PODIEO

So hello POD blog.

Here to update you on my work!

I'm almost done with the video already!

Here's a screen shot of my spotting notes I have done awhile ago.

I have about almost 90 sounds that I need to actually record/create. 

So this is my current project file. Its filled with recordings of footsteps, ambiences and loops provided by apple by which I have used them to mix with my recorded sounds to get that blend of different sounds so I get as close to the real thing as possible.

I recorded all of my foley/ambiences on the Samson CO3U USB condenser mic. It is not the worlds best microphone, but not the worlds worst either. I chose it because as most of these sounds are recorded by me alone(not like I have a whole sound design team behind me), it is easier for me to move around and record what I need without much hassle of having to carry an audio interface along with this 15" macbook of mine. 

I hope the final outcome is gonna be "acceptable" among the judges. Really not very confident about this one due to countless limitations. 

*fingers crossed*

Spanks.

POD II

Oh Em Gee.

Hi POD BLOG!! It's been so long!!!

Not that I'd like to see you but I need to rant so, too bad!

Okay so POD II is doing an "IMAGINA" film in collaboration with CASS students & Mr Kee Li Tian.

The initial plan was for us to focus on Music(litian) and SFX(me) respectively. Apparently the first draft of the video was really unworkable with so we had to wait for the 2nd draft which was given to us only 2 weeks ago.

I've done my spotting notes already and have just started to begin working on the SFX for the film. Apparently the film is pretty b** in my opinion. The acting isn't really what I expected it to be, now that I've seen it quite a number of times. Also the film is supposedly "music driven" where as SFX is supposed to support the music, supporting the story instead of the other way around.

So for PODsake I will try my best to do up the SFX for the film by itself, irregardless of music, or directors cue's just for POD II because I wanna try to improve on my MUMI skillset as well as REMT(mixing) for video (if it can be counted).

PROBLEMS:

Bad acting aside, the main issue is going to be the lack of dialogue for me to make it sound real. Because this film is based on a speech made by a graduating student, the student's speech is on-going throughout the film and the director wanted it that way, and therefore any other scene that is going on-screen has 0, no, takde, 没有 dialogue. So therefore if I were to do the foley, there would be nothing coming out of the actor's mouths and I foresee it to be very, very awkward during (most)scenes.

HOW?

Going to school tomorrow to consult Gerald about how awkward its going to be. Pray that it all turns out fine. *Fingers Crossed*

Thats it for now. What a chunky update. See you tomorrow!

Spanks.

The Final PODOWN.(For now)

Sweetest Dream.

You know the best of me

The only side that you can see.

Your quiet company

Its all I ever need.

No matter tear or smile,

You've been there for me all this while.

Cause at the end of the day.

All that I'm trying to say is,

Give me your sweetest dream

(Because I need know that you will never go)

Give me your sweetest dream

(I don't have to fear, cause I know that you are near)

As both our worlds collide,

Give me your sweetest dreams tonight.

All those times in bed,

With you stuck here right beside my head.

Time and time again,

Your tender touch will remain.

The comfort that you bring,

Just makes me wanna sing.

Cause at the end of the day,

All that I just wanna say, is

Give me your sweetest dream

(Because I need know that you will never go)

Give me your sweetest dream

(I don't have to fear, cause I know that you are here)

As both our worlds collide,

Give me your sweetest dreams tonight.

But when I'm gone

And I don't have you with me

This is not the way that we should be

Cause when I finally get to see you babe

I just wanna stay right here

Cause all these bad dreams begin to break and disappear.

The last lap of this race. LETS GO! 

PODDED

So I let Geoff listen to my POD yesterday and a big relief when it said it was okay. (:

So now ON TO ARRANGING/SCORING/LYRIC-ING!

CHIONG AH! =D

Spanks.

CRACKPOD

Okay things are cooking like a pressure cooker now as time ticks away.

I just let Erica listen to my vocals yesterday. Yes I'm no singer but I have no one available/ if not suitable to sing for my song and theres not enough time to let anyone understand the song in time.
I just have to do it myself.

Gotta spend a whole lot of time tuning and doing up my reports. I hope I wont breakdown in the middle.

I've decided to change my skill set to arranging instead of REMT. I Just figure that I have no way of justifying REMT as it consists of RECORDING and MIXING where by I have only RECORDED vocals and everything else is MIDI.

I need to start scoring and doing all the analysis I need. Then again I need to polish up my work. Ugh this is no joke.

On top of that there is still MUMI, and dont even mention arranging assignment II. *faints*

Spanks.

PODCESS

Hi POD BLOG!

UPDATES!


Okay so now there's a new section into my song after consulting Erica last week. My influence came from the section leading into the rap in Taeyang's "Baby I'm So Sorry". Because I really like the way that section is phrased so I pretty much used the same progression and feel.

After I consulted Erica just 2 days back, she said it was okay to leave the bridge as it is and its not completely the same so its okay! *Phew*

So now I still need to go find the right hi-hat sounds and rhythm to drive the song. I need to add more instruments as well because it sounds really empty as of now. *scratches head*

I tried to record acoustic guitar to replace the use of loops yesterday. It didn't go so well because I couldn't play in time. I may consider using some which are in time but I will have to look into it because everything else is in MIDI and so it will be very out of place if it were out of time.
Maybe I will re-do it for final POD. Will look into it again.

As for now, time to find hi-hat rhythm's and sounds and think of more instrumentation!

Spanks.

PODPONE

Sorry I've been negligent on my posting/updating. The past month or so has been really hectic, cover song and other assignments. Now theres even more work to be done!

But for now, I roughly have my POD 1 song idea out. I need to find time to refine my lyrics? I shall consult erica later again. As for the layering, I'm still not to sure how to layer my song to give it dynamics and to keep the listener interested.
Erica did mention about how in R&B songs (thats what my song turned out to be), the kick and snare groove is kept pretty consistent throughout the song which I agree after going through a couple of examples. So the hi-hats are the main significant changes in the rhythm section which signifies change where the song goes though each part like verse to chorus, chorus to bridge, etc.
I'm still trying to figure out how to come up with a suitable rhythm of the hi-hats to match the groove of my song.
The samples that I have are really bad and do not sound good as well.

Hopefully Erica can enlighten me later! >.<

Spanks.

Hi Poddy

I know I haven't been updating so here I am.

I am currently 2 weeks behind schedule. I need to find a day to quickly sit down and finalize my lyrics and melody and quickly workout a rough demo..

Need more time and assignments are just piling up!! Arranging assignment 2 is about to be released and there is still MUMI and all. Stressssss~

Spanks.

PODBLEM

I'm kinda stuck on what story my lyrics should be based on. I seem to be kind of lost. I still would wanna keep the initial idea of the music in my head. But now its just the lyrics...

Spanks.

PODBUMMER

I just got told that my POD 1 is actually MUMI assignment 2..



AAAHHHH!!!!!!


What a let down.. Now I have to push forward my POD 2 as POD 1. Oh man...

POD 2 will be an external project which I'm not so sure about the details yet but its gonna be more challenging than my initial POD 1 idea. AhhhhH! Pressure >.<

Okay time to work on other assignments. Sigh.

Spanks.

PODPASS

Hello! Finally did my presentation today.

I ALMOST FREAKED OUT CAUSE MY HARD DISK COULD NOT BE READ.

I HAD TO PRESENT TODAY AND MY SLIDES WERE INSIDE!

I then entrusted my hard disk to Li Tian who decided to pry it open and see if the direct connection works.

Sorry for the delay  >.<

Low and behold it turns out that the USB connector is faulty. Immediately backed up my stuff on my mac to go home and back it up somewhere else.

So I presented and it went pretty well.

Pointers to take note :

- Have to be very careful with the DVEMG project as co-ordination is very important so that I do not end up with nothing to submit.

- Time management chao ji zhong yao!!

- Back up at least twice!!

Spanks.

POD - PROGRESS

I'm just done with my write up and gantt charts. About to start on my power point slides after my break! 

So here are my ideas so far :

1) Music for video - collaboration with DVEMG students on their FYP.

2) Modern Pop song.

3) Alternative/Instrumental rock song.

4) An instrumental funk song.

For now I'm trying to focus on the first 2 ideas. I hope I'll pitch them well on monday though! 

Spanks.

POD - Potential IDEA Replacement

Hi PODDY!

Well I just met up with Acelyn, a friend of mine, and her team from the DVEMG course regarding their FYP video project. Acelyn has asked me to do the music for the film. I wonder if this is a sign for me to really do something for film since one of my ideas was to do a film score like transformers, but just that this one is a psycho film not a sci-fi one.

I shall follow up with Acelyn and her team and see what we can work out. Will talk to lecturers on Monday to discuss. Hope it can relieve some decisive stress!! >.<

Spanks.

POD - GANNT

Okay so I discussed with Erica today RE my 4 ideas and she encouraged me to take on Transformers and a BC funk song.

Challenging, very.

First, I have no idea about film scoring or orchestrating, instruments in a orchestra, scoring, different ranges of the instruments, etc. I don't even know how am I going to produce the work! I just like the way Steve Jablonski has done his job well in scoring for the transformers series and I wish to do something like that too because his music has engaged me well.

Second, I like BC's music and I really feel like grooving and just dancing and enjoying his music. But arranging wise I have no idea about the genre, no experience in playing such music or how to arrange it, and how am I going to get players to play whatever I've written.

So I'm still having a pretty hard time thinking about what I wanna focus on. I'll have to think harder and start getting my ideas down!

Argh!

Spanks.

POD - Non-related cover song.

SO! I decided to cover a song from my childhood (teen hood to be exact), Memory by Sugarcult.

Not sure if Geoff would approve but I'm hoping on it. HAHA!

Anybody wanna sing for me? :P

(Okay its not POD related but okay bye!)

Spanks.

POD - IDEAS

Hello test test. So a few ideas bobbing around in my head. Have yet to think through all of them (or 2) of them carefully.

So here they are so far :

1) Film score kinda orchestral music. (Ref: Transformers sound track)(Composition+Synthesis)

2) A rock song. (Ref: Alterbridge/BreakingBenjamin Genre)(Recording/Mixing)

3) A funk song. (Ref: Brian Culbertson "live from the inside")(Composition+Arranging)

4) A cheesy pop song. (Ref: JoJo's - "Too little too late")(Composition/Songwriting)

Still roughly vague >.<

By the way, the choice of my cover song is still boggling my head. I don't know what to do! ):

Okay irrelevant bye.

Spanks.