I have been very busy updating various parts of the site, and I have been working on a few development projects that will, hopefully be released within the year.

A few articles in this issue:

1. How do you build a hit producer style mix?

2. How do you write music for the PSP?

3. GameBoy micro music?

4. PSP drummer.

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How do you build a hit producer style mix?

From the start we must become organised. Like with any sort of building work, we must have a plan on how we are going to approach the topic. For example, Hip Hop you must break down the whole mix into a series of steps and hurdles, going over each one in turn. this helps you concentrate on one part, nail it, and then moving onto the next part:

Basically there are four parts to do in a specific order

1) Mix your drum and bass parts first. These are the concrete and pillars of your whole mix, if this is wrong the whole track will flounder. Get it right, and the who mix will naturally sit well winthin your newly created drum and bass section.

2) If you have any vocals apply these next. They are technically the backbone for your leads. This is especially needed for dance songs, where there are plenty of vocals. One main person who does it the other way around, i.e. leads first and then vocals is Elton John.

3) Next up is your guitar, leads and other "filler" instruments. these will automatically find a niche within your track, and they sound go hand in hand with your vocal. But remember never to compete with your main vocal lead. They should play a supportive role.

4) Any extra drum loops, or percussion bits, and your FX should come in here. This is where you run through your track filling up the gaps and "luls". FX should add spice , should jump and link ideas.

Once you have done this your new mix track should be right on the money!

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How do you write music for the PSP?

Richard Jacques - Persuit Force

The game is first generation. The music is about 1.3MB, 3mins in length and you need "the most bang for your buck". The tracks get loaded into the memory and then decompressed "on the fly". The music comprises of orchestra and synth lines. Richard sits down with the programer, designer, producer to discuss what to look for in a score. Because there are 5 gangs in the game, each one has a "theme". The drums were created first (as this would dictate the speed of the track), and then the various themes were padded out with musical touches :)

When there are FMV sequences, Richard would then have to match the music to the Quicktime sequences, time for time...being very precise. Pro Tools was used for editing.

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GameBoy micro music?

Wanna create some cool music from the GameBoy (which can be picked up for nothing now)?The approach can lead to really distinctive sounds. The 2 tools to do this are LSDJ and NanoLoop. LSDJ is more fully featured (a tracker interface, speech synthesis, sampled drum kits), however it seems that NanoLoop is easier to use (analogue style sequencer). However i feel that it is upto the user really. You can even link up both bits of software (if you have two GameBoys).

Get NanoLoop from here= http://www.nanoloop.de/

Here is an Acid MP3 of what LSDJ can do= http://www.littlesounddj.com/lsd/sounds/aciieeed.mp3

Download LSDJ from here= http://www.littlesounddj.com/lsd/

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PSP drummer.

We have to look to home developers to bring us some cool stuff. PSPKick turns your little handheld into a drum sequencer, a cool little beatbox! There are even little soundpacks for you as well.

Download PSPKick from here= http://www.pspkick.com/

See you for another instalment.