Project Title: Singing and Mixing using ProTools software
My essential question(s): How can I create an EP of 4 songs and learn how to properly mix them on my own? How can I become a better singer and melody writer in the limited time we have to work?
Statement of purpose: I am doing an independent art (music) project. My interest in music only started a year ago and with the help of my already experienced dad, I have already come a long way. This is the perfect time for myself to get even better at singing and recording my voice, to get better at creating melodies that sound good, and to finally start learning how to properly mix vocals. This is the link to the hundreds of courses and classes that will be accessible to myself during this time: https://www.lynda.com/Pro-Tools-tutorials/Audio-Mixing-Master-Class/474059-2.html Although I have my father as backup support and for a helpful set of ears to give constructive feedback, through spending quality time listening, working and watching how experts mix their songs with the Audio Mixing Mastering Class, I will be able to link more like a producer while continuing to create my music.
Overview: For my project, I will be finding instrumental loops (already found) that will lead me to successful record and mix my vocals to creating an EP of 4 well constructed songs. In addition to admiring both my father and mother as musicians, my music inspirations come from two specific artists, The Kid Laroi and Don Toliver. I admire the melodies they come up with and the passion they give in recording their voices. Throughout this process I will be studying and learning the aspects of mixing with ProTools online and will use that to mix my own songs once I have record my chorus and extra verses.
Measure my success: First, my success will be measured by knowing that I have completed four well constructed songs that I am happy with, and possibly even more songs if I can. With the help of Nick Wight, I will also be able to get feedback from a music teacher at our school each week to know if I am at a good place with my music.
Resource List: I will be listing to the Song Exploder podcast as well as taking mixing courses that specifically go over the proper way to mix with ProTools. More specifically, this is an online Audio Mixing Master Class that exposes me to many different courses I can take. For example, 1 of the courses I will take is called “ProTools: AudioSuite Plugins”, another is called, “A Mix Engineer’s Glossary of Techniques”. Topics range from learning about ways to use reverb on your voice, using compression like many successful artists, explains how to give your voice a powerful and punchy mix. What makes taking these courses useful is that I am not exposed to just one aspect of mixing, but I can learn about all the different plugins, why they are helpful and what they do to make your voice even better. These can be hands-on mixing exercises designed to make you listen and work like a music pro. This whole course is a 10 hour course. I will split up the times evenly throughout our senior project time to get the most information and learn from these courses, and take that into my independent work in the studio. With these two resources, along with my mentor for this project, Nick Wight, and my father for support if needed, I believe I have a good path ahead of me to come out of this project successfully with 4 complete songs.
Daily Plan: I will be working in my studio recording space everyday for a minimum of 4 hours devoted to getting the best takes of my voice and to construct each song. I will also spend an hour a day taking a course to help with the production side of my project. Lastly, I will spend another two hours a week listening to the Song Exploder podcast to understand the route they take to create their music.
Documentation: I will use written reflections to document my work and share my songs to the public so others can see what I have constructed. Also, I hope to create a short movie with video clips of me working in the studio. Some with Marlowe Glass (my friend who I started this music passion with) and some with me working with my father.
Materials: I need no further materials for my project.