INART 258: Fundamentals of MIDI and Digital Audio
Guidelines for MIDI Project: Composing/Arranging

Click here for examples of MIDI Compositions/Arrangements from the past

Create an original composition as a MIDI sequence. Alternatively, create a unique MIDI arrangement of at least three pieces in a coherent medley or arrangement. Use the EXSP24 and any other Audio Instruments.
The piece should last between ninety seconds and two minutes -- if you submit a something longer, realize that we won't have time to listen to anything that happens past the two minute mark. Use at least eight audio instrument tracks.
The idea is to make this a fully realized performance, rather than a rudimentary "canned" realization. Use controller, pitch bending, changes of velocity, or whatever is necessary to add nuance and "humanize" your work. Be particularly careful with string and brass patches, which easily sound flat if they're not treated properly. With drum tracks, the pitfall is to use the same note (instrument) repeatedly, such as with repeated whacks on a bass drum. This can also sound "canned." The key is to get as much variety as possible onto all the tracks. This assignment is about creating a polished, interesting performance, not about composing. If you decide to start the project in Sibelius (or a notator), be sure you allow ample time to "humanize" the performance in Logic Express.
  • The composition should consist of at least one change of "place," that is, an environmental change brought about by some combination of changes in tempo, rhythmic content, patches/instruments, and harmony.
  • Use the Mixing window to get the balances right among your instrument choices. The final arrangement should sound integrated and seamless. A mixing window with all tracks at full volume, panned center, is an indication that you've ignored a critical component of an effective arrangement.
  • If you're using many loops, this is a clue that you're not being as thorough as you could. Loops are fine when they're appropriate, but they don't exactly create variety. Think hard and be sure you really want to play the exact same thing over and over. Most likely, you don't.
  • Do whatever arranging is necessary to make this sound cohesive and structurally solid. If you are doing a melody, think about shortening the songs, or repeating sections of them. Come up with a fitting ending to the medley, rather than just letting the last song end. Make these work together as a tight arrangement. You will probably need to add elements to serve as transitions from one song to the next.
  • Beware of relying on some of the fancy patches that are available -- if they have built-in elements like pulsing or sound effects, be sure you use these things in the piece somehow. Anyone can choose a preset. Be sure you're using it properly.
  • If you use controllers, such as the mod wheel or pans, be sure to initialize them at the top of the piece. To be extra tidy, send them these values after the notes have all played as well, so that they're initialized for the next sequence that plays on the instrument you use.
  • Make full use of Logic Express's production environment -- maximize mixing, sends, busses, effects, etc.
  • In the interests of posterity, you may wish to go to File -> Bounce and save your sequence as an audio file.
  • You may include audio tracks as accessories; the primary content should be in MIDI events.
    Submit:
    A CD-ROM containing:
    • one Logic Express file
    • a text file describing the piece and your methodology in creating it