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Your take on ambient?

So, I realize that perhaps my true calling is chill/ambient. These are the kinds of sounds that come the easiest to me and the ones that captivate my attention more than trance.

We're talking Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Jarre, Klaus Schulze, Eno, Aphex Twin (chill), Pink Floyd (earlier, more psychodelic tracks), Air, Enigma, Schnauss, etc... along with classical music influences (Bach's organ works, Bethoven, some more dramatic works).

I know that admitting your admiration for this genre is considered both gay and lazy: you're either to lazy to roll your own beats and kick up the BPMs or you are tallentless hack who can sit and twiddle one knob (besides your own) while holding down one note... or you're not masculine enough to emit fart-like noises of Ingrosso's or Patterson's calliber.

I'm coming out of the musical closet and admitting my admiration for the style.

Curious to hear what your thoughts are on ambient and see where this convo goes.

I've been a fan and producer of ambient/chillout far longer than I've been a fan of dance music, actually. I make quite a bit of chillout music, although I don't really post or promote much of it. From a technical/production perspective, I either don't understand or I disagree with your assertion - making solid ambient/chillout tracks is no easier than making a quality dance track. I'd argue that it's actually harder to keep a minimal ambient track interesting than it is to keep a dance track interesting because (1) there's less to work with, so each part has to be able to stand on its own or support the rest of the track, whereas meaningless elements can get buried in a dance track, and (2) ambient/chillout music is, by nature, meant to be listened to and thus subject to more critical listening, whereas dance music is meant to be danced to, so a composer/producer can get away with being lazy or imperfect.

Perhaps I'm not noticing the subtelties (sp?) of the art? Or interpreting it too broadly? I have been listening to some ambient works by well-established producers and find it that tons of pieces I recorded over the years could work very well on their own, compared to the style of the "art".

I guess it's like looking at an expressionist painting - some are quite complex, like Picasso's work. And then there are paintings that may have a single squigly line on canvas and someone interprets it as "art".

I'd be curious to get your take on some of my mussings (once I carve out the pieces that I'd like to get feedback on).

Re: Your take on ambient?

quote:

Originally posted by aNYthing We're talking Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Jarre, Klaus Schulze, Eno, Aphex Twin (chill), Pink Floyd (earlier, more psychodelic tracks), Air, Enigma, Schnauss, etc... along with classical music influences (Bach's organ works, Bethoven, some more dramatic works).

You might also want to check out what Cliff Martinez did on the Solaris soundtrack. That's some of the best ambient I've heard in the past 5 or so years. Actually from a sound design standpoint, that entire movie is full of interesting texture. I'd suggest getting it and listening in your studio or on a good pair of headphones, it might inspire something in your work. It sure did for me.

The 'work' of ambient music is in successful communication of emotion and sound design since that's pretty much all you've got. The actual arrangement isn't as intense as other forms of EDM, but it's still the same amount of work at the end of the day. Just in a different way.

I make a lot of ambient myself, though it's more psybient with acid lines, clicky drums, glitch edits, etc.

If you want some artist recommendations (even though I like EVERY artist you mentioned), try Carbon Based Life Forms, H.U.V.A. Network, and the youtuber Alakazam. All of those guys are great producers in the more electronic, experimental ambient.

Another good genre to check out is post rock.

I used to work in an ambient duo for the label "Music for Headphones", and the only other big ambient project I'm working on is this indie game for one of my friend's highschool projects.

What I personally like to make is dark, horrible, and scary ambient, although I get more recognition for my more uplifting/psy stuff.

My personal take on the genre is that it is the most expressive and beautiful form of electronic noise that can be made. You can pour deep thoughts into the genre and it is actually accepted, you can't pour crushing depression into a darkstep track, only speaker crushing bass. Expressing our thoughts on the world is so much easier with ambient, you can actually say what you want. Anything goes, it's so expressive and any feeling you could imagine can be expressed.

Umm... yea...

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik I either don't understand or I disagree with your assertion - making solid ambient/chillout tracks is no easier than making a quality dance track. I'd argue that it's actually harder to keep a minimal ambient track interesting than it is to keep a dance track interesting because (1) there's less to work with, so each part has to be able to stand on its own or support the rest of the track, whereas meaningless elements can get buried in a dance track, and (2) ambient/chillout music is, by nature, meant to be listened to and thus subject to more critical listening, whereas dance music is meant to be danced to, so a composer/producer can get away with being lazy or imperfect.

I'd agree with this 100%

I've done a lot of experimenting with ambient and quasi orchestral music over the last year or so and it requires much more thought and care in it's construction. Once you've got the technicalities of a dance track nailed it's a fairly easy process, but my downtempo is always started with a clean sheet.

I think there's a lot of 'chillout' music out there that's little more than relaxation noise and therefore not worth listening to, but when it's done right it's about the most fulfilling modern music I take the time to listen to on a regular basis. I feel the same about creating it, although I still like making dance tracks too.

I have made mostly ambient for a while. It has been my favorite electronic music for years. Many find the genre a big snoozefest, but to me it is magic if done right.

I love it but I really have to be in the mood to make it sometimes Ive been working on some score stuff with lost lately.

Made two tracks so far and I find working with visuals makes it a lot more interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by tehlord I'd agree with this 100% I've done a lot of experimenting with ambient and quasi orchestral music over the last year or so and it requires much more thought and care in it's construction. Once you've got the technicalities of a dance track nailed it's a fairly easy process, but my downtempo is always started with a clean sheet. I think there's a lot of 'chillout' music out there that's little more than relaxation noise and therefore not worth listening to, but when it's done right it's about the most fulfilling modern music I take the time to listen to on a regular basis. I feel the same about creating it, although I still like making dance tracks too.

ahhhh so you are BluffMunkey? was listening to some of your ambient stuff on soundcloud...very nice mate

Re: Re: Your take on ambient?

quote:

Originally posted by Sukhavati You might also want to check out what Cliff Martinez did on the Solaris soundtrack. That's some of the best ambient I've heard in the past 5 or so years. Actually from a sound design standpoint, that entire movie is full of interesting texture. I'd suggest getting it and listening in your studio or on a good pair of headphones, it might inspire something in your work. It sure did for me.

I much more prefer his stuff on the Traffic soundtrack, but yeah Cliff Martinez is amazing.

OP check out Markus Guentner

quote:

Originally posted by evo8 ahhhh so you are BluffMunkey? was listening to some of your ambient stuff on soundcloud...very nice mate

aha, I see the filth is spreading mwuuuhaaaaahaaaaaaa!


thanks dude

Re: Re: Re: Your take on ambient?

quote:

Originally posted by meriter I much more prefer his stuff on the Traffic soundtrack, but yeah Cliff Martinez is amazing.

+1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogDj3uXLP7w

a tranceaddict 'NDI' made a very wonderful chillout downtempo EP, you guys should check it out, its available to buy everywhere too.

Now I'm going to have to get Traffic. I can't believe I missed that one.

that movie is awesome

Yeah, loved it since I first saw it a decade ago. Also introduced me to both Cliff Martinez and Brian Eno. Sweet deal all around.

i still really like trifonics work


http://youtu.be/P4R1nl_UbSk

quote:

Originally posted by CalvP Killer track - love the album! Great post & another good place to start i would suggest... Trifonic remix stems Trifonic Youtube channel Definitely a lot of the good stuff there

yeah i forgot about their web site the op will find some good samples to play with.

im still waiting for trifonics new stuff

quote:

Originally posted by meriter that movie is awesome

Haunting track. When my daughter was born, I played this track to her in the hospital. I could not describe the emotion that I felt that moment. No feeling in the world ever came close to it before or since.

full version:



So much beauty in 4 minutes... wish it could last a lifetime.

This track was the final push I needed to buy my first synth.

^^^That's what I'm wondering. I am listening to his timeless "Play" and it reminds me of this amazingly beautiful chick I dated, who used the shit out of me. She loved that CD and I gave her a FUCKING SIGNED COPY I got especially for her.

FUCKING BITCHES Not even a blow job.

quote:

Originally posted by emc^2 Haunting track. When my daughter was born, I played this track to her in the hospital. I could not describe the emotion that I felt that moment. No feeling in the world ever came close to it before or since. full version: So much beauty in 4 minutes... wish it could last a lifetime.

wow!!

I love ambient sounds..

can anyone suggest any good books/sites where I can learn how to make these types of sounds?

I've got a big collection of ambient / chilled stuff.
Some favourites:

Michael Woods ambient remixes from around 2000 - 2002, Saints & Sinners 'Peace' etc.
Carbon based lifeforms
Solar Fields
LSG
Ulrich Schnauss - not strictly 'ambient' but beautiful stuff.
Jon Hopkins
Eno
Moby
Aphex Twin
Enigma
Vibrasphere

My own take on ambient is still not quite as I want it. Best I've done is the ambient version of 'diamond'. Click Soundcloud link below.

http://somafm.com/

click on 'Drone Zone' .. one of the best ambient radio stations

I'm getting more and more into it, and the glitchier stuff, it's basically all I buy nowadays.

I've been pushing myself to make an EP and so far I've finished out two ambient tracks for it...It felt much more natural to make them and I finished them very quickly. Also for some reason I have been able to feature a lot of piano lines, and the chilly stuff is a better showcase for those.

Here's one that I've spent some more time working with, it's a followup to an upcoming single. Not completely ambient though, methinks:

0909d3 by Aaron_G_Gray

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