Bass Line Quiz Review

Tomorrow, we're going to have a quiz covering Bass Lines and the Matrix. So Today, we're going to review what will be covered on the quiz.

On the quiz you will be asked to make a bass line and two patterns on the Matrix so let's practice that today.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo between 70-110 bpm
4. Create any one of the"Soft Synths" (Combinator, Subtractor, Malstrom, NN19, or NNXT)
   
5. On The Soft Synth, click on the folder in the upper corner.
6. Go to the Patches Folder in Reason Factory Sound Bank and select a Bass for your Soft Synth.
   
7. Create a Matrix so that we can hear the sound coming out of the Soft Synth.
8. On the Matrix, move the Octave down, on the left from the keyboard, from 3 to 2.
9. 
10. Now, turn the Volume down on all the notes except the first step.
    
11. Bass Lines are a lot like Bass Drums because they are both in the low frequencies. Think about the boxes you put the Bass Drum on and put your Bass Line on the same steps with the Matrix.
12. Some examples for steps you might want to use. A combination of 1, 4, 7, 11, and 15. 1, 3, 7, and 9. 1, 2, 8, and 9.
    
13. After you choose the rhythm, change the pitch of the notes to make a Bass Line.
    
14. After you have your bass line and you are happy with the sound, move the Right Loop Point to R3.
15. Copy Pattern To Track.
16. Now, move your Right Loop Point to R5 and your Left Loop Point to L3.
17. On the Matrix, move from Pattern 1 to Pattern 2.
18. On the Matrix, change the steps from 16 to 32.
19. Now, turn the Volume down on all the notes except the first step.
20. Think about which steps you used in Pattern 1, in Pattern 2 you want to use similar steps but make a different Bass Line.
21. When you have your bass line sounding good, Copy Pattern To Track. Don't forget to turn the Pattern Button off!
22. Highlight the boxes on the Matrix track and drag them up to your Soft Synth track.
23. Move your Left Loop Point to L1.
24. Create a Redrum. Make a 32 step drum pattern.
25. Put a clap, snap, or snare on 5 and 13.
26. Put a bass drum on similar boxes to the steps you used for the Matrix.
27. Add two more sounds from the High Hat, Percussion Hi, Percussion Other, or FX folders.
28. Copy the Pattern to Track.
29. Save as (Your Name) Bass Line 2
    
30. 

Bass Lines part 2

Today, I want to give everyone a chance to finish the Bass Line assignment.

When you are finished with the Bass Line assignment from yesterday, follow the lesson below on how to make your own Bass Line.

1. Did you finish the Bass Line Assignment from yesterday?
   
2. Open Reason
3. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
4. Set Tempo between 70-110 bpm
5. Create a Combinator
6. On The Combinator, click on the folder in the upper left hand corner.
7. Go to Reason Factory Sound Bank: Combinator Patches: Bass: and choose any of the basses in the folder
   
8. Create a Matrix so that we can hear the sound coming out of the Combinator.
   
9. On the Matrix, move the Octave down, on the left from the keyboard, from 3 to 2.
10. 
11. Now, turn the Volume down on all the notes except the first step.
    
12. Bass Lines are a lot like Bass Drums because they are both in the low frequencies. Think about the boxes you put the Bass Drum on and put your Bass Line on the same steps with the Matrix.
13. Some examples for steps you might want to use. A combination of 1, 4, 7, 11, and 15. 1, 3, 7, and 9. 1, 2, 8, and 9.
    
14. Once you have a rhythm that you like continue it on steps 17-32. Remeber 17 is the first step of a new bar so you can start counting 1 from there.
15. After you have your bass line and you are happy with the sound, Copy Pattern To Track and move the boxes up to the Combinator track. Don't forget to turn the Pattern button off!
16. Now Create a Redrum and change the steps from 16 to 32.
    
17. Start with a Clap on 5 and 13 for boxes 1-16 and 17-32.
18. Now add a Bass Drum, do you remember which steps you put your bass line on? Use similar steps for the Bass Drum.
19. Add two more drum sounds such as a High Hat and Percussion-Hi.
20. When you have made your drum beat, Copy Pattern To Track.
21. Create a Dr. Rex, load in a Dr. Rex Percussion Loop and select To Track.
22. Save your beat as (Your Name) First Bass Line
23. Email your beat to mrprice@ccpaedu.com
    

Bass Lines

Last week we worked on creating melodies using the Matrix. This week we are going to start making bass lines. So unlike last week where we moved the Octave switch up on the Matrix, this week we're going to move the Octave switch down!

To demonstrate this technique we are going to remake the bass line from Too Short's single "Blow the Whistle" then recreate the drum beat. Too Short- Blow The Whistle (instrumental) uploaded by beanycastillo

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo at 100 bpm
4. Create a Subtractor
5. On The Subtractor, click on the folder in the upper left hand corner.
6. Go to Reason Factory Sound Bank: Subtractor Patches: Bass: Dodger Bass.zyp
7. We need a way to add the Bass line from Blow the Whistle, which is in C minor...Create a Matrix!
8. On the Matrix, change the steps from 16 to 32.
9. On the Matrix, move the Octave down, on the left from the keyboard, from 3 to 2.
10. Leave the Volume up on 1, 4, 7, 11, 13, 17, 20, 23, 27, and 29. After you have moved the volume down on all the other numbers it should look like this.
11. On steps all the steps that still have volume, move the red rectangle to the bottom box (C) of the Matrix.
12. On steps 11 and 13, move the note up 3 steps.
13. On steps 27 and 29, move the note up 5 steps.
14. When you are done it should look like this.
15. On the Matrix, right click and Copy Pattern to Track and move the boxes in the Sequencer Window up to the Subtractor Track.
16. Create a Redrum.
17. Listen to the Instrumental of Blow the Whistle.
    
18. What sounds do they use?
19. What boxes do you think they go on?
20. Recreate the drum beat from Blow the Whistle.
21. Copy Pattern To Track.
22. Save as (Your Name) Blow the Whistle.
23. email it to mrprice@ccpaedu.com
    

Friday Quiz 1/25/08

On today's quiz we are going to make an 8 step melody and then on a new pattern we will play the melody up an octave.

After the quiz write a blog post about your three most favorite highlights from this class over the first six weeks.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo to anything between 70-110 bpm
   
4. Create a Malstrom
5. On The Malstrom, click on the folder in the upper left hand corner.
6. Go to Reason Factory Sound Bank: Malstrom Patches: Mono Synths: Choose your favorite sound!
   
7. Create a Matrix!
8. On the Matrix, change the steps from 16 to 8.
9. You may want to change the Matrix from Octave 3 to Octave 4, or maybe down to Octave 2.
10. Now turn the volume off on three of the steps.
11. Create a melody using 3 notes from the C minor scale on those five steps that have volume.
12. Now, move your Right loop point to R3.
13. Right Click on the Matrix and select Copy Pattern To Track.
14. Move the Right loop point to R5 and the Left loop point to L3.
15. On the Matrix, Select Pattern 2.
16. Move the Octave Switch up one Octave from the one you are on.
17. On the Matrix, change the steps from 16 to 8.
18. On the Matrix, draw in the EXACT same melody that you created in Pattern 1.
19. Right Click on the Matrix and Select Copy Pattern To Track.
20. Move the Left loop point to L1.
21. Click the Pattern Button on the Matrix.
22. Create a Redrum and make a 32 step drum pattern using a Clap or Snap, Bass Drum, Hi Hat, and Percussion. Make sure you put the sounds on appropriate boxes!
23. On the Redrum, Copy Pattern To Track and turn the Pattern Button off.
24. Create a Dr. Rex.
25. Click on the Folder and go to My Documents: Shared Files: Thursday, Jan 24th: SnapYoFingas
26. On The Dr. Rex, click To Track...and "push play"
27. Change the Pitch of Lil Jon's voice using the keyboard on the Dr. Rex. If you have a fast song, make the pitch higher. If you have a slow song, make the pitch lower.
28. Save your beat as (YOUR NAME) QUIZ 12508
29. Send it to mrprice@ccpaedu.com
30. Watch this video with my remix of Rihanna's Don't Stop The Music, let me know what you think about it in the comment section of this post.
31. On your personal blog post your three favorite highlights from the class this semester.
32. Good Work!!!!!!!
    

Changing the Octave and Making 2 Patterns on The Matrix

Today we are going to play 'Snap Your Fingers' on the Matrix. We will be learning how to change the Octave on the Matrix and how to make two patterns.


After you create the melody, listen to the instrumental and recreate the drums.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo at 82 bpm
4. Create a Malstrom
5. On The Malstrom, click on the folder in the upper left hand corner.
6. Go to Reason Factory Sound Bank: Malstrom Patches: Mono Synths: Chingy Lead.xwv
7. We need a way to add the melody from Snap Yo Fingas, which is in C minor...Create a Matrix!
8. On the Matrix, change the steps from 16 to 8.
9. On the Matrix, move the Octave switch, on the left from the keyboard, from 3 to 4.
10. Turn the Volume off on notes 4, 6, and 8.
11. On Steps 1 and 2, click on the lowest note boxes to bring the notes up to the 4th Octave from the 3rd Octave.
12. On Step 3, click on the 4th box up.
13. On Steps 5 and 7, click on the 3rd box up.
14. It should look like this.
15. Now, move your Right loop point to R3.
16. Right Click on the Matrix and select Copy Pattern To Track.
17. Move the Right loop point to R5 and the Left loop point to L3.
18. On the Matrix, Select Pattern 2.
19. Move the Octave Switch from 4 to 5.
20. On the Matrix, change the steps from 16 to 8.
21. Repeat lesson steps 10-13.
22. Right Click on the Matrix and Select Copy Pattern To Track.
23. Move the Left loop point to L1.
24. Click the Pattern Button on the Matrix.
25. Now, listen to the instrumental.
26. How many steps is the drum beat?
    
27. What sounds are they using? A clap or a snap? What kind of Bass Drum? How about Percussion?
    
28. What numbers do the sounds go on?
29. Create a Redrum and recreate the beat from Snap Yo Fingas.
30. When you have finished the beat, Copy Pattern To Track.
31. Create a Dr. Rex.
32. Click on the Folder and go to My Documents: Shared Files: Thursday, Jan 24th: SnapYoFingas
33. On The Dr. Rex, click To Track...and "push play"
34. Save your beat as Snap (your name)'s Fingers
35. Send your beat to mrprice@ccpaedu.com
    

Usher's "Yeah" Produced by Lil Jon

Today we are going to remake the song Yeah. I'm going to show you how to do the melody. And then I want you to listen to this instrumental and figure out the drum beat.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo to 104 bpm.
4. Create a Subtractor.
5. On the Subtractor, click on the folder in the upper left hand corner.
   
6. Go to Reason Factory Sound Bank: Subtractor Patches: Mono Synths: 80's Dance Ld.zyp
7. We need a way to add the melody from Yeah, which is in C minor...Create a Matrix!
8. Change the number of steps on the Matrix from 16 to 32.
9. Turn the Volume off on all the notes EXCEPT: 1, 3, 7, 9, 17, 19, 23, and 25. After this step your Matrix should look just like this.
10. On the 3rd Step, move the note up 7 spots.
    
11. On the 9th Step, move the note up 8 spots.
12. On the 19th Step, move the note up 8 spots.
13. On the 25th Step, move the note up 7 spots.
14. After these steps, your Matrix should look like this.
15. Create a Redrum, we want to recreate the drum line so listen to the instrumental at the top of this lesson.
    
16. What sounds are they using?
17. What boxes do the sounds go on?
18. One hint, the pattern is 32 steps.
19. When you have figured out the drum beat. Copy the Pattern to Track.
20. Save your beat as (Your Name) Yeah
21. Email your beat to mrprice@ccpaedu.com
    

Friday Quiz 1/18/08

In today's quiz, you will be asked to create a melody using notes from the C minor scale that goes along with a drum beat.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo between 70-110 bpm
   
4. Create a Redrum and make a 32 step drum pattern using a Clap or Snap, Bass Drum, Hi Hat, and Percussion. Make sure you put the sounds on appropriate boxes!
5. On the Redrum, Copy Pattern To Track.
6. Now Create an NN19 Digital Sampler: choose any instrument in the NN19 folder.
7. Create a Matrix.
8. On the Matrix, change the steps to 32.
9. Create a melody using notes from the C minor scale. Use between 3 and 5 different notes on between 7 and 10 steps.
10. When you have finished making your melody, Copy Pattern To Track, and move the boxes up to the NN19 track. Don't forget to turn the pattern off!
11. Create a Dr. Rex. Load a Percussion Loop and put it "To Track."
12. Save your beat as (YOUR NAME) 11808.
13. Send it to mrprice@ccpaedu.com

Crank That Coliseum

Yesterday we played the C minor scale, both up the scale and down the scale, using the Matrix.

Today we are going to recreate the Crank Dat Soulja Boy melody which is in C minor.

After we make the melody you will create your own melody using C minor.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo to 70 bpm
   
4. Create a NN-XT Digital Sampler
5. Click on the Folder in the upper left hand corner of the NN-XT.
6. In the Patch Browser, click Orkester Sound Bank: Mallets: Glockenspiel.smp
7. Now that we have our sound loaded we need to create a Matrix to play it.
   
8. Go to the Create Menu and select the Matrix, all the way at the bottom of the menu.
9. We want to use the Matrix to play a the melody from Crank That Soulja Boy.
10. First, turn the volume down on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, and 16th steps.
11. Now on step 1, move the note up 12 spots.
12. On step 4, move the note up 7 spots.
13. On step 7, move the note up 8 spots.
14. On step 11, move the note up 12 spots.
15. On step 14, move the note up 7 spots.
16. When you are done it should look like this.
17. How many notes have the volume on?
18. How many different notes are there?
    
19. Now, create a Redrum and make a 16 step drum pattern using a Clap, Bass Drum, Hi Hat, and Percussion. Make sure you put the sounds on appropriate boxes!
20. Or instead of a Clap, try putting a Snap on 5 and 13 just like Soulja Boy.
21. When you finish your Drum Beat, Copy Pattern To Track.
22. Now we want to revisit the NN-XT and the Matrix.
23. On the Matrix, change the pattern to PATTERN 2.
24. Turn the volume down on all the steps.
25. Create a melody with the notes from C minor, with the volume up on 5 of the steps in the Matrix, using between 3 and 5 different notes.
26. When, you are done with your melody, right click on the Matrix and select Copy Pattern To Track.
27. Click the Pattern button on the Matrix.
28. Highlight all the boxes on the Matrix in the sequence window and drag them up to the NN-XT track.
29. Save the beat as Crank That (your name)
    

The minor scale and the Matrix

Yesterday we made a melody (the part of a song you sing along to) with the C Major Scale and on Monday we played the C Major scale on the Matrix.

Today we are going to create the C minor scale using the Matrix.

The difference between the C Major Scale and the C minor Scale is that the 3rd, 6th, and 7th notes of the C minor scale are one step below those notes in the C Major Scale.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Create a NN19 Digital Sampler
4. Click on the Folder in the upper left hand corner of the NN19.
5. In the Patch Browser, click Reason Factory Sound Bank: NN19 Sampler Patches: Guitar: ACGUITAR.smp
6. Now that we have our sound loaded we need a way to play it...ENTER THE MATRIX
7. Go to the Create Menu and select the Matrix, all the way at the bottom of the menu.
8. We want to use the Matrix to play a C minor Scale both up the scale and down the scale.
9. First, change the STEPS on the Matrix from 16 to 32.
   
10. Now, let's turn the volume down on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 28th, 30th, and 32nd step.
11. On the 3rd step, move the note (the rectangle) up 2 notes.
12. On the 5th step, move the note up 3 notes.
13. On the 7th step, move the note up 5 notes.
14. On the 9th step, move the note up 7 notes.
15. On the 11th step, move the note up 8 notes.
16. On the 13th step, move the note up 10 notes.
17. On the 15th step move the note up 12 notes.
18. On the 17th step move the note up 12 notes.
19. On the 19th step, move the note up 10 notes.
20. On the 21st step, move the note up 8 notes.
21. On the 23rd step, move the note up 7 notes.
22. On the 25th step, move the note up 5 notes.
23. On the 27th step, move the note up 3 notes.
24. On the 29th step, move the note up 2 notes.
25. When your done, the Matrix should look like this.
26. Save the project in your folder as C minor Scale.
27. On your blog, answer the following questions.
28. How does the C minor scale sound different from the C Major scale?
29. What's a melody that uses the C minor scale?
30. What's your favorite instrument?
31. What's your favorite song right now?
    

T.I. Rubberband Man Melody

The song Rubberband Man by T.I. and produced by David Banner uses a melody based off of the C MAJOR scale. Let's recreate the melody and then add our on drums.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Set Tempo to 82 bpm
   
4. Create a NN19 Digital Sampler
5. Click on the Folder in the upper left hand corner of the NN19.
6. In the Patch Browser, click Reason Factory Sound Bank: NN19 Sampler Patches: Organ: Organ1Perc.smp
7. Now that we have our sound loaded we need a way to play it...ENTER THE MATRIX
8. Go to the Create Menu and select the Matrix, all the way at the bottom of the menu.
9. Now we want to create the melody for T.I.'s song.
10. The first step is....the steps. This melody is 2 bars long so change the steps from 16 to 32 on the Matrix.
11. Now we need to turn the volume down on all the steps we aren't going to use. Leave the volume on on STEPS 1, 8, 10, 11, 17, 24, 26, and 27. For all the other STEPS, turn the volume off.
12. Now we can change the notes of the steps we have left.
13. On STEPS 8 and 10, move the note up four spots.
14. On STEP 11, move the note up five spots.
15. On STEP 17, move the note up seven spots.
16. On STEPS 24 and 26, move the note up 11 spots.
17. On STEP 27, move the note up 12 spots.
18. When you're done with the melody it should look like this:
19. Now, create a Redrum and make a 32 step drum pattern using a Clap, Bass Drum, Hi Hat, and Percussion. Make sure you put the sounds on appropriate boxes!
20. On the Redrum, Copy Pattern To Track and Click on the Pattern button.
21. Save your beat as T.I.
    

The Major Scale and the Matrix

Today we are going to start a new section on creating melodies in Reason using the Matrix. But first we need to understand a little more music theory. In music, musicians use scales as the frame for their melodies. There are two basic types of scales, the Major Scale, which has a happy sound, and the minor scale, which has a somber sound. You hear the Major Scale a lot in Pop Music. And you hear the minor scale a lot in Hip Hop music. Today we're going to learn the Major Scale. And more specifically the C Major Scale.

The Major Scale is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher. These notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, (Do)". The simplest major scale to write or play on the piano is C major, the only major scale not to require sharps or flats, using only the white keys on the piano keyboard:

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Create a NN19 Digital Sampler
4. Click on the Folder in the upper left hand corner of the NN19.
5. In the Patch Browser, click Reason Factory Sound Bank: NN19 Sampler Patches: Piano: BRIGHTPIANO.smp
6. Now that we have our sound loaded we need a way to play it...ENTER THE MATRIX
7. Go to the Create Menu and select the Matrix, all the way at the bottom of the menu.
8. We want to use the Matrix to play a C Major Scale.
9. Look at the Matrix, do you see the keyboard? We can use this to help us put the NOTES (the red rectangles) on all the white keys.
10. Below the NOTES in the Matrix, do you see the lines? These move up and down and control the VOLUME.
    
11. To make the C Major Scale we are going to move every other note up to the next white key. (I moved the NOTES in between all the way up to the top so that they wouldn't be in my way.)
12. After I've moved all my NOTES, I want to turn the VOLUME all the way down on the NOTES I don't want to hear. After you finish this step, your MATRIX should look something like this.
13. Listen to your scale, does it sound like Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do?
14. Save in your folder as C Major Scale.
15. On your blog write about the following questions:
16. What is a Scale?
17. What does a Major Scale sound like? Who uses it?
18. What is a Melody?
    

Friday Make Up/Free Time Day!

This class has been really good and we are ahead of schedule!

Today is your chance to make up quizzes if you were absent or to resend your quiz if for some reason I didn't get them.

If you haven't finished the Dora the Explorer quiz, finish that first. Then check your email and see what quizzes of yours I don't have. If you didn't get a message from me it means that I have all your quizzes from December. You can create a blog post and have free time for the rest of the class period.

You guys should be proud of your ability to make beats because you are doing really well!

Friday Quiz 1/10/08

In today's quiz you will be remixing a sample from the Dora the Explorer Theme Song.

This will test your ability to change Dr. Rex sample loops using both PITCH and TIME. And in creating a 32 step Redrum drum beat that goes with the sample.

Make it slap! The student who makes the best remix will get a special prize!

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Create a Dr. Rex
4. Click on the "Folder" in the upper left hand corner.
5. Select the Dora sample from My Documents: Shared Files: Thursday, January 10th: Dora
6. Click "TO TRACK"
7. Now we want to adjust the PITCH and TIME of the sample.
8. To do this we need to change two things.
   
9. To change the Time, change your Tempo. Set it to anything except what it says on the Dr. Rex.
10. To change the Pitch, use the keyboard on the Dr. Rex to transpose your sample up or down.
11. After you get your sample sounding the way you want it, it's time to add some drums that go with the sample.
12. Create a Redrum and make a 32 step drum pattern using a Clap, Bass Drum, Hi Hat, and Percussion. Make sure you put the sounds on appropriate boxes!
13. On the Redrum, Copy Pattern To Track and Click on the Pattern button.
14. Create a Dr. Rex. Load a Percussion Loop and adjust the PITCH. Put it "TO TRACK."
15. Save your beat as (your name) 1.10.08.
16. Send it to mrprice@ccpaedu.com

Review For Thursday Quiz

We are going to have our Friday quiz on Thursday this week. On Friday, you'll get to catch up on quizzes you've missed, work on blogs, and get some free time.

The object of the quiz is to change a Dr. Rex Instrument Loop or Music Loop by lowering or raising the Pitch and making the Tempo different from the original loop.

1. Open Reason
2. Make sure you have a Mixer 14:2
3. Create a Dr. Rex
4. Click on the "Folder" in the upper left hand corner.
5. Select either Dr. Rex Instrument Loops or Music Loops.
   
6. Choose a loop and then click "TO TRACK"
7. Now we want to adjust the PITCH and TIME of the sample.
8. To do this we need to change two things. To change the Time, change your Tempo. Set it to anything except what it says on the Dr. Rex.
9. To change the Pitch, use the keyboard on the Dr. Rex to transpose your sample up or down.
10. Remember, if you choose a high tempo you might want to transpose the sample to a higher note. If you have a slow tempo you might want to transpose the sample to a lower note.
11. After you get your sample sounding the way you want it, it's time to add some drums that go with the sample.
12. Create a Redrum and make a 32 step drum pattern using a Clap, Bass Drum, Hi Hat, and Percussion. Make sure you put the sounds on appropriate boxes!
13. On the Redrum, Copy Pattern To Track and Click on the Pattern button.
14. Create a Dr. Rex. Load a Percussion Loop and adjust the PITCH. Put it "To Track."
15. Save your beat as "1/9/07 Review"
16. Post on your Blog.