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Small things, big impact
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Ascension
IsraTrance Full Member
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3642
Posted : Dec 8, 2009 15:56:41
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Since drinking coffee and discussing this sounds like more fun than doing work, I'm curious to hear what people have to say on this topic.
What small unique elements in a track have a big impact on the overall sound? By this I mean, what small things do you do (or try to do) in your music that gives it a unique flavor, but doesn't dominate the track? You can share things you don't do, but have found in other music too.
One of these I've been trying to focus on more lately is transitions. I am trying to make transitions that don't sound like every other filter sweeping one, but still finding ways to make them sound good and fit into the track.
Feel free to share and discuss as you wish.
  http://soundcloud.com/ascensionsound
www.chilluminati.org - Midwest based psytrance group |
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makus
Overdream
Started Topics :
82
Posts :
3087
Posted : Dec 8, 2009 16:49
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do you mean those things which make an artist recognizable? unique like handwriting?
or do you mean some kind of tricks which could be possibly applied to a track to make it work on the dance floor?
www.overdreamstudio.com |
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Ascension
IsraTrance Full Member
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170
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Posted : Dec 8, 2009 16:53
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Not really sounds that define an artist, but things to consider when being unique. Not using the same sounding "whatever" and using something else in its place. A small thing like different sounding transitions that makes the overall track sound more unique (in that transitions aren't a big chunk like an intro, break, lead, etc).
Basically some things you do or are trying to do to make your tracks sound different than what is currently out there right now.
http://soundcloud.com/ascensionsound
www.chilluminati.org - Midwest based psytrance group |
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Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Dec 8, 2009 17:12
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Single oscillator dry(ish) lead lines. Its them simple synth patches that simply play the right notes in the right context and make a big impact on me in tunes.
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
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makus
Overdream
Started Topics :
82
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3087
Posted : Dec 8, 2009 18:40
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Quote:
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On 2009-12-08 17:12, disco hooligans wrote:
simple synth patches that simply play the right notes in the right context and make a big impact on me in tunes.
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isnt that what MUSIC should do to people at all? 
www.overdreamstudio.com |
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supergroover
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
39
Posts :
1505
Posted : Dec 8, 2009 20:59
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What I often do (not sure if you are after this but it is a nice little trick anyway) is to bounce a sample you use and reverse it. Then place it just in front of the sample and lower the volume. This way it serves as a nice little intro to the sound and it is hardly noticable. But the sample/ sound often fits better than without the reversed sample. |
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Ascension
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Dec 8, 2009 21:09
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Quote:
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On 2009-12-08 20:59, supergroover wrote:
What I often do (not sure if you are after this but it is a nice little trick anyway) is to bounce a sample you use and reverse it. Then place it just in front of the sample and lower the volume. This way it serves as a nice little intro to the sound and it is hardly noticable. But the sample/ sound often fits better than without the reversed sample.
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This is a good way to transition/fade into a new lead. Take the end of the lead, reverse it and fade it in right before the new lead comes in on the next phrase.
http://soundcloud.com/ascensionsound
www.chilluminati.org - Midwest based psytrance group |
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
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8087
Posted : Dec 8, 2009 21:19
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i like morphing form one sound to a other one, make a lead to sound slowly like the next one after the transition , things like that, just automate slowly leads ,pads... from one patch to a other one.(but its not big impact ,more smooth transition )
big impact, i like long delay on everyhting, absolum style |
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JohnnyBGood
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
37
Posted : Dec 8, 2009 23:59
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I like to use drum fills (too-goo-doo-boo bada-bada and 'kshhhh' ) like in rock,
and short sounds i make (like short synth with a fast downward pitch bend) instead of a crash cymbal. |
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Freeflow
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
60
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3709
Posted : Dec 9, 2009 01:32
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Also one cool thing is when you made a lead melody you take one copy and timestretch it, you can play it underneath the original or have it as a own section before the original start...
Also time stretch sounds in this way can make nice noise effects if cut to small pieces... reverse for that little build up to introduce something...
also one more cool thing is to reverse a perc sound or kickdrum, merge it together with the original, so you get like a sandglass... this with lots of reverb make very nice starters..
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Freeflow
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
60
Posts :
3709
Posted : Dec 9, 2009 03:01
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Also
If you make a melody that feels a little fast, cut it up and place the segments a bit apart...
Add some delay to this and you got a little motif to introduce the main melody in some section.
if the melody line is very straight you can make variations on the notes by going up in the scale.. or down... like descending CBA AG CBA GF
where AG and GF is one octave up, but works one octave below aswell..
or #A A FED #A A FEC
also for this change D and C to one octave up...
on
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soulfood
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
875
Posted : Dec 9, 2009 03:31
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Tiny clave style percussive ghost notes FTW |
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bukboy
Hyperboreans
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
803
Posted : Dec 9, 2009 09:24
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I think the concept under question suffers some very basic flaws - any small simple things for big impact are easy to plagiarise, and the moment others hear them, they will abuse them until it makes everyone puke, so at most its a temporary thing.
On another note, I believe what you're asking comes from consistency and contrast and understanding how to execute the two.
Noise has a great contrast from silence, but you couldnt put in a pad and call it consistent.
Or you could put a great sounding stab in the wrong groove and F'up the whole drive (consistency).
Point is that anything can be inappropriate if used inappropriately.
On the other hand everyone could skip the whole music education thing and get lucky, hit - miss. |
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JohnnyBGood
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
37
Posted : Dec 10, 2009 01:09
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Using human voice (almost) as a percussion-
sesto sento - sneaky sneaky,
lady gaga,
michael jackson (although i don't like the way he used to do it) |
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Psydust
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
14
Posts :
91
Posted : Dec 10, 2009 01:50
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little things big difference.. lets see now..
1. Bass, cutting each individual note from .wav and applying eq which corresponds to the right frequency..
2. While looping the kick n bass combo, decreasing the velocity of first note of bass to give it a bit of drive and to make sure kick does not overlap with bass..
3. Cutting frequencies instead of boosting (no brainer)
4.Quality of individual elements does not matter, what matters is how they sound together (basic concept of the mix)
5.I dont know if anyone else does it, but i put brickwall compression (slight) to the master output and mix from there, then when the track is done, i take it off and let professionals do their job on mastering. |
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