1. 4) How did you use new media technologies in the construction
of research, planning and evaluation
During the production of my products I used a range of media technologies throughout the
process' of research planning and evaluation. These technologies made my work quicker to
produce, easy to document and also easy to edit.
Research
I used youtube to look specifically at different artists within the hip-hop and r&b genre so that I
could find out about the codes and conventions in order to be able to present and portray my
artist correctly. Compared to just waiting for certain music videos to appear on channels such
as MTV ,on youtube I was able to pause and play music videos when I needed to and also
access them when and where I wanted meaning I could add to my research if I wanted and also
my research could be more effective as I was able to pause and re-play allowing me time to
pick out certain details which also allowed me to be able to compare my artist effectively to
those of the same genre. I could also use embed codes on youtube to upload videos to my blog
and display videos that I used as part of my research.
I used facebook for audience feedback and also to gather a consumer profile so that I could make
sure that my products not only followed the conventions but also was actually suited to the
target audience. Facebook allowed me an unlimited access to people of a certain age group
which was easier to talk to them and gather information rather than standing in a certain area
and waiting for a particular person to walk past, which also meant that using facebook was a
quick method in comparison to going to a certain area. However on facebook I only have
people I know so some age groups have limited numbers, I would have gathered batter
research if I had access to all ages.

2. Research
New media technologies such as google allows me access over the world in seconds (which is
free) so I can research things and get answers quickly. For example, when I searched 'hip
hop' 193,000,000 results came up in 0.26 seconds. If I didn't have access to this technology I
would have to use books and music channels which could make my research inaccurate as I
would have to wait for each song to come on and I wouldn’t be able to take notes effectively
and also it would make my research take longer as I would have to search through each
page of different books and also the added time of waiting for different music videos to come
on. I also used google for my digipack and magazine advert which allowed me to be able to
research existing products of the genre and pick out specific features of each of them in order
to make sure that they fit the profile of existing products and appealed to customers within the
market.
After gathering my findings I was able to display them using websites such as blogger, scribd
and slideshare. Slideshare and scribd provided links to full powerpoints I had made
containing research. Blogger.com allows my research to be accessable to anyone through an
embed code and also personally it meant that I could add to my research from home. These
medias are quick, easy and also free which is better then cutting and sticking information
onto pieces of paper which is very time consuming. These medias also meant that I couldnt
lose my work in comparison to lots of paper where it is easily lost.
Using a Mac comuter in comparison to a regular computer allowed me to be able to screen grab
different clips which made my research more effective as it meant I could take snap shots of
key moments in music videos in order to relate to them in my research which allowed me to
then have access to these clips whenever I needed them and I could also refer to them
during the planning stages of my own products.

3. Construction
During the construction of my three media products I used a full range of different new
media technologies. For example, to take location shots I used a normal stills
camera, in comparison to my phone the stills camera was more effective because I
could take clear pictures and also use the rule of thirds within the camera to my
advantage. Also to film my music video and do a photoshoot with the artist I used a
HD camera which allowed me to take even clearer pictures which added to the
pleasure aspect of the products as it gave me an advantage of allowing my pictures
and music video to look more professional and so would appeal to customers. The
HD camera came with a tripod which meant my pictures and filming could be
steady and I could ensure the image on screen was what I wanted which was an
advantage in comparison to using a regular camera where I'd have to hold it which
would mean filming would be shaky.
I used final cut pro to edit clips and make it into my music video. Final cut pro allowed
me to edit my music video in a way that made it look more professional as I could
slow down or speed up clips, add effects which changed the colour, crop clips to
make them shorter and take out bits I didn’t like. Final cut pro also had a feature
that allowed me to have my clips on different layers which meant I could drag and
drop them anywhere which allowed me to make sure that my music video was in
sink. After completing the editing process of my music video I was able to upload it
to youtube straight from final cut pro and share it with the world and also put in on
my blog through the embed code which youtube provided.

4. Construction
To construct my advert and digipack I used photoshop. Photoshop is a programme
also used by professionals which gave me an advantage because it had features
which allowed me to make my products look more professional. Photoshop is
different to paint, in paint all I could do was paste in pictures and crop them and
simple things like that.
However I used photoshop to do things such as; remove any blemishes on the artists
skin, add effects to edit the colour of the photo, cut out specific images so that it
didn't have the backgrounds they came with from google. I could also layer images
so that I could do things like putting text behind the artists head, which I tried but
didn't think it looked too conventional. Photoshop's range of tools allowed me to
give my products a professional look and make it look like a current product
already within the market which meant my products could easily appeal to
customers of the target market.
Evaluation
For my evaluation I used youtube, facebook, slideshare and soundcloud.
The mac computers provided a built in camera which I could use to record my
audience feedback. This was helpful as I didn’t have to hold a camera and then
have the trouble of uploading the clip, I could also record straight onto youtube
which meant I had access to the recordings at home as well as school. They also
didn’t need editing as the people I got feedback from knew what they want to say
before recording and also I thought it would be more free flowing if it wasn’t edited.

5. Evaluation
I used facebook to gather some more audience feedback, I uploaded my three
media products and asked people to give feedback. However the problem
was only one person commented and they only commented on my music
video which was a disadvantage to me as it meant I couldn't get a variation
of feedback. There also wasn’t a lot of people online because facebook isn’t
really regularly used any more by many which meant I was again at a
disadvantage. After messaging people individually I was able to get some
more feedback but even after me messaging them it either took them a while
or they didn’t do it at all.
I used sound cloud to record myself during question 3, sound cloud is easy to
use and quick and also my clips don’t need editing. Its also an advantage to
me because it is only my voice that gets recorded its not the full image of me
which worked well because I didn’t really want to be seen on camera.
Recording was also better because it was free flowing and I could say
whatever came into my head.

6. Evaluation
I used facebook to gather some more audience feedback, I uploaded my three
media products and asked people to give feedback. However the problem
was only one person commented and they only commented on my music
video which was a disadvantage to me as it meant I couldn't get a variation
of feedback. There also wasn’t a lot of people online because facebook isn’t
really regularly used any more by many which meant I was again at a
disadvantage. After messaging people individually I was able to get some
more feedback but even after me messaging them it either took them a while
or they didn’t do it at all.
I used sound cloud to record myself during question 3, sound cloud is easy to
use and quick and also my clips don’t need editing. Its also an advantage to
me because it is only my voice that gets recorded its not the full image of me
which worked well because I didn’t really want to be seen on camera.
Recording was also better because it was free flowing and I could say
whatever came into my head.