 getting a fuller sound/adding depth...?  |
dmccabe 
Cool Steppa
Registration Date: 20-12-2004
Posts: 130
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Ok I hope this gets across the right way 'cause trail & error isn't working and I'm stumped.
I'm having problems with the "background" of tunes. The stuff that goes on "behind" the breaks/leads/bass/main melody & samples. My tunes just don't seem to have enough dimension.
Like when you listen to a high contrast or even a dillinja track, these sounds sneek in and out
giving depth and "subtle" supporting movement. I've tried to emulate and expirement but my
critical listenig is still underdeveloped. Any tips or direction on the following is greatly appreciated.
Recognizing/shaping/processing usable sounds. how many(in general). Arranging them/feeling when to to bring em' in/up out/down. getting the sounds to "fit/lay neatly in the mix. Counter point or other relative music theory (if necessary) And an understanding to some basic approaches to painting a backdrop...a horizon to the sonic landscape.
Again, thank you all very much. You have no idea how truly greatfull I am for the wealth of knowledge I've found here (massive ups to the Chronic,surya, surora, peet, munki c, illuminati, and the rest) And as I grow I will share any insight, tips, ideas or constructive critisism that I can. 
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SAVE THE SL1200
This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by dmccabe: 19-07-2005 08:45.
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19-07-2005 08:42 |
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@1$-)
unregistered
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personally for movement i like to pan the delayed parts of my tunes.so say i use a reverse cymbal.....ill delay it and pan the delayed sound from the say.the left to the right and then back again....this works with lots of things.....
or you can use modulation on your pads.....by using something like waves mondo mod plug in (im sure there must be something similar about) you can create a panning effect which seems to be circular....it also helps fre up other sounds in the mix.
also im a great believer in layering.but you if your going to pile on sound after sound, you need to use either eq, low pass, high pass or band pass filters to free up the frequencies......if not youll end up with a mess.....give everything its place.
and for the ultimate tip on learning atmospheres listen and try to imitate someone like klute, usual suspects or dom n roland.....im not saying you have to try and copy them forever..but its a good way to learn......and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
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20-07-2005 21:35 |
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Muad'Dib
Andrejnalin
Registration Date: 02-12-2003
Posts: 4,197
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Ok, firstly that 'fulness' you describe can be added only if your mix is clear - meaning, your FX, EQing and mastering are good enough to take the background elements along with the drums and all the emphasized stuff.
Background elements can be anything, literally! Juz listen to AK1200's Deep Porn VIP on Moving Shadow 99.1 - it has some reverbed water sound which has nothing to do with the theme of the sound, most of the people don't conciously notice it, and yet adds to the atmosphere quite significantly!
Anything can add to the atmo - a key clasping, hammer banging, a bell, a nice string, a guitar (especially!) etc. the possibilities are numerous. You juz need to feel it.
When I produce, and while I produce, it suddenly pops up on my mind that I can use some sound (which I have in my archive) and which will add something beautiful - I actually render the track in my mind with that sound and hear how it will sound like. Try this technique: imagine some sound which you will add to the tune in the background, and which you think would improve the whole 'story' of the tune. BUT DON'T JUST ADD RANDOM STUFF WHICH LOOK LIKE THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTING - that doesn't come from you...
Anyway, usually background elements are added with some reverb or delay to them (and maybe some chorus to the reverb). That is a way to put things in the background and toss the attention on the main elements.
Try these stuff, you never know what it might turn out and where you gonna release that!
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20-07-2005 21:44 |
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dmccabe
Cool Steppa
Registration Date: 20-12-2004
Posts: 130
Helpfulness rating:
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Ok I use Reason 2.5 And have cubase sx1 but have'nt yet really got the hang of it or the whole rewire thing.
So I guess for now this question is mostly for reason.
Is there a basic set up I could start with in order to in order to get a visual of how the elements are separated/processed/eq'd. Something that is organzed in a way that I could tweak shit and get a feel for the signal flow/chain.
IE "try this"
"set up a sub mixer for your pads/strings/smples/fx"
"open a couple NN19s and insert a rv7000....blahblahblah......
"open a malstrom and do or add "this" to it,"........
.... .... .... ..... ..
Nothin' to complicated. Just a basic "template" of where to start.
As it is I set up a sub mixer with some effects and some PEQ2s for the redrum channels and an NNXT for more "layered" hits. Its something I came across on some Magazines cd rom and has worked out quite well. It's fexible/efficient and organised. I know there must be some "common" (studio efficient) set ups for the signal chains of your synths/samplers.
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SAVE THE SL1200
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21-07-2005 04:12 |
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@1$-)
unregistered
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i dont think you can teach that..your basically asking for the elements of a track.....just experiment......
you need to just try things and develop your own method...and then hone this until you have an efficient workflow. took me two years to get my thing down properly in reason..i then realised it sounded shit.....its only taken me about six months to get used to cubase though......because i already had the basic knowledge id picked up from reason.....
and rewire is easy......start cubase.....then start reason......open a new project in cubase....click on devices....click on the the part which says reason in devices.you should get a window open up.......then just select the channels you want active......now if you want more than a stereo signal from reason you need to unplug the instruments in reason from the desk (use TAB) then wire these directly into the interface above the mixer...voila!! now you can have things running on individual channels in cubase......it will give you a better sound because the seperation(space between the channels) is better in cubase than it is in reason.
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21-07-2005 12:48 |
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TechDiff
Hetty Jakes Pretentious Cheese Wog
Registration Date: 14-06-2005
Posts: 1,028
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Ambiance is a tricky skill and does take a lot of time to get to grips with.
But the most important part is decide exactly what type of atmosphere your trying to create, otherwise you can come up with some amzing sound but it sounds stupid and out of context.
But a few of my favourite tricks include putting sharp clicky sounds through a reverb and then through a filter. If you set a really long decay time and zero pre delay, you can sweep the filter cutoff and it adds some nice spacious atmosphere. Good for slightly dreamy stuff.
If its a fairly heavy tune try using some disonant pads like diminished chords (Root, Minor 3rd, Flatenned 5th) or Tri tone (Root, Flattened 5th). Even Whole tone scales help create weird moods.
Im from the school of thought where the ambiance and FX are as much a part of a tune as the Drums and Bass, so what I find helps is to imagine a senario and write the music as a score. Try watching some old Horror/Monster films and listen to how well the sounds compliment the action.
But most importantly, experiment. Even if the sound doesnt suit the track, save it as a wav or whatever. Soon enough you'll have a library of sounds to choose from. Try to bear in mind that you should try to think of what kind of sound you need rather than just dumping any old noises in.
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21-07-2005 14:41 |
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