BGE Music Technology Creating a Soundscape Meldrum Academy

Learning Intentions In this project you are going to be: learning about soundscapes and creating your own soundscape developing your music technology skills learning and developing skills on music technology software using literacy skills to create a detailed plan for your soundscape using the internet to source appropriate sounds and importing these into music software working as an effective part of a group

Success Criteria By the end of this project all pupils will: be able to recognise and identify soundscapes be able to use, and will have developed their literacy skills be able to work as an effective contributor in a group be able to source appropriate sound effects online By the end of this project some pupils will: be able to import audio files into Audacity (music software) be able to create a soundscape By the end of this project some pupils may: be able to add effects and edit audio files using Audacity

But what is a soundscape? Think, Pair, Share But what is a soundscape?

Soundscape A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an environment.

Listen Listen to this soundscape. Discuss quietly with your shoulder partner and figure out what environment you think it is from. What do you hear? Click here

Project In this project you are going to be creating your own 30 second soundscape using Audacity. Audacity is a digital audio editor and recording computer software. But how do we go about creating a soundscape?

Step 1 - Ideas First you must decide what environment you are wanting to create? Here are some examples: Football pitch Space War We will use space as an example.

Step 2 - Brainstorm In pairs, on show-me-boards write down as many ‘space sounds’ as you can think of. ‘Space Sounds’

Step 3 – Story Board Now that you have some inspiration you need to write or draw a short story detailing exactly what is happening in the scene. Setting the space scene Space ship flies past A comet explodes Inverurie Faculty of Expressive Arts: BGE Music

Inverurie Faculty of Expressive Arts: BGE Music Step 4 – Sound Design Map Now you need to plan your sounds. Make your soundscape as detailed as possible. Remember your soundscape should be 30 seconds long. Time Detailed Description Sound/s 0 seconds – 5 seconds Setting the space scene Space music and digital sounds 5 seconds – 10 seconds Space ship flying over Swooshing sound gradually getting louder then quieter 10 seconds – 15 seconds Space scene 15 seconds – 20 seconds Comet getting closer Swooshing sounds getting louder 20 seconds – 30 seconds Comet exploding Loud exploding sounds Inverurie Faculty of Expressive Arts: BGE Music

Step 5 – Blocking your Sound Now you need to block your sounds. You can do this by figuring out what sounds you need to find. Tick the box Sound Effects Online Recording Space music Digital sound Swooshing sound Different swooshing sound Explosion sound

Step 6 – Sourcing your Sounds The first thing you need do is create is a folder in ‘My Documents’ called ‘Music Tech’. Then create another folder inside ‘Music Tech’ and call it ‘Soundscape’. You are going to save ALL of your sounds in this folder.

Step 6 – Sourcing your Sounds Now you are ready to source your sounds online. There are some excellent online resources for this – use GOOGLE CHROME. www.freesound.org: USERNAME : MELDRUM PASSWORD : MELDRUM www.freesfx.com: USER NAME: P109 PASSWORD; P109 Once you have found a sound, you need to download it –right click the sound and it will automatically go to your DOWNLOADS FOLDER Copy and Paste the MP3s in to your SOUNDSCAPE FOLDER

Step 7 – Audacity Now you are ready to start your soundscape. Click on the Windows button at the bottom left hand side of the screen, go to MUSIC and scroll down until you see Audacity 2.0 Wait for it to load, you should see this…

Step 8 – Saving your File Before you do anything please save your Audacity file in your Soundscape folder Go to: File – Save Project as – select ‘Soundscape’

Step 9 – Audacity Here are a few tips that will help you work around audacity. Selection tool Effects Time shift tool Zoom in/out Mute Window minimiser

Step 10 – Importing Sounds Now you are ready to import your sounds into Audacity. Go to : File – Import – and select the sound file you wish to import first This should appear…

Step 10 – Importing Sounds Once you have imported your sound file you should see something like this…

Step 11 - Adding a new Sound File Follow Step 10 to add more sound files.

Step 12 – Moving your Sound Files Now that you have all your sound files imported into audacity you now need to move them into place. Click on the track you would like to move, click on the time shift tool and move your sound file to the correct place.

Step 13 – Editing Sound Files To crop a sound file, select the file you would like to edit, and select the selection tool. Now highlight the area you want to delete. Press Delete! Highlighted area

Step 14 – Adding Effects To add effects, highlight the area of the sound file you want to add an effect to (do this with the selection tool). Then click effect and choose an effect you want to add. If you are unhappy with the effect, press ‘Ctrl’ and ‘Z’ together, and you will undo the effect.

Teacher Feedback When you feel that you have completed your soundscape, let your teacher listen to your work.

Step 15 – Exporting You now need to export your soundscape as an MP3 file. Here is how you export your soundscape. Click File – Export This should appear… Make sure your save your file as a MP3 File Name your file ‘Soundscape MP3’ Then press Save!

Step 15 - Exporting If this window appears, click ok.

Step 15 - Exporting Save your audacity file for the final time, then exit audacity. Go into My Documents and double check your MP3 file works.

Step 16 – Peer/Self Assessment Once you have completed your soundscape you can collect the ‘Peer/Self Assessment’ form from your teacher.

Step 16 – Peer/Self Assessment It is important to assess and reflect on your learning. Please fill out the form below.

Step 16 – Peer/Self Assessment Use the two stars and a wish template. Write down 2 things you liked about your project and 1 thing you could do to improve your project. The ask a peer to write down 2 things they liked about the piece and 1 thing they think you could be better.

BGE Music Technology@ Meldrum Academy Well Done! BGE Music Technology@ Meldrum Academy