MUS 319

Haydn Symphony
Sequencing Assignment

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  1. Open Cakewalk, and save the file to your floppy disk--the A Drive:  from the Menu Bar select File, then, Save As:  haydn.wrk (Cakewalk files are normally saved as *.wrk)
  2. In the Name column, type in each track name, using the first 14 tracks in this case.  Click on the respective rectangle to highlight the area, and begin typing.  You may type in any name.  Suggested track names are:
1. Flute 8. Trumpet 2
2. Oboe 1 9. Timpani
3. Oboe 2 10. Violin 1
4. Bassoon 11. Violin 2
5. Horn 1 12. Viola
6. Horn 2 13. Cello
7. Trumpet 1 14. Bass

Note:  While percussion, timpani in this case, may be recorded on any "track," percussion is always assigned to "channel" 10, a la General MIDI standard.

  1. Assign MIDI channels to each of the tracks:  double-click the respective channel area box for each track.  The Track Properties menu will appear.  Click on the Channel bar and select the appropriate number for that track.  As mentioned, percussion is always assigned to Channel 10; otherwise, you may select any of the other 16 MIDI channels, bearing in mind that "like" instruments will share the same channel.
Track Channel Track Channel
1. 1 8. 5
2. 2 9. 10
3. 2 10. 6
4. 3 11. 6
5. 4 12. 7
6. 4 13. 8
7. 5 14. 9

  1. Now, choose the Bank and Patch for each track:  Click in the respective Bank square for each track and set both the Bank and Patch, clicking on the Bank and Patch bars to see choices.  (Unfortunately, the GM bank does not list instruments by number, so simply scroll through the list until you see the desired instrument.)  Click on OK when both have been set to close the Track Properties dialog box.

  2. Click on the Meter/Key display (the staff icon) to set the appropriate key signature (G major) and meter (3/4) via the dialog box.

  3. Next, you will need to give your metronome some instructions.  From the Menu Bar, select Settings, then, Metronome.  The metronome dialog box appears.  Normally, you will not want to hear the metronome (click) when your song is playing back, so do not check Playback unless you do.

    Normally a one-measure count-in is sufficient, so this setting should read "1," if it does not currently.

    Should you wish to customize the metronome click to something other than the default sound, you may do so.  Easier to use the default sound ...  :-)

    Check Use MIDI Note.  When this box is checked, you may choose a particular MIDI port and channel to which the metronome will be routed.  Percussion sounds normally work best, though any sound could be selected.

    Following is a helpful way of auditioning metronome sounds:  (1) Select the Key item in either the First Beat or Other Beats boxes.  (2) Play a note on your keyboard. Its note number and velocity are automatically entered in the First Beat or Other Beat box (whichever was selected).  Normally, it is preferable to have a louder click on the first beat of each measure. (Try Eb6 & E6.)

     

  4. Lastly, select a comfortable tempo at which to record.  You will have to engage the click to hear the metronome's tempo.  Click on the red Record button.  Shortcut key is:  R. Click on the Record button again to stop.  The spacebar also turns record off, as well as being a shortcut key for Play.  To change the tempo, use the up/down arrows next to the tempo indicator.
  5. You are now ready to record!  Note: Pickup notes should not be recorded prior to the first full measure, i.e., during the countoff measure.  That means that the pickup notes of this piece will actually be in measure one.  The first full measure of music will actually be measure two.
  6. To select the track to be recorded, click anywhere in the row of the track you wish to record so that the track row is highlighted.  You may wish to begin with track 2, Oboe 1, in order to avoid possible confusion since that part enters before the flute part. ... 'Sup to you.
  7. To begin recording, either click the red Record button, or press R on the computer keyboard ... and you're off!  Remember to allow for the empty measure of countoff clicks (3, since the piece is in 3/4).  Then, there will be measure one with two beats of musical silence prior to the pickup on the third beat.  (If you begin with the flute part, there will be 11 clicks before you enter on the 12th click.  If you begin with the oboe part, there will be 5 clicks before you enter on the 6th click.)
  8. To stop recording, click on the red Record button again, or press the spacebar.
  9. You may stop and start as often as you wish, and at any point in the music.  To record again at a measure other than the beginning, make your setting via the Now Marker Scrollbar.
  10. You may record each track all the way to the end, or you may record page one (bars 1-4) of each track before proceeding to page two.
  11. Do not worry about minor imperfections at this point.  We will discuss editing in the very near future.  If your current "take" was so bad that you wish to discard it, press Control+Z, or use the Undo command in the Edit menu. (Control+A or Redo will restore the take.) 
  12. Tip:  To avoid unnecessary editing, try to record as musically as possible.  Follow the articulations and dynamic markings.  Since the keyboards are touch sensitive, a softer touch will result in a softer dynamic level, just as a harder touch will result in a louder dynamic level.
  13. Be sure to save your work to disk before you close the program.  In fact, it is a good idea to save your work frequently, especially before undertaking any "risky" edits or making any significant changes which have the potential of ruining what you have already done.  It CAN happen!

 

 

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