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Showing posts from February, 2017

automation and velocity and note lengths

The real magic of trance comes alive with velocity and automation. To give you an example im sure you all been to a Sade concert and you will notice that the guy on the sax or the horns,the guy on electric guitar all of these guys none of them play each note at the same velocity!!! Its so funny how i see newbies and even advanced professionals adding elements with the same velocity and no automation over and over again. The fact is we are human so if we are trying to emulate the natural feel of someone playing an instrument we need to draw in some velocity  and create some automation. Back to my Sade concert example i know its not trance but ,no instrument just comes in real hard  or fast its usually gradually a slow crescendo or a decrescendo  ,or a long drum fill then everyone stops then a new element comes in like a new instrument so you could have the most expensive synth and the best gear ever but ,if you dont apply automation or velocity your stuff will sound real boring re

Dont over do it with percussion

Try to resist  the urge and the need that you feel you have to use every  drum sample in your library in your track. The fact is that less is more. So dont get too busy with your drums  and your lead syth melody simultaneously  as it wont will  not sound right at all. So heres a few tips  to consider. If your making trance,keep percussion  simple and have  the main melody  synth busy If percussion is not simple and you want to keep the production  going on this track then make melodic lines less busy by not putting melody lines on each hit,adding  more of an attack  and release   ,etc you basically  want to slow down the melodic  lines ,so there both not fighting to be heard they each need space. On that same subject of keeping certain  sections of your busy or not  If your making a soulful  deeep house you obviously  want a laidback vibe going so having a real busy horn section or string section with funky drum beat would be overkill. Instead youd want a laid back drum  gr

Creating tension

Creating  tension is essential , because if your music  just goes on with no contrast in a linear motion it will be real boring  and cold. So create some tension  by taking out a few bars of some music elements before  some changes  happen A few bars of bassline,add a few percussion  hits ,or take out a small bar of all music elements then re introduce a brand new section Or bring back a main riff with main chorus but maybe this time play the main riff with different  instrument, in new key ,and new melody pattern. The possibilities  are endless  and remember  there is no right or wrong  in music so if it sounds good do it!