Using Garageband

We decided that it would be easier if one of us did the editing, and the other would do the music production of the piece. This way, we thought we would be getting the two tasks that would take the longest, done at the same time. Although we were both working separately on our different aspects of working on the film, we still managed to work together – conferring with what we liked and what we needed to change. For example, before Holly cut something out she would ask me my opinion and what I thought looked best and equally I would ask her what she preferred when making the music.
I was doing the music for the opening scene of our film and had to learn how to use Garageband. Once I was used to how it worked, it was easy enough to use, however I still struggled to get a piece of music I was happy with.

First of all, I looked through the different instruments and the sounds they created, but decided that piano should be the most dominant because I wanted a spooky/eerie feel to the music. I also knew that I wanted to create layers being added to the piano, to keep the audience interested, and the scene itself captivating.

I started off with the one piano layer and then with two. I ended up with three piano tracks, strings, string ensemble, orchestral strings, electric tremolo and two layers of beats.
I had the tracks layering up at the points in the scene where there was more tension. For example, where the girl walks out of the alleyway, when she is going through the door and when she goes into the kitchen.
I thought the piece needed something extra added to it, to give it more emphasis, so I added a drum beat and this worked really well. I still kept some of the piano parts over the top of the beats so the music didn’t sound completely different.
A lot of creating the music was trial and error – putting things in and trying them before deciding whether they worked or not. Also, if I couldn’t find something that fitted with what I wanted, I got the piano (by pressing certain keys on the computer keyboard) and created something myself.
I also did this for the drone sounds on the strings – went to ‘musical typing’ and put in the notes that I wanted rather than the default ones.

I really enjoyed using Garageband, I loved getting used to all the settings and sounds as I love creating music. I am happy with the final product and think it works well over the top of the film.