MUS 14B • Department of Music • Spring 2023

Sequencing and Production

LIU Post • Long Island University

Mixing Board

Weekly Stuff

[Checkmarks () indicate latest additions and updates]

January 16 ⇕
January 23⇕
January 30 ⇕
February 6 ⇕
February 13 ⇕
February 20 ⇕
February 27 ⇕

  • What we're planning for the week:

    1. Further in-class work on the Mixing Exercise.
    2. More on how to get Tonal Balance
    3. An introduction to working in Piano Roll in Logic
    4. Note: We have fallen behind our original schedule in the syllabus and because we are on Spring Break next week, we will wait until we return to work on the EQ and Noise Gate Exercises and have the Equalization Quiz. (Oh No!!! A Quiz!)
      Make sure you continue to do your assignments - even if we have fallen behind. Things will move quickly when we get back from break.

    BTW as you have been focusing on Equalizers in your reading, you might find that sometimes terminology can get a bit confusing:

    • High pass filters are also known as low cut filters. They affect low frequencies, letting the high frequencies "pass" through.
    • Low pass filters are also known as high cut filters. They affect high frequencies, letting the low frequencies "pass" through.
    • A Low Shelf filter affects low frequencies.
    • A High Shelf filter affects high frequencies.
  • Assignments

    Additional Assignments

March 13 ⇕

  • What we're planning for the week:

    1. Further in-class work on assigned projects.
    2. Work on the Equalization Exercise.
    3. More on using Piano Roll.
    4. Preparation for next week's Equalization Quiz.
  • For upcoming classes:
    • Make sure you have completed all assigned reading/viewing which cover Equalization. Be ready for next week's quiz!.

  • Handouts:

  • Assignments
    Note: TOC=Table of Contents
    Either keep referring to the Table of Contents as you read the assigned sections or use the Next link on the bottom of the page(s) to continue to the next page on the assigned topic.

    Additional Assignments

    • Go to the TOC of the Logic Pro User Guide and read ALL the sections under Edit MIDI regions in the Piano Roll Editor
      • Overview
      • Add and edit notes (important)
      • View multiple MIDI regions
      • Split chords
      • Automation/MIDI area in the Piano Roll Editor (important)
      • Open other editors

      (Other DAWs will have similar features)

    • Read Common Logic Pro tools
    • Continue the ongoing assignment: Watch The Art Of Mixing
    • 51 AMAZING Piano Roll Tips in Logic Pro X. Definitely more advanced – for now – but worth a look. You'll learn a lot about Piano Roll as well as get a good idea how powerful it is. A must if you're working with software instruments.
March 20 ⇕
March 27 ⇕

  • What we're planning for the week:

    1. Sequencing and Arranging Exercise
    2. If time, in-class work on previous assignments
    3. A Compression demonstration
    4. More on Step Input in Logic (and other DAWs)
    5. More on using Piano Roll
  • For next class:

    Let's start talking about our Final Projects. Any ideas of whar you wanr to do? What area(s) of sequencing and/or production do you want to explore further?.

  • Handouts:

  • Assignments

    Additional Assignments
    Note: TOC=Table of Contents
    Either keep referring to the Table of Contents as you read the assigned sections or use the Next link on the bottom of the page(s) to continue to the next page on the assigned topic.

    • Continued from the last two weeks... Go to the TOC of the Logic Pro User Guide and read ALL the sections under Edit MIDI regions in the Piano Roll Editor
      • Overview
      • Add and edit notes (important)
      • View multiple MIDI regions
      • Split chords
      • Automation/MIDI area in the Piano Roll Editor (important)
      • Open other editors

      (Other DAWs will have similar features)

    • Continue the ongoing assignment: Watch The Art Of Mixing
April 3 ⇕
April 10 ⇕

  • What we're planning for the week:

    1. Compression Demonstration
    2. Compression Quiz. Be familiar with these terms: Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Output/Make-up Gain, Knee and Sidechain
    3. Finalizing the Final Projects. Detailed instructions coming. In a nutshell:
      • A project similar to the Mixing Exercise
      • A project similar to the Sequencing and Arranging Exercise
    4. Review of the semester's work including another look at the mixing process introduced earlier in the semester. See Assignments below.
    5. Some quick demonstrations pertaining to projects
    6. More on HOW to use effects/processing and WHEN to use them
  • For our final classes (April 19, 21, 26 & 28)

    Bring whatever files you need to work on your Final Projects and other work you need to complete

  • Handouts:

  • Assignments
April 17 ⇕

  • What we're planning for the week:

    1. Routing Exercise
    2. Work on previous assignments
    3. Work on the Final Projects. Detailed instructions coming. As discussed last week, these projects include:
      • A project similar to the Mixing Exercise. This time you will include a Mixing Log in Logic's Notes window which details the mixing choices you made on each track in your project and the reason/reasons why you made it/them. Some examples: I lowered volume... I cut high frequencies... I added compression, etc.)
      • A project similar to the Sequencing and Arranging Exercise where you will create a basic arrangement "template" which contains one copy of each of the sections of your song (e.g., Intro, Verse, Chorus - IAB) then build a full-length arrangement of the song. For example, from a template of three sections (IAB) you could copy and/or move the sections to create a full arrangement (e.g., IAABABABBB) using Logic's Arrangement track (as done in the Sequencing and Arranging Exercise. Other sections you could include would be Pre-Chorus, Bridge, Instrumental solo and Outro). Note: in this project at least one track must be a MIDI software instrument which you will record in real time or with step input.
    4. More on HOW to use effects/processing and WHEN to use them
  • For our final classes (April 18, 20 & 28)

    Bring whatever files you need to work on your Final Projects and other work you need to complete

  • Handouts:

  • Assignments
April 24 ⇕

  • What we're planning for the week:

    1. Work on Final Projects
    2. Semester review and final thoughts
    3. More on HOW to use effects/processing and WHEN to use them
  • Assignments
    • Make sure you're caught up with all previous reading and viewing assignments. Don't skip anything!
    • To prepare for your Final Projects, especially review How to Mix a Song from Scratch video series. As you continue to mix you'll develop your own mixing process and workflow. Still, this process gives you a good method to follow if you're new to mixing.
    • Watch How To Master A Song In 10 Minutes