VOCAL FX PROJECT
OBJECTIVES
Students will demonstrate and understanding of the following:
Step 1 - Choose a text to record
Step 7 - Add background music - working with loops
Step 8 - Mixdown and save (turn in by 12:40pm on Sept 17)
RUBRIC - 20 Points
- Download student project handout
- Bear in There example
- Recording with a microphone tutorial
- Using Loops and Library tutorials
OBJECTIVES
Students will demonstrate and understanding of the following:
- basic microphones
- audio signal and setting input levels
- proper recording voice projection
- choosing musical accompaniment appropriate to the text
- balancing a voice over with an underscore/background music
Step 1 - Choose a text to record
- It can be a poem, lyrics to a song, an excerpt from a book, etc...
- Aim for around 45 seconds speaking at a comfortable pace
- Practice reading through your text
- Work out the pacing and be sure you know how to pronounce all the words
- Follow the instructions from recording tutorial
- Speak in a full voice with the microphone close to your mouth
- The louder you speak, the lower you can set the input which will reduce background noise for a "cleaner" recording
- We will take turns using the available microphones
- You do not need to record the whole script in one complete take
- You can go back and "punch in" corrections to mistakes
- You can record phrases several different ways, choose your favorites then piece everything together
- Follow the instructions on the project handout pdf to edit your recording as necessary
- Take some time now to play around with splitting, merging, trimming and deleting
- Go through each of the assignment questions on the project handout about the Effects Plugins
- Reverb, Delay, GSnap Pitch Correction, Adjusting Pitch and Acoustica EQ
- Reverb, Delay, GSnap Pitch Correction, Adjusting Pitch and Acoustica EQ
- Choose 3 effects that are your favorites
- Follow the instructions to mix down each of them to MP3 format
- Save each to your flash drive as VocalFX_LastnameF_A, VocalFX_LastnameF_B, VocalFX_LastnameF_C
- For example VocalFX_ShearerM_A
Step 7 - Add background music - working with loops
- Review the tutorials on working with loops and the library here
- Instrumental tracks work the best for an underscore
- Use your raw recording with maybe a little bit of EQ and reverb
- What style works best with your text? Jazz, Rock, Country, Classical, etc...
- For example, a cool jazz style might work well for a poem...
- Maybe add a drum kit, bass, and a little jazz flute
- Start with the bass, then bring in the drums and finally the flute
- Have them drop out and fade out as you approach the end
- For example, a cool jazz style might work well for a poem...
- Use the envelope or automated volume control to balance all the parts
- A good rule of thumb on the ratio of volume from voice-over to underscore is 2 to 1
- Have a classmate listen to your project and ask for constructive criticism
- Listen for clarity of vocal recording and balance of all parts
Step 8 - Mixdown and save (turn in by 12:40pm on Sept 17)
- Mixdown the project to mp3, save to your flash drive as VocalFX_Final_LastnameF
- Save your project files to your flash drive
- Create new folder on flash drive and name it VocalFX_Final_LastnameF
- In Mixcraft, Click File > Copy Project Files To > Folder
- Locate your flash drive and select folder you just created, Click OK
- Click YES on all the prompts
- Close Mixcraft and give your flash drive to Mr. Shearer
RUBRIC - 20 Points
- Following all instructions and bringing all materials (10)
- 2 point deduction for each day you don't bring materials
- All parts are clear and well balanced (5)
- Underscore is appropriate to the script (5)