Codes and Conventions

I will list some codes and conventions that are used in music videos, Websites and Digipaks (CD covers). This will help me in my coursework as we have to produce a music video, a Digipak for the CD and create a homepage for these products. Using these codes and conventions we will create products that use them to make them effective.

Codes and conventions (music video):

• Performance- this shows the band/artist playing throughout the video.
• Narrative- where the words and meaning of a song is portrayed in a storyline.
• Mixture- this is where there is a storyline but it intertwines with a performance aspect.
• Cameo- this is where there is a storyline but the artist/band are in the storyline.
• Animation- this is edited in and makes the video creative and entertaining.
• Pans/tilts are used to show the band members.
• Close ups can either focus on the specific character’s facial expression in a storyline or can be used to show the musicians face when they are singing the lyrics.
• Tracking shots are used in cameos to show the artist walking through somewhere in the storyline.
• The editing must be on beat to the music.
• The lip-syncing should match the speed of the lyrics of the song.
• Including diegetic sound before and after the song to show the start and ending of the video.
• Props and costumes should be based on the genre.

Codes and conventions (digipak):

• Visual image.
• Band/artist name - allow audience to identify band/artist.
• Album title - on main cover and along the spine.
• Track list on the back of the digipak.
• Occasions reviews from companies e.g. NME, MTV, Kerrang etc.
• Colour scheme usually reflects the mood of the album.
• Lyrics book inside.

Codes and conventions (website):

• Clear and easy layout.
• Interactive buttons on home screen to link with other websites.
• For a band it may be used to promote their new album or song.
• Used to inform and entertain.
• Links with the genre of the topic of a website.
• Has pictures linking in with the topic.