Structure Session 7

Date: 30 December 2009 (Tues)
Time: 9.30am - 10.30pm
Venue: TRCC Music Studio 2
Team member present: Zachary, Hui Zhi, Joyce, Shirley
Absentee: Chun Kiat

1. Objective of session:
a. Finish up the last structure patch for Slenthem and Gender
b. Finish mixing all our compositions using the patches we completed.
c. To do a check on all the structure patches

Structure: Hui Zhi - Slenthem & Gender (12 TET and Pelog version DONE
- to do a final round of checks for all structure patches, using a new Protools session: DONE

Composition: Zachary - mixing for both PELOG compositions DONE
Composition: Zachary - bounce out Chun Kiat's 12 TET composition DONE
Composition: Shirley - mixing for her 12 TET composition DONE

2. Difficulties faced:
- No difficulties faced.

3. Reflections/Comments:
Hui Zhi - All structure patches are finally completed! (:

5. The meeting ahead: No meeting ahead
Note to all: Please hand up the completed version of your allocated report section, to Zachary by this FRIDAY 1 Jan 2010. Happy New Year in advance!

Structure Session 6

Date: 29 December 2009 (Mon)
Time: 9.30am - 7.30pm (Structure and Composition)
Venue: TRCC Music Studio 2
Team member present: All Present

1. Objective of session:
a. Continue on Structure and Composition
b. FYP discussion about team report and schedule/plans before deadline

Structure:
Hui Zhi
- Saron family clean up, double check: DONE
- Gong editing + normalization: DONE

Joyce
- Gender and Slenthem Editing + Normalization: DONE
- Help with blog entries

Composition:
Zachary
- Two Pelog compositions: To be continued

Chun Kiat
- One 12 TET composition: DONE
- PDF guide (documentation): To be continued

Shirley
- One 12 TET composition: To be continued

2. Difficulties faced:
a. Structure for pelog scale was wrong. It was detune to a western scale. BIG MISTAKE!

- Solution: delete and patch it again. Simple! =)

3. Minutes of meeting:
a. Each of us are tasked with different areas of the team report

Introduction: Zachary, Joyce
Project Specification and plan: Zachary, Hui Zhi
Process analysis: Chun Kiat
Explanation of miking techniques plus photographs: Hui Zhi, Zachary
Explanantion of programming and editing: Shirley
Four gamelan compositions and PDF guide: Chun Kiat, Zachary, Shirley
Writing of research and references: Zachary

*All structure are to be completed by 30 Dec
*Team report is to be completed by 1 Jan
*Mixing of compositions are to be done by 30 Dec

4. Reflections/Comments:
Hui Zhi - It's clearer now that we have plans and have assigned various tasks for each of us to complete by the end of the week. It's also quite an achievement that we completed Bonang, Gong, Saron patches within 2 days.

5. The meeting ahead: 30 December 2009 (Wed)
a. Finish up the last structure patch for Slenthem and Gender
b. Finish mixing all our compositions using the patches we completed.
c. Team report to be discuss again
d. To do a check on all the structure patches

Structure session 5

Date: 28 December 2009 (Mon)
Time: 10am -5.30pm (Structure and Composition)
Venue: TRCC Music Studio 2
Team member present: Chun Kiat, Joyce, Hui Zhi, Zachary
Absentee: Shirley


1. Objective of session:
Continue on Structure

Structure - Hui Zhi (Bonang)
Blog - Joyce
Composition - Zachary (pelog)
Composition - Chun Kiat (12 TET)


2. Difficulties faced:
- No difficulties faced.

3. Reflections/Comments:
- There are still alot left to do, but we only left with 3 more days. JIA YOU! =)

4. The meeting ahead: 29 December 2009 (Tue)
Continue on structure. Both pelog and 12 TET. Composition must be done by then. Having Meeting to discuss about deadlines and documentation.

Amen.

Structure Session 4

Date: 23 December 2009 (Wed)
Time: 10am -9.30pm (Structure and Composition)
Venue: TRCC Music Studio 1 & 2
Team member present: All present

1. Objective of session:
Continue on Structure

Structure - Hui Zhi (Saron family), 12 TET and Pelog versions, DONE.
Structure - Joyce (Bonang), Cut and splice, Maxim and Normalization
Structure - Zachary (tuning for bonang)
Composition - Zachary (pelog)
Composition - Chun Kiat (12 TET)
Conposition - Shirley (12 TET)

2. Difficulties faced:- No difficulties faced.

3. Reflections/Comments:
- Joyce is tone deaf!! (BY JOYCE.)

4. The meeting ahead: 28 December 2009 (Mon)
Continue on structure. Both pelog and 12 TET.

Amen.

Structure Session 3

Date: 22 December 2009 (Tue)
Time: 9.30am -6.30pm (Structure Composition)
Venue: TRCC Music Studio 1 & 2
Team member present: Zachary, Hui Zhi, Chun Kiat
Absentees: Shirley and Joyce(Sick)

1. Objective of session:
Continue on Structure

Structure - Hui Zhi (Continue on Saron family), Cut and splice (Saron demung)
Structure - Chun Kiat (Gong)
Composition - Zachary

2. Difficulties faced:
- No difficulties

3. Reflections/Comments:
-

4. The meeting ahead: 23 December 2009 (Mon)
Structure

Amen.

6th Actual Recording

Date: 18 December 2009 (Thurs)
Time: 9.30am -6.30pm (Recording and Structure)
Venue: TRCC Music Studio 1 & 2
Team member present: All Present

1. Objective of session:

Instrument recorded: Saron (Demung)
Dynamics: Soft, Medium, Loud, Muted - played with 3 different mallets

Talent: Joyce
Chief Engineer: Shirley
Blog: Hui Zhi
Structure: Zachary(Gong); Chun Kiat (Slenthem and Gender)

2. Difficulties faced:

a. smooth

3. Reflections/Comments:
- Talent is not an easy job!

4. The meeting ahead: 21 December 2009 (Mon)

Structure all the way!


Amen.

Structure session 2

Date: 17 December 2009 (Wed)
Time: 9.30am -6.30pm (Structure)
Venue: TRCC Music Studio 1 & 2
Team member present: Zachary, Chun Kiat and Hui Zhi
Absentees: Joyce and Shirley

1. Objective of session:

Structure:

Hui Zhi – Continue Saron Family
Zachary – Gong
Chun Kiat – Slenthem and Gender

2. Difficulties faced:

a. smooth

3. Reflections/Comments:
-

4. The meeting ahead: 18 December 2009 (Thurs)

To completed Saron(demung) and structure



amen.

5th Actual Recording

Date: 16 December 2009 (Tue)
Time: 9.30am -6.30pm (Recording and Structure)
Venue: TRCC Music Studio 1 & 2
Team member present: All present

1. Objective of session:

Instrument recorded: Saron (Demung) and Gong
Dynamics: Soft, Medium, Loud, Muted - played with 3 different mallets

Talent: Shirley
Chief Engineer: Chun Kiat
Structure: Hui Zhi (Saron family) ; Joyce (Gender editing)

2. Difficulties faced:

a. Jammerz Arena having practice and it could be captured.

- There is no solution to this as they have different batch playing at different time throughout the whole day. Thus, Saron(demung)’s recording is not completed and will only resume on 18 Dec.

3. Reflections/Comments:
-

4. The meeting ahead: 17 December 2009 (Wed)
Do structure for the recorded instruments, Gong, Saron family, Slenthem and Gender.

Amen.

Structure Session 1

Date: 15 December 2009 (Mon)
Time: 10.30am -7.30pm (Structure and composition)
Venue: TRCC Music Studio 1 & 2
Team member present: Zachary, Hui Zhi, Chun Kiat, Joyce
Absentee: Shirley

1. Objective of session:

Structure: Hui Zhi (Check Saron Peking); Joyce (Check Saron Barung)
Composition: Chun Kiat & Zachary

2. Difficulties faced:

a. Saving of structure seems incorrect.
b. Every session files not saved.

- Solution: Approach facilitator, Ting Hsiang for help.

3. Reflections/Comments:

- I think all of us learnt a lesson in using the correct way to save structure patch.

4. The meeting ahead: 16 December 2009 (Tues)
To record Saron demung, do structure and composition


amen.

4th Actual Recording

Date: 12 December 2009 (Sat)
Time: 9am – 5pm (Recording); 1.30pm – 5pm (Structure & Editing)
Venue: E2 Studio 2 + STA Audio Control Room; Vista D2,D3
Team member present: Zachary, Hui Zhi, Chun Kiat, Shirley
Absentee: Joyce

1. Objective of session:
Instrument recorded: Slenthem and Gender (Barung & Panerus)
Dynamics: Soft, Medium, Loud, Muted - played with 3 different mallets

Talent: Hui Zhi
Chief Engineer: Chun Kiat
Structure: Zachary (Saron Family) , Shirley (Bonang)

2. Difficulties faced:
a. Unwanted noise coming from the microphone

- Solution: Requested the TSO to switch on the mic splitter located at E2 Studio 1. Lava advised this during our previous session at E2 Studio 2.

*set AKG to -6dB with 0Hz roll off to reduce the loud unwanted noise; Neumann was fine and remained at 0dB, 0Hz.

3. Reflections/Comments:

-

4. The meeting ahead: 15 December 2009 (Mon)
To work on the structures for readily recorded samples & Gamelan compositions

3rd Actual Recording

Date: 9 December 2009 (Wed)
Time: 8.30am – 12.45pm (Recording); 1.30pm – 5.30pm (Structure & Editing)
Venue: TRCC Music studio 1 & 2
Team member present: Zachary, Hui Zhi, Joyce, Shirley
Absentee: Chun Kiat

1. Objective of session:
Instrument recorded: Saron (Barung)
Dynamics: Soft, Medium, Loud, Muted - played with 3 different mallets

Talent: Hui Zhi
Chief Engineer: Joyce

2. Difficulties faced:
a. We made a mistake and use the wrong station to record our instruments. This resulted in limited gain level.

- Solution: We shall still use the recording samples, as they are relatively fine, but we have to gain them up artificially.

3. Others: a. We made us of thick jackets today to reduce the room ambience.

4. Reflections/Comments:

HuiZhi: We were quite careless and forgetful today. We didn’t check if other stations had the same problem with the gain level.

5. The meeting ahead: 12 December 2009 (Sat)
Actual Recording of Slenthem, Gender Barung, Gender Panerus

2nd Actual Recording

Date: 2 December 2009 (Wed)
Time: 8.30am – 12.45pm (Recording); 1.30pm – 5.30pm (Structure & Editing)
Venue: TRCC Music studio 1 & 2
Team member present: Zachary, Hui Zhi, Chun Kiat, Shirley
Absentee: Joyce

1. Objective of session:

Instrument recorded: Saron Panerus - Peking
Dynamics: Soft, Medium, Loud, Muted - played with 3 different mallets

Talent: Shirley
Chief Engineer: Hui Zhi

2. Difficulties faced:
a. Unwanted buzz coming from AKG
- Solution: We decided to do without AKG as it's used as overhead. Neumann is our piority.

*Set -10dB pad for Neumann, to reduce the room ambience

3. Others:
a. Instead of constructing an artificial enclosed space, we tried out using pillows.

4. Reflections/Comments:
HuiZhi: Recording sessions have been successful for the past 2 days. We managed to complete our recording for the whole instrument. Good job guys!

5. The meeting ahead: 9 December 2009 (Wed)
Actual Recording of Saron Barung

1st Actual Recording

Date: 1 December 2009 (Tues)
Time: 9am – 5pm
Venue: E2 Studio 2
Team member present: Zachary, Hui Zhi, Chun Kiat
Absentee: Joyce, Shirley

1. Objective of session:
Instrument recorded: Bonang (Barung & Demung)
Dynamics: Soft - played with 3 different mallets

Talent: Chun Kiat
Chief Engineer: Hui Zhi
Assistant Enginner: Zachary

2. Difficulties faced:

a. Talkback mic unable to send to talent

- Solution: Establish a series of instructions that the talent will follow while monitoring the process through our headphones. Should there be a need of re-recording, we would inform them.

Example: to record 4 times of the same dynamic range consecutively, for each note.

b. Unwanted buzz coming from each microphone
- Solution: to request TSO to switch on the Mic splitter at Studio 1, Block E2

c. able to capture and record sound engineer's voice from Audio Control Room, faintly
- Solution: When recording starts, we avoid communication with anyone

3. Reflections/Comments:

HuiZhi: It's really effective and efficient that we established a series of instructions that the talent will follow. Less time is needed. We will be using this method for the remaining recording sessions.

4. The meeting ahead: 2 December 2009 (Wed)
Actual Recording of Saron Panerus aka Saron Peking

6th Recording Session

Date: 18 November 2009 (Wed)
Time: 8.30am – 12.45pm (Recording); 1.30pm – 5.30pm (Structure & Editing)
Venue: TRCC Music studio 1 & 2

1. Objective of session:
Trial recording

2. Accomplishments:
Instrument recorded: Saron (Demung)
Dynamics: Soft, Medium, Loud, Muted

3. Difficulties faced:
a. Not many difficulties faced

4. The meeting ahead: Nov 25 (Wed)
- to do structure for bonang demung and barung
- to work on the presentation slides for Midpoint.

*note: as our midpoint presentation is scheduled next week, we will not be having any recording sessions.

5th Recording Session

Date: 11 November 2009 (Mon)
Time: 8.30am – 12.45pm (Recording); 1.30pm – 5.30pm (Structure & Editing)
Venue: TRCC Music studio 1 & 2

1. Objective of session:
Trial recording

2. Accomplishments:
Instrument recorded: Saron (Panerus)
Dynamics: Soft, Medium, Loud, Muted

3. Difficulties faced:
a. Not many difficulties faced

4. The meeting ahead: Nov 18 (Wed)
- to record saron demung

4th Recording Session

Date: 9 November 2009 (Mon)
Time: 9am to 5pm
Venue: STA Studio 2 & STA Audio Control Room

1. Objective of session:
Trial recording: we decided to try out recording slenthem and gender in STA Studio 2 instead, due to the quantity of notes we have to record and the ample time to finish recording them.

2. Accomplishments:
Instrument recorded: Gender(Barung)
Dynamics: Soft

3. Difficulties faced:
a. There was lots of unwanted noise coming from the microphone, at uneven short intervals.

Solution:
- to make do with the time we have to do good recordings.
- to inform our advisor, Ting Hsiang, of this problem.

4. The meeting ahead: Nov 11 (Wed)
- to record saron panerus

3rd Recording Session

Date: 4 November 2009 (Wed)
Time: 8.30am – 12.45pm (Recording); 1.30pm – 5.30pm (Structure & Editing)
Venue: TRCC Music studio 1 & 2

1. Objective of session:
Trial recording

2. Accomplishments:
Instrument recorded: Saron (Barung)
Dynamics: Soft, Medium, Loud, Muted

3. Difficulties faced:
a. Not many difficulties faced, except for the obvious high-pitched rattlings by the circular poles of the saron rack

Solution:
- tried using blutack and straws to reduce the rattling.

4. The meeting ahead: Nov 9 (Mon)
- to re-record gender barung

2nd Recording Session

Date: 28 October 2009 (Wed)
Time: 8.30am – 12.45pm (Recording); 1.30pm – 5.30pm (Structure & Editing)
Venue: TRCC Music studio 1 & 2

1. Objective of session:
Trial recording

2. Accomplishments:
Instrument recorded: Gender (Barung)
Dynamics: Soft

3. Difficulties faced:
a. Although our microphone gain level was already to the maximum, the level of microphones is still overpowered by the air-con level.

Solution:
- we couldn't find a suitable solution, and had spent most of the recording time solving this situation. We will do another trial recording on gender again and hopefully the air-condition will be switched off by then.

4. The meeting ahead: Nov 4 (Wed)
- to have a trial recording for saron barung

1st Recording Session

Date: 21 October 2009 (Wednesday)
Time: 8.30am – 12.45pm (Recording); 1.30pm – 5.30pm (Structure & Editing)
Venue: TRCC Music studio 1 & 2

1. Objective of session:
- Trial recording

2. Accomplishments:
Instrument recorded: Bonang (Barung) - 2 Octaves
Dynamics: Soft and Medium

3. Difficulties faced:
a. Judging of the dynamics while recording

Solution:
- To get the talent to play the loudest tone first
- set the appropriate gain to the ‘yellow’ region of the signal levels
- Once the loud tones are recorded, move on to get the gain settings for the medium tones
- Once the medium tones are recorded, move on to get the gain settings for the soft tones

b. Unsure of Microphone techniques/placement

Solution:
- To come up with a plan about where to position the mics for each instrument.

4. Reflections/Comments:

We realized that the setting up took a little more time than what we expected.
Thus we need to have more planning of dividing the tasks more efficiently to work faster.
We had decided to use AKG and SM 57 for the recording of bonang after multiple critical listening to the playbacks of the recorded sounds.

5. The meeting ahead: 22 Oct (Thurs)
- G302 FYP Briefing @ LT-W2

Equipment List

The following are the equipments that we are loaning out:

1. Neumann U87
Quatity: 1

2. AKG C414
Quantity: 1

3. Headphone Distributor + plug
Quantity: 1

4. Sennheiser Microphone stands
Quantity: 3

5. XLR Female to 1/4 inch cable
Quantity: 2

6. XLR to XLR cable
Quantity: 5

7. Fostex Headphones
Quantity: 5

8. SM57
Quantity: 1

9. SM58 (Talkback)
Quantity: 1

Recording Timeline

*G302 Project Deadline - 5 January 2010 (Tuesday)

2nd FYP Meeting

Date: 10 October (Sat)
Time: 10am - 1pm (Learning Gamelan); 1.30pm to 3.10pm (FYP meeting)
Venue: Gamelan Practice Room; E1 Canteen
Team members present: Zachary, Joyce, Chun Kiat, Shirley, Hui Zhi

1. Objectives:

- To learn about the instruments: Types of instrument, ways to play them, how to carry them.
- Continue on with our planning for recording sessions

2. Production/Project Notes: -none-

3. Minutes of Meeting:

a. Day and Time: Every Wednesday 8.30am to 12.30pm

b. Instruments to record, Microphones to use & Miking techniques:

Bonang - individual note & ensemble

• SM57 for hit


• Neumann & AKG for resonance

- Dynamic Range: Soft
- Ensemble (4 octaves): to use overhead microphones

Saron - individual note & ensemble

• SM57 for hit


• Neumann & AKG/contact for resonance

- Dynamic Ranges: Soft, Medium, Loud, Muted
- Concern 1: Will putting the microphone within the soundbox, and taking out one note, affect the sound?

4. Research Materials: -none-

5. The meeting ahead:

- To settle on the details of each recording schedule

6. Reflection/Comments:

- Find out miking techniques for mallet instruments of different types
- Look at existing example of xylophone and gongs
- Download and read about structure – note on, note off, ADSR
- Research on sampling, microphone, gamelan

Resources:

-To download Structure PDF
1. http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=184&itemid=26781
2. http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=176&itemid=5142

-Readings:
http://www.cite-musique.fr/gamelan/shock.html

1st FYP meeting

Date: 8 October (Thursday)
Time: 4.40pm - 5.50pm
Venue: E2 Level 3 Synth Lab
Team members present: Zachary, Joyce, Chun Kiat, Shirley, Hui Zhi
Advisor - Ting Hsiang: Present

1. Objective:
- To discuss about editting Gamelan Project Brief proposal
- To plan about the process and considerations for recording sessions

2. Production/Project Notes: -none-

3. Minutes of Meeting:

a. Our team is doing on Pelog scale.

b. Positioning/miking of instruments is important.
- 2 major parts to record for our instrument:

• Resonance
• hit sound

- Concern: Should we have 2 microphones? So that we can blend both mic recordings together and have a much complete sound.

c. Recording format: 44.1kHz, 24 bits

d. Possible microphones for recording GONG: condenser, PZM microphone

e. Things to discuss and plan about:
- Specific recording dates. Ting Hsiang needs it in order to book TRCC Music Studio 1 and 2.

- Check with the other team regarding December holidays schedule.

- What are the specific instruments we want to record?

• Wind and strings are instruments that are less considered
• “Zither” = Up to us
• Aiming for the percussive instruments
  

- What microphones to use?
*consider Neumann U87, AKG C414

f. Things to check:
- Access to TRCC Music Studio 1 & 2 and Gamelan practice room

- IG schedule (DONE)

g. Our virtual instrument will conform to both 12 TET and Pelog scale.
- Question is: But how will users know it's in pelog scale? Think about our target audiences and users
- Possible way: To create a PDF guide

4. Research Materials: -none-

5. The meeting ahead: 10 October (Sat)
- To visit the Gamelan Practice Room and find out more about this instrument from the in-charge: Amran

6. Reflection/Comments:
- Download structure PDF to read
- Start reading on sampling, structure, microphones, gamelan
- Useful resource: http://www.looknohands.com/

UPDATES:
- IG schedule (DONE)
Results: Tues, Wed, Thurs; Time: 4.30pm

Discussion on our selection of G302 Project

Date: 25 September 2009 (Friday)
Time: 2pm - 3.30pm
Venue: RP Library near clavinova keyboard
Team members present: Zachary, Joyce, Chun Kiat, Shirley, Hui Zhi
Advisor - Ting Hsiang: Present

1.Objectives:
- To discuss and decide about our choice of G302 project topic

• Live event of original music compositions
• Asian Virtual Instrument: Staff initiated project brief, funded by TOTE board Singapore

2. Production/Project Notes: -none-

3. Minutes of Meeting:

Live event of original music compositions

Pointers:
- Able to showcase our passion in music composition, creatively and uniquely - Chamber Music
- Not all team members are strong in music composition
- After graduation, we can still continue and fulfil this as part of our interest.

Asian Virtual Instrument

Pointers:
- Benefits us greatly in our CV as it's a TOTE board funded project
- We'll be working with big names in the audio industries like Digidesign, manufacturer of ProTools, Structure.
- The virtual instrument will be either sold/distributed to the rest of the world by Digidesign as part of the project deal.
- We can still work on our music compositions with the use of our gamelan patches, after we complete it.
- Everyone can have a fair share of work done.
- Once we graduate, many equipments and software are not easily accessible to us and we'll not be able to sharpen our skills on structure and virtualizing instruments.

4. Research Materials: -none-

5. The meeting ahead: 8 October (Thursday)
- To meet up with Ting Hsiang about the Asian Virtual Instrument Project Brief proposal, and about our plans ahead.

6. Reflection/Comments:
- Final result: We decided to work on the topic of Asian Virtual Instrument

Miscellaneous information

Chan Zi Xuan Zachary - 71401
Role: Team leader

T241-B Anthropological Studies (Tues)
T312-C Experimental Sound Design and Synthesis (Thurs)
T313-C Sonic Art Making (Fri)

Tay Hui Zhi - 70801
Role: Secretary

T241-B Anthropological Studies (Tues)
T312-C Experimental Sound Design and Synthesis (Thurs)
T313-C Sonic Art Making (Fri)

Shirley Tong - 70618
Role:

T312-C Experimental Sound Design and Synthesis (Fri)
T313-C Sonic Art Making (Tues)

Teo Kit Ying Joyce - 71764
Role: Project Manager

T241-B Anthropological Studies (Tues)
T312-C Experimental Sound Design and Synthesis (Thurs)
T313-C Sonic Art Making (Fri)

Lim Chun Kiat - 70545
Role:

T241-B Anthropological Studies (Tues)
T312-C Experimental Sound Design and Synthesis (Thurs)
T313-C Sonic Art Making (Fri)


Roles for recording session:
1 Talent
1 Chief Engineer
2 Assistant Engineers
1 Work on structure

These roles are rotated for every session to ensure that everyone gets a chance to do each role.