SOUNDTRACK PROJECT
You will write a soundtrack and voice-over to a "scary" movie trailer.
Assigned on 10/7
Project due TBD
PROCEDURE
1. Setup a New Project in Mixcraft
2. Import the Video File
3. Begin by Adding Sound Effects. Every action you see should have a sound effect!
4. Create a spooky bass line for the video.
5. Improvise and Compose note clusters and chords with the Impulse Synth.
6. Write a Short Narration for the video.
7. Record your narration on the audio track using a microphone and audio interface.
8. Make your voice spooky.
9. Add reverb and effects for each instrument.
10. Mix and balance all the audio tracks.
11. Add video FX
12. Refine the production
13. Mix down your movie
RUBRIC (100 points)
You will write a soundtrack and voice-over to a "scary" movie trailer.
Assigned on 10/7
Project due TBD
PROCEDURE
1. Setup a New Project in Mixcraft
- Video Track checked
- Three Virtual Instrument Tracks
- Two Audio Tracks
- Snap Setting: Snap Off
- Mode: Time
- Label the first virtual instrument track "Spooky Bass"
- Label the second virtual instrument track "Spooky Chords"
- Label the third virtual instrument track "Sound Effects"
- Label the first audio track "Narration"
- Label the second audio track "Sound Effects"
- Add additional tracks as needed. Each instrument should be on it's own track!
- Save project as SoundtrackFright_LastnameF
2. Import the Video File
- Download the Video and save it to your project folder (SoundtrackFright_LastnameF)
- Select Video > Add a Video File and locate the video entitled Video for Marathon of Fright.
- Click Show Video Window in the track's name bar.
- Press Play and watch the video.
- Adjust the size of the video window to fit your work space.
3. Begin by Adding Sound Effects. Every action you see should have a sound effect!
- Check that the timeline view is set to Time (not Beats)
- Write down the time and describe action you see on the video
- Look for Sound Effects in Mixcraft and add them at appropriate moments in video.
- You can use Loops or Record them with VST instruments.
- You may record your own sound effects with a microphone directly.
- You may record your own sound effects with the portable recorder.
- Add more sound effects tracks as necessary.
- Organize the sound effect tracks in Mixcraft by creating a group if necessary.
- KEEP YOUR PROJECT ORGANIZED
- STOP - Have Mr. Shearer review your project.
4. Create a spooky bass line for the video.
- Use your Imagination! Explore sounds in the Alien Bass Synthesizer
- Think of the type of music that might go well with the video. Horror movie soundtracks are full of spooky sounds and low, slow notes that gradually get faster as tension builds. (Think of the theme from Jaws, for example.)
- Click the Piano icon in the name bar of one of the Instrument tracks, select the second option in the left pane,
<VSTi Instruments>, and select Alien 303 Bass Synthesizer. The window will open to show the Alien 303 listed in the virtual instrument details section. Play some notes on your MIDI keyboard, and you should be able to hear the Alien 303 through your headphones. - Try some of the presets or press Edit beside the listed presets, and you will l see the controls for the Alien 303 itself.
- Choose a sound you can work with and tweak some of the knobs to shape your own sound.
- Press Play and compose/improvise some low, slow sounds on your MIDI keyboard as you watch the video.
- Speed up your music as the movie progresses.
- When you are ready to record, arm the track, press Rewind to Beginning and then Record, and perform your composition/improvisation along with the video.
- Re-record, cut, paste, punch in as needed.
- STOP - Have Mr. Shearer review your project.
5. Improvise and Compose note clusters and chords with the Impulse Synth.
- Record them on the Spooky Chords track.
- Click the Piano icon in the second Instrument track and select Impulse from the <VSTi Instruments> category. Try some presets by playing your MIDI keyboard or use the Edit button to bring up the Impulse interface.
- Try playing several notes together to see what happens in Impulse. Press Play and compose/improvise some note clusters and chords on your MIDI keyboard as you watch the video.
- Try using a chord progression to make an interesting musical accompaniment.
- STOP - Have Mr. Shearer review your project.
6. Write a Short Narration for the video.
- Use your imagination. You are trying to convince people to come and see your movie. You have to make the story sound spooky and mysterious.
- Write a short narration for the movie trailer for The Marathon of Fright. You can use some of the passages that you read on the screen during but your narration must have more original material than what is used from the screen.
- Be concise - This is a short trailer, and it is better to leave short gaps in the narration than to have too much material you need to squeeze in. When there are gaps in the narration, there should be something interesting happening in the soundtrack.
7. Record your narration on the audio track using a microphone and audio interface.
- You are not required to record your own voice, but you need to record someone!
- It is wiser (though slower) to record the script in short sections than to do so in one long take.
- After the script is recorded, you can move the sections into the correct place on the timeline.
- The thumbnails on the Video track will help you place your narration clips in the correct place.
- STOP - Have Mr. Shearer review your project and have a classmate critique your project.
8. Make your voice spooky.
- Add sound effects to make your voice sound deep and menacing. but still clear and understandable.
- Add a compressor to your recorded Audio track to smooth out your voice.
- Add some reverb and EQ to make your voice sound big and spooky. Try dropping the pitch down by different intervals.
- No matter what you do, be sure that the script is very easy to understand. Have someone else listen to it.
9. Add reverb and effects for each instrument.
- Listen to your work so far. Add some reverb and other effects in the FX chain for each of your instruments.
- Automate some volume changes by using the automation lanes and experiment with automating some panning settings.
- You can add a lot of atmosphere to your soundtrack by making your sounds move between the left and right channels.
10. Mix and balance all the audio tracks.
- Use the Mixer tab to mix your movie soundtrack together.
- While you mix, you should probably hide the video window so you can concentrate on listening to how the sounds balance together.
- Make sure the voice is heard at all times and be prepared to cut the sounds of the instruments so that the listener can hear the narration clearly.
- Have a friend listen to make sure the voice is audible throughout the soundtrack.
- STOP - Have Mr. Shearer review your project and have a classmate critique your project.
11. Add video FX
- Click the automation button and look at all video FX. Experiment.
- You must use at least one video effect that enhances the overall production.
- i.e. Don't just make it black and white for the sake of having a video effect.
- STOP - Have Mr. Shearer review your project.
12. Refine the production
- Make sure the video (and soundtrack) does not begin or end in an awkward manner.
- A fade in might help, but may not be necessary
- A fade out at the end is almost necessary unless you can end it appropriately another way
- Have a classmate critique your project and make adjustments/changes.
13. Mix down your movie
- Select File > Mix Down To > AVI > SoundtrackFrightAVI_LastnameF
- You will now be able to watch the completed video on your computer using Windows Media Player or QuickTime.
- It will be fun to project the movie from the computer to the big screen and play the soundtrack through the classroom speakers.
- Copy Project Files To folder on your flash drive named SoundtrackFright_LastnameF and submit to Mr. Shearer
RUBRIC (100 points)
- 15 - Following project instructions
- 25 - Project has original composed music
- 25 - Project has narration and/or a significant amount of voice-over audio
- 10 - Video has been edited and/or has effects
- 25 - Originality/Creativity