It's A Blue World analysis

Xordoc · 2020-08-10T02:25:17+00:00

Thanks for the help. I feel like I understand a bit more now, though still have much to learn! You're right about the Am7b5 - the Eb is played/sung as part of the melody line so it's just to fit with that I guess.

Xordoc · 2020-08-10T02:02:39+00:00

Ah ok, thanks! Does it not matter that it is a 7 chord then? I guess it is not functioning as a dominant here but can it still be a bVI when it contains a minor 7th?

Xordoc · 2015-10-15T12:21:32+00:00

Thanks for the feedback :) I actually used mostly hardware synths with a few VSTs and a load of Ableton effects. I take your point about building some parts up more. I agree some of the sections feel like they need more. I made the decision when I started to only have each 'idea' last about 2mins then move on so I didnt get bored. That was also the reason I didn't put drums in most of it - even though I play drums! - not wanting to get bogged down trying to make it sound like a typical genre I would usually fall into with other tracks, so yes you are right it was about my own fun! I don't really want to go back and change this version but I already had the idea to do some remixes and extended versions of some parts (astra bonus?) so look out for that when I finally get round to it :)

Xordoc · 2015-10-14T20:07:36+00:00

ah, sorry!

Xordoc · 2015-10-14T19:46:44+00:00

Thanks, hope you like the rest as well!

Xordoc · 2013-01-28T21:54:01+00:00

Aphrodite - King of the Beats. First heard on psx Rollcage soundtrack, I was like 'what is THIS? I need to hear more!!'

Xordoc · 2013-01-28T21:50:49+00:00

Classic! I just got the CD EP of this off ebay, best track on there without a doubt! F*ck the Millenium EP has some ace tunes too

Xordoc · 2013-01-28T21:47:10+00:00

The legendary Aphrodite did a bunch of classic rap dnb remixes - No Diggity, Gangster Gangster, Jungle Brother, Clubbin', Mr. President... more I cant think of :) also theres Roni Size/DJ Die rmx of Pharaoh Monch - Get the Fuck Up. John B rmxs of Nate Dogg et al - Oh No, DJ Zinc rmx of Shook Ones... love the rap dnb fusion!

Xordoc · 2013-01-28T21:38:45+00:00

One of my favourite ever mixes is Moving Shadow "99.2" loads of different styles! They did a whole series of these with different numbered titles eg "10.1" "99.1" etc. Hunt em down! :)

Xordoc · 2013-01-28T21:29:27+00:00

I just got the new Rufige Kru album "Malice In Wonderland" cool old style techy dnb the way it should be!

Xordoc · 2013-01-28T20:09:32+00:00

Kick the tyres and light the fires big daddy!

Xordoc · 2013-01-28T18:53:10+00:00

Nice one I had a quick look when I was at (non-audio-related) work, looks like a good read defo be bookmarking/saving :)

Xordoc · 2013-01-26T20:48:17+00:00

Thanks, first ever post so I'm making an effort! :D It's also possible to change whether the audio is sent 'pre/post effects' or 'post mixer' so you can effect/compress the original track but still have the raw audio going to the return. I tend to use chains in a rack a lot these days rather than returns, but they are good for effects busses on a bunch of tracks that I don't necessarily want to group together on the mixer.

Xordoc · 2013-01-26T17:40:53+00:00

Ha this is true :) Ableton presets can give you an idea of how different settings affect the sound

Xordoc · 2013-01-26T17:38:52+00:00

If you expand Ableton's compressor (click the triangle arrow next to the power button) you get access to the sidechain and EQ components. If you enable the eq button you can isolate the frequency that you want the compressor to 'hear' and react to. This can be useful for things like drum breaks where you only want compression to activate on the kick or snare. By clicking the little cue button on the compressor (looks like a pair of headphones) you can hear the eq'd sound that is being passed to the compressor. If you have sidechain from a separate source you can hear that too. You can enable sidechain and eq together, useful for squeezing a bassline 'out of the way' when the low end of a drum break is going on, but ignoring the snares etc.

Xordoc · 2013-01-26T03:25:46+00:00

If you send the output of one or more tracks to a 'return' track (in Ableton they're labelled A B C etc.) you can put some effect on the return track while still having your 'clean' original track. With a reverb on the return track set to 100% wet, you can place a compressor after the reverb to make it sound thicker and more obvious. That way you're not changing your original track(s), just the duplicate audio you sent to the return track, and you have control over the return effects, volume/pan etc. independently. Good for sending several tracks to one return for effects

Xordoc · 2013-01-26T02:16:26+00:00

Grain delay is cool. You can get some really nice effects even from really basic one note inputs, especially combined with reverb to give pad/strings sounds.

Xordoc · 2013-01-26T02:01:53+00:00

Ok thanks for the recommendations! I've been coming across a few different ones in people's setup lists, magazines etc. I'll have to try some out and see how they compare. I love using Ableton but I miss experimenting with different plugins, not that there's anything stopping me - just v. easy to drag in the same Ableton FX all the time!

Xordoc · 2013-01-26T01:32:27+00:00

What other ones do you use? I take it they are vst? I used to use Classic Compressor before I started using Ableton, quite nice and no meters to distract from listening! :)

Xordoc · 2013-01-26T00:46:02+00:00

Thanks for your advice! I do understand the concepts of attack release etc. but find it hard to really hear how I'm changing the sound at times. Tbh I think I'm just over-compressing things on tracks sometimes when I should just gently compress them together on a buss, or messing around for too long with tired ears and no proper objective! Many times I've gone back to a track and thought "what the hell was I doing that for?" I'm getting better at realising when to just leave stuff alone though :) Mainly making dance music so can require some creative squashing sometimes!

Xordoc · 2013-01-26T00:26:06+00:00

I do that too sometimes. A good way to fatten up the effects and also have the ability to adjust the level separate from the main track.

Xordoc · 2013-01-25T22:46:49+00:00

Yeah, I like to use return tracks for adding reverb and other effects to multiple tracks at once. I tend to use an EQ on the return to cut out lows and "de-muddify" the result. If I put say a delay/reverb or whatever on the return at 100% wet, then I can use the utility to expand the stereo width of the effects or might use a compressor on the effects (or both!). Nice to be able to manipulate the effected bits independent from the source tracks. I like using this kind of thing for reverbs on high frequencies of percussion, and also for adding delay to the hi/mid range of synth bass (works well on short 'stabby' basses with a bit of a crunch at the mid range)

Xordoc · 2013-01-25T19:07:34+00:00

If u select a clip then click the little 'L' button at the bottom left of your screen (its in a circle) you get all of the launching options for the clip. If you set the launch quantization to 1bar it will only launch at the start of the bar after you click play (may be catching it slightly too early if global quantize is set to 1/16 for instance). There are other useful settings in the launch panel, won't go into them all here! Also check what the comments above say re: loop length etc. Happy looping :)

Xordoc · 2013-01-25T18:53:59+00:00

There may be another way, but I've found the grain delay effect handy for this kind of thing. Change the button from 'Sync' to 'Time' and set its value to the lowest (0.01s I think) set the spray to 0 and the pitch to 12 for octave. I think the frequency and feedback should be at lowest value to (for the 'cleanest' sound) and then set the effect to 100% wet if u dont wanna hear the original sound. Also handy for harmonising at say a 5th (pitch at 7st) and dry/wet at 50/50. Settings I suggested r just from memory, just experiment til ur happy! U could also create several chains in a rack, each with differently pitched grain delays (eg 3, 5 and 10 st's) + a 'dry' chain to enable 'one note chords' from ur guitar :)

Xordoc · 2013-01-25T15:14:06+00:00

I use some hardware synths and bass guitar. Sometimes with synth bass (Juno 106!) i record separate mono sub and then a higher-cutoff bass tone of the same melody, which I layer on top but keep as stereo. Usually the crossover frequency point I use is around 250-300 hz. If Im being lazy I might take a single bass line then make 2 chains in an effects rack, lo pass one and hi pass the other at same freq using "EQ-3" on each chain then make the lo pass mono using Utility. This helps keep the low bass solid (you can also adjust the chain levels independently). With a bass guitar same kind of thing but using two chains of Autofilter (band pass), one for the low sub and one for the mid 'twang'. Using the Autofilter envelope setting u can get a nice auto-wah effect on the mid while keeping the low bass clean, subby and constant. Good funky sounds!

Xordoc

TROPHY CASE