This page includes the unit directions for all of the concepts studied in class.  All of the Class Projects are also included.  Be sure to click on each CLASS PROJECT to go to the assignment direction page for that project.

Portsmouth High School Alumni After Taking Music Production & Engineering
Class of 2009

SAM EWING
Sam Ewing is a Portsmouth High School graduate from the class of '09 and a former student of the Music Production class at PHS.  Sam is a film, television and video game composer residing and working Los Angeles. He works prominently alongside Emmy winning composer Bear McCreary, including co-scoring The Walking Dead Season 10.

Sam Ewing has composition and music/sound department credits on TV series like The Walking Dead, Black Mirror, Into the Dark, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Defiance. For films, he’s been involved with The Forest, 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016 – read our review here), Colossal (2016 – read our review here), Happy Death Day (2017 – read our review here) and The First Purge, among others. He also has composed music for the video game, God of War.

​Check out Sam's website:  https://www.sam-ewing.com/ 

You may also want to check out his IMDb page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6214568/ 
​
Music Production & Engineering WEBQUEST
Unit 1

​Digital Audio
The first section, Digital Audio deals with the program AUDACITY.  Students work on various projects in the Digital Audio format (mp3 & WAV).  Students will use digital audio (captured from an ipod or CD’s) and learn to cut, mix and add digital effects.  Students will also learn to export WAV files to mp3 files. 
 Students will use AUDACITY to learn how to work with a waveform.  Students will have several options to get music onto the school computers.

1 - Backmasking Exercise

Backmasking (also known as backward masking) is a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backward onto a track that is meant to be played forward. Backmasking is a deliberate process, whereas a message found through phonetic reversal may be unintentional.
LINK:
BACKMASKING EXERCISE

1A - Audio Effects / Signal Processing

Audio effects are devices (analog or digital) that are used to change how the audio source or signal sounds.  This is also known as Signal Processing.  Devices can be in Hardware or Software form. Audacity and Mixcraft both have audio effects to use for your assignments.
LINK:  
http://www.thsmusic.net/audio-effects
Picture
*New program to use!
                                                                    QUICK LINKS
Using Effects With Audacity
Audacity Basics: Recording, Editing, Mixing

LINK:  5 Amazing Sound Effects You Can Easily Make Using Audacity

AUDACITY EFFECTS MENU.pdf
File Size: 735 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

 Project 2 - Song Mash Up

LINK:
SONG MASH UP PROJECT
The purpose of this project is to create a piece of music using only ONE song.  The song will be edited by the use of effects and cutting and pasting.
* AUDIO EFFECTS ASSIGNMENT - ONLINE SUBMISSION!! *
​To Be Completed After Project Is Completed

  Project 3 - Mix-A-Speech

LINK:
MIX-A-SPEECH PROJECT
The purpose of this project is to create an audio project containing various clips and excerpts from movie quotes, speeches, dialogues, etc.  The project will have a central theme and contain a music track that plays along in the background while the spliced "speech" is being played.

  Project 4 - Medley Mix

LINK:
MEDLEY MIX PROJECT
The purpose of this project is to create an audio project that contains parts of several pieces of music "mashed" together to create a single music example.  This medley mix is a process that is used in the music, TV, sports, and entertainment world.  Many athletes (dance teams, cheerleaders, gymnastics routines) use medley mixes in their routines for competition.  Medley mixes are often found on the radio for commercials or for a quick sample of a product or music review.
Project 5 - MUSIC MONTAGE
Link:
​MUSIC MONTAGE
The purpose of this project is to create an audio AND picture project in which you create a music slideshow.  You will be setting a medley mix to pictures.  Each picture in your slideshow will be related to what is happening in the music. 

This is NOT A SCROLLING "WEDDING VIDEO" in which pictures transition every 10 seconds to a new picture while music is playing in the background.  Each picture changes with the music.  Each picture should change with either the beat of the music or transition with change of music.
Unit 2

MIDI
​
​DIGITAL MUSIC CREATION
Picture
*New Program to Use*
                                                                    IMPORTANT LINKS
Mixcraft 7 Home Studio is an entry-level music program that lets you quickly and easily record up to 16 audio and MIDI tracks, arrange loops, remix, score and edit video, and mix and master compositions. Let your creativity take flight with thousands of music loops and dozens of audio effects and virtual instruments. 
This is your first opportunity to compose a "radio ready" song.  Using the Loops Libray folder and/or the Virtual Instruments sounds, you will create a song that is 56 measures in length.  Your song will follow a particular and most basic structure in song composition:
​
INTRO - A - B - A - B - C - B - OUTRO
You will create an original soundtrack to a pre-existing movie trailer.   The original audio will be removed and you will create a soundtrack that relates to the various sequences in the trailer.    All videos are about 2 minutes in length and you will create a soundtrack for the entire duration of the video.   Enjoy and HAVE FUN!
For this project you will record a short story or poem.  The story that you record will be set to music and sound effects that enhance the different sections and words of your story.  A story is provided if you are unable to find one on your own.
Click this page to review ALL Final Project ideas and to submit your Final Project Idea.  This page will also include the PADLET to view & listen all of the student projects.

​What are STEM files?
​A Stem file is an open, multi-channel audio file that contains a track split into four musical elements:
     1.  Bass
     2.  Drums
     3.  Vocals
     4.  Melody.

With each element available independently, you can mix live in new ways that haven't been possible until now.

Create instant track edits, mash-ups, a cappellas, and more by bringing different Stem parts in and out of the mix.