22) Manipulating the recorded sounds.

Manipulating The Recorded Sounds and Beginning the Composition.

After seeing the quote I have mentioned on the previous page, I decided I would reflect the power of rhythm, by creating the strongest part of my rhythm section (the bass drum), using the most powerful golf club. This was the driver. 

Driver by fionastannard

For the snare drum, I used a recording of someone topping the ball.

For both the “Bass Drum” and the “snare drum”, I changed the EQ. 

For the Bass Drum (Driver), I boosted the bass and took out any high frequencies.

Bass Drum by fionastannard

For the snare drum, I took out all the frequencies below 1000 Hz and increased the frequencies between 4550Hz and 6000 Hz.

I didn't want to manipulate the sounds too much, because I wanted to try and use the raw recorded sounds and not take away from the fact that it was a composition about golf.  

I also didn't actually plan what each “instrument” was going to play.  I laid down the most powerful track first, which was the bass drum.  I played this on every beat to create a “four-on-the-floor” feel. I then changed this and decided to play the Bass Drum on the first and third beat of the bar.  


When I was down on the driving range recording sounds, I was lucky enough to catch a girl laughing.  The driving range is made of corrugated iron and because of this, it is very reverberant.  After the girl laughed, it echoed and sounded like it was pitched note.  I have cut this out of the recording and put it into EXS24.  I changed the pitch bend to "12", which meant the pitch bend has a range of 2 octaves (1 octave above the note and 1 octave below the note.) I then created a very simple 70's synth.  Again, I didn't want to create anything too complicated, because I didn't want to detract from the rhythms.  

70s synth bass by fionastannard



The only Logic midi instrument I used was the "Poly Fat Bass"  I have kept this simple so it doesn't overcrowd the rhythm section.  

After this, I pressed the record button before I had a chance to work out what I was going to play.  I felt uncomfortable doing this, because I'm used to planning everything and knowing exactly what I'm doing, before I start. 

As difficult as it was, I have tried to avoid changing anything I have recorded.  This meant I couldn't think about what I had just written and alter it, which was what I was trying to get away from doing.