< Walk on and on | Story
Chapter 3: Sampling Lesson!
サンプリング講座！ (? (edit))
サンプリング講座！ (? (edit))
Character appearances:
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A Few Days Later
Hospital
Hospital
Toya
Souma-san, I'll be in your care from today on.
Souma
Haha. I'm only teaching you how to sample, so you don't need to be so formal. You're so serious~
Toya
No, as long as you are taking time out of your day for me, I feel that it is best to show my gratitude.
Souma
I get how you feel, but you can loosen up a bit. C'mon, let's get started!
— Some time later —
Souma
By the way, Aoyagi-kun, you do know what sampling is, right?
Toya
Ah, yes. In a manner of speaking.
Toya
It's a production technique that involves cutting out certain parts or phrases from a song, and making use of it in your own music.
Souma
Yep. You got it. To be a little more specific, it's not just taking sounds from pre-existing songs, but sounds from nature, people's voices, the sounds of machinery... You can sample all kinds of sounds in the world, and use it.
Souma
But, as far as street music culture goes, the definition you gave is more relevant, Aoyagi-kun.
Toya
Souma-san, have you made music like that from the beginning?
Souma
Yup. Street music was my introduction to composing, after all.
Souma
The street culture here is really unique, so I was really enthusiastic when it came to learning more about sampling.
Souma
...Ah. Speaking of culture, Aoyagi-kun, you said something a bit interesting the other day, didn't you?
Toya
Is there something that concerned you?
Souma
Yeah. I remember you said "I have a background in classical music, so I don't understand the sampling used in street culture".
Souma
Why does a classical background mean you don't understand sampling?
Toya
...I see. This is a bit of a personal story, but.
Toya
When I was learning classical music, my father taught me that above all else, it was most important to respect the score——
Toya
He wanted me to accurately identify the composer's intentions, and reproduce them as faithfully as possible.
Toya
But sampling takes a part of a song and reprocesses it. To me, that seemingly destroys the composer's original intent...so rather than not understanding, it's more like I feel a sense of a resistance to the idea.
Toya
What my father taught me before——if you were to repeat motifs from other movements, as Chopin did, I would at least understand that.
Souma
I get it. You're right, if you were raised like that, the process of taking a part of a song and modifying it to fit your own would be difficult.
Souma
But, if you ask me, sampling isn't that different from what you just said.
Toya
Eh? What do you mean by that?
Souma
At the root of sampling as a whole, there's a feeling of respect.
Souma
You borrow the sound because you think the song is good. After all, if you can't bring out the best parts of the original sound, there's no point in borrowing it.
Souma
Instead of hiding away a good song that's influenced you, you expose it for everyone to see, and you create new music in your own style.
Toya
...I see. I hadn't thought of it that way before.
Souma
Yep. There's all sorts of thought processes behind sampling. It's pretty interesting!
Souma
——But, Aoyagi-kun, you were pretty serious about classical, weren't you!
Toya
Ah...yes. My parents are classical pianists. We're a family of composers, so...
Souma
Wait, really!? That's amazing!
Toya
It was rather difficult, as their instructional methods were quite strict...
Toya
But, I'm glad to have been able to find a link connecting classical music and street music thanks to you, Souma-san.
Souma
...Alright then, with your preconceptions out of the way, why don't I just show you how it's done?
Rustling
Toya
Did you compose on that laptop?
Souma
Yeah, yeah! When I was partnered with Arata, I would always use this guy.
Souma
It's only got stuff from up until about 4 years ago, but all of my audio data from sampling is in this folder.
Mouse clicking
Toya
! That's quite a lot of data. The title of this one is..."crowd"? And this one is "under the overpass"?
Souma
Yeah. In my case, like I told you before, I don't just sample things from other songs, I sample sounds from nature, too.
Toya
I see...and it seems like you have other things as well. Like the sound of an egg cracking, or the sound of a slipper. Sounds that you would find in everyday life...
Souma
Ahaha. I mean, in my case, I end up hearing all sorts of sounds and thinking about how I could use them for music.
Souma
And when I take sounds from things that're within reach, I feel like there's a link between my personal life and my music, and I like that.
Toya
...Haha. That's a very wonderful way of thinking.
Souma
Right? Then, while I've got this, why don't you actually watch me work on something!
— Some time later —
Mouse clicking
Souma
——Is what I said in the heat of the moment, but...
Souma
Since I can only use one hand, using a computer is kinda difficult... Sorry for asking you to navigate everything for me.
Toya
No, you're going out of your way to teach me all of this, so please let me do this for you.
Souma
Then, let's start by deciding on the beat.
Toya
Yes. A fundamental of track-making.
Souma
What sound...should we use as a base?
Souma
Ah, I know. There was a song I used to listen to a lot on my way to school. We can just loop the intro of that and use it as a beat.
Souma
This one's pretty optimistic, one of those "No matter how far your feelings sink, tomorrow's gonna be brighter!" type of songs. It always cheered me up whenever I listened to it.
Toya
This song must hold a very special place in your heart, then.
Souma
That's right! When I would listen to it early in the morning, it made me think, "I'm gonna do my best today, too!" y'know?
Souma
So, if I use a brighter sound to capture the vibe of those mornings...and I put drums and a bass loop over that, we can move on to the melodic phrases.
— Some time later —
Souma
I'm sure it'd be pretty stylish if we put a saxophone in to make it kinda jazzy. Or, actually, the tone of an acoustic guitar could be pretty interesting, too.
Souma
Either way, this is the part where you can just express yourself however you like. Like how you feel when you listen to the source material, images from your memory, even personal stuff.
Toya
Personal stuff... Then, in your case, Souma-san, would you put in the everyday sounds that you showed me earlier?
Souma
Oh, you're quick to get it. For example, as an accent, I can put in the sounds of cutlery, or a bird chirping. I can mix and match those sorts of everyday sounds.
Souma
Well, whenever I did stuff like that, Arata would warn me, cause it'd start "clashing with the other sounds".
Toya
I see...this is informative.
Souma
...Hey, this is off topic, Aoyagi-kun, but.
Souma
Why are you so focused on the stuff you compose?
Souma
This is just in my experience, but the number one thing that gets your audience excited is your performance.
Souma
So you don't actually need to be so fixated on track-making. Shinonome-kun's got it under control, so it might just be better to leave it to the person most capable.
Toya
That's...
Souma
Aoyagi-kun?
Toya
...Akito always tells me, "just keep writing until you're satisfied".
Toya
And he says that he's waiting to sing a song I write someday.
Toya
With that in mind, I cannot afford to make him wait forever.
Toya
Azusawa has only been active in music for a short time, yet she's improving at a remarkable pace. She has good musical instincts, and an excellent singing style. I'm more and more impressed the longer we work together.
Toya
Shiraishi is determined, and has the power to draw her audience in. She's beloved by both the audiences and the musicians in this town.
Toya
And Akito's field of view is wider than anyone else on stage. He's always supporting us, without sacrificing the quality of his own performance.
Souma
...Yeah. I've heard a lot about Vivid BAD SQUAD from Arata. He said that everyone's really powerful, and that you're always looking out for each other.
Toya
...He might be right. Everyone really is very reliable.
Toya
It's especially because they are my precious teammates——if they're waiting for me, I'd like to respond.
Toya
I...want to be everyone's strength...
Toya
When it comes to singing and performing, I can stand alongside them——I'm able to say that with confidence. Even so...
Toya
When there's something that I'm incapable of, it ends up bothering me quite a bit. ...I——am I just being greedy?
Souma
——No, I think it's fine. That's just how it is.
Toya
Is...that so?
Souma
...To be their strength...huh. I get it. Aoyagi-kun, you're also...
Nurse
Miyata-san, excuse me.
Souma & Toya
Eh?
Nurse
Oh my, you have a friend over.
Nurse
I'm sorry, but it's actually time for your examination... Miyata-san, could you come with me, please?
Souma
Oh, ohhh! That's right, I had an exam today!
Souma
Sorry Aoyagi-kun, I've gotta go for a bit! It won't even take me thirty minutes!
Toya
Ah, I-I understand. Um...
Souma
Ahhh, I bet you'll be bored while waiting... I know, there's still plenty of sample data on there, so have some fun listening to it!
Souma
It's all in the folder at the very top, so!
Nurse
Yes, yes. Let's get going now~
Souma
Okay, that's all! I really am sorry!
Toya
Ah...
Door closing
Toya
...So he had an examination today. I feel like I may have done something quite rude.
Toya
But...I wonder what I should do. I've suddenly got a lot of time on my hands.
Toya
Souma-san said that the sample data can be found in the folder at the very top...that must mean this most recent folder.
Mouse clicking
Toya
Hm? This file was last updated yesterday? It seems he was using this composition program just recently.
Toya
He said I could listen as I pleased, but...no, I should take him up on his offer.
Mouse clicking, song playing
Toya
! This song is...
— Some time later —
Door opening
Souma
Sorry, Aoyagi-kun! It ended faster than I thought it would.
Souma
——Wait, that song...
Toya
...Ah, Souma-san.
Toya
This is the song that Touno-san had——the unfinished one. Could it be that you've continued working on it?
Souma
Ahhh...Right, the folder at the top... Well, I guess if you found it, there's no use hiding it.
Souma
...That's actually true, yeah.
Souma
Aoyagi-kun, you said you wanted to "be everyone's strength", right? I feel the same way.
Souma
Even if it's just a little, I wanna be some kind of strength to Arata. So I thought I'd try finishing the track I'd been working on right up until the accident.
Toya
So it's for Touno-san's sake...I see now.
Toya
Um, Souma-san...
Souma
...What's up?
Toya
The new parts you added sounded great as well. It felt free, and had a great sense of momentum. It was intense, yet there was a kindness to it.
Toya
I could feel your strength, as well as your precious feelings, in that song, Souma-san...
Toya
I'd be very jealous of anybody who had the privilege of singing this track.
Souma
Eh...
Souma
——Ahhh...haha. Whenever I talk to you, Aoyagi-kun, it kinda throws me off base.
Souma
Ah, it's just that you say everything so straightforwardly. It made me feel kinda silly for feeling awkward about it...
Souma
It's a little embarrassing to hear your impressions of the song so honestly, but...it still makes me happy. Thanks!
Souma
But, I can't seem to make much progress, so I don't know if I'll even be able to finish it.
Toya
Could it be that you're having some trouble?
Souma
Well, part of it is that I can't move my body all that easily, but...
Souma
I told you that Arata and I used to make songs together, right?
Toya
Ah, yes. You did inform me of that.
Souma
I usually composed by feeling, but in contrast, Arata was pretty bad at coming up with new phrases. In exchange, he was good at arranging them logically.
Souma
That's why, in the past, we couldn't actually finish songs unless we wrote them together.
Toya
...Ah. So that's why Touno-san called that song "one that you wrote".
Souma
...Well, it seems like at this point, he can basically do everything by himself.
Souma
I really do wish I could make this by myself, but...
Souma
——Hey, I feel bad for asking, Aoyagi-kun.
Souma
But if you were alright with it, and it only has to be sometimes, would you mind letting me hear your impressions, like you did just now?
Toya
...Of course I wouldn't mind, but is that really all you need?
Souma
It's more than enough! In the past, when I was writing with Arata, I'd feel reassured whenever he said "we should go with this sound".
Souma
But when I'm doing it by myself like this, I end up getting lost on what sounds good. So if you gave me your impressions, I'd be able to confirm whether or not I'm making proper progress.
Toya
I don't mind at all...
Toya
...But, why me? I feel like at that point, it would just be better to ask Touno-san to work with you again——
Souma
No...I want you to keep quiet about this to Arata.
Toya
Eh?
Souma
I have to finish this song, for Arata's sake. But I don't even know if I can——and I don't wanna disappoint him if I end up not being able to follow through.
Souma
That's why I have to make sure that Arata doesn't learn about this at all costs. So, if it's possible, I'd like if you didn't tell anybody else about this.
Toya
——I understand. I won't tell Touno-san, or Akito and the others.
Souma
...Thanks. You're a big help.
Toya
No, it's nothing so grand. It just goes to show how much care you've put into writing this song.
Souma
Yeah. I wanna finish it someday, and deliver it to him.
Toya
(Deliver it to him someday...huh.)
Toya
I have teammates too, so I understand your feelings on this matter, Souma-san.
Toya
The feeling of wanting to be your teammate's strength——
Souma
Aoyagi-kun...
Toya
Souma-san, I know you said that all I needed to provide were my impressions, but would you allow me to assist you further?
Toya
I'm not very good at coming up with nice phrases——but I think I can be of use when it comes to organizing them into a cohesive sound.
Souma
...No, I can't ask you for that much of your time. Aoyagi-kun, you've got your event coming up, don't you?
Souma
I know just how serious you all are about this. I definitely wanna avoid causing any trouble for you.
Toya
No, I wouldn't think of it as any trouble. I think helping you would have meaning for me as well, Souma-san.
Souma
...Meaning?
Toya
Yes. "Experience is the best teacher", as they say, so I think watching you work up close, and helping you personally, would be an excellent learning opportunity.
Toya
I would also like to move forward, even just a bit. To do that, would you lend me a bit of your strength, Souma-san?
Souma
...Lend you my strength, huh? I didn't expect you to phrase it like that.
Souma
——Got it. In that case, I'd like to ask you to work with me, Aoyagi-kun.
Toya
...! Thank you very much.
Souma
Yeah. But, y'know... How about you help me right up until your next event?
Toya
——Eh? But...
Souma
Because I'm working with no end in sight, I'd feel awkward making you go along with it for as long as it takes to finish.
Souma
You'll help me with my track-making, and in exchange, I'll help you learn how to make tracks. That way, we don't owe each other anything, y'know?
Toya
...You're right. I understand. Please let me help you until our next event, Souma-san.
Souma
Yep. Then, I'll take you in as my assistant, Aoyagi-kun!
Toya
Yes. Once again, I'll be in your care.