Adding Articulation

Articulation Task 1

Choose one of the pieces provided and prepare a sequenced performance of the guitar melody.

As an extension, sequence a drum part and bass line to accompany you.

  • Import the audio into a new project and set the tempo. 
  • You should then work out the melody and play this in as accurately as possible. 
  • Play it in small chunks e.g. 2 bars at a time. Tidy your performance up in the edit screen by trying to match the note start points with the audio and the note lengths.

Use the controller lane to change the note velocities and add pitch bends and vibrato.

Mix the file and export as a stereo .wav file

What to Submit and When

Stereo .wav file

Articulation Task 2

  • Using Velocity in the controller lane.
    • Change a straight semi-quaver drum pattern into a realistic accented one.
  • Using Velocity in the controller lane.
    • Change chords on a guitar into realistic strumming patterns.
  • Using Pan in the controller lane.
    • Create an organ solo that moves through the stereo field.
  • Using pitch-bend in the controller lane:
    • Create a short electric guitar solo involving pitch bend.
  • Using expression in the controller lane: 
    • Create a short flute melody that has crescendos and diminuendos.
  • Using Modulation in the controller lane.
    • Add vibrato to a guitar solo.

Articulation Task 3

  • How would you slow the tempo of a track down? 
  • How can you change time-signature half way through a track? 
  • Give two examples of how I could create pauses in a piece of music (held notes). 
  • Where can you see the programme number for the voice you have selected? 
  • Which channel number must you select in order to play drum sounds? 
  • How could you play GM drums sounds if you were not on the above channel? 

Articulation Task 4

Import the Blues MIDI Controller Paper.mid file into an empty project in Cubase.

Right click on the Link above and 'Save Target As...' to download the file. 

  • Which instruments are used for channels 1-3.
  • Look at channel 2 and locate 3 wrong notes – which bars are they in? 
  • Only track 3 has been quantized, if I was going to quantize tracks 1 and 2 which quantize values would be most appropriate? 
  • Identify two bars in the piano part where there are notes with inappropriate velocity settings. 
  • Open the List Editor 
  • What does information does each column tell you? 
  • Look at track 3. What is the modulation value at bar 3 beat 1? 
  • Look at track 3. What is the pan value at bar 6 beat 2? 
  • Look at track 3.What is the highest modulation value used in this track?

Articulation Task 5

  1. What controller numbers are the following controls? 
    1. Main volume
    2. Pan
    3. Sustain
    4. Reset
    5. Sostenuto
    6. Ext Eff 1 Depth
  2. How could you use controllers and midi techniques to achieve the following musical effects? 
    1. Add vibrato to a trumpet.
    2. Bend notes on a Tenor Sax.
    3. Add a chorus effect to a string pad track.
    4. Create a snare drum roll.
    5. Reverse an entire track or part of a track.

Articulation Check List

Check you have a thorough understanding of the following things:

  • List Editor.
  • Key Editor.
  • Controller numbers and their functions.