Week 4 - Sound Design - Characteristics and Editing

Question 1

When describing the Musical Function of a sound, what factor determines a sounds’ Musical Function?

Answer 1

How a sound is used in a musical arrangement (ex. melody, bass, accompaniment, textural, and rhythm parts)

Question 2

When referring to the Instrument Type of a sound, what would define the Instrument Type?

Answer 2

The characteristics of a particular group or family of instruments. (ex. the differences between strings, brass, woodwinds, or different types of keyboards, guitars, and basses)

Question 3

When referring to Sound Characteristics, what are the 3 factors that define a sounds characteristics?

Answer 3

1. Pitch
2. Timbre
3. Loudness

Question 4

What are 2 general rules for making synthesizer sounds used for melody?

Answer 4

1. They are generally monophonic
2. They make use of whatever realtime performance control is available to make them as expressive as possible

Question 5

True or False: The melody is the most important part of a musical arrangement.

Answer 5

True. The melody is perhaps the most important part of a musical arrangement.

Question 6

True or False: The types of sounds you make with synthesizers should always be the exact same time you use a synthesizer.

Answer 6

False. The type of instrument we’ll design and use really depends on the mood of the piece.

Question 7

What is 1 suggestion for keeping a listeners attention when writing a song?

Answer 7

The best way to attract a listener’s attention is to change something. For a sound to be truly expressive, it needs to respond in some way to what a performer is doing.

Question 8

What are 2 general rules for making synthesizer sounds used for bass parts?

Answer 8

1. It helps define the chord changes
2. It works with the drums to define the rhythmic feel

Answer 9

To work well rhythmically, a bass sound should have a fast attack that will match that of a drum sound.

Question 10

What are examples of Chordal Accompaniment instruments?

Answer 10

1. Keyboard instruments (ex. pianos, organs, Rhodes, etc.)
2. Guitars

Question 11

How do Chordal Accompaniment instruments fit in with the arrangement of the song?

Answer 11

These instruments often work in a rhythmic section with the bass, filling out the notes in chord changes, as well as providing a rhythmic feel.

Question 12

What is the difference between a Chordal Accompaniment instrument and a Textural instrument.

Answer 12

1. Chordal Instruments work with the bass and drums and are rhythmic.
2. Textural Instruments usually play long, sustained chords.

Answer 13

Percussion is used to provide the rhythmic feel of a piece.

Question 14

What is the difference between Percussion instruments and other categories of instruments (melody, bass, chordal, textural)?

Answer 14

1. Percussion instruments are non-pitched.