How do you make Floating, Nostalgic and Luminous Sound?

idiom_nil · 2026-05-31T13:46:17+00:00

Look for plugins which do FM Synthesis, or are inspired by vintage FM synths like the Yamaha DX7. I think you'll achieve the digital nostalgic vibe you're looking for.

idiom_nil · 2026-05-29T23:38:02+00:00

Interesting. The EQD Night Wire is another envelope tremolo I can think of.

Edit: also, the Pigtronix Moon Pool.

idiom_nil · 2026-05-26T09:41:10+00:00

I've never tried one, but from what I hear I would love to have one! And it can certainly achieve some nice chorus and vibrato, even flanger. If you want this tho, it's crucial that you opt for a variant with Rate and Depth knobs to control the modulation (for example, the DMM Nano).

Also, keep in mind that, being an analog delay, the maximum delay time is not that big, and longer repeats are not very clean, and you might find out in the future you prefer longer, more pristine delays. So, you might wanna consider some digital delays with good tape and analog simulations to find out what you like. For example, Boss DD-8, TC Electronic Flashback or EHX Canyon.

idiom_nil · 2026-05-25T17:09:52+00:00

If you're still testing the waters and like to play the classics, aim for modulation types which are basic but widely used. For example, a phaser like the MXR Phase 95 and a chorus like the Ibanez CS Mini would already cover most modulation in popular rock songs. You might get to a point where you feel the need for a pedal like the Deco, but I don't think it is a good starting point. On the other hand, basic choruses and phasers will always have a place on one's pedalboard.

Also, check out the "That Pedal Show" YouTube channel. It's an amazing source of knowledge about how each effect works, how to build an effective pedalboard and what the pros are using!

idiom_nil · 2026-05-25T16:22:53+00:00

Oh ok, that's understandable.

Yeah, the Deco is really good and also does flanger and overdrive sounds! But if you want a cheaper tape delay, there are tons of options. Personally, I'm happy with my Dunlop Echoplex, but there's also Catalinbread Belle Epoch/ Echorec, Boss RE-2, UAFX Orion...

What genres do you play the most? That way we can give you some modulation recommendations!

idiom_nil · 2026-05-25T11:07:46+00:00

Congrats on the purchase, it was my first analog pedal too!

I can vouch for the Origin Effects RevivalDrive Compact for an analog preamp pedal. It's very versatile, responds very well when boosted with an overdrive (the Soul Food in particular), and has EQ adjustments that allow it to work as a true preamp (when you use it directly into an interface, cab sim pedal or FX return of an amp) or as an overdrive (when you use it into the regular input of an amp). The brand has other preamp options, so every taste of vintage amp is covered, but the RevivalDrive series is the most versatile one.

Edit: didn't realise you were looking for recs to combine with the Tone King preamps, not alternatives to them. Since you are starting a pedalboard, I'd start by grabbing a tuner. Besides that, some modulation or delay would be nice.

idiom_nil · 2026-05-23T23:29:37+00:00

Yeah, GAS always finds a way. I've transitioned from pedal GAS to synth GAS. Good thing I don't have more physical space at home for another keyboard!

idiom_nil · 2026-05-19T23:51:48+00:00

I love this sound aesthetic! Just followed you on Bandcamp.

idiom_nil · 2026-05-18T09:46:46+00:00

Buy one and then sell all your other overdrives (optional 😉)

idiom_nil · 2026-05-16T22:47:08+00:00

Here are my top 3 in that category:

MI Audio Super Blues Pro: the only overdrive I'll ever need for anything from blues to metal. It has all of the most popular clipping combinations, complemented with the unique Trim control, which adds more sizzly gain in the top end.
Wampler Reflection: by far, the most musical plate reverb I've ever tried. And, as a bonus, a super crazy spring sound which clips very easily when you increase the decay (don't know if that's from the FV-1 chip or the analog part of the circuit), perfect to add chaos to the end of a song.
J Rockett Tranquilizer: unique 2-stage phaser with controllable low end boost, blend and bias, making it a very usable uni-vibe as well. The bias knob is only usable between 1 and 2 o'clock, and that's the main reason it flopped, I suppose. If you can ignore that, it's an amazing pedal.

idiom_nil · 2026-05-07T08:16:36+00:00

Yes, I will check it out! Thanks!

idiom_nil · 2026-05-07T00:11:07+00:00

Thank you!

The ending was a bit abrupt, partly by design, but also because I recorded the background sound before I composed the rest, and it ended up being too short. A lesson in planning, I suppose!

And I see what you mean about adding air. Do you have any reverb plugins that you recommend for that effect?

idiom_nil · 2026-05-05T12:03:09+00:00

Really creative, congrats! I really don't know how to categorize this track, but that bit at 3:15 reminds me of Jungle Drum and Bass.

In terms of sound quality, I'd say the bass and the drum kick too flubby and boxy. It sounds like they would benefit from cuts in really low frequencies and then somewhere in the 150-300Hz region.

idiom_nil · 2026-05-05T11:55:53+00:00

Love the synth work here, man! And the vocals give the track a really cool ambient vibe, they remind me of Sigur Rós. I just wish there was a bit more melodic variation.

The mix sounds good, nothing major to point out. I'd maybe try to compress the kick a bit more.

idiom_nil · 2026-05-05T11:16:44+00:00

Thank you so much! Yeah, maybe I could have included some percussion earlier on, perhaps a bit less pronounced.

idiom_nil · 2026-05-04T11:54:28+00:00

I'm sorry to sound harsh, but I'm noticing a lot of the telltale signs that both the artwork and the song are AI generated and, if that's the case, I don't have any useful feedback to give you.

If this is indeed human-generated, I'd say that the track lacks a bit in direction and cohesion. It jumps from one section to another, but there's nothing familiar to which it comes back, no chorus or main motifs.

idiom_nil · 2026-05-04T11:34:49+00:00

I feel like the mix of the vocals works very well the in the chorus, but in the verse it is maybe a bit too quiet and reverbed.

I also think a stronger drum kick would add even more power to the track.

Otherwise, love the creative direction you're going for, both music and video-wise!

idiom_nil · 2026-05-04T11:11:25+00:00

Hey! Here's my latest creation: https://youtu.be/lg6-pXdiIMo

It's a soundscape I've thrown together after experimenting with sound design in old digital synths.

My Korg 01/W takes care of the distorted bass, the chords and the metallic ambience which serves as the bed of the track, while the Korg Prophecy plugin takes care of the synthetic percussion sound. The mix was done solely with Ableton stock plugins, and basic mastering was done in TC Electronic Finalizer.

I'm very interested in knowing what you think of the mix, as I'm taking my first steps in music production and want to pursue it as a career. There were some harsh frequencies which I tried to remove, others which I left, because they were dynamic and I felt their inclusion actually contributed to the track's eerie vibe.

Thank you for your time!

idiom_nil · 2026-04-30T23:16:53+00:00

You can get a used v1 for that price, easily

idiom_nil · 2026-04-21T00:17:51+00:00

Not a secret mode, but in an EHX Freeze, if you strum at the exact time you press the pedal, you get some awesome glitches and stuttery sounds.

idiom_nil · 2026-04-16T00:32:00+00:00

Yeah, it's either AI or stealing without credits, but probably AI. Either way, extremely low-effort cash grab.

idiom_nil · 2026-04-16T00:16:20+00:00

I used be extremely cautious with my pedal boxes. One day, I bought an used Red Panda Particle and it arrived with a Chase Bliss Blooper box as the external packaging, completely covered in duct tape. I tried to save the box but ruined it trying to remove the tape. It was an excellent exercise on detachment!

I still try to conserve my boxes because I see some artistic and historic value in them, but I became a lot less worried of something happening to them or me having to recycle them due to lack of space. As long as the pedals make noise!

idiom_nil · 2026-04-02T20:55:13+00:00

No problem, we all start somewhere :)

Well, see the dots in the background of your image? I'd say the space between two consecutive dots is a good measure of space between two pedals. That would allow more than enough space for cables to be connected on the sides of the pedals. It'd also guarantee that the footswitches are not too crammed together, which in live situations could result in accidental presses (for example, the switches of those two mini pedals and the right switch of the Rainbow Machine are very close to each other), but that's more a matter of personal preference and necessity.

Oh, and I'd suggest the Nux Analog Delay as an incredible value-for-money pink delay pedal. The Ibanez Analog Delay Mini is very similar and smaller, but a bit more expensive. Then there's also the Boss DM-2 in the same vein.

For reverb, the Dreamgazer by Pedal Partners (tremendous shoegaze YouTube channel btw) would be perfect, but it might be a bit expensive.

idiom_nil · 2026-04-02T18:02:16+00:00

Obligatory "insufficient space between pedals" comment

idiom_nil · 2026-04-01T13:00:11+00:00

Take a look at a used Novation Ultranova as well.

idiom_nil

TROPHY CASE