Being in tune is very important in all types of music. Whether you play a string, woodwind, or brass instrument, tuning to a fixed note is something we all experience daily. There is a good chance you don’t have perfect pitch either, so using some kind of tuner or fixed note is something we all get familiar with. Most tuners are also extremely portable, making tuning on the go a very simple task. Since there are so many types of tuners it is important to know what is out there, and the positives and negatives of using them.
Usually tuning happens every time you pick up an instrument. Before electronic tuners were made, the best way to get in tune was either with a pitch pipe, or by using a piano. Now there are dozens of companies that make electronic tuners that are relatively inexpensive. You may choose to go with a chromatic tuner that uses a built in microphone. This is one of the most popular choices available, and since it is chromatic, it will be able to pick up any note that is played and tell you if it is in tune or not. There is usually a screen of some kind powered by two AA or AAA batteries that shows you the reading of the pitches received. Keep in mind only a single pitch can be processed at a time with these tuners. There are also settings to adjust the frequency of the pitches received. Depending on what country you live in, 440 or 442 hz will most likely be the constant setting.
If you happen to be a string player there is another option for you. The clip on vibration tuner is becoming very popular lately for many reasons. It clips onto any part of the instrument and reads your pitch based on the vibrating frequency the wood is making when a string is plucked. This allows for tuning while other instruments are playing since it eliminates the need for a microphone. For electric instruments, tuning acoustically (not plugged in) is also possible because of these inventions.
There is a downside to using electronic tuners however. Before their invention musicians relied on their ears to find the right pitch. By continuous playing a fixed note on a pitch pipe, tuning fork, or piano, you would compare your instrument and adjust until it was in tune. Unfortunately this probably happens less since the invention of electronic tuners providing less time for ear development. We do however gain more time for music making and ensemble playing as a result.
http://www.snarktuners.com/
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
PA system
I enjoy posting about technologies that are take for granted. This week I would like to focus on one that amplifies the most ancient instrument, the human voice. The technology responsible for projecting and amplifying the voice is called the Public Address System, most commonly referred to as a PA system. The PA system has revolutionized many aspects of music performance. It has also created new opportunities for any kind of situation that involves addressing a large crowd.
Remember in elementary school when we used to play telephone and pass on a message throughout the class? By the time the last person was done trying to decode the message they announced it out loud to the class to see how distorted it became over time. This is how I imagine the process of presenting a message before the invention of the PA system. Now in every school auditorium, concert hall, or public speaking venue there is sure to be a PA. A modern variation is generally composed of: a mixing board which gets plugged into a power source, two or more speakers to project the sound, and a single or multiple microphones. Being able to use and manage the technology during a performance has even called for the creation of a new job; the sound engineer. It is amazing how many ensembles utilize this technology and are in need or a good sound engineer.
Not only does the PA amplify the voice of singers and speakers, the microphones plugged into the PA can also project choir sounds and give instruments a boost. Live recordings through the PA mixed well enough can even be used for distribution and for profit. In most modern schools PA’s are used for theatrical productions, musicals, concerts, and speeches. Professional venue productions call for the PA too (like Broadway, PNC arts center, Madison Square Garden) and their versions may differ slightly from my earlier description. At these venues, the PA is perhaps the most important piece of technology being used, and has to have the ability to reach a very large audience. These PA’s generally have hundreds of speakers set up around the stage and multiple microphones being utilized. I can’t even imagine what the mixing board would look like or what size of a team is required to keep the sound levels working!
Remember in elementary school when we used to play telephone and pass on a message throughout the class? By the time the last person was done trying to decode the message they announced it out loud to the class to see how distorted it became over time. This is how I imagine the process of presenting a message before the invention of the PA system. Now in every school auditorium, concert hall, or public speaking venue there is sure to be a PA. A modern variation is generally composed of: a mixing board which gets plugged into a power source, two or more speakers to project the sound, and a single or multiple microphones. Being able to use and manage the technology during a performance has even called for the creation of a new job; the sound engineer. It is amazing how many ensembles utilize this technology and are in need or a good sound engineer.
Not only does the PA amplify the voice of singers and speakers, the microphones plugged into the PA can also project choir sounds and give instruments a boost. Live recordings through the PA mixed well enough can even be used for distribution and for profit. In most modern schools PA’s are used for theatrical productions, musicals, concerts, and speeches. Professional venue productions call for the PA too (like Broadway, PNC arts center, Madison Square Garden) and their versions may differ slightly from my earlier description. At these venues, the PA is perhaps the most important piece of technology being used, and has to have the ability to reach a very large audience. These PA’s generally have hundreds of speakers set up around the stage and multiple microphones being utilized. I can’t even imagine what the mixing board would look like or what size of a team is required to keep the sound levels working!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
History of Technology in Music
1925 radio: the listening experience just became a tool for your classroom.
Digital recorders
A very useful technology for me throughout my music career has been the portable recorder. For music students and performers, this is one of the best learning technologies available for many reasons. It captures a moment in time. This moment is now accessible from any place and for as long as the recording is saved. The possibilities this technology has created are astounding and to think of life as a musician before its time is so difficult.
One of the best ways to improve as a musician is to critically listen to yourself. Only since the invention of portable recorders has this process been so accessible. After recording your music lessons, you can listen back and discover all the areas of your current work in progress that need the most attention. Doing this analysis from the future perspective changes the way you hear what was just played. You may also find hidden gems or mistakes you made that you might want to keep and expand upon next time. This same application can transfer to any musical setting, from live performances at coffee shops, to band concerts and rehearsals. Recording the group’s performance at the last gig gives you the option of starting the next rehearsal with a critical analysis of the show. Whether its feedback from a friend, producer, or just the other band members, feedback can lead to new inspiration and important changes.
Another use of the portable recorder is its playback function. While listening back theres no reason you can’t play along with what you just recorded for fun, adding a new part or harmonizing with your recording. If you play a chord instrument you could also: record a chord progression of a song, hit play, then play the melody or take a solo. So if your a solo player now you have a digital clone of yourself as an accompanying member of your band! There are some recorders that have a multi-track option where you can stack up multiple recordings and make a song out of them. You can do different instruments on each track for demo purposes, or do multiple voices of a piece to create a choir.
There are so many environments and venues have the capacity for great moments waiting to be captured with your portable recorder, so please don’t miss them!
Here is my recommendation of a top of the line recorder:
http://www.zoom.co.jp/
One of the best ways to improve as a musician is to critically listen to yourself. Only since the invention of portable recorders has this process been so accessible. After recording your music lessons, you can listen back and discover all the areas of your current work in progress that need the most attention. Doing this analysis from the future perspective changes the way you hear what was just played. You may also find hidden gems or mistakes you made that you might want to keep and expand upon next time. This same application can transfer to any musical setting, from live performances at coffee shops, to band concerts and rehearsals. Recording the group’s performance at the last gig gives you the option of starting the next rehearsal with a critical analysis of the show. Whether its feedback from a friend, producer, or just the other band members, feedback can lead to new inspiration and important changes.
Another use of the portable recorder is its playback function. While listening back theres no reason you can’t play along with what you just recorded for fun, adding a new part or harmonizing with your recording. If you play a chord instrument you could also: record a chord progression of a song, hit play, then play the melody or take a solo. So if your a solo player now you have a digital clone of yourself as an accompanying member of your band! There are some recorders that have a multi-track option where you can stack up multiple recordings and make a song out of them. You can do different instruments on each track for demo purposes, or do multiple voices of a piece to create a choir.
There are so many environments and venues have the capacity for great moments waiting to be captured with your portable recorder, so please don’t miss them!
Here is my recommendation of a top of the line recorder:
http://www.zoom.co.jp/
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