Morgan Mandamin-Beveridge - Songwriting and Recording

At the beginning of the semester, I had hardly any experience or understanding of how to even use Garage Band. This journey of learning started with me making a simple google search: “how to use Garage Band for beginners.” It was a very generalized search, but it pointed me in the right direction. I then watched the first video recommended for me. It demonstrated where to start once you opened the app, and what each of the buttons did. I took down some notes then I opened Garage band myself. The notes I took down helped me a bit, but not a lot. Instead, I found I learned how to record my music by just trying things out. I also asked friends who knew how to use it and my teachers. I found having that in-person interaction helped me a lot more than watching someone else do it on a video.

With my recording journey commenced, I had the basics somewhat down - but not quite. While I was recording my first song that was used to prove my concept at the start of the semester, I noticed that the instruments just were not aligning, and the tracks were falling out of tempo. At the time I did not know what the word “quantize” meant, and so I would spend too much time re-recording tracks. To quantize the tracks means to put them in tempo it makes it easier to make all the different instruments match up to the song’s tempo. I learned this skill by getting feedback on my song from my teacher.

In the beginning, it was hard for me to ask for feedback because recording my songs was still something so new to me and it made me feel vulnerable. However, getting feedback is how you can further your understanding and it is good to get other opinions to help you. I am still working on this, but throughout the semester I have gradually gotten better.

When you listen to the five songs that I recorded and uploaded onto SoundCloud I want you to listen for a couple of elements that I put in each song.

First, in every song, I included some voice effects such as ambiance and a little reverb. I also added these effects on some of the instruments as well. My song “All” has changed the most, as I added lots of reverb to the voice that echoes in the background. This vocal track almost sounds like it's coming from behind you and that’s because I panned it hard to the left. This means that this vocal tracks sound is mainly in your left headphone. I added panning to all of my songs as well to add that depth.

Another element that I add in almost all my songs is background sounds. What I mean by this is for example in the song “All” has changed. In the intro, you will hear the sounds of birds chirping in the background. I actually recorded these sounds myself after a rainy day outside. You can also hear the birds at other points in the song as well, and if you listen to the first verse you can pick it out. Another song that I added sounds that are not instruments is at the end of “Lost in a Storm,” I added the waves. I think adding this sound tied the song together just because the song is about being lost in a storm and finding your way. I enjoy using these other sounds. It’s something that the ear can pick up if they listen for it and when you hear it adds a new element to the song other than just instruments. In my song “Take me Back” I actually experimented with making the background sounds myself. I wanted the sounds of wind blowing so I made swooshing sounds into the microphone and if you listen for it in the first verse and at the end of the song you will hear it. Also, in the intro of that song, I actually went outside and recorded my wind chimes, and that's what you are hearing there.

An element in a song that I am especially proud of is the piano part of the song “I Will Let You Go.” This song was originally used to prove my concept at the beginning of the semester, but I actually deleted the whole thing and took the time to re-record it. I played around with the piano part a lot and made it more complicated than I usually do in other songs. I will admit though that by doing this some parts are a little out of tempo but regardless I am still happy that I just tried out something new.

Each song has a theme of mental health. For example, “I Feel Alive” is about being in a good state of being and also using good memories and feelings from the past to help in times that get difficult. “Take Me Back” is about losing someone and wanting to go back so you can see them again. I put descriptions for each of my songs that give a brief overview of what the song is about.

When listening to my music I hope you enjoy and just know that this is just the start of my learning in recording. I am proud of all the time and energy spent on writing and recording songs that hold value and meaning to me.

I remember a particular day where getting feedback helped me. I asked a friend for feedback on a part of a song that I was working on and they noticed that my vocal track had a noticeable pause and you could hear the transition from one track to another. It was a simple fix, but it made the song sound much better. Sometimes it's the tiniest mistakes that I would miss just because I had been working on the song for so long my ears just didn’t pick it up.

An unexpected challenge that I did not think of was the fact that I got tired of hearing the same song over and over. To overcome this, I simply had two songs that I was working on and I would alternate from one to the other so I wouldn’t be getting tired of hearing the same thing.

Another skill that I learned was after I had completed two songs and had just finished up my third. I sent it for feedback and my teacher introduced me to panning. This is when you can turn a little knob in Garage Band to move the sound of the track more to the left side of your headphones or the right. This adds the effect of depth and space. I then applied this to my other songs. A lot of my time during this semester was a lot of editing and revising songs. I would go back to add new things that I had learned to all of my songs. Something that I played around with and then applied was a little bit of reverb and ambiance to some tracks.

I am proud of the progress that I made throughout the semester I went from knowing nothing to recording 5 songs.

I know I still have more to learn and I am excited to do so. I now know that feedback is everything, how to keep instruments in tempo, and how to use panning to add depth to a song. Those are just some specifics in my learning, but I am most happy about learning and discovering this new passion of mine. I look forward to having more challenges as I go along this path and I know I will overcome them.

Links

Link 1 Hyperlink