LOGBOOK (Timeline & Reflections)
CMN6204
LOGBOOK
WEEK 3
WEEK 3
After I have defined my concept for this ASP, which involves the production of three different instrumental tracks and their post production in both stereo and Binaural 3D, I am now starting the research on Binaural 3D itself and how to process the future recorded material with this standard; I will need to look for plugins and techniques, other than some basics on how the process work and its industry.
I am thinking to contact classical music as I'd like to work with instruments such as cellos, violas violins and piano, among others. I will try to make some contacts with the The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland students, as it might be good place to find talented musicians.
CMN6204
LOGBOOK
WEEK 4
WEEK 4
I have started the research and acquired the plugin DearVR Pro, which will allow me to work on the project and to achieve my goal of mixing the audio in Binaural 3D. As reference of work, I will use TIDAL Premium services which includes a variety of albums mixed with this concept, using the Sony owned format 360 Reality Audio.
During the week I will study the manual of the plugin and research tutorials and material to understand well how to use it.
I am still waiting a response from some the artists, but I have found one which might be suitable for the project and interested as well. I am discussing her availability in order to schedule a meeting and chat about how to work together; Pre-Production is postponed to the moment in which we will agree on what to work on.
CMN6204
LOGBOOK
WEEK 5
WEEK 5
I was supposed to start Pre-production but the artists told me she needs time to organize herself due to being involved in other projects and studies as well. Another artist showed interest to my proposal but due to relocation she won't be available.
I am progressing and experimenting with the plugin DearVR Pro so that, when it will be time, I will be ready and comfortable on its use. I am also studying a couple of resources about Immersive Audio, in order to widen my knowledge on the subject.
CMN6204
LOGBOOK
WEEK 6
WEEK 6
The confirmed artist went silent and I am starting to lose hope on her collaboration. Alternative plans might be required. I will wait one more week and then I will opt for a different solution with different artists, if I will manage to find them.
I am continuing to study the Binaural 3D format, and due to the Industry Study for the 6100, I have been in touch with a Sound Designer who is currently working in the industry and that provided me with some advice and insights on the topic.
CMN6204
LOGBOOK
WEEK 7
WEEK 7
With the artist still silent on her availability, and after spoken with Nick R., I have received confirmation I can switch without any issue to some self-produced material. In this way I will be able to bypass the third-party involvement and create the source by myself. I will start the production these days and I will create three instrumental of various genre. Being myself an electronic music producer, the material will be heavily sampled based and produced with libraries, virtual instruments and synthesizers, strictly ITB.
I am constantly listening to Binaural 3D music to get used to it and to study how mixes are organized, considering they differ in characteristics compared to classic stereo ones.
CMN6204
LOGBOOK
WEEK 8
WEEK 8
I am currently working on the productions, with one already completed and in the middle of the mixing. The productions are different from each others: one is electronic/experimental, one is orchestral and one is urban/pop.
The mixing and mastering will be made in Pro Tools while I am currently working on Cubase and FL Studio for the production stage. Orvar T. gave me some feedback on the first project and so far I am quite satisfied with the achieved results. By next week, regardless of the initial loss of time due to the failure of my collaboration, I should be able to meet my scheduled milestones on the Learning Contract.
CMN6204
LOGBOOK
WEEK 9
WEEK 9
Due to the COVID-19 global situation I have slightly slowed down the works, also because of the situation in Italy, and considering all my family and friends are there, I was not in the best place to work at the same intensity of the previous week. However, I managed to complete the productions. Next week I will start the post production of the new finished projects, with the first one already mastered and completed. For a better understanding, this first project I have completed already is the electronic/experimental one, which I have titled "Cardiopalmo".
The other two are "Collapse" and "Sky", respectively the orchestral and the urban/pop ones.
The goal was to create very different styles of music to test how the Binaural 3D post production would sound on diverse genres. The research on the subject matter continues and within the next week I should start the process of completing the stereo post production and start the Binaural 3D one.
CMN6204
LOGBOOK
WEEK 10
WEEK 10
This week I was supposed to complete the mastering stage in the campus, where I would have had a full spectrum response withing the Neve monitoring system. However, the COVID-19 started to spread in UK as well, causing limitation and yes, a bit of insecurity of going at the campus. In order to stay safe and prevent contraction, I preferred staying home and work with the equipment I had. Luckily Sonarworks was of great help, allowing me to continue the post production process at the best of my possibilities, considering the limits of headphones monitoring (especially in the mastering process). It was a weird week and I lost some time due to organizing for the situation and its forecast development. The goal is complete all the masters and, as soon as possible, ask for further feedback to lectures, who may help me in the monitoring process given their home-system.
CMN6204
LOGBOOK
WEEK 11
WEEK 11
The mastering process for the Stereo versions of the three projects has been completed and sent to lectures for review. In the meantime, I am currently working on the mixing of the Binaural 3D versions. I am facing the first issues with this process as, from what I am testing and from additional research I have done, stereo files are not the best material to work within this realm.
Phase issues and loss of quality are the main effects I am perceiving. It was not a scenario I did not think about, but I wanted to actually test to appreciate the results, as I did not know what they could have been. The original plan involved working with musicians for this reason: I would have had the chance to have some clear and original mono recordings. With my productions, due to the libraries and architecture of my virtual instruments, I was able to mainly have stereo exports.
This situation highlights how the production is heavily suggested to be done only or ideally mostly with mono sources from the beginning.
In the research, I will focus on this matter providing details in regards of the issue.
Indeed, this marks an important learning point that will guide me towards my works for the Major Project.
CMN6204
LOGBOOK
WEEK 12
WEEK 12
Upon review by lectures, I have made some enhancement to the stereo version masters and finalized the files, uploading them in the Projects section of this ASP area. I am completing the post-production of the 3D version as I type, making compromises in terms of quality concerning the files. It has been quite challenging finding the best solution to continue towards the completion of the works.
The processing for "Collapse" revealed itself the heaviest due to the composition nature, while I had easier times with "Sky", although the stereo original setting of several elements of the production still haunts the successful outcome. I am slightly worried about "Cardiopalmo" as I think I will have to take even more strict choices to be able to make it work well, as it is heavily stereo effected (wide pannings and elements that fluctuate all over the spectrum). I do have good timing on the schedule though, as research and reflection on the project have been completed. I am approaching the end of the assignment and I will just have to make sure the last details are finalized.
CMN6204
LOGBOOK
WEEK 13
WEEK 13
The mastering process for the 3D versions has been completed to an acceptable standard. Indeed, this experience served me well as an introduction tothe subject, providing me with the basics to expand and improve my work-flow, decisions and approach to this specific processing, with the hope to create more content and raise the quality.
The research is properly organized in its section (with references at its bottom) and the music section has all the players (plus download options) available. The project is now completed and I can focus on working on the presentation of the project.