Composition Techniques
Form
In pop music a common and most popular form of a chord progression is:
A- A- B- A
An example of this was provided to us, so we could help develop our own chord progression.
A
|
A
|
B
|
A
|
C- F- Am- G
|
C- F- G- C
|
Am- G- F- G
|
C- F- G- C
|
From research into the form of pop songs I learned that you have to start and end with chord 1. Also each section is 4 bard long, which means I will need 2 different 4 chord progressions. At the end the 16 bar progression I compose will make up one verse of my composition. The chord progression I developed can be seen below, I also took a screenshot of what this progression looks like in Cubase. Lastly, I uploaded the chord progression to SoundCloud so the basic form could be heard on its own before I develop it further.
A
|
A
|
B
|
A
|
C- E (Flat Major) -G
| F (Sharp Minor) -C Minor- E (Flat Major)
- B (Flat Major) |
F- Am- Dm-G
|
C- E (Flat Major) -G
|
 |
| Screenshot showing chord progression in Cubase |
Structure
For the structure of my pop song I needed to research the main components that made up a pop songs structure. I firstly learned that for each different part of the structure I would need to develop a new chord structure.
- Introduction- The beginning of a piece, which usually contains just music and no lyrics. A lot of the time the introduction is based around the chords that are used in the verses. Although other options for an introduction would include just percussion for a few bars to lead into the first verse or the singer themselves singing a solo.
- Verse- Consists of a lot of rhyming lyrics, the verses will use the same chord progression but each verse will contain different lyrics. A lot of pop songs follow the AABB or ABAB rhyme scheme. The main role of the verses is to portray the story/image that the artist is trying to deliver.
- Chorus- This is the element of the song that will repeat both musically and lyrically, commonly known as the 'hook' of a song. It is used to convey the main message/theme of the song, and in most songs the chorus follows after the verse, but the chorus can sometimes be used as the introduction to a song. For example in Pink's song 'Get the part started" the song begins with the chorus. This can be heard in the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD6V6HPccbY
- Bridge/Middle 8- The bridge breaks up the repetitive pattern of verse, chorus, verse and helps keep the listeners attention. Middle 8s are usually quieter than other parts of the song and usually slows down in tempo, these can be considered to be another type of bridge. They have a different melody to the other parts of a song and will most likely consist new chords, also given the name, the middle 8 will last up to 8 bars.
- Instrumental/vocal Solo-There are other songs that will sometimes use a instrumental or vocal solo to help enhance the song. The solo may take place over the chord structure from the verse, chorus, bridge or even its own backing progression. In typical pop music a soloist would play the same melodies as the lead singer to help create a catchy riff.
- Conclusion/Outro-The way a lot of pop songs end is by the repetition of the chorus which will then slowly fade out, or the song could end with an instrumental that encompasses the main melodies of the song. To create more effect most pop songs will fade out, instead of just ending suddenly.
Genre
A music genre is a conventional category that identifies some pieces of music that belong to a shared tradition or set of conventions. A genre is always identified from the musical form and musical style of the piece, however many genres sometimes overlap which makes there classification difficult as well as subjective. There are many different types of genres, a few examples include:
- Opera
- Electronic
- Punk
- Ska
- Psychedelic
- Pop
- Country
- Rap
- Jazz
- Soul
The style I have chosen to compose for is a mix between pop, combined with certain country/folk elements. I have chosen this style because much of the music I listen to and enjoy is a combination of these styles. For example artists such as Gabrielle Aplin and Taylor Swift have both combined these genres to create pieces of music that are main stream, but still relate to their original genres and writing styles. The way I am to create and stick to this genre is by developing simple pop melodies that equate to the chord progressions that I have developed. The country/folk element will come from the way I write the song and develop the lyrics. Country/folk songs are known for their 'soft and 'personal' lyrics. With both of these genres combined the end result should be a composition that appeals to the majority, but also has the vulnerability.
Statement
This refers to the catchy hook/ riff of the song. Artists will use these to capture the listeners attention and keep them interested in the song. A lot of the time a hook will be a phrase that is constantly repeated over and over again, this will usually co-inside with a guitar riff or melody. The most iconic hooks throughout music will follow this type of formula. Examples of iconic hooks include the Bee Gees 'Stayin Alive', Queen and David Bowie 'Under Pressure' and the Jackson 5 'A.B.C'.
Since these hooks have become iconic and have made the songs stay popular throughout the ages it is one of the reasons that many new artists and producers will use these hooks in their own projects. For example Vanilla Ice sampled from 'Under Pressure' and his song became the first hip-hop billboard top 100.
To make sure my own composition encompasses a catchy hook/riff I may sample one from a popular song, such as the ones I have referenced. However since most of the riffs and hooks are simple, it shouldn't be to difficult to create my own and repeat it throughout the track,
Example 1: Stayin' Alive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_izvAbhExY
Example 2: Under Pressure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWdLt3Afjrg
Example 3: A.B.C
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnrzn4EZgzE
Repetition
This element is essential in music because repetition helps balance the entire piece and helps keep it sonically cohesive. Once I have found a melodic or rhythmic part that I like, I can repeat this throughout the song, as repetition helps people remember the song and keeps it in their mind. However I am going to have to be careful to make sure the repetition doesn't become annoying or trivial, because I want the repetition to work effectively with the composition. That is one major issue with repetition, it can overtake the entire song and potentially ruin it, but the fundamentals of every successful song is the use of repetition.
 |
| Motivic repetition in Beethoven's Sonata in F Major |
The way I am going to use repetition is by using the same hook/rift all the way throughout the song. It is important that I test the riff/hook before I put it into my final piece, to make sure that the repetition used isn't to much and becomes annoying to the listener.
Inversion
An inversion is the rearrangement of the top to bottom elements in an interval, this could be a chord or a melody for example. C major chord - CEG (root position), where the inversion may leave the chord with either an E (1st inversion) or G (2nd inversion) at the bottom of the chord instead of the C.
 |
| Example of C Major chord inversions |
To help make my composition more original I am going to try to invert some of the chords in my melodies. If I was to invert a melody, it would mean to change the ascending intervals to descending ones. This composition technique is useful because it would assist me in developing a melodic bass line to help modulate to a new key.
Difference
The way I am going to make my composition different is by using a form, such as Sonata from. This a large musical scale structure which includes two or more different subjects and themes. If I used this type of form in my own piece it would allow me to link different themes and ideas together. It would also allow me to combine it with another technique, repetition.
 |
| Diagram showing Sonata form |
Another form that I could potentially use is Rondo, the image below shows the difference and variety between the piece. This also again helps with repetition.
Individuality/Originality/Composers Rights
It is important to note that over the past decade the music industry and the way people consume music has completely changed. I believe it is essential that I understand the way the industry has changed and how I am going to regulate my composition to ensure that all those involved receive fair royalties.
At the turn of the 21st century the Internet became a worldwide phenomenon, these days people are able to access music through the Internet by using popular streaming sites such as Spotify and iTunes. These streaming sites allow people to stream as much music as they want for a monthly price, for instance Spotify charge £4.99 per month and a premium accounts cost £9.99 per month. Furthermore with the rise of the Internet the ability to download music for free from illegal websites is becoming another increasingly popular venture. The main issue with these ways of consuming music are that the original artists do not receive any royalties, or the royalties that they do receive from streaming sites are not fair or justified.
Even before the Internet there were still scandals covered in the media which documented how artists did not receive a fair percentage. For instance The Stone Roses signed a record deal with the small record label Silvertone Records and after the success of their debut album 'The Stone Roses' the band quickly came to realise that they were not receiving a fair percentage and the label were taking the majority of the royalties.
However despite this corruption that is present in the music industry, some artists are able to make some profit from their music if they are songwriters. Those who write their own songs or have a hand in writing a song will receive intellectual property rights. They will receive 50% of the royalties, as they are the creator of the song. Artists such as Taylor Swift write the majority of their songs on their own for this exact purpose and so they can also have creative control over their music. Another way artists make money these days is by touring, playing shows and festivals. The demand for live music has spiked again over the past few years, which gives artists to make money, especially if their record didn't sell as much as they had hoped.
Then again this past year there has been a rise in artists fighting for their rights to their music and making sure that they receive fair royalties. Late 2015 saw the release of Adele's album '25' and unlike the majority of artists; Adele made the conscious decision to not put her album on streaming services. This automatically forced people to go out and buy a physical copy of her album, and this turned out to be quite successful for her because her album sold over 5 million copies in just 3 weeks. This kind of success has not achieved in a long time, inspiring other artists to do the same thing. Furthermore Adele has also became involved in a continuous legal battle with streaming site SoundCloud, who allow people to upload as much music as they want, but do not receive any royalties or any type of income from the site. The problem with this is it is another way people can listen to artists music without paying and have the chance to upload covers or artists music, which hasn't been authorised.
On the other hand the popular video sharing site YouTube has started to restrict and regulate what is being uploaded more recently in the light of artists like Adele changes to the music industry. The way YouTube are regulating is by removing videos that breach copyright laws or remove the audio from videos, if the user does not have permission to use it. Unfortunately it is an on-going battle as more and more people are finding ways around this, for instance some people speed up the videos or change the pitch ever so slightly. This way it is not exactly the same as the original, but people should realise that YouTube is only trying to protect their users from copyright issues and plagiarism and so companies such as PRS do not sue them.
PRS or the Performing Rights Society is a copyright organisation, which licenses other organisations to play, perform and make copyright music available to their members. They also distribute the resulting royalties fairly. It is companies like PRS and their sub branch MCPS that support artists and help them receive the royalties they rightly deserve.
 |
| Logo for PRS |
By acquiring a mechanical license, the original artist will automatically receive a fair royalty from the recording, but depending on which sites we agree to upload the cover too we will firstly have to see what their own policies are on copyright and piracy. This is something that will be negotiated with my client, because if we do not agree with certain streaming sites policies we may decide not to upload the cover.
Unfortunately it is incredibly difficult to stop the reproduction of our own recording, especially when it is released onto the Internet. However if it is uploaded to sites such as YouTube they have policies, which can help prevent the reproduction of another recording. The problems I imagine I am going to encounter once this recording is released is that many people are going to illegally download the recording from websites which do not offer any royalties to the artist. Others may use samples from the recording to include in their own work, which if they do not seek permission will be a copyright issue.
The uses of streaming sites are also known to not pay their artists a fair royalty, which could also be another potential problem. Artists such as Taylor Swift have been quite vocal about this issue recently and that is why some artists do not allow their music to be streamed on these sites.
Other than the rights of the composer, it is important to make sure that this composition has some originality. This can be done by manipulating the samples that I use from other songs. For example I plan on using a guitar solo from Ariana Grandes song 'Dangerous Woman' and so for it to relate to my composition I need to manipulate it using the different effects on Cubase that I have practiced. Another way I can give my composition originality and individuality is by creating my own melodies and writing my own lyrics to the composition. This way the song can be related to me and helps make it different from others composition. Finally for me personally I plan on using both live and electronic instruments, I believe this blend will help make my composition more individual.
Sound Design
Sampling using Effects
The definition of a sample is referred to the short audio clips which are used for playing back sounds. It is also a digital representation of an analog signal. Most samples are usually no more than 5 seconds long, however sometimes samples can refer to entire songs or movies.
I acquired my first lot of samples from a website on the internet (
https://www.freesound.org/). One sample I particularly liked was the Distorted piano, so chopped the audio into a smaller sample which I could manipulate using various effects on Cubase. I could open the Inserts window and use effects such as reverb and EQ. I uploaded the original sample to SoundCloud before I started to manipulate it.
Link to original sample:
Pitch Shift
The first effect that I tried on the sample was pitch shift, this technique allowed me to change the original pitch by either raising or lowering it. Since I was manipulating the pitch through Cubase it mean't that this was accomplished through digital signal processing. Another form of pitch shift, which is very common in main stream pop music is pitch correct, commonly known as auto-tune. This is used to correct inaccuracies in a recording bu changing individual notes in the recording.
 |
| Pitch shifting |
Link to pitch shift sample:
Reversed
I also reversed the sample, which flips the audio round so the end of the audio can be heard first. This effect is really effective on instruments such as a cymbal. By reversing different audio's and timbres an atmosphere can be created in a track, which is totally different from the non reversed track.
 |
| Reversing a sample |
Link to reversed sample:
Time stretched
The time stretch function allowed me to change the length of the selected audio without altering the pitch. The slider which can be seen in the screenshot below shows how much you are allowed to compress (shorten) and expand (lengthen). A positive of using this effect is that no matter how much you stretch the track the quality of the audio remains the same.
 |
| Time stretching a sample |
Link to time stretched sample:
Sampling using existing tracks
 |
| Shake it off was the first single off her album 1989 |
Another way I can incorporate samples into my composition is by using samples from original pieces of music. It is very common in both pop and even more commonly in hip hop music to use samples from other pieces of music. For example the band The Prodigy have created the majority of their songs entirely from samples of other artists songs. In hip hop sampling is even more common, the most famous example was Vanilla Ice's 'Ice Ice Baby' where the bass line had been sampled from Queen's and David Bowie's 'Under Pressure'.
 |
| La La La-by Naughty Boy and Sam Smith |
I was provided with a list of songs which I could use to sample to practice mixing them together and using the effects I had just learned about. I firstly sampled the kick and clap sound from Taylor Swift's 'Shake it off', I time stretched these samples to make them last longer as well as reversed them. The next sample I used was a 'La' from Naught Boy's ft Sam Smith 'La La La'. I duplicated the La and then pitch shifted each one going up by two-three pitches each time. This resulted in a creepy style that went quite well with the other parts of the samples used.
 |
| Ludovico Einaudi |
The last piece I sampled was 'Tracce' from Ludovico Einaudi, I used a 5 second sample of piano, which I time stretched. The overall use of the samples together doesn't work to well, however this was good practice to learn how to sample from other songs and how to use the different effects to manipulate the samples and incorporate them into my own piece.
Link to mix of samples from different songs:
 |
| KeyStudio 49i |
The last way that I have learned about regarding samples is to record my own and place them in my composition. I discovered that using the KeyStudio 49i I could record my samples straight onto Cubase. At the back of the keyboard was a XLR input which allowed me to connect a Shure SM57 dynamic microphone.
I practiced recording my own samples, the first sample I recorded was my own heartbeat. I did this by taking off the protective shell around the microphone and then placed the microphone on my chest. This effectively picked up a strong signal of my heartbeat. The other sample I recorded was hand claps, I used a Rode NT2 and set the polar pattern omni-directional so signal would be picked up all around the microphone. I gathered 4 people and placed them at equal distance around the microphone, this was to layer up the hand claps all at once.
To manipulate these samples I could use a feature on Cubase known as Pitch and warp. By clicking on this feature, Cubase analyses the audio and shows the pitch information. From this I would be able to change certain pitches to create unique and different timbres, this is another way samples can be manipulated to make them your own.
 |
| Pitch and warp (Changing pitches) |
Link to heartbeat sample:
https://soundcloud.com/user-886671367/recorded-sample-heartbeat
Link to hand claps sample:
https://soundcloud.com/user-886671367/recorded-sample-hand-claps
Waveform Structures
When it comes to adding synthesis to my composition I will be able to incorporate a range of different waveforms. These waveforms will allow me to change aspects ranging from the texture to the overall timbre of a sound. Below are the four main waveforms that are used and an explanation of what an ADSR envelope is:
Sawtooth
- A sawtooth wave is a non-sinusoidal wave, it resembles the teeth of a saw. This type of wave goes upward like a hill and then drops down sharply.
Sine
- This is considered to be the 'pure' wave because every other wave starts out as a sine wave.
Square
- It is a non-sinusoidal wave, in which the amplitude alternates at a steady frequency. It ranges between the minimum and maximum values.
Triangle
- A non-sinusoidal waveform, named for its triangular shape. Similar to a square wave it contains only odd harmonies, demonstrating odd symmetry.
 |
| Diagram of all four different waveforms |
ADSR
An ADSR envelope can help synthesisers control a sounds parameters at any point when a note is being played. This may be applied to the overall amplitude control, there are four specified parameters.
- Attack time: is the time taken for the level to go from nil to peak, this occurs when a key is first played.
- Decay time: is the time taken for the attack level to go down to the sustain level, which is already designated.
- Sustain level: level of the main sequence of the sounds duration, this is until the key is released.
- Release time: is the time taken for the level to decay from sustain level to zero after the key is released.
 |
| Diagram of an ADSR Envelope |
Waveform Editing Techniques
When I was using sylenth I was able to open up a window which allowed me to edit the sound I was using. I could change the waveform, so I changed it from a Sawtooth to a square, this made the timbre sound less aggressive. The window also has a ADSR envelope, so I could manipulate how long it takes for the sound to reach its peak and how fast it decays. There is also an effects window where you can tick what effects you want added to the timbre. Overall there are various ways I can edit the waveform to fit into my own individual style and my composition.
Availability
Software Inputs
I have used a variety of different tracks in my composition. One of the Halion Sonic SE tracks I have used is a synth Bass 2, I used this to create a bass line that I have repeated through the piece. Also in the second part of the song I have used another Halion Sonic SE track "Brass and Strings" to help develop the second half. This makes it more original and individual from the other parts of the song.
Also in my composition I used a sylenth track, I used the pulse setting. I used this to create an undertone in the verse part as I found there wasn't much happening in that part to start with. Adding the sylenth track allowed me to fill out the track a little bit more.
Analogue and Digital inputs
Tracks that I have recorded for my composition are the piano vocals. I wanted my composition to include both recorded and digital instrumentation. The way I recorded the piano was by setting up two AKG C1000s microphones and placing them 5 cm away, one to the left and one to the right. I had both microphones positioned underneath the keys of the piano.
 |
| AKG C1000s |
For the vocals I used a RODE NT2-A as I found this provided the best capture of the vocals. I made sure that my performer was at least 3cm away facing the performer. This way the signal was strong enough and there was no chance of the signal clipping. The pop shield was useful because it made sure that there were no plosives in the vocals.
 |
| RODE NT2-A |
Editing Sources
The samples that I have used in my composition have been manipulated using various effects on Cubase to make them suit my style and fit well into my composition.
The first sample I manipulated was the scream from the Gabrielle Aplin song "Skeleton". The way I changed this sample was by adding some BitCrusher distortion and reverb to the sample. I also used time stretch to make the sample last a little bit longer. I put this sample at the start of my composition to create a 'Chilling' and 'Dark' atmosphere and give the listener a brief idea of the style of this composition.
https://soundcloud.com/user-886671367/distorted-scream
The other samples I added basic effects such as EQ, Reverb and compression to help them fit into the mix better.
Sound Libraries
I have used a variety of samples in my composition, some of them are off the FreeSond website, others are from known pop songs and there are some which I recorded myself. Below are a list of all of the samples that I have used:
Playback Equipment
When putting this composition together it was important that I would be able to playback the piece and analyse how I was doing. The best equipment for this job was the ATH-M40 fs headphones. These were the best for playback because they are studio quality and are used by professional engineers and musicians.
 |
| ATH-M40 headphones |
File Transfer
Files can be transfered through many different methods. This includes:
- Memory stick
- Floppy disk
- Email
Formats and Compatibility
There are various formats that I can change my composition file into. There are benefits to each of these different files and they all compatibility.
Cubase file
The benefits of a Cubase file is that they contain all the different audio's, for example Sylenth, HALion Sonic SE and recorded instruments. However if you want to play your composition on a different system you firstly have to make sure that you have the Cubase software. You also have to back up the project to make sure all of the data is transferred over successfully. It is the best type of file to use only if you have access to the Cubase software.
Midi file
This type of file format allows sequences to be saved, transported and opened in other systems. Another benefit is that they can be used universally and they are also very compact, making them popular with people. They are useful for organising the midi messages on a file.
Audio file
Audio data is stored onto a computer system and the bit layout of the audio data allows someone to compress and uncompress the file size. This can help reduce the file size, which is good for someone who needs to store a lot of data in one place.
Copyright Issues
The most up to date copyright law in the United Kingdom at the moment is the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The work that is protected under this Act is:
- Literary- Lyrics, articles, manuscripts etc.
- Film- video footage, films
- Dramatic- plays, dance
- Musical- recordings and score
- Artistic- sculptures, painting, photography, logos etc.
- Typographical arrangement of published editions- magazines, newspapers etc.
- Sound Recording- recordings of other copyrighted work e.g. literary and musical
This law gives these people the right to control the ways in which their material may be used. This also restricts acts such as adapting the work, copying the work and broadcasting the work in public. However acts that are allowed include private research and study purposes, producing a back up copy for personal use and incidental inclusion. The duration of how long the law lasts depends on the field, for example films it is 70 years from the end of the calender year, when the author, director or composer dies. Although for broadcast and cable programme it is 50 years to the end of the calender year in which the broadcast was made. So it really depends on the area of field the item was created.
Famous examples of other artists being sued include Vanilla Ice's 1990 song "Ice Ice Baby". This song sampled "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie. Since no permission was given and thye were uncredited a large sum had to be paid to the pair to avoid a trial. They were also awarded subsequent royalties.
Another example includes Avril Lavigne's hit song "Girlfriend" which sampled the Rubinoos song "I wanna be your boyfriend". This was also settled to avoid any court battles.
Mixing/Mastering
PQ Codes
These codes refer to the editing part of the sub code that contains information such the start and end ID's, ISRC codes (International Standard Recording Code) and contains owner of the copyright. This helps emphasise copy protection. It is usually 2 of the 8 sub code channels, that run alongside the audio data on a CD. The ISCR code is the unique identifier for each individual track, that lists things like the country of origin, release date etc.
You can apply PQ codes through software such as Wavelab or Pyramix in order to make a PMCD or DDP.
 |
| Wavelab software |
 |
| A typical PQ code |
MP3/WAV/AAC
MP3
This is an audio coding format for digital audio, which uses a form of lossy data compression. This form of audio is most common in streaming and storage. The use of compression helps reduce the amount of data required to represent the audio recording. To create replicate CD quality an MP3 file would have to be created using the setting 128 kbits. Another benefit of MP3 files is that they can be constructed at higher or lower bit rates, this affects the overall quality of the audio.
 |
| General icon for an MP3 file |
WAV
Similar to an MP3 file, WAV (Waveform Audio File) files contain compressed audio. Furthermore these types of files can be edited/manipulated easier with the use of software. Another reason they are popular is that they are compatible with Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems.
 |
| WAV file |
AAC
AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is an audio coding standard for lossy digital audio compression. The main reason these are increasing in popular is because AAC achieve better sound quality than MP3 at similar bit rates.
 |
| AAC file |
Internet Distribution
Once the composition is complete it can be distributed onto various streaming sites as a WAV file.
iTunes
For example the regulations for this streaming site include, accounts that are created must be managed by someone who is older than 13, any younger has to be created by a parental guardian. Once an account has been created the terms for uploading your own tracks are that the songs have to be under 200 MB. Also songs that are encoded in ALAC, WAV, or AIFF will have to be transcoded to a separate temporary AAC 256 Kbps file locally before they are uploaded.
The songs must also meet certain quality criteria and must be authorised for playback.
Spotify
From researching this streaming site it appears that artists that do not have a contract with a label have to create an account with websites like
https://routenote.com. These services help independent artists gain promotion on the internet, they will not get much revenue. Once you have an account artists can decide which sites they want to upload their music too.
Tidal
It is a similar process for Tidal, a fairly new streaming service set up by Jay Z. Artists can upload their original music to sites like Record Union, Tunecore etc. These are used to help the artist get their music onto
http://tidal.com/gb/discovery. From here their music is promoted however the service sees fit.
Compression
Multiband compression is important when mastering because it helps level out all of the different components of a piece. For instance if the composition sounds too bassy, you can reduce the dynamic range to help balance it out. There is a screenshot below showing the compression I have added:
Loudness
The normal volume to mix a track to is 0dB, this is important because it is the best volume for everything in a track to be heard. At this volume there is also less chance of anything clipping.
Equalisation
Another effect that is important when mastering a track is EQ. EQ allows you the change the range of frequencies from low to high on a track. In cubase the EQ allows you to change up to four parameters of the frequencies. Sound is measured is dB, which is on the side of the EQ. The frequencies range from 20-20k, which are measured in hertz (Hz). There is a screenshot below showing the EQ I have added:
Sonic Problems
The type of problems that may be present in my track include background noise when recording instruments/vocals. The type of background noise may include rustling of paper, plosive's and sibilance. The help remove/prevent these problems you can either re-record the track and use a pop shield. Another way is to edit out the background noise in the mixing process. This can be done by adding a gate, changing the parameters of the EQ and also using the scissor tool.
The main sonic problem that could be present in my track is clipping. Clipping is a form of distortion that limits a signal once it exceeds a threshold. The issue is that it can occur any time in an anlog or digital signal and if the gain is turned up to loud. There are two different types of clipping hard and soft. Hard clipping is the result of the signal being limited at the threshold , producing a flat cut off. Soft clipping is where the clipped signal continues to follow the original at a reduced gain. The best way to get rid of clipping is by lowering the gain, so the signal does not clip. You can also add the effect compression, which helps reduce the dynamic range of a signal and makes the clipping less noticeable in the audio. These options should only be used if you are not in a position to re-record.
Final Composition
Overall I kept my composition quite 'sparse' and repetitive similar to main stream pop music. However I did not keep to the typical pop song structure, this was because I wanted my composition to be original and unique to others. In the end my structure was an introduction, verse, introduction repeated twice and end on the chorus.
Below is a link to my final composition:
