John UM
In another masterpiece of Oshii’s “Mobile Police PATLABOR”, Kawai Kenji has served as a theatrical and TV animated music
The main point of the movie “Mobile Police PATLABOR the Movie” released in 1989 is the steel drum. In the previous year, in the short film animation “Maze Object File538” co-operated by Kawai and Azu, Kawai used the steel drum sound of Yamaha DX7. When Isai listened to the soft tone of the metal that I really liked, I asked for “must use that feeling” in “Mobile Police.” However, the sound of the electronic simulation is good, but the real instrument is used in the movie. Kawai thought, I am afraid it will not be so easy to get the steel drum. On the other hand, he rented a Yamaha Epicurus studio with a steel drum inside. He was very fortunate and used it with gratitude
To say why the Labyrinth File538 uses the tone of the steel drum, because there were a lot of Drum Machines. Kawai adjusts the tone, plays with these machines, and occasionally makes a sound that feels good. There are many songs that get inspired by the sound of the equipment like this. I didn’t have such a rich sound source before, so I had to spend my own thoughts on making sounds
The unforgettable voice is one of the characteristics of Kawai Music. From time to time, he will conceive music from his voice. However, it is very difficult to explain in detail how you think about the imaginary sound
For example, in a battle scenario, it is important to make the audience feel high. Then, Kawai will imagine what to do to enhance the mood of the audience, and the impression of the sound emerges in the mind. If you change to a movie, he can see the picture in advance, you can modify the music according to the action of the play, adjust the beat and rhythm, use all kinds of means to make the music match the picture, so it is easier to use the sound to perform
However, whether it is a real person or a movie, the demand for music is the same. Kawai never cares whether the work he is responsible for is for adults or for adults. Some people think that since the audience is a child, it should be written like a nursery rhyme. However, Kawai sneered at it and thought it was a misunderstanding of the grown-up, even if the children understood the pros and cons of the music. Therefore, he believes that no matter who the object is, you must make something decent. However, as a performance technique, when it comes to childishness, he will of course write a simple melody like a nursery rhyme
In the view of Kawai, whether it is animation or real people, the position of music is very important. For example, in a sad scene, it is inevitable to put sad music, which is “the music usage close to the picture.” Conversely, the battle scenes like “The General of the Riot” will definitely sing, and the theme song of “Ghost in the Shell” is “the music usage close to the audience.” When using music in this way, music cannot be dissolved into the scene
How music is used in the work is a very important point in creating music. If it is close to the picture, it needs to be expressed directly and directly; and if the music and the picture are kept at a distance, the music must be produced from a completely different perspective.The
Music position will make a big difference to the impression of the audience. But it is not the composer who controls the position, but the idea of supervision. What makes Chuanjing a headache is that he will receive requests from time to “please give this piece the same music as the Ghost in the Shell”. The supervision of such a request may lack a clear understanding of the position of the picture and music. Kawai will explain to the supervisor that the place that wants to express directly cannot match the music like the Ghost in the Shell. Most of the supervisors can understand
In fact, Kawai is not very convinced that his own practice is correct, but based on the experience accumulated over the years, this kind of indifferent thought has been formed
In the view of Kawai, the fun of making the original soundtrack, the supreme pleasure from the perfect combination of picture and music, will make him feel very good to feel that he is writing music for this work
If it is a live-action work, Kawai can take the first step in the audience and watch the No. 0 preview at IMAGICA or Tokyo. However, TV animations and the introduction of movies may not have the time to preview. He often wants to see the results of his work with other audiences when the works are broadcast. When looking at the work he is involved in, he will also pay attention to the combination of picture and music
In the case of a movie, the concert is affixed to the picture based on the conclusion that he and the director originally met, but occasionally he will be surprised by Kawai: “There is this usage!” or “Although the place used is different from the original one, but It is much better than originally planned.” This made him feel very educated
And TV series and TV animations, occasionally there will be a scene like “Is there a shot here!” It all depends on the technique and aesthetics of the editing. If you say that you are offending, Kawai sometimes sees the broadcast and is disappointed. Therefore, in order to facilitate the music connection, he will attach the stem file for editing when he delivers it recently
When composing, Kawai Kenji first interprets the music demand list and imagines the music in his mind; then uses MOTU Digital Performer 10 software to play the keyboard or guitar to conceive the melody; then record the melody arranger. When recording, he gets the timecode from Avid Pro Tools and records it in Pro Tools through the mixing console. The sound of the software synthesizer is also recorded again after the mixing console. As for the reason, it is very simple: he has always done this, and things are not easy to change now. And, to be honest, he can’t tell the difference between doing this and recording with the DP10 Bounce, which is better or worse. In this case, it is better to do it in a more convenient way.The
Arranger work was also carried out by a single person in Kawai. If you want to switch to a real instrument, he will be able to simulate the state of the real instrument to a certain extent, and take the hard disk to the studio
The team of Chuanjing’s performance team is basically fixed, and he is an old comrade-in-arms of his own choice. He chose the standard of musicians, mainly people who are proficient in multiple genres. The guitar is often played by himself
Amazingly, Kawai is not a graduate of the class, but a science student. He just went to the music road because he likes guitar, and he never learned music. At that time, he neither understood the theory nor understood the harmony, nor did he read the score on the spot, and he hated the practice. He thought, as long as he wrote his own songs, wouldn’t he have to read the scores? So I began to compose my own music. As a result, it was a coincidence that I came to this step today
After starting the soundtrack, Kawai had to create a variety of styles of music. Every time he is wearing a gun, the customer asks him to write jazz, he goes to listen to the jazz; the customer wants to use the string, he writes the string by feeling. Therefore, musicians often come to ask him: “This sound and chord are halftone, can you do it?” This may be a taboo in theory, but Kawai thinks that the sound is everything, and replies: “It should be no problem.” “It’s been a long time, and it’s turned into a gun. It has become something of its own. Even if you don’t know anything at first, you can learn new things every time you challenge something new
To say that the affected composer, Kawai said that he has always liked Burt Bacharach, so he was also influenced by his music. Until now, Kawai has wanted to be a composer who can write a wet side like Bacharach
Today’s Kawai, the schedule of the year is full, and sometimes there are four works to be carried out at the same time. Every time he has to rack his brains to get the job done, after he finishes, he feels that his body is hollowed out and can’t be written anymore. But there will still be new jobs waiting for him
In this situation, Kawai is like being in a storm of psychological stress. Especially when the customer asks for a change, he will not be able to sleep at night. Shortly before the interview, he was responsible for a stage play of music, which was revised repeatedly until the stage. Seeing it started two days later, the customer also called him: “Please delete two bars here.” The
Movie is the same, some directors are still editing until the last moment, and every time there is a change, he is required to change the music. If it is a problem that can be modified by the file, it is better to say that the repaired place has to be re-recorded
The domestic work in Japan has a limited budget, so it will not be changed so repeatedly. But in Asia, especially in mainland China and Hong Kong, the works have to be reviewed, and the length of the music will change, it will be difficult to do
Chuanjing basically did not take a vacation. When you are under stress, just drink and watch the variety show to relax. He said that artists can’t write hundreds of songs a year, and they can think about each piece. And their professional writers win at speed, which is very different from artists. It is personal freedom to want to be a composer. Even if he said to him, “If you go to be an artist, you can’t do it.” He will not come. Let him make a solo album, he doesn’t know what to write. Or take orders to write songs according to demand, more in line with his temper
From the 1986 to the present, the music equipment has evolved and the methodology of his composition has changed. In particular, the debut of Pro Tools is an epoch-making change, and the music can be adjusted repeatedly
Nowadays, among the equipment used in Kawai, software synthesizers and hardware synthesizers are about half each, and each has its own purpose. For example, software synthesizers are suitable for band music, and analog real instruments are more convenient for E-Mu. One of the essentials is Studio Electronics’ Midimini, which is very popular with the bass sound of this synthesizer and is considered to be suitable for all occasions. In addition, Roland Integra-7, Korg M1R, E-Mu E4XT Ultra, etc. are also commonly used hardware synthesizers
Kawai, who likes equipment, is also interested in new equipment and sounds. However, the recent software synthesizers are so many that he can’t catch up. The latest equipment he uses today is the Mellotron M4000D Rack. Someone pushed him to the synthesizer. Just NHK’s morning drama “Wanfu” wanted to use Mellotron, he bought it, but only used it in this work
What instruments and equipment are used depends on the budget given by the work, but considering the elements such as overtones, as long as you can use real instruments, Kawai still wants to use real instruments as much as possible. Strings are 100% real recordings
Although Kawai claims to be a professional writer rather than an artist, he also has his own favorite music and music that he feels comfortable with. Such as phrases, as well as string movements, people who know may find out. In the range that does not affect the purpose, he will try to fill the music as much as possible, just like someone has to eat soy sauce. The client may feel that he is doing this extra, but he will not comment on him, so he can do it for his own fun and satisfaction. After all, the soundtrack has to be written three or four times a day, and there is no time to repeatedly scrutinize it, so even in a short period, he will be stuffed into his favorite phrases. This is also the benchmark for his judgment of the completion of the music
When asked about his plans for the future, Kazui, now 62, replied that he thought that his work would be reduced after 60 years old, but it is not the case, and he is very grateful. Nowadays, there are many outstanding young composers, so his next topic is how to make his career “soft landing”