Creating a sound for media product: Recording Session 25th June 2014

In today's recording session, the task was to put effects on the vocals we recorded for our track in the last session, and to then add the vocals to the track itself.
To apply the effects to the vocals we used Garageband Apple's music production software. We used the same software to mix in the vocals with the track.

Creating a sound for media product: Recording Session Monday 23rd June 2014

Yesterday's recording session was very productive. We once again used the MacBook Pro with GarrageBand to produce more of the track together with a set of monitoring studio speakers.
In yesterday's session we took care of a few sections of the track. First, we started to work on the buildup for the track, this included various elements and a frequent use of samples. After producing the Buildup we started to think of another sound element we had to include in our sound for media product. Dialog, we had to record some dialog which we could use for our track. As we were producing an electro house track, vocals aren't something that's often featured within tracks from this genre. However in the end we came up with a basic vocal idea. The vocals weren't too wordy and would be looped during the Buildup. After both of us recording the vocals which required a few takes we had the dialog recorded.
The next task were sound effects. Again, sound effects wasn't something that features in an electro house track. So we had to think carefully about recording them. In the end we decided to demonstrate the ability to record sound effects and record something asn an example and see if it can be used for the track. I recorded a sound of trafic lights and with the Voice Plus recording app created 2 versions of the sound using two different effects. However, in the end we decided to not use them for the final track.
The next task for the session is to put effects on the vocals.

Creating a sound for media product: Friday's Recording Session

Last Friday as a team we continued working on our sound for media product, which is a music track. In the last session we continued to work on finishing the intro drums for the track.
We used studio monitoring speakers to hear the quality of our product while we  produce it. We also used Garrageband on a Mac book Pro to produce the drums.
At the end of the session we had the intro drums ready.
The link for the drums is below, you can download them and have a listen.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fk7h0nc5sjo6zln/EP%20Intro%20Drums.mp3

BBC Radio's Regulatory Bodies

The next task for my media institution case study, I had to research regulatory bodies of the chosen media institution.

BBC’s Regulatory bodies

 

BBC Trust

Led by the chairman the BBC trust is made up of 12 trustees with a wide range of experience.

There are 4 national trustees who represent England, Scotland, Whales and Northern Ireland. There is also an international trustee who has specific oversight of BBC’s international public services.

, including BBC World Service.All trustees are appointed  by the queen on advice from the ministers after an open selection process. The trust is the sovereign body within the BBC. It is independent from the BBC’s executive board which is led by the director general.

The trust unit supports trustees by giving independent expert advice and administrative support.

 

 

 

BBC Radio's Music And Ethics

For another part of my media case study work, we had to look at the ethics within the chosen media institution and how do media institutions deal with ethic and content related issues.

BBC’s Playlist management

 

How does BBC modify songs in order to play them?

The music team at the BBC takes different songs and takes out the strong language and sometimes some phrases that could be considered offensive.

However some songs that are still played on the BBC radio stations could still be offensive to people no matter how good the BBC’s editing is.

There are certain songs that contain an overall negative message and no matter how well BBC radio will edit them, if the overall message is offensive the song shouldn’t be played. Yet there are examples of songs that were still played.

Flo Rida’s “Whistle” was a huge hit in 2012, the song contains lots of sexual content apparently made radio friendly, however, the overall message still comes through clearly despite BBC Radio 1’s editing. The song was still played all over the station on daytime radio.

 

In contrast, Radio 1 used to be more careful about the music they played. When Prodigy’s Smack My B**ch Up was released, radio one refused to play it. The phrase that was offensive in the track was “Change my pitch up smack my bi**h up” this song was only played on night time radio.

Lots of women protested against the Prodigy track being played on radio at all do to the offensive lyrics of the song.

This leaves a few questions regarding BBC Radio’s editing and music preferences. It looks like in the olden days radio 1 was more strict on the music they play, however now more music which in the olden days would be unacceptable is played on daytime radio. This also leaves the question why Radio 1’s editing and playlist choices are much more loose in case of offensive phrases and the overall messages in the track.

 

Another case that leaves a few questions regarding radio 1’s music editing is the death of the first female prime minister in 2013 Margaret Thatcher.

After her death last year, people decided to create a campaign trying  to get the song “Ding Dong (The Witch Is Dead)” to number one in the Official UK Chart.

BBC Radio 1 Controller Ben Cooper decided to not play the song on the chart show due to the offensive lyrics and the context in which this song was related to Margaret Thatcher’s death.

This case once again leaves questions regarding radio 1’s editing. From looking at the news articles it seems normal to ban a song like that due to the situation regarding Margaret Thatcher. Considering the fact also that The BBC is funded by the government, it’s only right to not play the track on the chart show. But does it make the BBC sound like they are heading towards more of the right wing side of the government?

However, on the other hand this decision could’ve also been just an act of respect to the former prime minister.

In conclusion, despite Radio 1 taking actions which sound reasonable, looking at the case in more detail it’s possible that BBC was in fact taking sides with the right wing.

However, these are just speculations, Ben Cooper’s decision also could’ve been an act of respect towards the former prime minister.

 

 

Distribution and advertising methods of media products + Finding Audience

For the media institution case study, the next task was to write about different distribution and advertising methods of media products, and how do media products find their audience.

Distribution and advertising Methods for Media Products

 

Distribution methods

There are many different ways that a media institution can distribute their media products. It all depends to the media institution and the products they sell as there are various distribution methods for different types of media products.

 

BBC Radio’s Product Distribution

BBC Radio provides many media products, radio shows, podcasts/free downloads, online video and audio content and much more. The main way that BBC Radio distributes it’s main products is of course on live radio delivering great different radio shows.

Another way of media product distribution that BBC Radio uses is the internet, for not only live radio but on demand content, videos, social network and much, much more.

 

Advertising Methods

Various media institutions have various ways of advertising their products. Some media institutions advertise their products on TV, this advertising method is of course most popular and used with TV channel providers like the BBC or ITV.

Other media institutions also advertise their products on radio, that includes radio stations, TV networks and of course record labels advertising their media products on music radio stations.

Another very popular way in this day and age is advertising media institutions and their media products is social networking sites. Services like Facebook and twitter allow media institutions to advertise their products and services to millions of users online. The institutions like BBC Radio post links to their on demand content, YouTube videos or live internet radio on social networking sites and that is how they get many listeners due to that many people now use internet for most of their entertainment available, either on smart phones or computers.

 

Media Products Finding Target Audience

There are many ways which media institutions use to find target audience for their different media products. Various institutions have various ways of promoting their products, however, may institutions use social networking services to promote their content. Since social network is so popular right now it seems like the best place for media institutions to promote their media product to various audiences.

BBC Radio stations use social network frequently to promote their various content. They use sites like Twitter and Facebook to promote their content and to get the audience involved in the different shows.

Scott Mills show features popular with the audience and what influences the audience to get involved with the show

Continuing my media product of a chosen media institution case study, the next aspect of the task was to look at the different features of the Scott Mills show that are popular with the audience, and what influences the audience involvement with the show.

Aspects of the show popular with target audience

There are many different features of the show that are very popular with the show’s audience. Because of the entertainment that the features provide and the amount of audience interaction that the features have.

One of the very popular features on the show is “Innuendo Bingo” This feature has been on the show for over 3 years and has developed ever since. The feature requires lots of audience interaction in order to continue. The feature has been so popular that it’s been done more frequently on the show, and even celebrities are getting involved in the show more often.

What really influences the audience’s involvement with the show is how often the show encourages the audience to get involved with the show and it’s many different features apart from just texting the show to get a shout out the show encourages the listeners to contribute to the various features of the show.