The Greatest Sophistication is figuring out how not to be sophisticated
knocz
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Posted : Dec 12, 2010 16:42
Try listening to some black/death/trash metal! That's where I get my inspiration for the crashes. I usually use 7/8 different crashes (or splashes or rides or whatever) and I play them in a psychotic way throughout the track, bringing out nuances contrasting with the rhythms. Of course there's always the "crash at every 4 bars" that's almost standard in every dance song, but break away from that! You can put the crash in before or after the bar start, creating intrinsic contrasts and building the anticipation.
I usually have all my crashes set up al if I was playing a real drum kit, with EQ (essential) pan, filtering, reverb and volume and whatever else you can think of in regards to effects, and I play with the velocity a lot:for me the key is the velocity. But don't forget to EQ each crash, because they probably come from totally different sources (different drum kits played by different people recorded with different microphones in different rooms..). you have to make fit together an essentially fit the track. Also crashes can make a lot of noise and muddy the sound, so it's best to have them under control.
Don't just put in random crash hits or mathematical ones, try loading up a crash instrument (I use Live's Impulse with 8 different crashes) and playing with it along with your track (I also love this approach, to play and record instruments on top of my track in a session kind of way, but that's a different topic). Like this you can dynamically play your crashes and express yourself between them: just don't overuse
After having the crash track you can render it to a solid audio file and mess with it. Since you have many different crashes you can create great contrasts with the reverse effect, delay, reverb, etc.
Please just try this method and have fun!
ps: I play the crash instrument with a normal velocity sensitive midi keyboard, no pads or percussion-like physical instruments used - which is good for the low budget studio.
Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz
kabbalisticvillage
IsraTrance Senior Member
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Posted : Dec 12, 2010 17:17
The Greatest Sophistication is figuring out how not to be sophisticated
PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Dec 12, 2010 19:32
sidechain can work great for crash.. to decay them quick with a filter for example for these short crash hit . beem beem beeeeem
Padmapani
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Posted : Dec 13, 2010 02:47
i rather find the crashes i use (909 mainly) to decay too fast/abrupt for my taste and have to play with at least one delay to make the tail longer. making them decay quicker seems strange to me
i usually use crash only to emphasise climaxes or changes (i.e. at the beginning or at the end of the break or when the main synth comes in and replaces some of other stuff), but i must admit that i also use crashes from time to time to make long repeating parts seem "fresher"
for rhytmic stuff i prefer rides over crashes. it usually fits in much better and is not such an attention whore like the crash
Ascension
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Posted : Dec 13, 2010 05:03
I like using them at the beginning of a new phrase when I don't have other sounds coming in at the start. In addition to that I like using them when I start a new phrase with a sequence that builds up slowly (so it starts to come into focus as the crash fades out).
I think they sound more complimentary when you end a phrase with a reverse, then start the next with a crash (similar percussion sounds on either side of the transition, rather than just going straight to the crash).
http://soundcloud.com/ascensionsound www.chilluminati.org - Midwest based psytrance group
OpenSourceCode
Datavore
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Posted : Dec 13, 2010 12:33
The Greatest Sophistication is figuring out how not to be sophisticated
PoM
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Posted : Dec 13, 2010 16:32
Quote:
On 2010-12-13 02:47, Padmapani wrote:
i rather find the crashes i use (909 mainly) to decay too fast/abrupt for my taste and have to play with at least one delay to make the tail longer. making them decay quicker seems strange to me
humm you dont love these short crash ? i find the effect is great (when it dont sound too cheesy),it s not there to replace long crash ,it s not for the same effect and not used at same place , i like long crash usally after a break or when i want to release tention slowly , short one before or during the break cause they stop stuff very quick like it absorb everthing ,but it all depends the situation..no rules
knocz
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Posted : Dec 13, 2010 16:57
Quote:
On 2010-12-13 16:24, kabbalisticvillage wrote:
i cant seem to get it..where do you put them ..at a break or at the beginning of a kick/bass loop
where?
To be honest, put them wherever you want. I just wanted to show you you can escape from the normal "crash in the beginning of every 4 bars" that dance music uses and abuses.. Just be innovative and don't dorget that the drums are an instrument (or several), where you can express yourself.
Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz
elastic_plastic
Re-Boot
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Posted : Dec 13, 2010 17:46
yeah put dem whereever u want bro as long as it sounds good...
i usually use them when i have to introduce a new phrase the usual
8*4 = 32 beat format dats where it comes in usually while producing psytrance and i follow tht.
also during build ups some chopped crashes sounds cool!!
by the end of the day go wth wad sounds good and trust your sounds
danfoss
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Posted : Dec 13, 2010 19:07
I stopped using them.. Instead of crash I put a different type of drum with a long reeverb and some 1/8 delay. Usually after a break or some build up
aciduss
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Posted : Dec 13, 2010 19:30
Quote:
I stopped using them.. Instead of crash I put a different type of drum with a long reeverb and some 1/8 delay. Usually after a break or some build up
why not use that and also a crash? i do it and works great.
Shiranui
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Posted : Dec 13, 2010 19:56
My favorite use of crashes in psy is in the section starting about 2:30 in this track
Notice the crescendo bass rolls that have crashes accenting them. I think it's a neat sound.
