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Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

#7,721
dukeorock said:
Cool track! The compression is a bit heavy handed but it still sounds cool :)
Click to expand...

Thanks. I didn't give it "the car stereo" mix test, but I tried it on the studio monitors, my hi fi, and my earbuds. I still struggle with getting something that sounds good across all platforms (and my living room studio needs a treatment). The choices I make for compromises can reveal themselves more/less depending on the system. I planned to take an actual mixing/mastering class at some point before the COVID lockdown. There are lots of general concepts I understand but lack experience applying. Part of my goal with this one was to not get bogged down in an extended refinement process, which sucks the fun out of the experience. I wanted to move quickly and trust my choices, and learn from the finished track.

I really struggle with giving things space. My brain keeps wanting to jam more things in for a wall of sound, even when I know that isn't what I want. It's probably an insecurity with recording, and hoping more parts will cover up things I'm less confident about.
 
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#7,722
dukeorock said:
It’s strange to me that there isn’t more buzz about this synth. I think it sounds exceptional and it’s really fun to program. They came up with a way for FM to make sense. This video someone did has been really helpful to me. It’s kind of long, but this guy makes all the sounds up one at a time, very quickly and visually, it gives an indication of what you’re dealing with

Click to expand...


How do you think this lines up against the Digitone? Obviously there is a decent price gap between them. Both seem to be a take on making FM more friendly.
 
#7,723
monsterthompson said:
Thanks. I didn't give it "the car stereo" mix test, but I tried it on the studio monitors, my hi fi, and my earbuds. I still struggle with getting something that sounds good across all platforms (and my living room studio needs a treatment). The choices I make for compromises can reveal themselves more/less depending on the system. I planned to take an actual mixing/mastering class at some point before the COVID lockdown. There are lots of general concepts I understand but lack experience applying. Part of my goal with this one was to not get bogged down in an extended refinement process, which sucks the fun out of the experience. I wanted to move quickly and trust my choices, and learn from the finished track.

I really struggle with giving things space. My brain keeps wanting to jam more things in for a wall of sound, even when I know that isn't what I want. It's probably an insecurity with recording, and hoping more parts will cover up things I'm less confident about.
Click to expand...
Try a mono $^&% box.
:)
Awesome tool for mixes.
 
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#7,724
ugly_bassplayer said:
@dukeorock
Wow, that FM synth sounds Effin dope.
Everything you pump out of that is rich and textured and...(insert another meaningless work to describe sound,,,,)
Unfortunately I dont have a mono ishh box anymore......I’d like to hear it through that.......glorious mono.

Keep at it.

Are all the “metallic” drums hard wired to your brain from all that Throbbing Gristle and ES NEU you listened to?
;)
Click to expand...

I’m not really sure, but influences can be insidious :) I know if I’m making ‘drums’ electronically I don’t like em to emulate acoustic drums. I’d rather use a drummer for that.

monsterthompson said:
Thanks. I didn't give it "the car stereo" mix test, but I tried it on the studio monitors, my hi fi, and my earbuds. I still struggle with getting something that sounds good across all platforms (and my living room studio needs a treatment). The choices I make for compromises can reveal themselves more/less depending on the system. I planned to take an actual mixing/mastering class at some point before the COVID lockdown. There are lots of general concepts I understand but lack experience applying. Part of my goal with this one was to not get bogged down in an extended refinement process, which sucks the fun out of the experience. I wanted to move quickly and trust my choices, and learn from the finished track.

I really struggle with giving things space. My brain keeps wanting to jam more things in for a wall of sound, even when I know that isn't what I want. It's probably an insecurity with recording, and hoping more parts will cover up things I'm less confident about.
Click to expand...

I have a bad tendency to clutter things up too, so I feel your pain :)

monsterthompson said:
How do you think this lines up against the Digitone? Obviously there is a decent price gap between them. Both seem to be a take on making FM more friendly.
Click to expand...

Digitone is awesome. It also kinda throws in the subtractive thing to give it a unique, hybrid sound, plus you get an Elektron sequencer out of the deal. I happen to like Elektron sequencers a lot :)

What pushed me to the EssenceFM is my Octatrack can sequence 8 midi tracks in addition to sequencing 8 tracks of internal samples, so that style of sequencing is already covered.
The Digitone is 8 note polyphonic and 4 part multi timbral for $750. The EssenceFM is 300 note polyphonic and 16 part multi timbral for $1,400. To me that justifies the price and makes the EssenceFM a real value. The layout for programming is just great to me and fun to use/explore. Not sure I’ll ever fully grasp FM, but I still get results I like through trial and error
 
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#7,728
steubig said:
thanks

it’s funny, but i never think of this stuff in those terms. (shows what i know.)
Click to expand...

Some of my modular stuff gets called cinematic at times. Non standard song structure in favor of an evocative feeling that seems to float behind an emotion.



I like chicks and beer
 
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#7,729
So today I decided to learn something new. One of the best ways to keep GAS in check is to realize that you likely haven't tapped more than a fraction of the potential of the gear you already have. In this case I was struggling to come up with usable percussion sounds that fit what I'm looking for, and instead of looking for yet another piece of gear to blow money on, spend time learning, and possibly watching it collect dust, turns out that my trusty Mother 32 can do quite a bit with percussive sounds. Project for today's rainy weather? Learn this:



Also, time to learn a few things about programming the Volca FM.
 
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#7,731
Spectrum said:
One of the best ways to keep GAS in check is to realize that you likely haven't tapped more than a fraction of the potential of the gear you already have
Click to expand...

It is one of the things I keep in mind when I watch demos for new gear. What is this doing that I can't already? Maybe I just need to rethink my work flow on my existing gear.
 
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#7,732
Killing gas???
This trio can kick my @$$ sideways in 2 secs flat.
And it still will in 30 years.....
Add the omnibook if you’re a masochist.
:D
20200707_143436.jpg
 
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#7,733
ugly_bassplayer said:
Killing gas???
This trio can kick my @$$ sideways in 2 secs flat.
And it still will in 30 years.....
Add the omnibook if you’re a masochist.
:D
View attachment 3895177
Click to expand...
I don't even need those...picked up my bass, heard myself, and that was enough to kick my own a@#...hahaha. SOOOO much work to do.
 
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#7,736
ugly_bassplayer said:
Indeed. ....same here.

Just the metronome has been the eternal punisher my whole life.


Clicker:
"So you think you got yo stuff all tight groovy and in the pocket do you???"
(Takes sledgehammer to back of head.)
Click to expand...

just gonna point out that a metronome doesn't "groove." (no, i'm not getting all jeff berlin on you.)

it helps keep a steady pulse, but you have to figure out (feel) the consistent sub divisions on your own.

i think that the thing that helped my time the most was years of playing live with drum machines and laptop beats cause they do "groove" (after a fashion) and they don't waver. (they don't listen!)

and i think it all comes down to finding a place where you can feel it in your body. (hey i'm from california, i can be all woo-woo if i want.)
 
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#7,737
steubig said:
just gonna point out that a metronome doesn't "groove." (no, i'm not getting all jeff berlin on you.)

it helps keep a steady pulse, but you have to figure out (feel) the consistent sub divisions on your own.

i think that the thing that helped my time the most was years of playing live with drum machines and laptop beats cause they do "groove" (after a fashion) and they don't waver. (they don't listen!)

and i think it all comes down to finding a place where you can feel it in your body. (hey i'm from california, i can be all woo-woo if i want.)
Click to expand...
I agree. The metronome does not groove at all, but making it dance and disappear can be a very cool thing.
:)

The clicker can get boring fast.
I went on to practicing with drum machines, records and break beats. But I have never played live with a drum sequence\drum machine....etc...

Ohh....there’s a challenge.....!!
 
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#7,740
Really enjoying the music shared these past few days...y’all are growing musically. I don’t click on everything shared but find that over time I like more and more of what I hear in this thread (could be that my taste is maturing too?).

In any event, I am pretty floored with the ASM Hydrasynth. Still so much to learn w it but the sounds it makes are sooo amazing that I get lost in playing w each little nuance as I learn it.

The only cure for GAS is to stop browsing demos and classified type things. Even w the Hydrasynth and other new toys I’ve snagged since March I still have a thirst for more. Continuing to purge valuables from old hobbies has given me some more funds and the instant I have it I am immediately looking on where to spend it...it’s a sickness I tells ya.
 
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