite project and I hope I do more of these kind of projects as I feel that I learned more from this then from the other projects. That being said, I look forward to other projects that we will be doing over the course of the semester.
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Beat boxing Loopy Project
LoopyHDProject | |
File Size: | 383 kb |
File Type: | m4a |
This time, we had to make a beat box, and the idea was to make a sick beat, and use an app called Loopy HD. The first task was making the tempo, and this was done by making the bop sound twice then changing it to something that is more a sound and less of an actual word. The next thing was to add some more sounds in, for example pow or bam or ch, and then add a touch of boots and cats and that's it. That is the jist of my beat, and those are the sounds that I used for it. This project was fun, but was also very awkward as well. The reason for this is because it was fun to make sounds that most would consider a toddler learning to speak, but awkward for that same reason. I thought it wasn't good, but when I had some other people listen to it, they considered it amazing. It wasn't embarrassing to share because people do it for a living, but it was weird thing to make. The awkward part was during the process of making the whole project. Even with me recording in a sound proof room and everyone wearing headphones, I still felt that people could hear me making random sounds. Looking back, I think my awkwardness wasn't necessary as other people were doing the same thing. The process was fun no matter what, and I consider it one of my favorites along with my Blues project. So far, these past two projects have exceeded my expectations as I feel that this, and Transforming the Blues show my improvement over the past quarter. I feel that my creativity has gotten to shine more than it has before in this class. I can't wait for the next projects. Also, Loopy HD was even on the Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, which is very cool to think about.
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Thumb Jam
All during class we messed around on an app called Thumb Jam. Thumb Jam is $8.99 in the iTunes App store, and gives the person a wide variety of instruments, from a piano to even synth instruments, Thumb Jam has a good amount of instruments. The pricing is a bit high, but you will definitely get your money's worth from it. The app does very well in terms of what it can do. It uses the gyroscope built in the iPad amazing and smoothly, and its detection of finger movement is spot on. For example, you can take your finger, and go up and down, and the app will respond depending on what it is set to. It could vibrate that note, make it louder, and even pan it out. To compare it to Garage Band, an app that is well known as it is installed into most Mac computers and Macbooks and can also be bought in the iTunes App store for $4.99, Thumb Jam is better. While Garage band has the ability to change between guitars and also has a smart instrument function, Thumb Jam offers more in terms of instruments. Garage band just has the basics of a guitar, drum set, piano, bass and strings, Thumb Jam offers those and more. Though it is higher priced than Garage Band, Thumb Jam is a great app and is worth the money.
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Drum machine song made in DM1 app
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This project was a small one, only took one class period to work on as the only thing we had to do was to make a 12 measure beat. We could make it however we saw fit, which includes both the machine/instrument and the pattern we wanted to do, but it was encouraged to make more than one pattern. I made 3 patterns, and used the Junkybit machine. The patterns did not stay the same during the process of making it, and that was for the better. The reason for this is because the pattern either didn't sound right with the machine, or I felt that I could make a more suitable one for it. The patterns may not sound perfect together, but the patterns did have a sense of flow to it, and could even work on their own. This was a great way to introduce this app. If I was given a choice to make a bigger project with this, I would do it as this app can also link up to Garage Band, an app that we use most of the time in this class. I enjoyed this small project, and hope that we can use this app in the future.
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Symphony Pro song
song_of_healing_from_legend_of_zelda.m4a | |
File Size: | 391 kb |
File Type: | m4a |
This project we had to write our own song with Symphony Pro. The song I chose is a personal favorite. It is called The song of healing from the Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. We had to make the song 8 measures long, which was the only requirement that had to be met. The rest of it was to be decided by us. We could have either written our own, or copy what was given to us. I chose to copy one, but not from the one that we were given. I chose to a song that I could make. Making the project wasn't difficult, but there were parts that was upsetting to me. For example, there was no way to slur the measure together as one, instead the notes in that measure had to be slurred separately. There was also a clear lag between the melody, or the main idea of the song, and the harmony, or the supporting part of the song. It was clear at measure 5, where it didn't play the last two notes in the measure, and play a different part that what was written in the bottom section. I don't know how to fix it at the time, and still am unsure how to today. But that isn't what a $15 application should do. It would be a little bit understanding for a free app, but not for one that is 15 dollars, in my opinion. The only problem was the biggest problem, and that was as stated before, the glitch at measure 5. To fix that problem, I tried to delete that section, and replace them. I then tried to getting rid of the slurs, but that too changed nothing. Nothing I did fixed it, which is why I now believe that the app got overloaded with it, which shouldn't happen. Overall, the project was good. I got my song to sound almost how I wanted it too, but with that glitch or lag at measure, it didn't. This is one of the apps that I don't want to go back too. Until the app gets an update, I feel that I would rather use another note writing app that won't glitch up and not play the last notes in the measure, and play what isn't written. Another problem that I will also state is the extension it uses. Now, most music based apps like Garage band, Loopy, DM1, etc. uses the .mp3 or .m4a file extensions. Symphony Pro; however, uses the .sym file extension, an extension most computers don't recognize.
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Chord Bot song
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Last week we had to make a 16 measure using an app called Chord Bot. This app uses chords, and it is very easy to use. This project was easy, and I enjoyed how you can change the instruments and add in a bass line. I liked how the synth sounded, so that is what I used. Same with the electric drums, it sounded perfect together. That is great to see how an app can do that on its own, and makes it feel like one of those apps that can be played around with on someone's free time. Another great thing about it is how you can change the time signature of each section. I kept all of mine at 1/4 time because it worked with my song. The only problem with that is it doesn't a master change function. It means that if you wanted to change the time signature for all the parts, you would have to go through all of them one by one. That isn't a big deal, but it is definitely an inconvenience. This app is very well made, and definitely useful to those who want to make a quick, and easy song. Looking back, I feel that this app is one of my more favorite apps that we have used over the semester. There is nothing that I would change on this project, I like how it turned out, and I like the app overall. Besides having to change the time signature for all by going through each of them separately, Chord Bot works very well, and is definitely easier to use than the other apps on here, like iReal Pro for example.
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iReal pro Song |
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Last week we had to make a song using iReal Pro, much like we had to with Chord Bot. The only thing was that this was done together during class as it was just too hard to do on our own. It was very difficult to use, especially making the notes. It had preset measures, but only at 24 measures and 36 measures, the requirement for us was only 16 measures. The other problem was how it changed a note on me, and always changed it no matter what I did. That note is the F# in measure 6. It is supposed to be an E. I still don't know why it did that, but the app did and continued to do so whenever I changed it. Either than that, the app seemed to work fine. None of the notes sounded out of place besides that F#, and the exporting didn't take a very long time to do, and I only had to change the extension from a .pdf to a .png file so both the Chromebook and weebly would register it. Same with the audio, only had to change the extension file on it. What I really liked about the app is how it showed how to play that note on the piano, or on the guitar. I find that very helpful to those who are new to playing that instrument and what to learn how to play the chords. Writing the music was simplistic, and for an app that is worth $12.99, that is very nice. It is also available on the Android store, and it is the first app that I know that is on both the iTunes and the Android store. Looking back, I feel that this app was both helpful, but is hard but to learn on your own. With its simplicity there is also is difficulty of learning how to use it, which is weird as like stated before, it is a very simplistic application to use.
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Final Project
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As part of our final grade, we had to make our own song using the apps that we covered over the semester, which doesn't seem too hard at first, but it actually is. This is the second project that I hated, and the first one to make me hate using Garageband in general. For one, it wouldn't allow DM1 to be used for the chorus part which we were required to use it on, and I tried everything I could think of. I restarted the app, closed out any other apps that were running, made sure that DM1 wasn't running either, and my last attempt was to even restart the iPad, all of which changed nothing and only made me waste my time. The idea wasn't bad, but there aren't many people out there that can make a song in 3 weeks. Not even famous singers and writers do that, and there's a reason why. The reason why is because writing a song takes more time than that for you want it to sound amazing and good. I already know that I'm the only one in my class who hated this, and I have my reasons. The fact that garage band wouldn't let me use DM1 was ridiculous because why bother giving the user that option when all it will do is mess up, or just not work at all. And for that to be an Apple app really intrigues me. And what makes it even more worse is that if the iPad is to die while you are making it, if you didn't save, you have to restart from where you last saved, and that goes for any app. It is why my lead sheet has little to no notes on there and why the last part of my song sounds rushed because I had to redo all that work in a matter of minutes. There was also no way for me to rewrite those notes as I left my papers home because I thought it saved. To put this into the perspective: most apps save when there is an edit, especially music apps. For example, I have an app called Polaris office, a third party app, and I have done work on it, and whenever I type, the app saves immediately.
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