Writing Music for Television and Radio Commercials (and more): A Manual for Composers and Students

Musical Skills!! 45

pitch of the instrument), and the ability to truncate (erase the unwanted
parts), transpose, or normalize (achieve the strongest volume level) sounds
are some of the changeable parameters.
Hardware samplers do not deplete the CPU (central processing unit)
power, which contains the brains of a computer. When using plug-ins
(effects and signal processing) with digital audio, many computers run out
of memory. Using hardware-based samplers provide many of the features
of computer audio. The sounds of hardware samplers, combined with dig-
ital audio in a computer-based system, are a powerful compositional tool.

Studio Technology as It Applies

to Music Production

It is not the intention of this book to concentrate on the technical aspects
of recording, but composers must have some basic knowledge. The use of
recording technology not only affects the overall ‘‘sound’’ of recordings
but may also determine how composers conceive their music. For instance,
the ambience of a vocal might emulate the accoustics of a church or cathe-
dral, as did the Gregorian chant sung on the wine commercial referred to
earlier; a guitar sound can be embellished with numerous delays, echoes,
and other effects—guitars used in surfing music have an identifiable delay.
The form of a composition or arrangement written to be recorded is
directly related to the effects processors used on voices and instruments.
There must be enough space between the notes for effects to be heard. This
should be taken into consideration while writing. Not having a thorough
understanding of technology can result in ‘‘musical confusion.’’ If not
used properly, delays and echoes can create a cloudy soundscape, and the
final music tends to have no definition of sound. The creative use of tech-
nology requires experimentation.
Whereas in the past composers studied traditional composition and
orchestration, contemporary composers and arrangers must also have
technical knowledge (in addition to traditional training) to survive in the
world of commercial music. An understanding of signal processors, audio
effects, and recording consoles is of utmost importance.

Signal Processors and Audio Effects!

!For the purposes of

this discussion, the terms

audio effectsandsignal

processorsare used inter-

changeably.

Audio effectsare added to the original sig-
nal;signal processorschange signals. The
use of signal processors and audio effects
has become as important in audio as it has
been in film effects processing. Signal processors can change a sound in
infinite ways, helping composers achieve unique sounds. The creative use