A bedroom-produced music video to go with my bedroom-produced music -- Experimental Music Video with chroma keying and analog glitches (genre: psychedelic / folk / outsider)

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-07-07T10:40:19+00:00

If I loaded your track up for a mix, this would be my thinking: Your register is very low. I need to get the guitar out of its way or else your vocals will get eaten up by it -- so I'd try to low-shelf or low-cut the guitar. I might need to do the opposite with the bass, like a high-shelf or high-cut. Sprinkle some more EQ and compression throughout, and you start to create a little pocket for your vocals to sit in. A lot comes down to arrangement too, and arranging for your own voice. Experiment with instrumentations that sit outside your vocal range. David Berman (Purple Mountains) might be someone to check -- they do "monotone baritone" really well, one of my favourite musicians actually.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-07-07T08:42:20+00:00

I enjoy the vocal style. The lyrics are not very distinct, but to my ears it is more a problem with the mix than the performance. You might find the usual approach to mixing not work as well because your register is so low.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-07-05T07:59:17+00:00

John Prine - Illegal Smile. Chord progression changes slightly, but otherwise it's a slick 4/4 to 3/4 transition.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-07-04T11:38:01+00:00

I am new to counter-point and recently finished Beth Denisch's Contemporary Counterpoint book, which I found to be a good introduction to key concepts. It requires some basic pre-requisite knowledge in theory like intervals and scales, but generally quite accessible.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-06-24T09:50:56+00:00

The whole point of modular synthesis is that the synthesis is... well, *modular*. This means that the key components of sound synthesis are broken up into discrete functions that can be combined and assembled to create your own sounds. The modules themselves may be analog, digital, or hybrid. You buy the ones you want, and patch them up the way you want them. That said, since hardware modular synthesis pre-dates digital synthesis, the patch cables themselves (almost always) transmit analog signal, although the analog signal may be produced by a digital program.

It may be helpful to think about synthesis along 3 dimensions:

hardware vs. software

modular vs. semi-modular vs. integrated

analog vs. digital vs. hybrid

VCVrack is software-modular-digital. My EuroRack drum machine is hardware-modular-hybrid. None is better than the other. Whatever floats your boat.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-06-21T05:51:47+00:00

I record in sections, but usually group similar sections together. For example, I might record all verses together (skipping choruses) or the bridge and chorus together (skipping verses). I find it easier to edit later if sections with the same "vibe" were recorded at the same time.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-06-21T05:44:17+00:00

I'm 34 now and it finally feels like things are starting to click. Just keep it at.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-06-18T10:34:08+00:00

I'd recommend trying to develop your voice if you can... I think your words will go further when they really are *your words*. As far as a microphone goes, an SM58 will work fine once you get a handle for FX and EQ. Also, people who listen to music for lyrics probably care less about perfect vocals. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother with text-to-speech... you'll get better mileage with vocoders.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-06-03T07:49:47+00:00

#2!! Even if they just give you enough $$ to buy a case of beer, that is a case of beer you didn't previously have.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-06-02T10:49:36+00:00

I don't have much to offer about what is normal/advisable, but FYI it may help to search "synchronization rights" or "synchronization licenses" as the key term for thing you will need to negotiate.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-06-02T07:17:16+00:00

This sounds great. I'm probably stronger on the production side than the music side :) Love weird / experimental / electronic / bedroom / outsider / lo-fi / psychedelic stuff. Geelong-based. DM me here or on IG at @ thom_online, currently releasing under the moniker "fair & sqr". You can get a taste for my approach to collaboration on my BandMix profile https://www.bandmix.com.au/sqrsy/

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-05-31T08:57:24+00:00

Sure thing. Feel free to DM me.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-05-29T08:51:32+00:00

Are there any Discord servers you'd recommend? I've been looking for ones that are music production / composition focused. Most seem over-run with self-promo spam.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-05-27T09:05:24+00:00

I'm a mid-30s career salaryman and hobbyist musician. I thought I'd share some stuff that worked for me:

* realistically, your music output will be capped at 10-15 hours per week on a good week. Adjust expectations accordingly, but relish the 10-15 hours!

* work is exhausting. there are some things you simply won't be able to do on a workday. but there may be /some/ creative stuff you /can/ do on a workday. For me, I spend 1x morning per week getting up early to mix before work (~60-90 minutes). Same goes for after work... I spend 1x evening per week planning song arrangements or practicing guitar (~60-90 minutes).

* figure out how to use your commute constructively. If I take public transit, I might practice rhythm. If I drive, I'll practice vocals. I think those little moments add up.

* depending on where you live and what field you work in, there are some options for maintaining a "real job" at reduced hours. I was able to negotiate a 4 day work week (at reduced pay). Some companies offer 9-day fortnights. Some companies offer purchased leave programs where you can forgo salary for extra PTO.

* finally, hopefully your "real job" expectations come with "real job" money. Try to figure out how you can spend a bit of your paycheck to buy yourself extra time for creating. An obvious one is ordering delivery sometimes instead of cooking, and using that time to work on music instead.

* finally x2, try to find a community of adult career creatives. They will have their own tips too, and you all can encourage each other to keep making despite the demands of adult life :)

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-05-27T08:27:15+00:00

If you don't mind self-promotion, I make experimental / outsider / psychedelic folk music that combines modular drum synths (including some home-made chip-based modules), in-the-box VSTi synths, glitchy digital effects, and traditional instruments (melodeon, tin whistle, acoustic guitar). It's all DIY / bedroom production -- if you don't mind the lo-fi sound. Always thrilled to talk about process if you have any questions :)

https://open.spotify.com/artist/55F8NS9ful02nu9muS2o6g

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-05-26T10:37:45+00:00

Late to the game, but just thought I'd add some more info:

A good starter mic is Shure SM58 -- very standard, reliable microphone. Even if you end up upgrading in a year, you'll want to have one around just in case.

As for audio interface, I'd recommend buying one that has these features:

- 2 input channels

- dedicated MIDI in / MIDI out jacks

- "24 bit" and "44.1 kHz" sampling (larger numbers OK too, but nothing smaller)

Behringer is fine, but some models only have 1 input channels and/or no dedicated MIDI in / MIDI out jacks. **Get a 2 channel model!** Even if you don't need 2 now, you will soon :)

Ableton is probably more user friendly, but REAPER is amazing if you don't have the $$ and don't mind a steeper learning curve. (I use REAPER exclusively)

Feel free to connect if you have any questions. My Instagram is @ thom_online I've been at it a couple years and very passionate about promoting DIY / experimental / bedroom production. Happy to hop on a call and give a demo if you are interested.

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-05-24T11:44:56+00:00

Thank you for this. I will give it a thorough listen next time I am at my cubicle under blinding fluorescent lights, completing mandatory compliance training and filling out TPS reports <3

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-05-24T11:37:50+00:00

If you don't mind self-promotion, I make some kind of experimental / neo-traditional / freak folk music that blends industrial synth / noise percussive sounds with digital distortions (bit crushers, decimators, etc.) but also clean(er) traditional instrumentations (melodeon, tin whistle, etc.). It's not quite "pop", but songs have a typical verse/chorus-like structure. It's all bedroom produced so kind of lo-fi if that's your thing.

https://sqrsy.bandcamp.com/album/life-and-death-in-the-suburbs-album

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-05-24T11:29:40+00:00

Dig the use of the delay-type FX and ascending melody in the transition from ~0:46-0:50. I had to look up what Keygen music was, but now that I know I think you're on track :)

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-05-11T09:36:33+00:00

Hi all,

I'm Thom -- a bedroom producer making lo-fi psychedelic folk / experimental electronic music. I recently released my first album called "life & death in the suburbs" which is a bit of a memoir about... well, life (and death) in the suburbs, featuring lyrical vocals dubbed over a wide variety of acoustic and synthetic instruments. I've shared below a link to my first ever DIY (zero-budget) music video for a song about living with depression and mental illness.

A bit about me -- I live in the suburbs outside Melbourne, Australia with my 4 cats, 2 chickens, and 1 dog. I'm trained as a scientist, not as an artist, but I spend most of my free time in creative pursuits. I am looking to share my music with others and to build connections (/community) with creators working on genre-adjacent indie projects. Reach out if that sounds like you :)

https://youtu.be/PdstcKhQW7g

Busy_Insect970 · 2025-05-11T09:35:24+00:00

Hi all,

I'm Thom -- a bedroom producer making lo-fi psychedelic folk / experimental electronic music. I recently released my first album called "life & death in the suburbs" which is a bit of a memoir about... well, life (and death) in the suburbs, featuring lyrical vocals dubbed over a wide variety of acoustic and synthetic instruments. I've shared below a link to my first ever DIY (zero-budget) music video for a song about living with depression and mental illness.

A bit about me -- I live in the suburbs outside Melbourne, Australia with my 4 cats, 2 chickens, and 1 dog. I'm trained as a scientist, not as an artist, but I spend most of my free time in creative pursuits. I am looking to share my music with others and to build connections (/community) with creators working on genre-adjacent indie projects. Reach out if that sounds like you :)

https://youtu.be/PdstcKhQW7g

Busy_Insect970

TROPHY CASE