Digipak Photography

Recently, myself and Connor went out to take photographs for our digipak cover. We shot many locations some close to home, and others in town. For this we put a standard digital alarm clock in many locations taking photos and then edited the time 4:00AM onto (This being the name of the song we have chosen.) We decided on the shot for the digipak cover would be one of the first we took. This was located just around the corner from my house so very easy to access if any re-shoots required. The shot has the alarm clock taking up practically all of the foreground with a road bending into a corner blurred out in the background via depth of field.
Map
A = Photograph Location
B = My House
C = School

Premission Email Reply

This was the email that mixy sent us back, confirming that we have his permission to use his name, song etc. We can now carry on with the products and research.

Album Cover Collage

Here is a collage of some album covers Fran has created using photoshop, these images can help us and our group to create a digipak design. The eminem album cover called '3am' could be quite useful because the song we are using is called '4am'. We could use some of the font ideas and play about with colours and texts in order to create what we consider to be the perfect digipak for our chosen song.

Song Lyrics

We have listened to 4am from Mixy's MMX Mixtape and wrote out the lyrics to the best of our ability. All parts of the woman singing are in pink, and everything else: notes, instrumental, etc. in orange. Here is a link where you can download Mixy's Album from http://locality1.com/2011/01/08/mixy-mmx-mixtape-free-download/.

4 a.m.

You promise me you wait for me, cause i ll be savin all my love for you. and i will be home sooooooon. you promise me you wait for me, i need to know you feel the same way too. ill be home, ill be home soon.


(female singer sings: "ahhh ohhh ah oh ahhh oooo aaa ahhh" (echo))

When i saw her i was amazed, when she smiled at me i smiled back, she inspired so many words on my page its like i got my inner child back, and i like that i seen her plans to see if she'll come out with me for a drink and a chat, i can't dance and i cocked up from where i sat, i knew i didn't have a chance me and the lads where having a laugh on the lash chattin about the class of ass on the lash that we saw out and how we would love to get in there pants, but i got a glans from that pretty thing and i have had more than a glass, so I'm cocky and confident enough to go over and ask hey sweet how about

how about how about.





you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!! you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!

(female singer sings: "ahhh ohhh ah oh ahhh oooo aaa ahhh" (echo))

So i wake up, 3:58 rough, next to a sleeping beauty who's still a cutie without her make up, its about the third date but, i think i like her enough to put the stakes up, trust, maybe i should know her better still I'm just happy i met her impressed i could get her bit early to say stay forever; whatever happens i won't forget her, i know that already, and maybe we could go steady and keep it sweet till it starts to go heavy, I'll never be ready, but as she sleeps she looks so sweet, i lay a kiss on her cheek she opens her beautiful eyes looks at me, smiles, and

speaks speaks Sp speaks s speaks



you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!! you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!





i never thought i would ask you to promise me there's a lot of things i don't wana see when you are far away in a place you don't wana be, honestly we should be looking at property raisin a family, happy does it have to be like this i know gradually you'll come back to me you said you were ready to marry me, but i guess we'll have to see where we're at, when you come back and bring the fun back to a sum we've done that done math and I've do another dumb track, i feel strong I've stung and hung that we're both under that sun that sines, should be together instead we're other sides of the world remember how we spent our time it's boy over here you're seven hours ahead or am i just seven behind. just seven behind. just seven behind.

(female singer sings: "ahhh ohhh ah oh ahhh oooo aaa ahhh" (echo))

what ever happens i wont forget her (echo/dreamy)



dream you're near (echo/dreamy)



promise me (echo/dreamy)



back to me (echo/dreamy)



just seven behind. just seven behind. just seven behind. (echo/dreamy)



when it's four am where i am it 11 am where you are, i know it's too far and too hard but sweet heart i try and keep a true heart, when its four am where you are it's nine pm here and you are on my mind when i am awake and when i sleep i dream you are near. dream you are near. dream you are near.



you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!! you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!

Ending instrumental

Permission Email

This is an email that we have sent Mixy to confirm that we have permission to use him for our project.

"Hello,
This is just an email to confirm that we have permission to use your song, and you also agree to us using yourself for our project. including creating, a Digi-pak and website to accompany the video.
Please send back an email agreeing to this."

Update to DIgi Pak Research

Digipaks typically consist of a gatefold (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. Since Digipaks were among the first alternatives tojewel cases to be used by major record companies, and because there is no other common name for Digipak-style packaging made by other companies, the term digipak or Digi-Pak is often used generically.
Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums and the tall DVD Digipak is used as a premium package for DVDs and DVD sets.
Although less vulnerable to cracking than a jewel case, the disc tray inside the package (particularly the "teeth" of the hub which secure the disc in place) remains rather brittle and is prone to cracking if the package is crushed. Digipak-style cases grew in popularity among record labels and recording artists in the early 2000s. Folk band Show of Hands were one of their first bands to use a digipak, on their 1997 album Dark Fields.
Manufacturers have sought to reduce environmental impact and improve functionality by introducing recycled components into its trays; one has announced a 100% post-consumer PET tray made from recycled bottles, which also eliminates the need for the brittle "teeth". Many printers use recycled or sustainable material for the board stock.
Historically, Digipak was only available in large quantities. However, AGI has recently introduced a new product calleddigipak i-create for the consumer market. Digipak i-create is a web-supported concept that is aimed at music, photo and creative markets.
Digipaks usually resemble the type of music the CD contains for example a rock CD would sterotypically use dark colours to portray what the music is like. Our digipak would need to be more colourful and attractive to the audience it is aimed at which would be young adults, Although Mixys music is not sterotypical rap our album will still need to follow the codes and conventions of a rap music album. Our images and logo will be funky and fresh in order for the audience to realate to them. Examples of Album covers are shown below:

Eminem's music is stereotypical rap. The text used on this album is very simple and bold, this draws your attention to the name 'Eminem'. The 'E' is backwards which is something that is noticeably done throughout his albums, this makes the audience relate to it as being him. Throughout his albums his name is in bold lettering and is clear on the front of the album. When on shop shelf's the customer and quickly identify his albums. The image on the front of this album relates to the name 'Recovery' as Eminem laying there could indicate that he was recovering from something perhaps mentally or physically. Most of his albums also have a picture of him on the front and he is there throughout his music videos this is also a stereotype of rap music. On this album the walls don't look particularly clean witch also relates to the fact rap music is usually about sex and violence and is not a clean way of living. In the corner the'Parental Advisory' logo is there to indicate that strong language is used throughout this CD, this is an important logo when buying a CD and it shows the customer it wouldn't be suitable for young people to listen to.

This is the sort of album and style we will need to base our Digipak around.

The album cover shown above is a stereotypical rock band, The colours and the image used show us instantly that the music will be of a rock nature. The lettering used is more grungy and not perfect and the image of the heart with blood dripping would only attract audiences that where into rock, the image perhaps does not relate to any of the music on the CD and dose not relate to the title 'American Idiot' but the image dose portray the 'Rock' genre. The colours used are very basic and only 3 colours are used. The colours are dark and the black and reds are a common stereotype for rock music albums.

Our Target Audience

A target market is a specific group of people the music is aimed at. The production company can aim it at certain groups by the different types of advertising and marketing they do, e.g. teenagers are more likely to be targeted by advertising that is online. Looking at similar artists such as eminem it is clear that his target audience is that of a younger age range, roughly 16-30. This means we will target our music video and music by Mixy to the same age range. This is the ideal age for our genre of music.

Copyright Research

We have had to look into the way copyrighted music may effect the way we use music in our video. Luckily we are creating a video for a local artist, this means that he will be able to give us permission without having to go through all of the hassle of calling and asking from record labels and companies.


However, we did also look into the laws and ways that it may effect other people.

Welcome to the digital age!

Do you remember many years ago when trying to produce a video for your school took several thousand dollars worth of elaborate and bulky video equipment to make it happen?  Now here we are in 2008, and with a very inexpensive digital video camera and some free software, you, yes even you can produce, publish and broadcast your video around the world – how exciting!  And yet, how scary.
I’ve attended many conferences and workshops where attendees learn to use the latest and greatest technology and are encouraged to incorporate their favorite songs in videos to make their production more captivating.  After all, every great video needs music, and any that do not use audio for enhancement lack in professional quality.

And this is the scary part – when a teacher or student uses a chosen piece of popular music in his or her video.  In some cases based on hear-say, we as educators instruct them to use only 30 seconds or less of copyrighted music material so as not to infringe on copyright, and this is an issue.

What are the problems?

#1.  Background music is not viewed as educational use. 

Just because you’re producing a video at your school does not mean that the copyrighted music content is for educational purposes.  It is ancillary.  In following the Fair Use Guidelines, music that is applicable to education would be that which is directly related to your course content.  For example, if you are studying classical music and want to use Mozart’s “Sonata in A Major” as an example for your students, then this is considered educational use.  Or, if you’re studying the politics of the 60’s, and want to share how rock music reflected the times through poetry, then you may use a portion of the Beatles “Revolution” to educate your students.  Both of these examples demonstrate educational and relevant uses of music.  (The key word here is “relevant”).

#2.  Posting a video to a network or public website which incorporates copyrighted music for which you do not have written permission to use is a violation.

Simply put, when using copyrighted music for the educational purposes stated above, it should be done on a secured network.  Once you publish the video on your school website or some other public video site or unsecured network, a copyright infringement has occurred.

#3.  Legally purchased music is for personal and home use.

You may hear an argument from your teachers and students that they did not illegally download the music but purchased the music legally from i-Tunes or some other legal music e-tailer, and, should be able to use in their school-produced video. 

Actually, their legal music purchase is for personal and home use, and an entirely new set of rules apply for education, such as those stated in the above paragraphs. 

What are the solutions?

a) Make your students and staff aware of the potential infringements.  Most teachers and students use music in their video and then publish or use in it in a public setting while thinking they’ve done nothing wrong.  But, their lack of knowledge about the laws does not make them immune. 

b) Request permission.  It’s not a guarantee that you’ll get the written permission you need, but go to the copyright holder(s) or publishers of the music to request written permission to use, especially if you think the song in question is that necessary for your production. 

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Don’t base your permission on that given by the artist or composer unless they are the sole owner of the copyrighted music.  (Crediting the artist does you no good).  You can almost bet that any popular piece of music is not owned by the artist but possibly by many, such as producers, publishers, attorneys and many others.  This can be a problem, because you need permission from all parties.

c) Purchase a royalty free music library.  This is a great insurance policy for your site and system, ensuring compliance and demonstrating due diligence.  Also, royalty free music is way “cooler” than it used to be, and many students and teachers can find the music of their choice which best suits their video content.

Not all royalty free music libraries license specifically for K-12 and university use, so be sure to check their licensing closely.  For use in education, you should make sure the royalty free music library allows for:

• Synchronization with film and video
• Broadcast and podcast rights
• Rights to duplicate and sell videos within the educational environment
• Continued use for student portfolios.  In this, a student can produce a video project and remain the sole owner for repeated use.  If they ever want to use the project to promote their experience, further their education, or even to start a career, they should be able to do so according to the proper music license.

Many may say that there have been no copyright lawsuits against schools or districts for this type of use.  Contrary to popular belief, there have been lawsuits, but they do get settled out of court.  Regardless of the possibility of “getting away with it,” it is our responsibility to teach students legal and ethical practices when using technology in this digital age.  And, as students begin to create their own works, they will understand the importance of ownership, especially as they seek credit and payment for their own creations.  If we fail to teach this now, then we have done them a disservice.

Barry S. Britt is a creative and executive producer of music for film and video.  As an ASCAP member, he had been educating educators on digital copyright awareness since 1996.

information sourced from: http://www.school-video-news.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=306:copyright-issues-when-using-music-in-videos&catid=33:copyright&Itemid=51

Digipak Research

What is a Digipak?
Definition;

A Digipak is a type of CD packaging made out of card stock or other heavy paper/cardboard material. Digipaks are able to flip open like a book, or be in three parts, so that one portion of the packaging can open to the right and one to the left, with the CD located in the centre portion.

For our group to create our Digipak we had to consider the following:

• Logo
• Font Styles
• Layout
• Images
• What information to include

Conventions:
When looking through various Digipaks, I noticed some conventions of the product, that are useful information when you have to create your own.

1. It had either 4 or 6 panels.
2. A main image was placed on the front either being a logo, symbol or image to respesent the artist.
3. A track list on the back
4. Logo of the production company
5. Barcode
6. Name of the album & artist
7. Same theme running throughout digipak

Code and Conventions of Music Videos

Music Video on Prezi

Music Video Proposal

(This will be updated with footage of us presentating this to the group soon)

Website Analysis - Jason Derulo

This is what Jason Derulo's webpage looks like once you have entred it. Once again the main viewpoint is a picture of him and his name 'Jason Derulo' in big lettering with a colourful font, this acts as the wall paper for the site. The same theme is followed throughout the site. It is easy to navigate arround and the options you can click on are well labled and easy to see e.g. Home, News, Music, Videos ect. On this page there is the opportunity to sign up to the mailing list, a section for news on his music videos and tours ect. His latest music video is shown on this page along with reference to Jason Derulo's Facebook page, myspace and twitter accounts, this is to encourage fans to follow him and keep up to date with him throughout their lifes. The site would be aimed at young adults becasue that is the age group which most commonly listens to this type of urban music.

The wesite is designed in order to attract that age group. The funky fonts and colours are used for that reason.

 

 

Webpage Analysis

Analysis of a music website

This is the front page of the official site for the popular artist 'Example'.

The most eye catching thing from the moment you access the site is the large image showcasing the artists upcoming UK Tour. It is placed above everything, even the site navigation buttons to show its importance. This is done typically to catch fans attention to make them aware of the tour, where it takes place, dates, etc. Very stereotypical of a music website.



Below this is the main block of the website. It follows codes and conventions by having the navigational buttons placed along the top. Making them easy to be found and easily accessible. It has the normal 'Tour', 'Tickets', 'Albums' and other typical things you'd expect to see.
The website is of a solid black colour with text being a deep pink to contrast so it stands out, without being alarming. With that said however, with the websites main page being of a blog style, information about his upcoming tour has been highlighted with the same pink to make it stand out more, showing importance and drawing people in.

Profile pictures on the facebook bar have been blocked for friends privacy.

The site employs aspects of the modern technical age, by including bars on the side linking you to the artists facebook page, and twitter feed. This again, is to draw more fans and link more people into it.

How to read a website

With the constant changing world of media, more and more people are acessing most of their media through the web.

Websites are a form of 'e-media'. Types of e-media include;

• Blogs
• Social Networking
• YouTube
• Pod Casts
• On demand/Streaming media/Downloading
• Online music services (e.g. Spotify)
• Online radio (including video feeds)
• Games (console and online)
• Email
• Mobile phone content

Websites are often part of multi-platform media. Media instiutions could be linked to this by using different methods of communication to reach its target audience.

Analysis of a website should consider how it:

• Utilises media language codes and conventions
• Is part of an insitutional contect
• Follows or subverts generic codes
• Contructs representations
• Targets, appeals to, communicated with and engages the audience
• Communitcates ideologies and values
• Utilises narrative devices

The codes and conventions of a website


Layout and design; The key consideration in effective web design is usability, therefore websites need to be clear, logical and easy to navigate.
A grid system is used to serparate sections of a website and to present information in small, easy to access segments.
The centre of the page is often used for the main content with navigations tools on the left and/or across the top of the page and links to more detailed information on the right.
Background and font colour is often used to separate differnt types of information.
Images are used to illustrate as much as possible to add visual interest.

Technical code; Certain technical codes are now common place on websites. Many sites provide moving image or audio content and also provide some form of audience activity or interaction. Sometimes this is related to the content of the site so film marketing sites often offer downloads such as msic and images whereas news-based sites provide areas for audience members to comment on published news stories.

Content; Websites which contain factual information will look different to those creating for enterainment. There are distinct conventions in terms of news websites, film promotion websites, websites focussing on health issues, etc.

Genre codes; In addition to the content leading layout and design choices, where websites are based on existing genres (e.g. Broadsheets or Tabloid newspapers, Lifestyle magazines, Horror films) the web design uses recognisable codes and coventions from the genres to ensure audiences recognise the genre and are framed to have appropriate expectations.

Target the audience; Different audiences may find certain layout and design choices more appealing. A key issue with websites is the way they attempt to encourage audience activity and iteractivity to attract audiences in and persuade them to return or pass on information important to website producers.

Record Labels

In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion, and enforcement of copyright protection of sound recordings and music videos; conducts talent scouting and development of new artists and maintains contracts with recording artists and their managers. The term "record label" derives from the circular label in the center of a vinyl record which prominently displays the manufacturer's name, along with other information.

Major labels 1988–1998 (Big Six)

1. Warner Music Group
2. EMI
3. Sony Music
4. BMG Music
5. Universal Music Group
6. Polygram

Major labels 1998–2004 (Big Five)

1. Warner Music Group
2. EMI
3. Sony Music
4. BMG Music
5. Universal Music Group

Major labels 2004–2008 (Big Four)

1. Warner Music Group
2. EMI
3. Sony BMG
4. Universal Music Group

Major labels since 2009 (Big Four)

1. Sony Music Entertainment
2. EMI Group
3. Warner Music Group
4. Universal Music Group

Sourced; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_label

Sony Music, EMI, Warner Music and Universal have always dominated the market, and continue to do so.

First of the Year - Skrillex

the first shot is a slow upward pan, of someone twiddling a sweet with there hands unknown to the audience at this time, this foreshadows a mans intentions; as the pan continues it reveals that the man is wearing a trench coat, as the mans head comes into shot you can see that he is wearing Horn-rimmed glasses  with a reseeding hair line and a stubbly face. this combination of clothes and general look is stereotypically associated with a pedophile (to back this point up you can see what this website call this style of glasses - http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/4-/20376568/His-Hers-Instant-Weirdo-Glasses/Product.html?_%24ja=tsid:11518%7Ccat:20376568%7Cprd:20376568) Through out the first shot there is a sound in the background that sounds like wind and muffled children, this has an eerie affect that make the audience question the mans intent.

there is then a over the shoulder shot of what the man is looking at, a playground, then children run around. as then children play one girl in a hoodie runs past, his head then follows the child. once she has ran past it goes to a mid shot of the man a rumble for the begging of the song crescendos this then links with the gradual look of disgust that the man makes. once this shot is shown the same ambient background noise is played however, it doesn't have a muffled effect revealing that it is children. this then confirms that the mans intentions aren't right classing him as a "bad guy".

a kick and snare pattern begins with a shot at the floor slowly panning up and on a dolly moving backwards revealing the hooded girl skipping in time with the beat, this then gives an indication to the girls age. 

To be Continued ...

Music Video Analysis - Modestep - Sunlight

This is the music video for the song Sunlight by Modestep. The genre is dubstep which is a form of electronic dance music. It's described as ""tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals" Sourced; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubstep

The video begins with a seemingly normal situation of an ederly woman preparing breakfast. You see her put a record on to play, which is sterotypical of an ederly person to be old fashioned and use a turn table. However on the record is a face with crossed out eyes, the symbol of the group modestep. Which appears out of the place due to dubstep being a genre linked to teenagers/young adults.

The video continues to two ederly men excentretly knocking on the door of the ederly womans house. They are greeted excentretly also, these two scenes give a different image of the sterotypical ederly person being fragile and slow. They seem very hyperactive as if they're teenagers to match the music.

The video then cuts to a sterotypical part of the codes and conventions shot of the group preforming.

You then see the ederly group of three heading through the streets, two on bikes, one on a scooter. One of the bikes is a BMX, and also with the scooter this is completely out of character for what would be expected of an ederly person. This again is youthful behaviour, again, matching the music.

The three characters then enter what looks like a local shop, and begin shoplifting large amounts of alcohol. Again, not what you'd expect from an ederly person.

They return home and everything seems normal and sterotypical again with them drinking what appears to be tea. However, when the icon part of dubstep kicks in, the drop of bass, everything appears to become out of control.  They begin drinking what appears to be excessive amounts of alcohol, 'downing' pints and other behaviour such as drug taking which is typically assciated with teenagers partying.


This behaviour of preciving ederly people in a teenage way continues throughout the rest of the video. This could suggest that they're letting themselves go, perhaps regaining their youth which they've lost. It could also be the group showing that although dubstep is sterotypically for teenagers and such, that it can have a wider appeal to more age groups. For example, they're trying to get this genre of music further out into the public for a greater awareness and showing that it is infact, for any age group.

Dappy - No Regrets (Video Analysis)

  This Music Video breaks the normal codes and conventions of a R&B video. I would say this video is inbetween a Pop and R&B genre.
The opening scene is a shot of 'Dappy' (the singer) standing on top of a building, this sets the scene for the video. At the beging there is alot of shots fading over one another, i think this is to show the past, since the song is called 'No Regrets' this could mean he regrets things that have happend in the past, this also shows a connection between lyrics and visuals. The atmosphere also has connection to the lyrics, the atmosphere is calm and just shows daily situations, the transitons are slow and gentle which represents the calm nature of the song. Most of the video is based arround the singing 'dappy' and there is alot of close up shots of the singer, a example of this is shown below:

This is a common code and convention of a R&B video.

There are often intertextual references the lyrics 'Cos I’m famous.. Call me Gallagher.. ‘Cos I’m so shameless' relate to the tv episode shamless. He also says 'back to to future, Marty Mcfly' which relates to the film 'Back to the Future'. The name Michael Caine is also mentioned. This shows there is alot of intertextual analysis in this song. I beleive this helps the audience relate to the lyrics of the song and the message that is trying to be put across.

The is also alot of violence, arguing and fights, this could be showing you what his past was like. The fighting scene is in slow motion, i think his is so it fits in with the mood of the music.