Apple Soundtrack User Manual download pdf (Page 19)

Chapter 1 Audio and Music Basics 19

Musicians use the concept of time signature to express the relationship between measures

and beats. The first, or upper, number of the time signature indicates the number of beats

in each measure, and the second, or lower, number indicates the basic beat value.

The rate at which beats occur in a piece of music is called its tempo. Tempo is measured

in beats per minute (bpm). Music with an active or upbeat feeling tends to use a faster

tempo, while music with a more relaxed or inward feeling tends to use a slower tempo.

You can control the tempo of a Soundtrack project, and change the tempo during the

course of a project.

Melody

Melody is often the most recognizable or memorable part of a piece of music. It’s the

part of the music you walk away singing, whistling, or humming, and the part you

usually think of when trying to identify the music or tell someone about it.

A melody is an arrangement of musical notes in a specific rhythmic pattern. Melodies

establish the character of a piece of music, and immediately evoke a feeling or mood.

In Soundtrack projects, you work with prerecorded loops, some of which contain

melodies or melodic phrases. If you sing or play an instrument, you can also record

original melodies in Soundtrack. Whether you use existing loops or your own

recordings, the most important thing to consider is whether a melody you want to use

is appropriate for the style and feeling of a particular project.

Harmony and Key

Harmony occurs when several musical notes are played simultaneously, typically in

groups of three or more notes called chords. The harmony of a piece of music is often

played by rhythm or accompanying instruments, and works with the rhythm and

melody to help establish the feeling of the music. As a piece of music progresses, the

harmony changes, often at the beginning of a measure or on a strong beat, creating

chord progressions that help give the music a sense of forward motion.

Most music makes use of groups of related notes called musical scales as the basis for

both melody and harmony. The most common scales are the major scale and the minor

scale. A scale centered around a particular musical pitch is called the key of a piece, and

the central note is called the root note or tonic of that key. You can set the key of a

Soundtrack project, and add key changes over the course of a project.

Some loops and one-shots you’ll use in your projects contain recordings with

harmonies and chords. Soundtrack automatically matches the key of each audio file

you add to a project to the project’s key. You can also transpose individual loops to

create chord progressions and achieve other harmonic effects.

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Apple Soundtrack User Manual Page 19