@MusicExchange-VIP - We are kicking off our new “Volare” collab, and we invite everyone to join and contribute musical ideas! I have created the basic drum track, and we have settled on a tempo of 220bpm.
@MichaelSlattery - Glad you like the new drum track! I just added a newer track [ Version-2025.11.15_15-00 - 220bpm ] and I think you are right that a bit slower tempo is better. Even at 220bpm, we are pushing the tempo. We don’t want to outpace the melody, which will just barely squeeze into the 220bpm tempo.
So I think we both agree, that we should set the tempo at 220bpm, so I will lock that in.
Absolutely! The overall idea is that Raphi will cover all the piano parts, including a slow intro. I hope you can vary up percussion, maybe add some drum “hits”, and maybe even strings, or horn section parts. For this collab, we really should notate some of the parts, not just using DAW audio tracks. We can use Noteflight for some basic notation, so we can read some simple parts from a notated score.
Since our platform is primarily educational, I think it’s best to study the Gipsy Kings tracks. Those guys are top-notch, and there is much to learn from them. I learned alot when I was overseas working and performing with their former bass player Xavier Padilla!
Hey Folks - We had a great first Zoom session with our studio collab team last Saturday!
Next Studio Team - Zoom Session - DEC 20th at 1pm
I will send a private email to all MusicExchange VIP members on SAT at 1pm with the secure link to join
Click below to listen to various famous recordings of “Volare”, and notice each has a different feel / tempo / arrangement. Check out the samples here: Volare - Collab - Sample Recordings
Hope to see everyone so we can connect and work on the “Guide Melody” and map out the basic arrangement.
Please reply and let us know if you can join us, and feel free to drop a comment below.
Hi Chris, I’m so sorry once again because I will be missing this Saturday’s meeting once again due to another soccer practice. However, there will be no practice over a 2 week period.
In our last Studio team session, we detailed using the piano roll view in the StudioOne Pro DAW. Michael demonstrated creating a bass part using only a computer, with no “real” instruments connected.
NOTE: Our SAT time will change, and moving forward our Zoom will be every SAT at 4pm
Next Studio Team - Zoom Session - SAT JAN 3rd at 4pm
I will send a private email to all MusicExchange VIP members on SAT just before our session with the secure link to join Zoom
We are moving forward with the Volare collab, and also starting to brainstorm on new “original compositions” for our next collab.
NOTE on the Guidetrack - The current tracks in Soundtap are just very rough start, with a simple “guide track”, so we can keep in sync when adding new tracks.
@NickMoiseev - Thanks for offering to score a quick 40 - 60 second slow intro for Volare. @Raphi offered to play the keyboard in the intro, so make sure and score a part for his electric keyboard. Also, I was thinking more about this intro, and actually I don’t think the trumpet should play the melody in this intro. Let’s try not to use trumpet in the intro, could you pick another instrument instead to play the melody in the intro?
REMINDER: Our SAT time will change, and moving forward our Zoom will be every SAT at 4pm
Next Studio Team - Zoom Session - SAT JAN 10th at 4pm
I will send a private email to all MusicExchange VIP members on SAT just before our session with the secure link to join Zoom
Can every one access the Soundtrap Studio? To access the studio tracks, click this link, scroll down, and follow Soundtrap steps 1 and 2 at the bottom of this page: Volare - Collab - Sample Recordings
Please reply and let us know if you can join our next Zoom, and feel free to drop a comment below.
Great work today @NickMoiseev - everyone is excited to work with you on the intro! You can take the lead on scoring/notating the beginning intro, and I’m looking forward to seeing how you can make it unique.
QUESTION: How will the instrumentation of the intro compare with the instrumentation of the main song? I mean, will the intro have the same number of instruments as in the main song?
REMINDER: Next Studio Team - Zoom Session - SAT JAN 17th at 4pm
Greetings! Here is a quick review of some cool topics from our last Zoom session:
Advanced MIDI Connections - Discussed synching external MIDI devices via MIDI Sync using master / slave techniques between DAW and other recording hardware.
Creating Bass Lines - Talked about different methods and tools to create bass lines.
Welcome to our new friend, @Owen - We met a very talented musician and composer, Owen, and he shared some of his published music from his first album on Spotify. I think he said he used ProTools as his primary DAW. Also, Owen gave us a sneak preview of new music still in the pre-release phase. It was impressive work, and it’s interesting that his early access song was built with over 100 individual studio DAW tracks!
We have also made good progress on the Volare collab
Michael added tracks with a guide melody and some drums and percussion. I just added a new bass track, in addition to layering more drums / percussion / strings and a bit of keys.
Check out the latest Volare rough mix here:Volare Collab
To listen to the latest mix, scroll down to section labeled: Version-2026.01.19_00-30
Reminder - Next Zoom Session will be SAT JAN 24th at 4pm
Hello everybody! I hope all is well! Welcome to the team, Owen! For writing the introduction to Volare, I’m thinking about using a regular string quartet paired with a keyboard and either a clarinet or oboe. I cannot decide between the two, so drop a comment below and let me know what you suggest!
Reminder - Our Studio Zoom Sessions will occur EVERY SAT at 4pm
Greetings! Here is a quick review of some cool topics from our last Zoom session:
External Recording Devices - Using “non-computer” based recording devices, not always using a DAW for recording.
Computer software / drivers / connections can sometimes get in the way of recording.
External hardware recording devices can be much more simple, focused, and less distracting while recording.
These days, I usually don’t record on the computer / DAW—instead, I use a dedicated hardware unit, then transfer to my DAW for mixing / editing / producing.
Creating Bass Lines
Slowing the song down, creating the bass line, then speeding the song back up to tempo.
Dedicate Software that creates auto-generated bass lines.
Keyboard Workstations that can auto-generate bass lines
Editing the MIDI data created by the keyboard auto-generated bass lines to spice it up, and make it less stiff, less / vanilla.
Playing left-hand keyboard bass along with the guide track
Piano Roll - Programming the bass lines using the piano roll.
Playing electric or acoustic bass along with the guide track
Sound Libraries - East West Instruments
Check out the latest Volare rough mix here:Volare Collab
To listen to the latest mix, scroll down to section labeled: Version-2026.01.19_00-30
Reminder - Our Studio Zoom Sessions will occur EVERY SAT at 4pm
Reminder - Our Studio Zoom Sessions will occur EVERY SAT at 4pm
Greetings! Here is a quick review of some Music Technology topics from our last Zoom session:
Recording Volare parts “at tempo”:
Best plan is to record the left hand keyboard / bass part in “real-time” at tempo
@Raphi - When you come to my studio to record, we will not have time to slow the track down, and then speed it up again. You should plan to record your piano parts “at tempo”.
Also slowing / speeding up tracks might stretch the audio too much and degrade the sound. That technique can also be a lot of work, and studio time is limited.
@Owen / @CharlieDong - Can you two guys work out a simple Trumpet section part to record together? I can also add my trumpet, and it would be cool to have a 3 trumpet section!
Combining Music Technology / Virtual Parts in live performance
I have always had an interest in combining live performance with various technologies. With many different bands, I have used some live musicians along with other parts played by virtual instruments on stage.
Combining real and virtual instruments in live performance can be very useful in certain circumstances.
Creating parts manually / live / sequenced / generated
Sometimes we use different tools to get song parts completed faster.
Must decide if time allows to record things “live”, or use other tools to speed up creation and get the project completed on time.
Challenges of Live Performance Combined with Virtual Instruments
Depending on the situation, performing live along with technology can be quite tricky. This also greatly depends on whether you have a pro sound crew on the gig.
Below is a picture of one of my past guitar performances in Hong Kong - on this gig, we had a pro sound crew which makes things much easier.
On this gig shown below, actually instead of using a live drummer, we used technology, and combined our live instruments along with virtual drums.
Chris on jazz guitar in Hong Kong, China:
Check out the latest Volare rough mix here:Volare Collab
Reminder - Our Studio Zoom Sessions will occur EVERY SAT at 4pm
Arranger keyboards are a unique type of keyboard that I use for composing, sequencing, recording, and sometimes performing.
Exporting MIDI file from Sonar into Noteflight:
Exporting into Noteflight notation software so Michael can work on the Volare bass part using standard notation techniques.
Different music creation techniques are useful depending on resources and deadlines.
Sometimes we can play / record live parts. In other situations, when time is tight, we may need to use DAW, Notation Software, Virtual Instruments, or other tools to generate parts to meet deadlines.
I will send a private email to all MusicExchange VIP members - EVERY SAT before 4pm with the secure link to join our weekly Zoom Studio session
