New Music added by Y12 and 13!!!

Three new tunes have been added today!

Track 6: A2 work in progress by Dean Macgregor...nice arrangement coming along for Dean's "free brief" task - all done on Reason software some lovely instrumentation, harmony and texture in this piece.

Track 7: This is the AS Improvised Arrangement task by Martin Huxley. Very creative and original composition here by Martin, it has a real sense of style and good choice of instrumentation.

Track 8: This is the AS Improvised Arrangement task by Sam Wrangles. An original and imaginative composition. Some great build ups and interesting timbres, definitely some influences from the likes of Portishead and Aphex Twin here, a bit of an epic at present at over 5 minutes...Sam you'll have cut some of your build ups down I think.

Check out the recordings and compositions on the player opposite...

Track 1
Recorded by Robin Andrews for Task 1 (Close-mic recording) A2 Music Tech 2005/2006
Robin's recording of "Milestones" sounds very professional. He recorded the rhythm section (drums, bass, piano and guitar) on the stage in the Stanier Hall (with the curtains closed to deaden the acoustics) then added the sax later. The mix is very well done and has a great "live" feel to it whilst maintaining an excellent balance between instruments.

Track 2
Recorded by Richard Adam for Task 2 (Close-mic recording) AS Music Tech 2006/2007
This was a really good track to record for AS Music Tech because it has simple instrumentation - Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/Bass and Congas. The Guitar was miked up using two Condenser C1000 microphones, This was laid down first then the vocal was overdubbed using the RODE NT2 condenser Mic (+ a Pop Shield of course!)
The Bass was simply DI'd into the audio interface and the congas were recorded last using two condensers pointed at the skins and a kick drum mic underneath to catch the bass frequencies. The mix is very good and all parts can be clearly heard due to good use of EQ and panning. Compression has been used on the vocals and Bass guitar and reverb has been added to vocals, guitar and congas. More reverb was used on the congas to place them further back in the mix.

Track 3
Recorded by Daniel Wilson for Task 2 (Close-mic recording) AS Music Tech 2005/2006
Another successful recording of a Jazz piece again recording the rhythm section on the stage of the Stanier Hall with the curtains closed. Drums are notoriously difficult to record well but Dan has got them sounding really good - a lot of experimentation with mic placement was performed whilst Dan listened through headphones until the kit sounded just right. Getting instruments to sound as good as you can at the recording stage is one of the most important elements in producing a competent recording.

Track 4
Arranged by Robin Andrews for Task 4 (Improvised Arrangement) AS Music Tech 2005/2006
Robin's arrangement of this 80's pop song is a highly polished hard house/trance tune that will really get your woofers moving. Some great use of dynamics - nice mellow build ups compared with the full on "banging" sections. He has researched the style and used the correct instrumentation and structure, it is original and creative and he has paid attention to details - listen to the drum programming from about 1.30 - a great rhythm with some really nice little intricate fills at the end of phrases. The instrumentation fits perfectly with the style - "Phat" Synth Bass (that's fat with a PH) the "choppy" techno-synth sound and the more ambient synth pad sound and correct sounding drum samples. Good use of effects especially delay.