Instruction - Dread of Extinction

NARRATIVES

The following pages contain detailed instructional explanations of Studio ideas, thoughts, techniques, and processes used in the construction of artwork and media products.





TO JOURNAL

CONTACT

Don Bergland
redjello@shaw.ca

STUDIO NARRATIVES PROJECT

DREAD OF EXTINCTION
EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC

By Don Bergland

This site provides a detailed presentation of the Studio processes used in the construction of the experimental music composition called "Dread of Extinction" (From the Album titled, "Hymns of Apostasy").

Play Composition Here

This piece is based on some of the principles of experimental composition described in the Manifesto of Dark Blues.

This experimental composition was started and completed in the Victoria, BC Studio in May 2015. It was published on SoundCloud as part of an album of experimental compositions called - Hymns of Apostasy (SoundCloud Album Here).

The general playback of the entire composition inside the Audacity environment can be seen in a YouTube presentation (YouTube Channel Link Here).

STUDIO CONSTRUCTION - This composition was constructed using the following Studio components:

-	Warr Guitar (Touchstyle)
-	Software - Finale PrintMusic
-	Software - Audacity - Assembly of all components
-	Software - iPad ThumbJam - Cello
-	Zoom Audio Recorder - Voice Recording
-	Recorded Voice (Don Bergland)
-	YouTube - Metronome Tracks

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2015

1	AUDIO - 022-JAMBLUES

Location - Audio/022-JamBlues

Last Worked on -

I want to start a new composition. Yesterday, I re-loaded ThumbJam for iPad. I played with this program in Los Ayala, many years ago. I'm not particularly enamoured of this item, but it provides some possiblilities for composition. I'm going to try and explore this further and build a composition using it.
I need to set up a key and a bpm. D- 72 bpm
1.	I set up the ThumbJam Cello in D and played some improvisation in a Blues Key.

2.	I emailed this file to myself and then opened it in Audacity.


	Interesting. Now, I'm looking for some other instrumentation.
2.	I grabbed the Warr Guitar, set it up to record into Audacity, and began playing stuff - alternating bass, melody lines.

	I collected these files in the Project Folder.
3.	I then grabbed the iPad/Thumbjam with Cello again, and began working in a Blues Scale. D and G...
	Now, I have some TJCello and Warr Guitar Fragments. I should have some kind of Structure to fit these things into.
4.	The best standard composition program I have is Finale PrintMusic. I launched Finale PM and constructed a 40 bar structure at 72 bpm.
5.	In Finale PrintMusic, I just constructed a basic setup with a few instruments in it.

	I set up the following structure: 1-11 - D 12-27 - G 28-40 - D Then a repeat of the whole thing
6.	Then, using this structure, I just IMPROVISED some notage. Adding, listening, removing.
7.	And then, after too much Burmilla Disturbance, I had a structure that was probably detailed enough. I exported this as an .aiff file and then opened it in Audacity.


	Okay. This is enough for the Foundation. Over 4 minutes long? I may have to cut some out.
8.	I brought the piece into Audacity and saved it as MasterJam01.aup.
9.	I started adding some of the Megatar work.
	It is amazing how I can't keep a proper beat, even with a metronome pounding away.
	I moved some of the bass beats around. In order to make the bass beats correspond with the metronome, I had to cut/paste small sections to lengthen the time within a beat. This leads to some crackling sounds.
	So, I started working with some squeaks, placing these under the Warr bass beats. I like the effect, especially after lowering the pitch of the squeaks.
10.	I installed the TimeTrack and used this for a more pronounced opening.
11.	I added the Cello Thumbjam piece I constructed.
12.	I then decided to copy the first section in C and play it a second time, hopefully giving me a chance to do some vocal work.
13.	AUDACITY CRASHED - Yosemite! Audacity Crashed once again.

14.	So, I restarted Audacity, and after some more fooling around, have something that is going nowhere.


	Ahhh. This is going absolutely nowhere. There are a few places I like, but aside from that, I think it is nonsense.
	I'll have to see what this sounds like tomorrow.

SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2015

2	AUDIO - 022-JAMBLUES

Location - Audio/022-JamBlues

Last Worked on - May 25, 2015

I have a Foundation Track for this, which is at yet still not finished - no conclusion.

I want to work on some strange voicing concepts for this composition. I want the voicing to be realy rough, loose, unorthodox, and strange. I'm going to use the Zoom Recorder and record my own voice.
1.	I turned on the Zoom, and went at it. Crazy. I wish I were alone in the house.

2.	I offloaded the Voicetrack as 022-01.wav.
	Now, what do I do with it?
3.	I'm going to open it in Audacity. I'll take down the amplitude of some sections and clean up the file a bit.


	Yeow! I'm not sure what to think about this. At the moment, I think it is useless experimenation and not appropriate for my objectives. But, I'll try out some stuff before trashing it.
4.	I should look for some GarageBand Effect that might make this better. But first, I want to see if I can figure out how to make myself appear in Harmony using Pitch in Audacity.
5.	I duplicated the Track and accessed Effects/Pitch in Audacity and took it down from B to E.


6.	I duplicated the Track again, and took it UP instead of down.


	This is interesting, but I don't know if it is still what I want. I'm hoping to get something scratchy, gravel laden, blues.
7.	I'm going to offset each of the tracks so the voices sound individual.
8.	I'm going to mix this down to one track so I can use it better.
9.	I added an effect in GarageBand - ElectricGuitar&Bass/CleanBass/BigStack
	Now, I need to see how it sounds with the original Track. I wonder if I should move to the actual Project Folder for this - 022.
10.	I'm going to open the Master Project file, and then just Import the Mixed VoiceTrack I created.
	I have NO idea how I'm going to install or assemble this.
11.	I just listened to the Voicetrack over top of different sections of the instrumental. Then, I just started cutting pieces out of the Voicetrack and re-assembling them in a sequential order.
	I continued this process, cutting out pieces, duplicating them, arranging them. When I discovered a pattern that sounded interesting, I repeated it and enhanced it.
	This is the IMPROVISATIONAL technique in process one more time.
12.	MORE IMPROVISATION AND ASSEMBLY - I started adding other components such as accordion squeaks and pump sounds from the accordion. Also other sound effects from a few other projects.
13.	I kept at this, spending hours in this kind of an Assembly process, adding sounds, moving them, combining and rearranging them. I'm only using my own sense of aesthetic value to determine what is working "for me."
14.	I finally have something that is worth reflection.


	That was interesting. At this point, I'm intrigued with the final production with Voice.
	- The pumps may be too loud. - The Bass may need enhancement
15.	I have to think of a good title for this piece: - Prelude to Despair - Despair Blues - Another Tribulation - Crucible
	I look forward to re-listening to this piece after some time has passed.

SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2015

3	AUDIO - 022-JAMBLUES

Location - Audio/022-JamBlues

Last Worked on - Yesterday, Sat. May 30, 2015

I'm basically interested in this piece the way it is.

I think it needs some enhancements, however.
- The pumps may be too loud. - The Bass may need enhancement
1.	I launched Audacity and opened the Master file for this Project.
2.	I adjusted the Pump Tracks and took volume up on a few voice elements.
3.	I'm going to call it a day on this one and save it as finished.


	Interesting piece. I now have to think of a good name for it.
	This may be the first piece I've finished for the Blues Album.

DREAD OF EXTINCTION - Experimental Music - By Don Bergland

You can explore further Studio Production Instructional Details through Don Bergland's Online Journal