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