How can I achieve something like this?

[Yamagong]

Hey there everybody!

First of all, this is my very first post in the Ableton music forum, so hi, nice to meet you everyone!

I'm posting this topic because I was wondering on how to achieve something like this: http://goo.gl/TVKSf. It's a song that immediately struck me because it's so simple and catchy at the same time. However, I'm still a newbie at music production, so I was wondering how this was done...

I tried to make some reverse engineering by listening to the song and I think I have a clue on some of the sounds: surely the main body of the song is a chopped sample and an 808 drumkit. I can also hear a synthbass (even though I don't know what kind of wave was used). What I'm really wondering is how the sound effect at 0:15 was made as well as the brass entering at 0:18.

Any suggestion anyone? I'll be clear: I'm not asking this because I want to copy this guy, but I was just curious to know how few of the sounds were made with what techniques. It's just about learning, basically.

Thanks in advance!

[markos]

Hey there Yamagong. Welcome to the forums

The best way to make really great music, is to avoid trying to copy others work. There is no problem with referencing other peoples music once you are learning, but its good practice to get creative on your own and try something new or different. One thing I really try to advise to new musicians is to avoid focusing too much on what other people are doing.

On a side note though, minimal music or music that is simplistic in its structure and production, is actually a lot harder to make then music that has more elements. The reason for this is because it emphasizes more on the space within a song then the actual sounds itself.

You really need to spend time with your sounds, and learn the ins and outs of basic effects such as chorus, reverb, eq, and compression. The first thing I always do is eq my sounds so they each have their own place in the stereo field. after that, i'll add a bit of compression to reduce the head room and make each sound "pop" out more. Using the utility tool is great as well for widen the stereo field, followed by some delay to get that rolling groove. Be subtle, and be patient.

Bottom line, no one can tell you how to achieve good music unless you are trying to copy what someone else has done. But where is the fun in trying to imitate someone else's work???

[102455]

To me it sounds like he's taken an 80s soul song, chopped it into small sections and added some drums.

If you want to emulate him - take someone elses work, mangle it, stick a drum loop over it and call it your own.

There's a lot of it about. I saw something on Beatport (I think) the other day. When I previewed it, it was an old Wham song, sped up, with some house drums over it.

....and these people are selling this stuff under their own names, as their own work!!!

[Yamagong]

Hey there Yamagong. Welcome to the forums

The best way to make really great music, is to avoid trying to copy others work. There is no problem with referencing other peoples music once you are learning, but its good practice to get creative on your own and try something new or different. One thing I really try to advise to new musicians is to avoid focusing too much on what other people are doing.

On a side note though, minimal music or music that is simplistic in its structure and production, is actually a lot harder to make then music that has more elements. The reason for this is because it emphasizes more on the space within a song then the actual sounds itself.

You really need to spend time with your sounds, and learn the ins and outs of basic effects such as chorus, reverb, eq, and compression. The first thing I always do is eq my sounds so they each have their own place in the stereo field. after that, i'll add a bit of compression to reduce the head room and make each sound "pop" out more. Using the utility tool is great as well for widen the stereo field, followed by some delay to get that rolling groove. Be subtle, and be patient.

Bottom line, no one can tell you how to achieve good music unless you are trying to copy what someone else has done. But where is the fun in trying to imitate someone else's work???

Hey markos!
Thanks for the welcome and your honest reply.

Experimenting and exercising is something I always do, as I'm totally aware of what you said: music isn't about imitating, but creating, so I know what you mean. Never copied anybody and will never do. I mean, I'm not a guy who makes songs to sound similar to someone else

I was curious about those sounds because they reminded me of other "atmospheric" sounds I heard in many other tons of songs I listened. So that's it, I was taking those sound effects as a "reference", didn't mean to make another song like that (I'm still not very good at working on structure, anyway!)

[markos]

Hey there Yamagong. Welcome to the forums

The best way to make really great music, is to avoid trying to copy others work. There is no problem with referencing other peoples music once you are learning, but its good practice to get creative on your own and try something new or different. One thing I really try to advise to new musicians is to avoid focusing too much on what other people are doing.

On a side note though, minimal music or music that is simplistic in its structure and production, is actually a lot harder to make then music that has more elements. The reason for this is because it emphasizes more on the space within a song then the actual sounds itself.

You really need to spend time with your sounds, and learn the ins and outs of basic effects such as chorus, reverb, eq, and compression. The first thing I always do is eq my sounds so they each have their own place in the stereo field. after that, i'll add a bit of compression to reduce the head room and make each sound "pop" out more. Using the utility tool is great as well for widen the stereo field, followed by some delay to get that rolling groove. Be subtle, and be patient.

Bottom line, no one can tell you how to achieve good music unless you are trying to copy what someone else has done. But where is the fun in trying to imitate someone else's work???

Hey markos!
Thanks for the welcome and your honest reply.

Experimenting and exercising is something I always do, as I'm totally aware of what you said: music isn't about imitating, but creating, so I know what you mean. Never copied anybody and will never do. I mean, I'm not a guy who makes songs to sound similar to someone else

I was curious about those sounds because they reminded me of other "atmospheric" sounds I heard in many other tons of songs I listened. So that's it, I was taking those sound effects as a "reference", didn't mean to make another song like that (I'm still not very good at working on structure, anyway!)

Hey i feel you man! Even I reference songs once in a while and sampling is a very common technique used in audio production. If you really like the sound just cut it out!

Anywho, I always like to try and inspire people to do great things so thats the only reason i went out of my way to write such a novel

[102455]

Because of the source sample, those sounds will probably be from 80s synths.

Have a listen to Chromeo for more of the same. They've also got some videos online of their studio, so you can see what they're using.