Tag Archives: style

5 Tips to the Top: Amnesty Anthem Rejam Contest

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The Amnesty International Anthem Rejam Contest is calling everyone to contribute unique versions of the Amnesty Anthem to support international human rights and enter for a chance to win professional Avid studio equipment.

Not only is this contest in support of a great organization and a great cause — it’s also your time to shine. Be yourself, and be different from the rest of the crowd. Here are some tips from the team that will help your Rejam stand out – who knows? They may even help you make it to the top of the charts:

If you’re in a hurry to get started, take a look at the circled areas in the image of the Anthem Rejam screen above and check out these options while you’re working on your Anthem Rejam. Make your version of the Anthem now.

Tip 1: Speak another language? Use it!

This is the time to put your language skills to great use. Just because the example anthem doesn’t have vocals doesn’t mean you can’t add them yourself (remember, don’t use any copyrighted material). So whether you only remember a little bit of French from elementary education, or you’re fluent in German, or you speak English natively, using vocals will definitely stand out in this contest. If you’ve got language skills, use them! If you aren’t confident about your singing abilities, try speaking rhythmically instead, and see where it takes you. The more interesting and unique your version of the anthem, the better.

Tip 2: Do something different

Like we said before, the more variety you can add to your Anthem Rejam, the better. Have a listen to the example anthem, but don’t copy it. Whistle, hum, sing, talk, beat box, or whisper your own vocals and see what it sounds like. Don’t get too frustrated if it doesn’t sound the way you expected – sometimes that’s the best thing that can happen, because it will lead you to a truly interesting sound.

See how wacky you can make the rhythmic and melodic structure of the Anthem, as different from the example as possible. For example, try experimenting with the Tempo, Mix, and Pitch sliders (see the image above for reference). Record a track on top of the existing track to see what your own voice or instrument adds to the Anthem. And of course, check out the Vocal FX and Edit Style options to add even more spice to your track – more on these in the tips below.

Tip 3: Use styles to make your unique sound

We alluded to the Edit Style option above. This is one of the most comprehensive features in UJAM – it allows you to edit a style’s makeup and even fully customize your own style. This is a great way to make your Anthem Rejam stand out in the contest. Change the entire makeup of the track by removing the existing instruments and adding your own.

Want a romantic orchestra? Add the instruments one by one until you’re satisfied. Want a rock band? The guitars, drums, and even vocal styles are there for your selection. It’s our most extensive style catalogue yet, including great soundtrack styles from Hans Zimmer’s studio, so be sure to take advantage of all that’s waiting for you. If your Anthem Rejam has a unique and interesting style, it’s sure to stand apart from the crowd.

Tip 4: Got Vocals?

Whether you’re Mariah Carey or a shy shower-singer, try recording your voice on top of your track. It’s sure to add a distinctive sound, since everybody’s voice is different. Try singing, humming, whistling, or speaking rhythmically for dramatic effect. As we said in Tip 1, make up your own lyrics, sing in syllables without meaning, speak a foreign language, or make other sounds with those lungs and see what happens. In this contest, being different is a great asset and will definitely help your Anthem Rejam stand out from the rest.

We also mentioned above that there are Vocal FX to help you customize vocal sounds in your Anthem Rejam. Click “Change Vocal FX” to see the expansive list of options for customizing vocal sounds in your track. After you’ve already added your own vocals on top of the Anthem Rejam, you can tweak and perfect them with the Vocal FX enhancements. See what happens when you change the Vocal FX from Ballad to Bathroom or Echoes to Cell Phone. The options for variety here are nearly endless!

Tip 5: Play an Instrument

If you play an instrument, you better warm up and get ready to record. Show off your skills by recording yourself on that instrument. Just like singing and adding your own vocals, playing an instrument adds your own unique style to the Anthem Rejam contest, and it will definitely help your track stand out.

Don’t be content just adding an instrument recording over the existing track, though. Add an instrument and change the style, the tempo, and the mix. Customize your own style while you’re at it. Try a combination of the tips listed here, and think up even more of your own interesting ways to spice up your Anthem Rejam.

Participation in this international contest is really easy: All you need to do is “rejam” the Anthem – i.e. re-arrange the music using tracks readily offered, and/or re-record the melody with your favorite instrument or sing with your own lyrics – even in your native language. Get started now, or check out more tips & tricks on our blog. Learn more about Amnesty International here.

Tips & Tricks: How does Song Form work?

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What are some common features of the tunes we like the most? Well, for one, they probably have catchy melodies, and especially catchy choruses – sometimes so catchy we can’t get them out of our heads. And that’s one of the recipes for success in a great song.

Song Form in UJAM makes it possible to make meaningful songs with distinct sections – i.e. intros, verses, choruses, and endings. As we all know, this makes a world of difference in producing great music.

But how does Song Form work? What makes up each part within Song Form, and how do you make the most of it? We’ll break it down for you here so you can put Song Form to its best use in your next track.

For each style, there are five different song parts: Verse 1, Verse 2, Variation 1, Variation 2, Chorus 1, Chorus 2. From left to right, these parts have increasing intensity, from light (Verse 1) to full (Chorus 2). “Variation 1″ is usually a breakdown, “Variation 2″ is usually a bridge or solo part. In addition, there is a short and long intro as well as a short and long ending.

Don’t worry – you need not know the musical theory behind these sections to get the most out of using Song Form.

By default, a basic song structure is automatically added to any new recording after choosing a style. For short recordings, “Chorus 1″ will be selected, as well as a short intro and ending. For long recordings, UJAM tries to pick and add a matching selection of song parts, as well as short intro and ending.

It doesn’t stop here. At any time, you can edit the song form to your taste by adding or removing song parts. You get to choose whether you want a short or long intro and ending – or no intro and ending at all. You can change your mind and try out different ones by clicking and dragging them while you’re in the UJAM Studio.

Tip: Listen to some of your favorite songs and take note of what song parts they use – how long is the intro, and what’s the chorus like? It may be simpler than you think to pick out the parts of a song that make it distinct, and you can apply the same ideas to your own track.

Trick: It’s always a good idea to experiment with different song parts to see what works best for your track. You may think a short ending is perfect, but end up finding that a long ending makes the song that much sweeter. Give it a try, and share your tracks with us!

We’ll have more on Song Form, editing, and all sorts of musical tips & tricks in future posts. Tell us what you want to learn more about and we’ll create a post on it. Have fun with your next session!

Hands-on Song: Create your own soundtrack from scratch

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Here’s a task for you: while you’re taking a break from recording your chant for The Dark Knight Rises, have a go at creating your own soundtrack from scratch.

We’ll give you the video, you watch it (mute the sound!) and create your own soundtrack using UJAM. Then share it with everybody here on the blog. Props to the person who creates the most unique soundtrack.

What better prompt for this than the month of November, or “Movember” as it’s known to some.

*Note: No, you do not need a mustache to create your soundtrack in this little challenge. But it would be really cool if you had one anyway.

Here’s the video: Remember to turn the sound off, and have fun soundtracking!

 

Psst: want some hints about how to create a really great track? Take a peek back at Peter’s posts on working with styles in UJAM. Share your soundtracks with us here on the blog. Learn more about Movember here.