- Understanding what the key commands mean 

- Creating our own western themed song 

Brass

Organ

Telecaster guitar

Tambourine

Liverpool kit

Background music is often referred to as underscoring. It adds to the mood of the scene, reinforcing dramatic developments and aspects of character.

Film music composers often use leitmotifs to help build a sense of continuity. A leitmotif is a recurring musical idea (a melody, chord sequence, rhythm or a combination of these) which is associated with a particular idea, character or place.

Leitmotifs are manipulated to match the action and mood of a scene.

They could be altered by:

Justify your approach to the use of technology when creating musical ideas relating to, or combining with, visual media (e.g. film, games and television).

 Reflect critically on your completed compositional work, using feedback from others and using appropriate musical language (e.g. when referring to aspects such as rhythms, motifs, modes, meter etc).

Successfully communicate ideas and intentions about your compositional work, making reference to client and consumer expectations.

This module follows on from your first year studies in composition and arrangement, this time focussing on composition for visual media. This subject area brings with it distinct challenges for a music composer. A composer for visual media must be able to work collaboratively, taking direction from others in the development of their work. It is also important to understand the emotive impact music can have and how to write music that enhances the viewing experience. Therefore, you will explore the application of compositional tools for specific themes such as horror, romance, drama, sadness, suspense and comedy. There is a strong emphasis on critical thinking and reflection in this module through the study of a wide range of commercial compositional work and analysis of your own work in this context.

After studying this module you should be able to:

Skills, qualities and attributes.
After studying this module you should be able to:
  3.   Reflect critically on your completed compositional work, using feedback from others and using appropriate musical language (e.g. when referring to aspects such as rhythms, motifs, modes, meter etc)
   4.   Successfully communicate ideas and intentions about your compositional work, making reference to client and consumer expectations.

Formative Assessment 1 – Soundtrack and Commentary
Deadline: 11.59pm, December 14th 2018 You will submit a soundtrack composed for visual media with written commentary. Module Outcomes being assessed: 2, 3 and 4
Programme Learning Outcomes being assessed: 1, 3, 7, 9 and 12

Formative Assessment 2 – Case Study analysis
Deadline: 11.59pm, February 3rd 2019 You will submit an initial version of your analysis and research on your chosen case study area. Module Outcomes being assessed: 1
Programme Learning Outcomes being assessed: 1, 2 and 3

Summative Assessment – Soundtrack Portfolio
Deadline: 11.59pm, May 5th 2019 You will submit a portfolio of soundtrack for visual media with accompanying written work and completed case study. Module Outcomes being assessed: 1, 2, 3 and 4 Programme Learning Outcomes being assessed: 1, 2, 3, 7, 9 and 12

Submit a composition you have been working on for visual media. This can be work-in-progress on a brief set. Use Pebble Pad to present your supporting commentary, ensure to cover the following:

Carry out some individual research and analysis into the relationship between music and visual media. This could be a case study into a particular film, game or TV programme, discussing key moments that demonstrate the interactive nature between music and visual, or it may be examples from a specific composer, genre or media type. You need to include reference to current practices within the field and should consider discussing musical elements such as rhythm, melody, harmony and instrumentation. The analysis may be relevant to the content within your own portfolio or be something entirely different. You are encouraged to make use of online resources such as Learning On Screen Box of Broadcasts and YouTube Fandango movieclips.

Submit a portfolio of work that includes music you have been working on throughout the year. The content can be anything that has specifically been composed for a visual media context, e.g. music for games, TV / film, web, animation or even a mobile app. Bespoke briefs may be offered on NOW throughout the year. It is expected that you include completed or updated versions of the work from each formative assessment.

It is essential that you complete the written component of the portfolio as this is what addresses the learning outcomes and therefore enables you to pass the module. Update your Pebble Pad to include discussion of the portfolio as a whole:

Game

Justify your use of technology (MLO 2), discuss highlights or key sounds used in certain projects
Instrumentation and effects

Single note melody patterns are played at the start of the track, I used the plugin Dyna-Trem witch has reverb and panning qualities that have a nice sound overall. Which are then accompanied by a higher melodic guitar pattern that is in unison with the original guitar.
Followed by the bass which had added effects from the plug give it that earthly and mumbly quality. The drums were sourced from the logic drum section in Rock and I used mainly the whole kit. Which structures the track nicely. The majority of this track has been looped but it was intentional, for the gamers to still concentrate on their game.

Critically reflect on the work using feedback from others (MLO 3)

Halo has been inspired by game music, what you would hear as your just about to head into a fight. My brothers feedback mentioned that he plays Black ops 4 which has a similar sound. He explained that there two types of tracks that you hear when playing a game. there's the per battle where you hear music that slow and steady whilst you're waiting for the team members to play with you. Then the battle music, where it's heavy and designed to be like that so your adrenaline is high and you get that rush of winning. With this in mind, i originally planned to use my guitar and play one note melodies. every 4 pars there is a harmony of that initial melody. and it portrays an anxious feeling. Just like you-you preparing for a battle. 

Chernobyl 2019 trailer - https://youtu.be/s9APLXM9Ei8
What type of media would you use this for?
Film - Animation

Justify your use of technology (MLO 2), discuss highlights or key sounds used in certain projects
Instrumentation and effects

The soundscape was the inspiration for this track. Being able to capture space-time in music was what I wanted to do. at the beginning of the track, I used a loop drum kit that was in steady swing and I added a slight echo on bus 2 and bus 3. The later accompanied by a piano synth which was panned from left to right over and over again, making it feel like you were going back and forth in space travel. I then added a low and simple melody pattern which was mixed in the EQ setting to the low end which you can hear as stubby.


Critically reflect on the work using feedback from others (MLO 3)

The majority of the feedback, people enjoyed the easy listening aspect to it, and it made it a nice background soundtrack that wouldn't be too intimidating. 

When I was researching this type of move genre i noticed the similar patterns and instrument used, Typically in drama movie trailers you get intense sections and melodic sections that would consist of an orchestral string section that would act as an intense and emotional outlook of the storyline I used plugins and send Bus 4 on strings to give extra reverb and a fuller sound. I incorporated a piano and used the Curve tool to slowly decrease the volume at the end of the trailer.

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Critically reflect on the work using feedback from others (MLO 3)

Over the weeks I've been asking for feedback from my peers, what was good and what I could improve on. This is what they said...

I took the feedback and incorporated this into my work. I changed the bass line to make it more simplistic to the start of the track and added reverb while using a different plugin to make the bass sound more rich and fuller in sound/texture. I also incorporated sound effects they were used from the Logic Pro x loops, in my opinion, the need work by adding delay and reverb but ideally, I do want to create my own. I also want to add a reverse crash symbol to add gradual emotional effect.  

​​​​​​​Originally I had a string section that sounds odd and out of time and overall sounded horrible, so some of my feedback include to remake the section and add reverb and use the send patch on bay 4 for a fuller sound. I also added higher sting harmonies with help with the dynamics and texture of the overall sound. 

When Comparing both the old and new tracks you can tell that I remade the whole ending again, this time with a more appropriate composition that suited the visuals. Originally I used uplifting chords and strings which sounded very common, and in my opinion and others, found that the only good aspect of the original section was the strings and even they were heavily added. I knew I could improve and get the best composition that fitted this scene. I looked through my composition track that I've been working on throughout this year, and I came across a demo called "Atmos" It was a short electronic/ atmospheric aura. When listening to it I suddenly realised that it reminded me of compositional work you would hear from TV/Film especially Casulity. I wanted to incorporate this separate track and make it apart of this bigger project. From the feedback that I've got form my peer and other influences in the industry, they loved how slow it progressed each bar had a new element added and they said it worked for the hospital scenes, It as also a sense of dread when listening to it. They especially loved the dramatic, Drum patterns that kicks in after the dramatic pause. 

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Overall this project was quite successful yet challenging, as a singer/songwriter you're always in the same routine of composing music with a specific melody line and chord structure and can be quite repetitive and boring, However this project pulled me out of my comfort zone to think outside the box, doing this gave me a bigger understanding of how important and relevant music is for visual media. I'm hoping I can gain some more experience and learn a different way of mixing and mastering my work in the future. Using feedback to alter and rearrange this project helped me look at this from another point of view, I found I fascinating how my adjustment really transformed this piece to something I'm really proud of.

Feedback Original Track - Tutor
Piano texture at the beginning is very effective at creating a 'busy' vibe. The timing isn't completely tight either - is this intentional? Consider balancing instrument (device) volume with lower velocities as some notes sound quite forced.

It would be worth commenting on your piano version as an alternative to the song in the reflection - look to improve the production sound, it might be worth adding electric guitar and drums to emphasise the energy and give it more punch.

You're using 7th chords and ending on a minor chord, is this 3-chord harmony sequence as effective?

Mood change within the sequence shows thought to narrative with a good continuity achieved, both sonically and tonally - the Meditation Drone works excellently as a link sound between the sections.   

Good justification of technology choices against your intentions and trailer context given throughout. Support your analytical comments on trailers by including some examples.

You've not saved a complete Logic project folder - ensure to include all the assets when archiving.


Feedback New Track - Peers 
The first half of the trailer (Happy Social scene) 
On the first section put the drums up a bit - done  
and add bass to give a more uplifting feel - done  
and strings overall list - I didn't add because it was too busy, distracted the audience
close the hihats on the intro - I took out the hihats at the start for a simpler rhythm 

the second scene (kids on the ice)  
Keep it on the beat - I didn't do that, I personally think having a heavy dragging synth adds to the tension 
Sub bass for more drama - done  

Emotional end piece string
overlap the strings to sound more real. - done also added extra reverb and also added double bass