Huayu, my cheat code is a bit strange.

Chapter 38 Audio Recording (Please read on, please recommend, please do everything!)

Guide building, second floor corridor.

"Teacher Wang Jiang."

Looking at the familiar middle-aged man in front of her, Gu Xiao stepped forward and greeted him politely.

"Teacher Huo Xuan has already told me about the situation. Congratulations."

Wang Jiang smiled and extended his hand, saying, "The Story of a Noble Family is a rare big project. I look forward to the day when you shine in the entertainment industry."

"You flatter me," Gu Xiao shook hands with him and said self-deprecatingly, "It's just luck. To be honest, I don't even know how President You knew about me."

Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed across Wang Jiang's face. "You still don't know?"

Gu Xiao was taken aback by his question, "Should I know?"

Wang Jiang was speechless for a moment, then shook his head and sighed, "I really don't know what Huo Xuan is doing, she didn't even tell you."

He stepped aside and led Gu Xiao toward the recording studio, explaining, "Li Dawei, the director of 'The Story of a Noble Family,' is a graduate of the 93 class of the Cinematography Department at Beijing Film Academy."

Gu Xiao looked enlightened.

So that's how it is. The news that Zhou Xiaowen immediately selected him during the third audition and invited him to play Duan Yu in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" spread throughout the student and alumni circles of the Beijing Film Academy in no time.

As a young director from the Beijing Film Academy who is on the rise in his career, it's perfectly normal for Li Dawei to take notice of such a remarkable junior from his alma mater. Therefore, recommending him to You Jianming, the investor and producer behind him, is only natural.

Having figured out the key to this, Gu Xiao felt a weight lifted from her heart.

As they were talking, the two arrived at the door of a room with a sign that read "Third Recording Studio".

Wang Jiang pushed open the door, and a smell mixed with the heat from electronic devices and a faint dust wafted out.

The room wasn't large, but it was clearly divided into two areas by a huge double-glazed soundproof glass panel. The walls were covered with some kind of irregular gray substance, which Gu Xiao guessed was sound-absorbing cotton.

His gaze passed over the soundproof glass and landed on the long table in the center of the inner control room.

On the table sat a huge analog mixing console covered with faders and knobs.

Various lines are visible beneath the countertop, like blood vessels.

Beside the mixing console, two flat-screen monitors, a luxury for this era, were emitting a soft glow.

At this moment, two boys were sitting in high-backed chairs in front of the control panel with their backs to them, wearing listening headphones.

One person was swaying gently to the rhythm in their headphones, while the other was intently adjusting a knob.

Wang Jiang didn't make a sound to disturb them, and lowered his voice to say to Gu Xiao, "Those two inside are my students, Tao Yu and Peng Yuan. If you don't understand anything, just ask them. This recording studio is for your use for the next two days."

He said, "Once you've created a basic demo, I'll listen to it and then submit it for approval. Only after it's approved will your project be granted long-term access to this studio."

Gu Xiao had no objections whatsoever.

He never felt entitled to have a school’s professional recording studio for long; being able to use it for two days was already a stroke of luck.

……

……

"Gu Xiao".

"Tao Yu".

"Peng Yuan."

At Wang Jiang's introduction, the three gave a brief self-introduction.

During this process, Gu Xiao learned that Tao Yu and Peng Yuan were both third-year students in the Recording Department. They had already mastered professional skills such as sound editing, synthesis, recording, and mixing, and were typical academics with solid theoretical foundations but somewhat mediocre creative abilities. While Gu Xiao was observing, Tao Yu and Peng Yuan were also discreetly sizing up this legendary junior in front of them.

Every year, the entrance exams for the performing arts department are a grand event on the Beijing Film Academy campus.

From the very first test, all sorts of topics and gossip will inevitably spread.

The girls were naturally the absolute focus.

Who has the most outstanding appearance, whose dance moves are the most captivating, and whose singing voice is the most melodious?
These topics still permeated every corner of the campus during the first two rounds of the art exams, but everything changed after the third round.

Almost all the discussion focused on one name—Gu Xiao.

Tao Yu and Peng Yuan exchanged a glance, thinking to themselves, "We've seen him alive so quickly! We'll definitely have to interrogate him properly later!"
Wang Jiang knew exactly what kind of students he had, and he raised his eyes to warn them, "You two better behave yourselves, this is related to your graduation evaluation!"

His tone carried a hint of disappointment: "You're all getting on in years, look at your juniors! They're already writing their own songs!"

Tao Yu shrank his neck, and Peng Yuan also quickly lowered his head, behaving himself.

Wang Jiang snorted coldly, then turned to Gu Xiao and revealed a kind smile:
"Have them show you the process first, and ask them if you don't understand anything."

Gu Xiao nodded obediently: "Thank you for your help, Teacher Wang."

"No trouble at all, you guys go ahead with your work."

Wang Jiang gave the two students a few more instructions before walking away from the recording studio with his hands behind his back.

……

……

The door closed, and the atmosphere in the recording studio relaxed again.

Tao Yu let out a long sigh, slumped back in the swivel chair and slid half a circle, then grinned sheepishly at Gu Xiao:
"Actually, Teacher Wang is quite kind. She might just be in a bad mood today. Okay, let's begin."

He asked, "How much do you know about recording songs? Do you know the general process?"

At Peng Yuan's suggestion, Gu Xiao sat down in another high-backed chair, thanked the latter, looked at Tao Yu, and replied:
"I only know the theoretical framework. There are roughly six steps: lyrics writing, arrangement, recording, editing, mixing, and finally mastering."

Tao Yu nodded in satisfaction, "That was a good answer. It seems there's a reason why Teacher Wang likes you."

No, I'm purely a theorist, a master of empty talk, and with my keyboard warrior experience from my past life surfing the internet, I have absolutely no practical skills. Gu Xiao silently complained to himself, and sincerely said:

"I don't know much about music theory, and I only know how to play the guitar. I'll need the help of my two seniors to arrange the music."

Before Tao Yu could speak, Peng Yuan waved his hand dismissively and comforted her with a smile:
"Don't be nervous. You already have a complete melody framework and the lyrics are finalized. The two most difficult steps are done. Next, you just need to find the sound source according to the style you want. It's not that complicated."

As he spoke, Peng Yuan skillfully operated the equipment in front of him.

The huge monitor lit up, and the Cubase interface unfolded.

He turned to look at Gu Xiao, his eyes filled with encouragement:

"Let us hear your song first."

Gu Xiao did not refuse and obediently began to hum along.

An ethereal and melancholic melody filled the room, carrying a subtle sense of detachment.

Tao Yu and Peng Yuan initially seemed relaxed, like seniors observing juniors, but as they listened, their expressions gradually became more focused.

As Gu Xiao finished humming the last melody, its lingering notes filled the room.
Tao Yu subconsciously exchanged a glance with Peng Yuan, and the two nodded slightly in unison.

Damn, I've struck gold!
(End of this chapter)