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The trance formula

Trance = Beatless break + lush saw pad + "aah" choir + saw lead with low pass filter that opens up before the beat comes back in. Maybe throw a nice plinky piano or guitar / guitar-like synth in there for good measure.

That's what trance is, right?

You might think so, judging by what some producers do. I bring this up because I looked at this thread:

http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...02&forumid=1&s=

Not having heard anything by Static Blue, I listened to all the Beatport samples of tracks and remixes by Static Blue. Not one deviated from "the formula." If somebody decided to check out trance and happened to listen to this stuff, I might forgive him for thinking that all trance "sounds the same," because this stuff really does. It's like some producers received some kind of limited versions of DAWs and synths that won't let you deviate very far from the same twenty or so presets (and that's being generous).

And yet so many people lap it up. Why?

Almost all rock, rap, R&B, and pop songs are born out of a repeated formula as well... and it gets eaten up like candy. It's not just trance.

People like what they like.

"aah" choir + saw lead

thats the shit that does it for me. "chanting trance" ftw. yes i made that genre up.

I'd have to agree that most genres offer us music in the form of some type of "formula". Perhaps we gravitate towards this because our brains are so good at picking out patterns. In general, I think, we gravitate towards things that are familiar and predictable. I have no studies or links to back this up, of course, so take all that with the appropriate sized grain of salt.

quote:

Originally posted by Zoso I'd have to agree that most genres offer us music in the form of some type of "formula". Perhaps we gravitate towards this because our brains our so good at picking out patterns. In general, I think, we gravitate towards things that are familiar and predictable. I have no studies or links to back this up, of course, so take all that with the appropriate sized grain of salt.

Yes. Many people feel comfortable when listening to familiar sounding music. It's the same thing with any other environment we move in; once we're in a place we perfectly know, we feel better.

Re: The trance formula

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Trance = Beatless break + lush saw pad + "aah" choir + saw lead with low pass filter that opens up before the beat comes back in. Maybe throw a nice plinky piano or guitar / guitar-like synth in there for good measure. That's what trance is, right? You might think so, judging by what some producers do. I bring this up because I looked at this thread: http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...02&forumid=1&s= Not having heard anything by Static Blue, I listened to all the Beatport samples of tracks and remixes by Static Blue. Not one deviated from "the formula." If somebody decided to check out trance and happened to listen to this stuff, I might forgive him for thinking that all trance "sounds the same," because this stuff really does. It's like some producers received some kind of limited versions of DAWs and synths that won't let you deviate very far from the same twenty or so presets (and that's being generous). And yet so many people lap it up. Why?

Perhaps for the same reason that people continue to make formulaic threads about how shit trance is these days?

Re: Re: The trance formula

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Originally posted by Beat Blog Perhaps for the same reason that people continue to make formulaic threads about how shit trance is these days?

touche

yeah i don't know how the same things keep getting signed over and over

circle jerk?

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Originally posted by nefardec yeah i don't know how the same things keep getting signed over and over circle jerk?

well one thing to consider is that producers are commodities just like dj's. the label only wants to invest money in something thats marketable just like any other product. if the masses are buying, the label will keep providing from the same batch of cookies.

i guess this says more about the masses than the labels, because no one seems to have respect for their ears or legs anymore do they? only their fists...

over producing + complicated tracks + n00b fans + 123456 radio shows + 2672922982 lable contracts a week = lack of creativity

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Originally posted by SPAWNmaster the label only wants to invest money in something thats marketable just like any other product. if the masses are buying, the label will keep providing from the same batch of cookies.

indeed.

money is awesome (or so i hear)

quote:

well one thing to consider is that producers are commodities just like dj's. the label only wants to invest money in something thats marketable just like any other product. if the masses are buying, the label will keep providing from the same batch of cookies.

haha, i meant that more as a rhetorical question.


i think you're right it says more about the consumers than the producers.


if the consumers were on the cultural edge, then surely the labels would have to release more 'culturally edgy' music

You guys complain so much on here about trance being so formulaic. Sure I know it is. But so is a lot of music, as mentioned. Sure some DJs play anthem after anthem (George Acosta) but not all trance DJs play track after track of this stuff. Even some of the older trance still had this formula, it was just the effects used in the tracks and the melodies..made it more "hypnotic" sounding. Some tracks by Cosmic Baby, Cygnux X and Art of Trance had build ups and breakdowns. Anjunabeats's music doesn't all follow this same formula all of the time, and doesn't sound all a like. Same with some of the other labels. There are variety, just as there is sameness. I can hear from Static Blue's music that yeah it does have tracks with a lot of breakdowns, but if that's what he or other people like, then so be it.

Seriously, this formula is what "epic" trance is. Static Blue and other modern "epic" trance producers follow this formula because they produce epic trance. There is progressive trance that doesn't follow the same formula as much, there's prog-psy as well, and full on psy and such, and tech trance. But don't complain all the time about epic trance if you don't like it, this argument about it not being trance is getting quite old. Sure the vocal stuff out there like Lasgo, DJ Sammy, Ian van Dahl, Cascada..that is HIGHLY debatable whether they are trance (I don't think they are) but this stuff like Static Blue's music is.

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Originally posted by Spirit5 You guys complain so much on here about trance being so formulaic. Sure I know it is. But so is a lot of music, as mentioned. If this old trance is so much better, then why do most of these well known trance DJs play some tracks in the formula of build, build up, breakdown, and then the climax of sorts. It also disregards most of the stuff known as trance. Sure some play anthem after anthem (George Acosta) but not all trance DJs play track after track of this stuff. Even some of the older trance still had this formula, it was just the effects used in the tracks and the melodies..made it more "hypnotic" sounding. Some tracks by Cosmic Baby, Cygnux X and Art of Trance had build ups and breakdowns. Seriously, this formula is what "epic" trance is. Static Blue and other modern "epic" trance producers follow this formula because they produce epic trance. There is progressive trance that doesn't follow the same formula as much, there's prog-psy as well, and full on psy and such, and tech trance. But don't complain all the time about epic trance if you don't like it, this argument about it not being trance is getting quite old. Sure the vocal stuff out there like Lasgo, DJ Sammy, Ian van Dahl, Cascada..that is HIGHLY debatable whether they are trance (I don't think they are) but this stuff like Static Blue's music is.

sorry but I'm not sure we're on the same page here. I respect your opinion because ofcourse not everyone will agree that a lot of EDM is garbage today - but there is no denying how it's all the same anymore.

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Originally posted by SPAWNmaster sorry but I'm not sure we're on the same page here. I respect your opinion because ofcourse not everyone will agree that a lot of EDM is garbage today - but there is no denying how it's all the same anymore.

I actually am not really into EDM as much nowadays because of that reason. So don't get the impression i'm really that into the modern epic stuff or Static Blue's music. I'm just sick of the argument that all of this epic stuff is not trance..it's a type of trance called "epic" that follows the build up, breakdown formula. It would be nice if there was more variety but that's not to say variety doesn't exist. I am more into downtempo and ambient, not really EDM per say, and some deep, melodic prog house and trance.

I tend to take positions on here which sometimes gives people the impression I am some how still into ASOT, Armin, Epic Trance etc, but I just still appreciate some of it and listen to the older stuff still. I just like to have another point of view rather than join the "hate epic trance and ASOT" bandwaggon. I came here to talk about trance, and the trance that I got into in the later 90s..stuff I knew as trance, but there's so little actual discussion of trance other than psy on this board. So yeah i've grown out of it like other people on here, but that's not to say I don't like to talk about it.

I also wish people would just admit they don't like epic trance instead of constantly arguing about it, bashing it and trying to make it out to be like it's not trance.

Maybe you're listening to music on shite speakers...

Those "Aahs" and "supersaws" sound like liquid gold to me, if they're done well.

there's also a formula for minimal tech house, there's a formula especially for chunky tribal prog house, there's a formula for funky house, there's a formula for darkstep drum and bass, there's a formula for many genres

obviously trance is the most popular of these and so it gets the most criticism. particularly it bothers me because as the 'gateway' dance music it tends trick people into thinking it is actually original, since it's the first time they're hearing it.

also these other genres don't have the same kind of superstar deejays with egos like roman emperors and swooning crowds of impressionable neophytes

quote:

Maybe you're listening to music on shite speakers... Those "Aahs" and "supersaws" sound like liquid gold to me, if they're done well.

so does glitch techno

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Originally posted by SPAWNmaster well one thing to consider is that producers are commodities just like dj's. the label only wants to invest money in something thats marketable just like any other product. if the masses are buying, the label will keep providing from the same batch of cookies. i guess this says more about the masses than the labels, because no one seems to have respect for their ears or legs anymore do they? only their fists...

Well I dunno about you guys, but I try and buy the least amount of shit music as possible.

i decided i am going to spend some time today browsing new trance releases to see what i find.

i normally only hear a small selection when people post samples here and when is see tracklists here.

generally i don't like the vibe of the new trance, it's like it takes itself too seriously or something

i'll report my findings

quote:

Originally posted by Clovis Well I dunno about you guys, but I try and buy the least amount of shit music as possible.

very true. also remember that some of the biggest labels are the ones that are pushing out so much garbage (ultra/anjunabeats/armada/etc). since record deals are influenced by record sales (aka what the dj'ing masses are looking for) and the vast majority of the bigger name dj's are pushing the cheese, the top-dog labels are staying negligent of the no-namers pushing off the right stuff.

it's a catch 22 as well, because we have people such as armin who owns a succesful big-name label, but he's pushing off the garbage that's fueling the demand for more garbage by his cheese-eating following.

i guess keeping people aware of all the bs will do some good...

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec i decided i am going to spend some time today browsing new trance releases to see what i find. i normally only hear a small selection when people post samples here and when is see tracklists here. generally i don't like the vibe of the new trance, it's like it takes itself too seriously or something i'll report my findings

Whenever I browse new releases on BP, sometimes I click the Armada stuff or other trance, just to see. But I always end up feeling like I've heard the track before. It's not fresh to me, it doesn't move me, or inspire me. And thats the stuff that I consider listenable. The rest usually takes itself way too seriously or is gimmicky electro trance shit.

Sometimes I come accross the odd really nice prog-psy tune.

quote:

Originally posted by SPAWNmaster very true. also remember that some of the biggest labels are the ones that are pushing out so much garbage (ultra/anjunabeats/armada/etc). since record deals are influenced by record sales (aka what the dj'ing masses are looking for) and the vast majority of the bigger name dj's are pushing the cheese, the top-dog labels are staying negligent of the no-namers pushing off the right stuff. it's a catch 22 as well, because we have people such as armin who owns a succesful big-name label, but he's pushing off the garbage that's fueling the demand for more garbage by his cheese-eating following. i guess keeping people aware of all the bs will do some good...

Hey if people want to listen to crap, thats fine by me. They always have and always will. As soon as a generation of kids starts realizing there are other forms of EDM out there, and many more avenues to explore, theres a boatload of n00bs who just tuned into ASOT for the first time waiting to take their place. I know, I was one of them.

The formula is only a framework. Past hits did not materialize simply because they stuck to a formula. They had inspiration, catchiness, and interest. Something that made an emotional spark, either in the sounds used, their arrangement, or some other special combination of qualities.

What's derided is not merely that trance sticks to a single formula of arrangement, or that the presets all sound the same. That's a big factor in why it's so pathetically bad these days, but it's not the only reason, or even the primary one. There's no inspiration or artistic vision. There's no mood or depth of quality. There's no emotion. There's no feeling or vibe. Today's trance is purely derivative nonsense, but not because the bars match up in a certain way, or because certain samples are being used over others.

quote:

Originally posted by Cobalt The formula is only a framework. Past hits did not materialize simply because they stuck to a formula. They had inspiration, catchiness, and interest. Something that made an emotional spark, either in the sounds used, their arrangement, or some other special combination of qualities. What's derided is not merely that trance sticks to a single formula of arrangement, or that the presets all sound the same. That's a big factor in why it's so pathetically bad these days, but it's not the only reason, or even the primary one. There's no inspiration or artistic vision. There's no mood or depth of quality. There's no emotion. There's no feeling or vibe. Today's trance is, purely derivative nonsense, but not because the bars match up in a certain way, or because certain samples are being used over others.

I agree. Theres alot of room for creativity within the framework, we're just not seeing much of it.

Re: Re: The trance formula

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Originally posted by Beat Blog Perhaps for the same reason that people continue to make formulaic threads about how shit trance is these days?

But I don't think that trance is shit. There's still good trance coming from places. I'm just wondering why this particular "formula" is so popular, and why some producers, with all the millions of timbres and song structures possible to them as a result of modern software, hammer out what seems like essentially the same track with different notes. I don't even see how that can be gratifying for somebody who wants to consider himself creative and at least somewhat original, as most artists do. But still the same formula gets followed again and again and again and again and again and again...

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