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Unit 01
Set up and operate audio /
MIDI sequencing software

Name _________________________

Tutor Group ____________________


Assignment Content:
Task: Narrated Soundscape Design
Assessment Criteria - 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7
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Unit 01 Set up and operate audio/MIDI sequencing software

What youve done to show this Portfolio
page
number
Additional
links to
evidence
IM/EM signature if
sampled
You will: Be able to set up a software based audio/MIDI sequencing system
You can:
1.1 Select and launch
appropriate sequencing
software



1.2 Connect peripheral MIDI
hardware to a computer
using appropriate interfaces

1.3 Connect audio sources to a
computer using appropriate
interfaces



1.4 Configure software
preferences to correctly
route MIDI inputs and
outputs



1.5 Configure software
preferences to correctly
route audio inputs and
outputs

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Unit 01 Set up and operate audio/MIDI sequencing software

You will: Be able to operate a software based audio/MIDI sequencing system
You can:
2.1 Create new sequencing
projects

2.2 Add and delete sequencer
tracks

2.3 Describe the key differences
between audio and MIDI
tracks

2.4 Load pre-recorded audio
onto audio tracks

2.5 Record new audio onto
audio tracks from external
sources

2.6 Select instruments/voices for
MIDI tracks

2.7 Record MIDI information to
MIDI tracks using a MIDI
controller

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Narrated Soundscape Project
Objective:
To create a recording that combines some music or sound effects with spoken
recorded audio and some aspects of MIDI performance.
Background:
In a world of fast moving deadlines it is commonplace for media projects to feature
some pre-recorded material, some MIDI information, and some new recordings in a
variety of combinations in order to deliver the work on time and on budget.
In this project you will combine a pre-existing audio bed (which could either be a
sound effects bed such as the Bridge of the USS Enterprise, or a musical bed such as
Adagio for Strings) with a brand-newly recorded spoken audio reading of a poem.
You will then add some sound effects which are triggered through the MIDI controller.
Tips:
All video tutorials and files for this unit are available on the Frog VLE
Subjects / Expressive Arts / Music Technology / NCFE Music Technology / Unit 01:
Set up and operate audio/MIDI sequencing software



For each part of this unit there are three resources that you will need to use in
conjunction with each other:
1. This work booklet must be kept up to date as you complete the work,
recording all evidence on pages 2 and 3.
2. The evidence PowerPoint which can be downloaded from the VLE. When the
unit is complete you will need to print the pages marked with this symbol:
3. The video tutorials and other resources are available on the Frog VLE.


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Process:
1. Log in to your user profile and also log into the Coombeshead Academy VLE.
(tick when complete)


2. Navigate to Subjects / Expressive Arts / Music Technology / NCFE Music
Technology / Tutorial Videos then load the Frog webpage called 01. Course
Setup and watch the tutorial video. Then set up your H:\ drive folder structure
to match that shown on the video.


3. Watch the tutorial video called 02. Setting Up A Project and load the software
depending on which room you are in. If you are in A8 then you need to load
Cubase 7:
Start > All Programs > Curriculum Areas > Music > Cubase 7
If you are in IT4 then you need to load Mixcraft 6:
Start > All Programs > Curriculum Areas > Music > Mixcraft 6
[Whilst navigating the Start Menu, take a screenshot / print screen of the
menu navigation and add it to slide 5 of your evidence PowerPoint

] (1.1)


4. Carefully place an M-Audio Keystudio MIDI keyboard on the desk next to your
computer and connect the USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable to the keyboard
and the computer [take a photograph of this connection and add it to slide 3
of your evidence PowerPoint

]. (1.2)


5. On the following page, draw cable diagrams to show how you would connect
three different MIDI devices to a computer. (1.2)


6. On the page after that, draw cable diagrams to show how you would connect
audio instruments such as a bass guitar or a microphone to a computer
through an USB audio interface. (1.3)
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7. With your DAW (digital audio workstation) software loaded, first watch the
tutorial video 03. MIDI Setup and Recording then adjust your settings so that you
can hear in your headphones if you press a key on the keyboard
[Whilst adjusting your MIDI settings, take a screenshot / print screen of the
menu navigation and add it to slide 7 of your evidence PowerPoint

] (1.4)

8. Watch the tutorial video 04. Audio Setup and Recording then adjust your
settings so that you can hear any audio file (samples, loops, previews) in your
headphones.
[Whilst adjusting your audio settings, take a screenshot / print screen of the
menu navigation and add it to slide 9 of your evidence PowerPoint

] (1.5)

9. Watch the video tutorial 01. Course Setup and create a new project file as per
the demonstration. Save the project as [Student name Unit 01].
[Whilst adjusting your audio settings, take a screenshot / print screen of
the menu navigation and add it to slide 11 of your evidence PowerPoint

] (2.1)

10. As per the 01. Course Setup video tutorial, add two new audio tracks (1 stereo
and 1 mono if applicable) to your project file.
[After adding your audio tracks, take a screenshot / print screen of the
menu navigation and add it to slide 13 of your evidence PowerPoint

] (2.2)


11. Answer the question below:
What are the key differences between an audio track and a MIDI track?





(2.3)

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12. Navigate to the VLE folder
Subjects / Expressive Arts / Music Technology / NCFE Music
Technology / Unit 01: Set up and operate audio/MIDI sequencing software
/ Audio files to import
and download a suitable audio file to serve as a background bed for your
recording. Remember that having the sound of a low bass rumble in the
background will produce a very different mood in your final piece to a quiet
piece of piano music so choose carefully. Save your audio file into the Unit 01
folder on your H:\ drive.

13. Watch the tutorial video 05. Importing Pre-existing Audio Files then import your
downloaded background sound into your project.
[After importing your audio file, take a screenshot / print screen of the
project window and add it to slide 15 of your evidence PowerPoint

] (2.4)

14. Watch the tutorial video 04. Audio Setup and Recording then connect the
microphone to the computer as per point 1.3 above.

15. Record into the empty audio track a spoken voice over, using the poem shown
below. Make sure that the levels of volume are not too high/low.
[After recording your audio file, take a screenshot / print screen of the
project window with the recorded waveform visible and add it to slide 17 of
your evidence PowerPoint

] (2.5)

The waves quietly lapped onto the shore. High above, birds
were singing as a new day dawned. As a man walked down
the beach, his breath frosted in the cool air, and he looked
around at the calm scene around him and smiled.
Suddenly, a loud gunshot broke the stillness. The man folded
like a house of cards; his ears pounding with the sound of his
own heartbeat. In the distance he heard a helicopter coming
closer as he started to drift away. As he lost more of himself,
he faintly heard his telephone ringing but would never again
be able to speak...

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16. Watch the tutorial video 02. Setting Up A Project then add between 5 10
Virtual Instrument channels to your project file.
[After adding your MIDI tracks, take a screenshot / print screen of the
project window and add it to slide 19 of your evidence PowerPoint

] (2.2)


17. Read / listen to the poem again. There are some highlighted key words that
also feature as general MIDI (GM) sounds see GM table below. Watch the
tutorial 03. MIDI Setup and Recording and assign either suitable GM sounds to
some of your MIDI channels, or add appropriate sound effects instruments.
[After adding your MIDI tracks, take a screenshot / print screen of the
project window and add it to slide 21 of your evidence PowerPoint

] (2.6)


18. When the highlighted word is said in the recorded audio track, record a sound
using the MIDI keyboard which goes with it. An exemplar track is on the VLE. Do
this for each of the highlighted words (pay particular attention to the volume
level of each sound).
[After recording your MIDI tracks, take a screenshot / print screen of the
project window and add it to slide 23 your evidence PowerPoint

] (2.7)


19. Watch the video 06. Mixing and Exporting Final Projects then check that the
final mix between all tracks is balanced and has a sense of unity.


20. Save your work to your H:\ drive as a project file and export your final mixdown
as an .mp3 file.

21. Ensure that all parts of this booklet are completed and signed off by your
teacher(s) which includes the process sheets and evaluation questions. Print all
of the slides from your evidence PowerPoint which contain the symbol below.
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Recording + Producing Process:
In your log sheets ensure you write down all the details concerning your recording process.
In this section below you need to attach any images / screen-prints which are necessary to
evidence the process you have gone through to achieve your final mix.



















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Evaluation
Answer the questions below:
1. How effective is your final mix?



2. Did everything go to plan?



3. Did you have enough time to produce your recording?



4. What problems occurred during this task?



5. What did you do to overcome these problems?



6. What improvements could you make if you were to do this unit again?



7. Which part of your final mix is particularly satisfying?