Methods for Researching

Among micro and macro research, I have mainly focused on micro research so far. I have worked on getting my goals fulfilled, working on learning the software and experimenting by making short music clips. My WISE project was mostly concentrated on information and interest  aspects but not in insight and inspiration. My desire for new information, including learning the software features and song structures were very successful. My interest of the project was successful too. I had reserached many styles of songs and actually experimenting different trials in my software. However, I don't think I was very successful in inspiration and insight. I will have to keep on track on what I have learned so far and what I will have to learn. For the inspiration aspect, I didn't get that much inspired by other works or people. Instead, I was trying many different styles of songs and gerne to inspire myself. I hope my inspiration and insight aspect improves as I continue my project.  

New Approach

After talking with my mentor, who had told me to approach music making more emotionally instead of approaching technically, I have questioning myself, ''so, what is it that made me decided to make music for WISE project?'' I realized that I was amazed by the great songs every time I heard them. I was wondering how these songs are made and I also wanted to try making them.
I have thought for a while, what made me end up making music for my WISE project.
I always liked music, listening everywhere, in the car while driving, while walking the streets, and sometimes even while studying. Not just music, but broadly sounds are a big part of people's life.
How amazing would it be to make my own music which is what I like to do and is a big part of my life?
 

Fading

I didnt know how fading in and out the loops makes a significant difference on the over all music.
I have learn how to properly fade in and out by my mentor and it expanded my ability to play with the music loops.

Lessons from the previously done WISE project

All WISE students were given a similar project of theirs done by previous WISE students to use as an example and a reference for our own project. I have read Claire Powell's WISE project about learning how to hip hop dance. Although her project wasn't that similar to mine, her work and effort she put on to her project was very inspiring. Plus I was very sympathized by her work since I have experiences of break dancing.

There were several lessons I have gotten from her project. First is the ability to deal and overcome the obstacles that are in the way. Claire did not know anything about hip hop dance. She asked her friends to help her out but her friends weren't taking it seriously. So she had to learn by herself. Claire was also very good at finding resources and researching for her project. Soon she figured out her friends aren't going to be that helpful, she contacted with a local hip hop dance crew at Cornell University called "Absolute Zero." I was surprise because that is the club that I used to go to practice my moves. She also watched several hip hop dance movies such as Step Up 1&2, "You got Served" and etc. Another thing she was good at was keeping her journals in track. She was updating her journals regularly and frequently and her journals wasn't all about 'today I did this and tomorrow I will do that.' There were many journals about how she felt when she was stuck, how she was amazed when she first saw the live performance etc.

Reading her WISE journal and looking at her WISE project, I have realized my WISE project had to step up. Her project had gave me great lessons for my future project and journals.

Basic Song Structure

I felt like I don't know anything about music at all. In order to make my own music, I thought having basic music knowledge will help my project.
I researched about the song structure (pop song) and learned that the overall structure has several elements.

The basic structure of a song is
Intro > Verse 1 > Chorus > Verse 2 > Chorus > Bridge > (Verse 3) > Chorus > Outro

It helps to know this because now I construct the songs instead of making random pieces of music clips.

Transition from the Technical Aspect to the Creativity Aspect

I have been dealing with selecting the software, getting to know its functions and learning about how music is made from these software, but now I am moving on to the next part: actually making the music. From now on, I will be making several music files and getting reviewed from both my mentor and my friends.

Importing Loops from Garageband!!

Imported loops from Garageband. 

I needed more loops for my project since I am 100% relying on the loops without using any instruments.

I felt like what I already had wasn't enough, so I decided to import some additional loops from other places. 

Garageband has so many high quality loops that I was looking for. I copied the loop files and converted to my software's extension than imported them.

Music Maker MX & Music Studio MX Review

In the last post, I have introduced my new software that I will use for now on to make music.

It is a bundle of Music Maker MX, Music Studio MX and Soundpool 17 only exclusive in Bestbuy. 

Music Maker MX is the software for making music using the built in loop files and sound effects and Music Studio MX is a software for music recording such as rocording instrumental music and multi-track recording. 

Soundpool 17 is a CD with additional loops for the Music Maker MX.  I think a package of all three together only for 60 dollars is a good deal comparing to Music Maker MX sold at 55 dollars on its official website. 

Anyway, I will talk a little bit more about the Music Maker MX. I found this software being really helpful for my project. It has a really simple User Interface that I don't think anyone will be confused with and its loops were also fascinating. However, the one thing that excited me the most was the loop maker. Loop maker is a program that is built-in the Music Maker MX. It allows users to make their own loop very easily. In addition to loop maker, there are several other programs that helps the user to make music. Of course there are various other software out in the market and their are some that are better than Music Maker MX, but I think Music Maker MX is a great software for its price.

I haven't really used Music Studio MX that much since my project is to make music using the loops.

Here is a picture of the Music Maker MX