Clone a melody to create a variation for ear candy
Problem: lack of variation in melody sections
By cloning an existing melody and placing it on a new track, you can create a variation that adds interest and uniqueness to the arrangement. This technique is useful for creating ear candy that complements the main…
Experiment with different sound types to find a unique variation
Problem: lack of variation in sound types
Changing the character of a sound from plucky to sustained can create a new variation that adds interest to the arrangement. This is a useful technique for creating ear candy that stands out and adds depth to the track.…
Use a sustained note to create a long, atmospheric sound
Problem: lack of atmospheric elements
Playing a sustained note over two bars can create a long, atmospheric sound that adds depth and texture to the track. This is a useful technique for creating ear candy that complements the main melody and adds a sense of…
Use a two-bar note to create a sense of continuity and flow
Problem: lack of continuity in sound placement
Using a two-bar note can help create a sense of continuity and flow in the arrangement. This is especially useful when working with atmospheric or sustained sounds that need to be placed in context within the track. It…
Repeat short sound snippets to create rhythmic ear candy
Problem: lack of rhythmic ear candy elements
To create a rhythmic and repetitive ear candy element, the producer repeats a short sound snippet over a quarter-note duration. This approach allows for the creation of a consistent, looped pattern that can be placed in…
Think about arrangement placement when designing ear candy
Problem: ear candy not integrated into the arrangement
The producer notes that after creating an ear candy element, they need to think about where to place it in the arrangement. This is a crucial step in the creative process, as even the most interesting sound can fall flat…
Group ear candy elements into chunks for better arrangement control
Problem: difficulty arranging ear candy elements
Grouping ear candy elements into small chunks allows for easier manipulation and placement within the arrangement. This technique helps maintain control over the track's flow and ensures that the ear candy doesn't…
Experiment with ear candy placement to find the right context
Problem: uncertainty about ear candy placement
Trying different placements for ear candy elements helps determine where they fit best in the track. This is a crucial step in the creative process, as it allows the producer to explore how the ear candy interacts with…
Sometimes, less is more — keep the number of sounds minimal
Problem: overloading the mix with too many sounds
The speaker mentions that they may be introducing too many sounds at the beginning of the track but decides to keep only one. This highlights the importance of restraint in sound design and arrangement. Too many elements…
Trust your ears and keep the melody as the focal point
Problem: uncertainty about arrangement choices
The speaker expresses uncertainty about whether a section works with the melody but ultimately decides to keep it because they like the melody. This shows the importance of prioritizing the melody and trusting your…
Don't be afraid to leave sections unresolved or incomplete
Problem: perfectionism or overthinking during production
The speaker admits they're not entirely sold on a section of the track but decides to leave it as is. This shows that it's okay to not have everything perfect and that sometimes, leaving things open can lead to better…
Use atmosphere sounds to enhance the breakdown
Problem: breakdown feels flat or uninteresting
Adding atmospheric sounds, such as drones, can help create a more immersive and dynamic breakdown. These sounds provide texture and depth, making the transition into the drop more engaging. This is a common technique in…
Add basic hi-hats to establish groove
Problem: lack of rhythmic foundation
Adding simple hi-hats early in the arrangement helps establish rhythm and groove. This is especially important in genres like techno and house, where the hi-hats provide the backbone of the rhythm section. Even basic…
Double kicks for more punch and depth
Problem: weak or buried kick
Doubling kicks adds more punch and depth to the low-end, making the kick feel more powerful and present in the mix. This is a common technique in genres like techno and house, where the kick needs to cut through the…
Use techno steps for rhythmic complexity
Problem: monotonous rhythm
Incorporating techno steps adds rhythmic complexity and interest to the track. These patterns are commonly used in techno and other electronic genres to create movement and energy. Using clones or variations of these…
Use velocity smatter for dynamic variation
Problem: lifeless or static patterns
Applying velocity smatter to MIDI notes introduces subtle dynamic variation, making the performance feel more natural and expressive. This is especially useful in genres like techno and house, where subtle changes in…
Use sloth cuts for rhythmic interest
Problem: monotonous or repetitive rhythm
A sloth cut is a rhythmic technique where certain beats are removed or delayed to create a sense of tension and release. This is a common trick in techno and other electronic genres to add interest and variation to the…
Vary bass patterns to build energy in different sections
Problem: track lacks dynamic energy build-up
Changing the bass pattern in different sections of the track (e.g., using simpler patterns in the drop and more complex ones in the breakdown) helps control the energy and build-up. This technique allows for a dynamic…
Use pluck riffs in intros to establish a melodic foundation
Problem: intro lacks a clear melodic hook
Introducing a pluck riff in the intro helps establish a melodic foundation and sets the tone for the track. This technique is common in trance to create an immediate hook and guide the listener into the track's energy.…
Reverse intro sections to create a story in the track
Problem: lack of cohesion or energy in transitions
Using the reverse of an intro section in a later part of the track helps maintain continuity and energy. This technique is a storytelling tool that keeps the listener engaged by creating a sense of familiarity and…
Focus on storytelling through transitions and energy shifts
The overall approach to building and maintaining energy in a track is about storytelling. This involves carefully planning where energy is introduced, maintained, and released throughout the track. This technique is…
Use small, impactful effects for polished transitions
Problem: unpolished or abrupt transitions
Incorporating small, one-bar effects or 'one hit wonders' between sections helps polish transitions and add a professional edge to the track. These subtle elements can make a big difference in how the track flows and…
Use chord progressions as the basis for your melody
Problem: melody feels disconnected from the rest of the track
Taking existing chord progressions and turning them into a melody helps create a sense of unity and glue within the track. This approach ensures that the melody is already harmonically aligned with the rest of the song,…
Add rhythm to chords to make them more energetic
Problem: chords feel too static or mellow
Adding a rhythmic pattern to chords can transform a static, mellow progression into something more dynamic and engaging. This is especially useful in Tech House, where rhythm and energy are central to the genre. By…
Use the bottom notes of chords to create a bass line
Problem: bass feels disconnected from the melody
Extracting the lower notes from a chord progression and using them as the foundation for a bass line ensures that the bass is harmonically aligned with the rest of the track. This technique helps the bass and melody feel…
Set the key and scale early in the production process
Problem: inconsistent harmonic structure
Setting the key and scale early helps maintain consistency in the track's harmonic structure. In this tutorial, the producer sets the key to G minor, which provides a foundation for the melody, chords, and bass…
Copy and transpose octaves to create variations in the melody
Problem: monotonous melody
Copying and transposing octaves is a useful technique for creating variations in the melody. In this tutorial, the producer copies one octave of the melody and transposes it to create a more complex and interesting…
Add multiple layers with the same notes from the same sound pack
Problem: thin or lifeless pad section
Using multiple layers of the same notes from the same sound pack can add depth and richness to a pad or ambient section. This technique helps create a fuller, more textured sound without overcomplicating the arrangement.…
Use a single root key for pads to create a driven feeling in the breakdown
Problem: breakdown lacks cohesion or direction
Holding a single root key for pads can create a sense of cohesion and drive in the breakdown. This technique helps maintain focus and direction in the arrangement, especially in trance and bounce trance where the…
Layer different sounds from the same pack to add variety and depth
Problem: section lacks variety or depth
Layering different sounds from the same pack can add variety and depth to a section. This technique is useful for creating a more dynamic and interesting sound without overcomplicating the arrangement. It's especially…
Study and select sounds in advance to streamline the production process
Problem: production process is slow or inefficient
Taking the time to study and select sounds in advance can streamline the production process and help avoid unnecessary experimentation during the session. This technique is especially useful for producers who want to…
Use guitar melodies to add organic and melodic elements to the track
Problem: track lacks organic or melodic elements
Incorporating guitar melodies can add an organic and melodic element to the track, especially in bounce trance and funk-inspired genres. This technique helps create a more dynamic and engaging arrangement by introducing…
Use different velocities for varied sound
Problem: monotonous or lifeless MIDI performance
Using different velocity values on MIDI notes can produce a more dynamic and expressive performance. Higher velocities can make notes sound brighter or more aggressive, while lower velocities can add subtlety and nuance.…
Start with the third note in a key for a good-sounding melody
Problem: weak or uninteresting melody start
Starting a melody with the third note of a scale (in this case, B in the key of G) often creates a strong and pleasing opening. This is a common practice in many genres, as it provides a sense of resolution and…
Humanize MIDI with a randomizer tool
Problem: stiff or lifeless MIDI performance
Using a randomizer tool like Alt-R can add subtle variations to MIDI notes, making the performance feel more natural and less robotic. This is especially useful for adding groove and character to repetitive patterns or…
Use velocity to differentiate between high and low notes
Problem: lack of dynamic contrast in melody
Assigning higher velocities to upper notes and lower velocities to lower notes can help create a more dynamic and spatially interesting performance. This technique is used in the video to make the higher notes sound more…
Search for specific kick samples using keywords
Problem: difficulty finding the right kick sample
Searching for kick samples using specific keywords like 'trans-kicks' can help find the right sound for a track. This is a useful technique for producers looking to find unique or genre-specific sounds quickly. The video…
Introduce vocals in the second half of the drop for impact
Problem: lack of vocal impact, flat arrangement
Introducing vocals in the second half of the drop helps build tension and adds a new layer to the track. This is a common technique in bounce trance and other genres where the vocal is used as a key element to drive the…
Use a female singer for vocal chops to match the track's vibe
Problem: vocal chops not matching track's vibe
The producer prefers using a female singer for vocal chops because it aligns better with the track's overall mood and style. This choice helps maintain a cohesive and emotionally resonant atmosphere in the mix. The vocal…
Use vocal stacks for harmonic richness in the second part of the track
Problem: vocal section lacks harmonic depth
The producer introduces vocal stacks in the second part of the track to add harmonic depth and richness. Using a preset like 'Female Hyperpop stack' from Odemi allows for quick and effective layering of vocals, enhancing…
Chop vocals for rhythmic progression and percussive effect
Problem: vocal section lacks rhythmic interest
The producer suggests chopping vocal phrases to create rhythmic progression and a percussive feel. This technique adds energy and groove to the track, especially in the breakdown or build-up sections. It's a common…
Add washout effect for atmospheric texture in the track's end
Problem: track lacks atmospheric texture
The producer suggests adding a washout effect towards the end of the track to create an atmospheric and textural finish. This technique is useful for enhancing the emotional impact of the track and providing a smooth…
Use a bridge as a transition to the second drop rather than a full breakdown
Problem: drop feels disconnected from the previous section
In bounce trance, it's common to use a bridge as a transition to the second drop rather than a full breakdown. This keeps the energy of the track high and avoids the drop feeling too distant from the previous section.
Copy the drop to create a bridge that leads into the second drop
Problem: lack of continuity between sections
Copying the drop and modifying it slightly can be an effective way to create a bridge that leads into the second drop. This maintains continuity in the track while still providing a sense of progression and development.
Use a continuous melody with changing chords and bass to avoid repetition
Problem: repetitive melody, lack of progression
Instead of repeating the same melody, keep the melody consistent while varying the underlying chords and basslines. This creates a sense of movement and progression, making the track feel dynamic rather than repetitive.…
Add claps and ear candy to enhance rhythmic interest
Problem: lack of rhythmic interest, flat sections
Claps and other rhythmic elements (like 'ear candy') add percussive texture and interest to the track. They help fill the rhythmic space and keep the listener engaged, especially during transitions or breaks. This is a…
Use fake drops and automation to build tension
Problem: lack of tension, predictable drops
Creating a 'fake drop' with automation helps build anticipation and tension before the real drop. This technique is useful in trance and bounce trance to keep the listener engaged and create a sense of release when the…
Use crushes to build tension and create dynamic movement
Problem: lack of dynamic movement, flat sections
Crushes (like audio processing or effects) can be used to create a sense of tension and movement in the track. They add a gritty or distorted texture that can be used to build up to a drop or transition. This is a common…