Beruflich Dokumente
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Welcome to the Learning Center and thank you for attending Digital Performer Basics training
session. During the next 90-minutes we will cover all the basics of sequencing using MOTU Digital
Performer.
The class will begin by explaining the basics of music sequencing and everything related to
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) protocols. Then, a Digital Performer feature overview will
be given, covering everything from MIDI recording to conversion of MIDI into Audio.
Digital Performer does not come initially as part of the Laptop Package, although it will be
part of the Major Bundles (Film Scoring, CWP).
The Learning Center also offers training sessions on a large array of music software as well as,
hold numerous forums and presentations about Music technology.
For more information visit us at learningcenter.berklee.edu
(617) 747-2669 (150 Massachusetts Avenue Building)
Learning Center Staff
Table of Contents
What is a Sequencer?
MIDI
Digital Performer Interface:
- Transport
- Tracks Window
MIDI Recording
- Step Recording
- Real-Time Recording
Performance Editing
- Regions
- Quantize
- Graphic Editor
Audio Recording
- Using Software Instruments
- Converting MIDI Tracks into Audio Tracks
Setting Loops
Mixing
- Audio & MIDI Plug-ins
Saving + Bouncing
Learning Center (training sessions, labs, support)
References & Links
Digital Performer Advanced
3
3
4
4
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5
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6
7
8
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Revision 08/26/05
- 3 - What
is a Sequencer?
011100110011000
Digital Information
MIDI Controller
Every note, chord or performance
made with the MIDI controller will be
stored in the order they are coming in.
Software
Sequencer
MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface, was a protocol created in the 80s by the
leading manufacturers of music technology gear. MIDI enables different devices to
communicate to each other, and since virtually every new device nowadays comes
with MIDI built in, it makes it seamless to use different brands and types of music gear
together. All you need is MIDI cables and they start talking to each other, E.g. Imagine
that you have a Keyboard controller that can trigger sounds from a sound module.
MIDI RULES:
16 channels per device.
All MIDI Data goes from 0 to 127
learningcenter.berklee.edu
Digital Performer has two main windows, they are the Transport control and the Track
window. The Transport control takes care of playback/record functions and counter
information (playback positioning). The Transport control also offers shortcuts to all editing
windows and features such as metronome, overdub, etc.
Playback
Controls
Record
Track
Window
Counter
Sequence
Editor
Mixing
Board
Notation
Memory
Cycle
(loop)
Overdub
Count-Off
Metronome
Event List
Wait Note
Graphic
Editor
Drum
Editor
Track Window:
contains all
tracks/instruments
as well as their
performance data
(regions).
LEFT SIDE
RIGHT SIDE
- 5 - MIDI
Recording
Step Recording
Step Recording will allow you to record notes and performances without necessarily
having to follow the beat of the metronome.
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2. Activate your Metronome by clicking on the Metronome icon. The icon next to it is for bars of count off.
DOUBLE CLICK THE METRONOME ICON FOR
METRONOME AND COUNT-OFF SETTINGS
- 7 - Performance
Editing
Not all of us are virtuoso players. Some of us cannot even play a few notes
correctly. Thanks to MIDI, most sequencers offer editing capabilities, turning rhythm
challenged people into decent players.
Regions
Regions are space sections that contain either MIDI Performances or Audio
recordings. Regions can be moved, copied and pasted, and even edited using the
Region menu.
Quantize
Lets face it, sometimes it is almost impossible to play something in time. For
example: we need to record a Bach cantata that has mostly eigth notes all the way
through. After a few bars of that feat, is very likely that we are not playing them right
anymore. So by applying Quantize you can align the attack (beginning) of each note to
a pre-determined grid.
Unquantized
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Quantized
Performance Editing
(Graphic Editor) 8
One of the four editing types allowed on Digital Performer is the Graphic Editor. The
Graphic Editor shows all recorded notes, including dynamics and other MIDI controller
data. The data is posted on a grid that represents measures as well as different pitches.
Tracks
shown
Measures / Beat Grid
Pitch
Reference
Recorded notes
Velocity (Volume)
MIDI Controller Data
At the Graphic Editor any note can be stretched (duration) or moved to a different pitch.
Just click on the desired note and apply the changes.
2.
- 9 - Audio
Recording
When you record a MIDI performance, all the events can be edited, adjusted or
manipulated in any way. In the case of Audio Recordings, most of that flexibility is gone.
Digital Audio recording converts an analog signal into data that can be digitally stored.
Guitar Output /
Microphone
(Analog Signal)
Analog/Digital
Converter
(Audio Interface)
011 101100100101
1001100110011101
There are other cases when Software Instruments are used and Audio Interfaces
are not required.
Software instruments
Software Instruments are applications within the computer that can generate
Audio signals triggered by MIDI controllers. E.g. Garritan Personal Orchestra. is a software
instrument, more specifically a sampler since it loads audio recordings of instruments to
be controlled via MIDI.
Tracks can be added on Digital Performer. They can be MIDI tracks or Stereo Audio tracks. In
this particular case we will need two tracks, one Instrument track (sound generator) and a MIDI
track that triggers the performances.
learningcenter.berklee.edu
Audio Recording
(Software Instruments) - 10 -
http://soundblaster.com/soundfont/
- 11 -
Setting Loops
Loops in many cases are defined as objects of circular shape. Following that
definition, regions (MIDI or Audio) can be set to repeat in a cyclical manner. This method
is especially useful for grooves, ostinatos, and other types of repetitive or sequential
phrases.
NOTE: The looped region does not have any notes in it. It is just a copy of what is
played in the preceding measures.
learningcenter.berklee.edu
Mixing - 12 -
Mixing is a process that can be done while laying out tracks, and definitely needs to be
visited after all tracks have been recorded. By Mixing you can determine the audio levels
of each instrument depending on style or instrumentation.
There are some formulas for mixing music, but your ears will determine how your music
should sound.
- 13 -
Saving + Bouncing
Saving is probably the most important thing after writing music. If you do not save
periodically, you are at risk of losing all of your work. The longer the interval between
every time you save your file, the more time you will waste in case of a computer crash.
Dealing with computers and pretty much any electronic device is a dicey business.
Consider yourself warned
Bouncing
Saving lets you save your Digital Performer work into an editable and
transportable file. Although in order to have all your music in an audio format you will
have to render all the audio tracks into a stereo mix. DP calls that process Bounce to
track.
learningcenter.berklee.edu
Learning Center (learningcenter.berklee.edu) - 14 150 Massachusetts Avenue, second floor, upstairs from the Media Center
(617) 747-2669
Training Sessions, Tutoring (Core Music & Software), MIDI Workstations, Laptop Stations (Hybrid)
TRAINING SESSIONS
TUTORING
SOFTWARE FORUMS
LABS
EVENTS
- 15 -
WEB LINKS
Mark of the Unicord (MOTU)
www.motu.com
Forums
http://www.unicornation.com/
learningcenter.berklee.edu
- MIDI/Audio Automation - Audio Editing - Changing the Tempo of an Audio Track - Audio
Plug-ins - Conductor Track (Tempo, Meter & Key signature changes) - Tempo Change
operations - Soundbites - Waveform Editor - Multiple Bounces - Opening a Video -