Category: Music Theory

Audio frame rate?

One of my editor friends asked me if audio doesn’t record in a frame rate, then why must we select a frame rate in Avid, while importing it. I think that’s a great question! Here’s my take on it.

Video is recorded in frames per second, because a shutter actually opens and closes. On the other hand, when audio is recorded, it does not start, stop, start, stop, 24 times per second; however it recorded continuously. Audio frequency is recorded in a sample rate measured in kilo hertz for both analog and digital audio. This sample rate is usually 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.

Regarding depth, digital audio depth is measured in bits. More bits = more information = more depth.

When you import audio into Avid, and it asks you what frame rate to bring it in as, that frame rate is really just an interpretation. This is because we need to edit video in frames per second. To edit the audio along with that video, Avid must translate the audio to frames per second. When editing audio in a DAW like Logic or Ableton, there are no frames. It’s just pure waveform put over a grid with a musical time signature like 4/4, and if you zoom in the timeline, you can see subdivisions like quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes. 
When editing audio in Avid or ProTools, we are also really looking at pure waveforms, but the audio is inside of a grid that we don’t see. That grid is frames per second.

Does that make sense? It might not now, but think on it for a bit, and it will click on inside of your mind! It took me a moment or two to get it. 🙂

Chord Progressions

Hey Friends!  I created this chart to help me learn chord progressions, musical keys, and the relative major/minor for each key.  I decided that if I shared it, that it might be helpful to others.  If it helps you, or if you have any suggestions on information to add to it, please post a comment below.  🙂 

Chord Progression Chart – https://charliekirby.com/editor/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Chord-Progressions.pdf

Capo Fear Banished

Not referring to  the movie “Cape Fear”, but those thingies that we put around the fret of a guitar so we can play the same chords, but in a higher key.  I think I banished my fear of playing leads to accompany others who are playing with a capo.  Two simple pieces of info make up this easy equation:
A. What fret the capo is on.
B. What chord shape is first chord.
Then take A and count up that many half steps from B.

Example 1. If capo is on fret 2 and first chord is an Am shape, count 2 half steps up. A#m, Bm. Play leads in Bm scale.

Example 2. Capo is on fret 5. First chord is Dm shape. Count 5 half steps up. D#m, Em, Fm, F#m, Gm. Play leads in Gm scale.

I hope this info is helpful to my fellow guitarists out there.

p.s.  However, if guitarist is playing an augmented suspended ninth chord with a capo, then take A (number of frets up) and multiply that figure by ounces of lighter fluid, which you will pour into the guitar’s soundhole. Add a lit match. Solo is guaranteed to be blazing hot.  LOL!