Ok, lets suppose we have start out with a basic chordal riff that cycles over I dunno 16 bars, something like you hear from the start of this track here;
Whilst anyone could automate a synth so that it grows in intensity, it seems to me to be an easy thing to get wrong and over cook.
I FIND IT HARD TO KNOW HOW SUBBTLE OR OTHERWISE I OUGHT TO BE WITH EACH AUTOMATED ITEM.
QUESTION >> Just what items would you automate on a key synth part that gradually builds, in terms of a track you are aiming to have impact and intensity on the floor?
How do you stop it going too wild and un - pro sounding?
Here are the items I am automating on such a synth part right now, but it's starting to sound overcooked after about 30 seconds
+ Filter (set to low pass type)
+ Higher pitch portion of the sound
+ Release
+ Amount of 'fatness' on a tube emulation effect
+ Reverb send
+ Delay amount
+ Delay feedback
+ Delay hi - pass freq - so more and more low end repeats are filtered out
+ Chorus on synth
+ Chorus vst fx
+ Main eq - gradually removing low end towards the climax
+ Level - usually sloping down as everything else begins to bite
+ Side chain pumping intensity - usually more pump as things progress
NOW - this is only the start of the process, I would look to gradualy bring in synth layers that build the sound. They too will be automated.
Do any of you find this process very complex and hard to manage?
tehlord
I rarely spend more than 5 minutes on automation, and then it's usually on one or maybe two parameters.
I'm starting to realise that mixing and tweaking really bores me.
Deillon
More automation -> More moving sounds -> More listen expirience is what I keep telling myself. As long as stuff doesn't clash I really enjoy the time people put in small details.
wayfinder
You can automate anything that shapes the sound, and the only measure of correctness is that it sounds good.
Here's a track where I've automated the osc sync to bring in the lead (around 3 minutes in):
Beatflux
Depends on the context. There's crescendo automation and short term automation. Danger with short term automation is that you can over do it: you need a certain amount of repetition to establish a groove.
In Pryda tracks, the beginning will have the most obvious crescendo automation, breakdowns have de/crescendo, and then he will have more subtle automation during more stable parts of the song.
Looney4Clooney
you are looking at it from a very non musical utilitarian manner
Honestly, the more you want something in the forefront, the less automation you would have. less reverb, less chorus. You would want to make it more simple. Not add to it.
I think adding more layers that might have more motion more effective than mangling your main line you want to stand out.
derail
quote:
Originally posted by wayfinder
You can automate anything that shapes the sound, and the only measure of correctness is that it sounds good.
This.
There are different slopes you can use - straight line, slopes which increase slowly to start, then more quickly, slopes which increase quickly to start, then more slowly.
Or automate some parameters over the full length of the buildup/ breakdown, and others over the last half, or just the last bar...there are many ways to avoid "overcooking it".
As with many other aspects of production, listen to your favourite songs and see how the transitions happen in those - try to replicate those transitions and you'll get a feel for "right", versus under- or over-cooked. From there you'll hopefully find it a bit easier in future.
In many cases it's only a synth's filter which is automated. In some cases, many parameters will be automated. You can get as complicated or simple as you're willing to get/ the song requires. Some songs only require very basic automation to achieve the correct feel.
Richard Butler
quote:
Originally posted by Looney4Clooney
you are looking at it from a very non musical utilitarian manner
Honestly, the more you want something in the forefront, the less automation you would have. less reverb, less chorus. You would want to make it more simple. Not add to it.
I think adding more layers that might have more motion more effective than mangling your main line you want to stand out.
