Week 5: Time & Budget

Sound Studio 1
This Week
Today:
1. part one
a. AI in the studio
b. Time-budget considerations
c. show your homework
2. part two
a. DAW Level UP
b. In-class project
3. part three
a. Assignment
b. go over class projects
useful terms

mixing (audio) -
process of combining
multiple sounds into one
or more channels. usually
two (stereo out)

● volume levels over time

(dynamics)
● frequency content
● spatial position (panning)
useful terms

mastering (audio) -
process of preparing a
final mix with the
complete, finished work in
mind.

● make all the tracks on the album

sound right when played in
succession
● finishing touches on final
outcome
 AI in the recording studio
● not all about replacing
humans
● mastering tracks
● cleaning up old recordings
 AI in the recording studio
● not all about replacing
humans
● mastering tracks
● cleaning up old recordings
● Now & Then by the Beatles
○ 1970s: John Lennon’s
home demo tape
 AI in the recording studio
● not all about replacing
humans
● mastering tracks
● cleaning up old recordings
● Now & Then by the Beatles
○ 1970s: John Lennon’s
home demo tape
 AI in the recording studio
● not all about replacing
humans
● mastering tracks
● cleaning up old recordings
● Now & Then by the Beatles
○ 1970s: John Lennon’s
home demo tape
○ 1994: 2 out of the 3 songs
 AI in the recording studio
● not all about replacing
humans
● mastering tracks
● cleaning up old recordings
● Now & Then by the Beatles
○ 1970s: John Lennon’s
home demo tape
○ 1994: 2 out of the 3 songs
○ 2023: Now and Then
Time & Budget
No Country for Old Men (2007)

● watch and listen for the music

Time & Budget
No Country for Old Men (2007)

● watch and listen for the music

● did you hear it?
● by Carter Burwell
○ only 16 minutes of music
total in the film
○ mostly in credits
○ ambient, low tones here
○ let’s listen starting at
where it begins
 ● time/budget considerations (pros & cons)
DAWs, soft synths, sampled instruments
Time & Budget ○
■ as mentioned in week 2:
■ Hans Zimmer - Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
■ modern electronic sounds: some are better than others
● big drums
● loud low brass
● screechy & staccato strings
● harps, clarinets, french horn chords, etc.
Limitations
“In order to achieve great works,
two things are needed: a plan, Limitations
and not quite enough time.” -
Leonard Bernstein
 “The enemy of art is the
absence of limitations.” -
Limitations
Orson Welles

● Orson Welles on Citizen Kane

● Peter Gabriel’s drummer
● my own experience (2013 project)
● George R.R. Martin
Limitations
○ Game of Thrones author
○ old DOS pc using WordStar 4.0
○ no internet, no graphics, no
distractions
 Limitations
1. What are some limitations your
favorite musicians use to be creative?
(knowingly or not)
2. What other ways can you think of to
keep your music budget down?
Time & Budget - Summary
● manage time
○ start music early in process
● use available tools
○ learn DIY methods
○ AI tools
○ etc.
● go MINIMAL
● impose LIMITATIONS on what you use
● ask friends to help
● record/produce in house
● ?
Time & Budget
No Country for Old Men (2007)

● watch and listen for the music

● did you hear it?
● by Carter Burwell
○ only 16 minutes of music
total in the film
○ mostly in credits
○ ambient, low tones here
○ let’s listen starting at
where it begins
● for practice, I tried to remove it
and do my own, but the original
is better
 Music Recording Tricks
Part 2: Bouncing

1. Bouncing tracks
2. In-class project
a. bounce and master

Let’s get started!

 Bouncing tracks
● aka “Mixing down”
○ multiple tracks to one stereo track
● used to be called “ping-ponging”

1 - drums 1 1 - drums 1 1 - [empty]

2 - drums 2 2 - drums 2 2 - [empty]

3 - bass 3 - bass 3 - [empty]

4 - [empty] 4 - drums & bass 4 - drums & bass

 Bouncing tracks
● aka “Mixing down”
○ multiple tracks to one stereo track
● used to be called “ping-ponging”

1 - [empty] 1 - rhythm guitar 1 - [empty] 1 - vocals

2 - [empty] 2 - keyboards 2 - [empty] 2 - guitar solo

3 - [empty] 3 - [empty] 3 - rhythm/kbd 3 - rhythm/kbd

4 - drums & bass 4 - drums & bass 4 - drums & bass 4 - drums & bass
1 - vocals 1 - [empty] backing vocals?
a string section?
2 - guitar solo 2 - [empty] sound effects?
a sitar?
3 - rhythm/kbd 3 - [empty] anything!
4 - drums & bass 4 - whole band
 ● find your “Score This Picture” piece in
5 minute Bandlab
In-class PoC ● Mix it down to WAV
Mastering in Bandlab ○ (ask me why)
● Start a new project (+Create)
with AI tools ● Import above WAV as only track
● add Effects to it (as you like)
○ EQ, a touch of reverb, anything
● Use Mastering tool
○ ...
○ Mastering
○ download as MP3
● Upload to “In class PoC: Mastering”
 Sound Studio 1
Part 3: Assignment & today’s project

1. Next week’s assignment

2. Listen to today’s work

Let’s get started!

 Assignment:
#5: Score This Title
 Next week:

● Live vs Studio
Music
Thank you!