Heres the thing,
I usually write using a accoustic guitar,
I then develop songs which tend to turn out to be blues or rock (its in the blood).
I would like to take some of these songs and rework them into something more today.
OK I have Minimax, Vectron, Lightwave, other stuff like Reason and assorted VST devices I use in Cubase and Samplitude.
The probelm is as how to work towards something new.
How do you guys develop your sounds?
I find it time consuming and difficult to develop pulsating, rythmic, sonically pleasing sounds from all the plugs I have.
Is there a common starting point?
Does you guys work this way or is there a better approach?
Do you free wheel and save good stuff which you drop into songs to try them out?
Any tips would be apprciated.
Regurgitating the same old stuff is getting right up my own nose.
mausmuso
Reworking old songs
I tend to develop loops. Just trying out ideas, and make something that feels right. And when I have something that works I copy that up and then develop further from there.
Thats my main approach.
When it comes to devoping new idea I just play around with the toys I have available.
In your case I would cut up my guitar work and single out small details and develop grooves and melodies from there.
Or play back a longer file while recording my playing around in sample-modifting tools like some of the patches from Flexor, and then cutting out bits that catches my ear afterwords. Then i build up tracks from the bits and pieces I have available from the recording and modifying of my "skillfully" played Wurlitzer.
Easier said than done, but there you have it.
Thomas
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: petal on 2005-09-02 17:36 ]</font>
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: petal on 2005-09-02 17:40 ]</font>
Thats my main approach.
When it comes to devoping new idea I just play around with the toys I have available.
In your case I would cut up my guitar work and single out small details and develop grooves and melodies from there.
Or play back a longer file while recording my playing around in sample-modifting tools like some of the patches from Flexor, and then cutting out bits that catches my ear afterwords. Then i build up tracks from the bits and pieces I have available from the recording and modifying of my "skillfully" played Wurlitzer.
Easier said than done, but there you have it.
Thomas
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: petal on 2005-09-02 17:36 ]</font>
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: petal on 2005-09-02 17:40 ]</font>
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kensuguro
- Posts: 4434
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Alot of the times I start with some sort of simple rythmical theme, or in other words, the main drum/percussive loop. That can be 2 bars or something. Then I lay out some chords (which you already have) with the groove in mind, but very loosely. Using that as a guideline, I put in the bass, solidifying the basic groove structure. The I go back and replay the chords (for me, it's the keys) or distribute the harmony amongst the parts, etc..
Most of it's pretty standard I guess, but you can see that this workflow heavily emphasizes rhythm and groove.
In terms of sound, well, that's a whole different story I guess. Sound structure the "now" sound in general relies a lot on sampling and lots of cutting and looping and whatnot.. but that's an extremely general statement. Using virtual analogue synths is one thing, you can also do a lot with FX. Apart from the more classical delay, chorus, flange, phaser type effects, you can try downsampling and bit lowering effects, or other kinds of newer distortion/mangling effects. (there are more than enough)
Also do some exaggerated dynamics processing. Even throw in a slight overdrive or some sort of tube simulation. Break the sound a little. Just a few things to create some fresh sounds.
I think it's good you have the blues in your blood tho. That'll serve as a very versatile source since so many styles branch off of the blues.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2005-09-02 17:56 ]</font>
Most of it's pretty standard I guess, but you can see that this workflow heavily emphasizes rhythm and groove.
In terms of sound, well, that's a whole different story I guess. Sound structure the "now" sound in general relies a lot on sampling and lots of cutting and looping and whatnot.. but that's an extremely general statement. Using virtual analogue synths is one thing, you can also do a lot with FX. Apart from the more classical delay, chorus, flange, phaser type effects, you can try downsampling and bit lowering effects, or other kinds of newer distortion/mangling effects. (there are more than enough)
Also do some exaggerated dynamics processing. Even throw in a slight overdrive or some sort of tube simulation. Break the sound a little. Just a few things to create some fresh sounds.
I think it's good you have the blues in your blood tho. That'll serve as a very versatile source since so many styles branch off of the blues.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2005-09-02 17:56 ]</font>
I'd personally say that you should try to approach the tech side in the same way as your guitar - remember that all these tools are to faciliatate expression.
If you're new to synths and electronics it's easy to allow it to take over your creativity rather than help it.
I guess what I'm saying is don't do synthy new-sounding stuff just for the sake of it, always make sure it means something. In practical terms, maybe try developing working methods that allow you to write with the same fluency that you have with the guitar. There are no specific easy answers for this, I'm afraid. Reading up on techniques that people use may help to give you some ideas, however. I personally try not to have any rules, and approach each song afresh when it comes to sound design. This is not necessarily very quick and intuitive though (I'm a techie sample-tweaker.. it's in the blood
)
Hope that makes sense and is useful to you.
If you're new to synths and electronics it's easy to allow it to take over your creativity rather than help it.
I guess what I'm saying is don't do synthy new-sounding stuff just for the sake of it, always make sure it means something. In practical terms, maybe try developing working methods that allow you to write with the same fluency that you have with the guitar. There are no specific easy answers for this, I'm afraid. Reading up on techniques that people use may help to give you some ideas, however. I personally try not to have any rules, and approach each song afresh when it comes to sound design. This is not necessarily very quick and intuitive though (I'm a techie sample-tweaker.. it's in the blood
) Hope that makes sense and is useful to you.
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hubird
there are internet 'radio' stations that offer great ambient groovy stuff, based on blues samples and grooves.
kind of remixes of old stuff, with full respect for where it came from.
I use iTunes for that, but you'll also find a start at http://somafm.com/
Secret agaent for instance, just try
Like otherones said, you could start with a loop from a sample cd, and see where it brings you.
take samples from your own guitar work, and try to abstract from the 'musicions's playing' level.
cheers
kind of remixes of old stuff, with full respect for where it came from.
I use iTunes for that, but you'll also find a start at http://somafm.com/
Secret agaent for instance, just try
Like otherones said, you could start with a loop from a sample cd, and see where it brings you.
take samples from your own guitar work, and try to abstract from the 'musicions's playing' level.
cheers
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Infant ProScoper
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2005 4:00 pm
- Location: Texas
- Contact:
Mausmuso,
I would start writing or rewriting on the keyboard. When I get in a rut with my acoustic guitar I switch to a different instrument. After Paul Simon broke his left hand years ago, the doctor told him he'd never play the guitar again so he took up writing on the piano and as a result, there was a major shift in his style. You don't have to be proficient on the other instrument as just noodling and getting a sound that takes you somewhere fresh will stimulate muse.
I would start writing or rewriting on the keyboard. When I get in a rut with my acoustic guitar I switch to a different instrument. After Paul Simon broke his left hand years ago, the doctor told him he'd never play the guitar again so he took up writing on the piano and as a result, there was a major shift in his style. You don't have to be proficient on the other instrument as just noodling and getting a sound that takes you somewhere fresh will stimulate muse.