Making a 'take-down'
I travel to High Schools in the area and do a presentation on making take-downs. I believe it is beneficial to the students and a opportunity for band directors to take advantage of.
My goal is to get young composers interested in the computer based aspect of composing. With a little guidance, they can begin to feel comfortable operating a music program. Notation software is a benefit which will help aid the composer in sharing his/her music with others. Some of the software can be expensive so it is up to their parents to figure out what is best to do. It is my suggestion that if the student is really interested and truly wants to pursue the interest in composing, then saving up for a program can be very beneficial, there are discounts for students. Most of the techniques here are beginning to middle level, some are frightening advanced, but with enough practice and getting familiar with the program, the student will soon be able to do standard functions that would be asked of in the industry.
If there are any questions regarding equipment or general questions about beginning in the industry please email me at Williamjohnouellette@hotmail.com and I will get back to you or give you the information of someone who will help you. Thank you.
What is a take-down? The reverse engineering of a song back into written form.
What is the objective? To create a track to sound as much like the original as possible.
What are the benefits? Better musicianship skills, quicker operating of software as well as understanding of software compatibility.
What is the goal? To practice listening skills as well as orchestration and software skills.
From audio to the notation program.
Step 1. Pick a piece of music that you're familiar with
that you think will be a challenge to recreate.
Step 2. On a notation program (Sibelius or Finale) open a
tablet that will match the orchestration of the
piece, (ie. Jazz Band, Orchestra)
Step 3. Find out the time signature and tempo of the piece.
Step 4. Find out the key and meter.
Step 5. Listen to find the three layers of music. The fore-
ground, middle-ground and back-ground.
Step 6. Discover the instruments playing the back-ground
and put them into the notation software first.
Step 7. do the same for the middle-ground
Step 8. Do the same for the fore-ground.
*training your ear will take time and practice, it
might take a while to find the right note on the
piano or keyboard. This purpose is to practice
listening and to discipline your ears to
discriminate certain sounds.
Step 9. When all notes are added to the score, add dynamic
markings and accidentals, to recreate a score which
live musicians can read from.
From the notation to the sequencing
Step 1. Save notation as MIDI file.
Step 2. insert MIDI file in blank tablet on sequencer (Cubase, Digital
Performer, Logic) as Type 1
Step 3. If you have sampled sounds or a library of sounds, adjust the
channel to access the sounds.
Step 4. In the key menu, or bar menu, change the bar length to fit the
sound of the instrument.
*This can get advanced, but with enough 'playing around' time
it will become clear what it does.
Step 5. record/write in volume changes to mimic cresc/decresc.
Step 6. Mix the different tracks to create a balance similar to the original.
Step 7. export audio. *this can be different in each program, but each
sequencer has a way of recording the audio on the tracks and
making a single audio file that can play back the song.
Step 8. repeat process and make each approach challenging, make a goal to do it faster.