Another Easy Way of Composing Music

1. Improvise a riff, an ostinato. Or loop a short sequence of notes.
2. Write a bassline. Maybe make an alternative pattern.
3. Add drums.
4. Extract kick, snare, hihats etc. to individual channels.
5. Put in a chord progression on strings or pads to follow the bass.
6. Add a second voice on an octave from the first riff, harmonize.

Some people get more inspired by starting with the drums (so you can change order of point 1-3). Anyway, by now you have a few bars repeating over a few seconds. Copy and paste this sequence with all channels active. It’s then time to arrange a song structure by removing channels.

Perhaps begin with an intro of the riff, build up with drums, add bass, mute the riff, let bass and drum play together for a few bars, add a new lead, bring in the original riff, mute bass and kick, put in a breakdown with only chords, make a drop with everything you got, mute some of the instruments, add others, change instrument for an already played sequence, change octave for bass for a brief moment etc. Remember to split the full drum pattern and mute different drums on different parts of the track.

Depending of what kind of orchestration your after, but maybe keep it simple – like a real five man band, where the drummer only have two hands and two feet, so don’t hit all cymbals and toms at once even if you can electronically. And each other band member plays only one instrument at a time.

In other words write a few bars of music with five different instruments that sound good together, then just mute and unmute over time.

And If you’re into pop music, you might what to construct your song around verse, chorus, bridge and so on, and write a strong lead melody over all parts.

A Way to Write Electronic Music

Okay so the last article was about why I don’t use DAW templates – how I prefer starting from scratch without any predefined workspace to save time – this time I’m going to tell you what I actually usually do when writing music.

Firstly, everything starts out of passion – a will to create. I don’t need to make music to be able to put food on the table, or I don’t need to release stuff because anyone says so. I do this simply because I enjoy it.

Right, I usually begin by setting up a few rules and limitations for myself to help define the track, and to drive creativity; it could be deciding on what expression I’m pursuing – tone and atmosphere, or what style of music I’m after.  It could also be about limiting the amount of sound sources/synths. Which equipment to use, e.g. compressors, limiters, saturation units etc.

Sometimes I write music with only a basic piano sound (those tracks tend to have a more traditional musical structure and rhythm).

But more often, I start by making a sound, a patch on a synth, and write music around it. I’m finding use for it, improvising a riff or musical motif and then building a context. This rough draft is done rather quickly, but may be reconstructed later on during the process of music making.

Here’s a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action:

1. Make a patch, design a sound.
2. Sequence a loop using this patch.
3. Find a context, decide on what kind of track you want to do.
4. Program a 8-16 bar drum pattern, at this point, not too advanced.
5. Compose a rough structure.
6. Fill out the song, e.g. bassline, chords, harmonies.
7. Change and layer sounds, make new patches to fit the song as you go.
8. Repeat step 5-7 until you’re happy with the result.
9. Make a final mix (this won’t be final but mix the song as it was the last).
10. Do your mastering process.
11. Reference your track on several sound systems, both on hi-fi and on cheaper speakers (don’t forget headphones and on different volume levels).
12. Repeat step 9-11, but make sure that you do finish. If it looks like you never going to be satisfied with the song, then leave it, and move on and start anew.

Create a Shimmer Reverb

Shimmer is a feedback-reverb-pitch-shift-effect made popular by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The idea is to feed a reverb to a pitch shifter and back again. Each delay repetition gets shifted one octave up. In this case I’m using Ableton Live with stock effects, the Reverb and Grain Delay where the signal gets delayed and pitch shifted. You can use these guidelines in different environments (hardware/software) but here’s how I do it:

1. Insert two Return Tracks and put a Reverb on A.
2. Turn off Input Processing Hi Cut, set Global Quality to High, turn off Diffusion Network High, a fairly long Decay Time and turn the Dry/Wet to 100 %.
3. Enable Send B on the Return Track A and set it to max.
4. Use the Grain Delay on Return Track B.
5. Set Frequency to 1.00 Hz and Pitch to 12.0.
6. Enable Send A on the Return Track B and set it to max.
7. Dial Send A of the Track with the signal source that you what to shimmer.

Also try to bring in Send B on the signal. And play with the Size and Diffuse controls of the Reverb.

Create a Shimmer Reverb

Shimmer is a feedback-reverb-pitch-shift-effect made popular by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The idea is to feed a reverb to a pitch shifter and back again. Each delay repetition gets shifted one octave up. In this case I’m using Ableton Live with stock effects, the Reverb and Grain Delay where the signal gets delayed and pitch shifted. You can use these guidelines in different environments (hardware/software) but here’s how I do it:

1. Insert two Return Tracks and put a Reverb on A.
2. Turn off Input Processing Hi Cut, set Global Quality to High, turn off Diffusion Network High, a fairly long Decay Time and turn the Dry/Wet to 100 %.
3. Enable Send B on the Return Track A and set it to max.
4. Use the Grain Delay on Return Track B.
5. Set Frequency to 1.00 Hz and Pitch to 12.0.
6. Enable Send A on the Return Track B and set it to max.
7. Dial Send A of the Track with the signal source that you what to shimmer.

Also try to bring in Send B on the signal. And play with the Size and Diffuse controls of the Reverb.

Edit: Here’s a demo of the shimmer effect by Strymon BigSky. It’s a huge, musical sound, the best in class. I actually have this pedal, but figured it could be fun to construct a similar effect in Ableton Live with stock devices.

Split Frequency, Split

I’ve written about the perks of putting side-chain compression on only the low frequencies of a bass earlier.

To do so, three copies of the sound are needed. Or, as this post will show, you could split the frequency into three bands (high, mid and low). By doing this, it is possible to apply different signal processing on each band.

Now I usually try to write about music production on a more abstract level, and not about a specific DAW or instrument, but this time I going to illustrate with Ableton Live on Mac. The theory is the same though, you just need to figure out how it works in your particular environment.

So I’m using the stock effect Multiband Dynamics to split frequency. The device has noticeable affect and coloration on the signal, even when the intensity amount if set to zero, but it should be transparent enough for now.

1. Drop a Multiband Dynamics in the Device View.
2. Set the Amount control to 0.0 % to neutralize compression or gain adjustments to the signal.
3. Group the Multiband Dynamics in an Audio Effect Rack (select the device and press CMD + G).
4. Show the Chain List of the rack.
5. Dictate the crossover points on High and Low (the Mid consists of what is left in between, so remember to also change the crossover points in the mid chain if you make adjustments on the others), e.g. set the bottom of the frequency range of the high band to 1.00 kHz.
6. Duplicate the selected chain two times.
7. Rename all of the chains High, Mid and Low, from top to bottom.
8. Solo each band respectively on the Split Freq, i.e. solo Low on the low chain.

Now process each band individually. Use a Utility device on the low chain and set Width to 0.0 % to direct the low frequencies to mono. Also, on this band, set up a side-chain compression triggered by the kick drum. Try a stereo widening effect and some reverb on the mid chain. And perhaps a little saturation to add some crunch on the high chain, I dunno, it’s up to you.

Split Frequency, Split

I’ve written about the perks of putting side-chain compression on only the low frequencies of a bass earlier.

To do so, three copies of the sound are needed. Or, as this post will show, you could split the frequency into three bands (high, mid and low). By doing this, it is possible to apply different signal processing on each band.

Now I usually try to write about music production on a more abstract level, and not about a specific DAW or instrument, but this time I going to illustrate with Ableton Live on Mac. The theory is the same though, you just need to figure out how it works in your particular environment.

So I’m using the stock effect Multiband Dynamics to split frequency. The device has noticeable affect and coloration on the signal, even when the intensity amount if set to zero, but it should be transparent enough for now.

1. Drop a Multiband Dynamics in the Device View.
2. Set the Amount control to 0.0 % to neutralize compression or gain adjustments to the signal.
3. Group the Multiband Dynamics in an Audio Effect Rack (select the device and press CMD + G).
4. Show the Chain List of the rack.
5. Dictate the crossover points on High and Low (the Mid consists of what is left in between, so remember to also change the crossover points in the mid chain if you make adjustments on the others), e.g. set the bottom of the frequency range of the high band to 1.00 kHz.
6. Duplicate the selected chain two times.
7. Rename all of the chains High, Mid and Low, from top to bottom.
8. Solo each band respectively on the Split Freq, i.e. solo Low on the low chain.

Now process each band individually. Use a Utility device on the low chain and set Width to 0.0 % to direct the low frequencies to mono. Also, on this band, set up a side-chain compression triggered by the kick drum. Try a stereo widening effect and some reverb on the mid chain. And perhaps a little saturation to add some crunch on the high chain, I dunno, it’s up to you.

Envelopes, Basics

In sound design, an ADSR envelope modulates the sound and sculpts its timbre thus changing its sonic character. ADSR is an acronym that stands for its four stages Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release. The contour of the ADSR envelope is specified by three time-parameters and one level-parameter like this:

(A) Attack time is the time it takes for the signal to go from minimum to maximum when the key is pressed.
(D) Decay time is the time for the signal to drop to the designated sustain level (if it is not set to maximum, then decay time has no meaning).
(S) Sustain level is the level of the signal while the key is hold.
® Release time is the time taken for the signal to fade out after the key is released.

Note that the signal will jump to the release stage when the key is released no matter where it is in the envelope. Hence if a short note is played, the signal might not had time to rise to the maximum in the envelope, therefore release will be relative to the level reached in the envelope.

Envelopes can be applied not only to volume, but also to filter frequencies or oscillator pitches.

To correctly tune the pitch envelope modulation range:

1. First turn the modulation/envelope amount knob down.
2. Press the key and set the desired minimum with the pitch knob (offset for modulation).
3. Turn sustain level all the way up, press the key and let the signal reach maximum.
4. While on sustain, dial the modulation knob to the maximum pitch.

About cutoff modulation, the cutoff knob is the starting point of the modulation, that means that the sound will not be altered if cutoff is set to maximum.

Moreover, it is sometimes possible to inverted the envelope and reverse its behavior.

Envelope, Basics

In sound design, an ADSR envelope modulates the sound and sculpts its timbre thus changing its sonic character. ADSR is an acronym that stands for its four stages Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release. The contour of the ADSR envelope is specified by three time-parameters and one level-parameter like this:

(A) Attack time is the time it takes for the signal to go from minimum to maximum when the key is pressed.
(D) Decay time is the time for the signal to drop to the designated sustain level (if it is not set to maximum, then decay time has no meaning).
(S) Sustain level is the level of the signal while the key is hold.
® Release time is the time taken for the signal to fade out after the key is released.

Note that the signal will jump to the release stage when the key is released no matter where it is in the envelope. Hence if a short note is played, the signal might not had time to rise to the maximum in the envelope, therefore release will be relative to the level reached in the envelope.

Envelopes can be applied not only to volume, but also to filter frequencies or oscillator pitches.

To correctly tune the pitch envelope modulation range:

1. First turn the modulation/envelope amount knob down.
2. Press the key and set the desired minimum with the pitch knob (offset for modulation).
3. Turn sustain level all the way up, press the key and let the signal reach maximum.
4. While on sustain, dial the modulation knob to the maximum pitch.

About cutoff modulation, the cutoff knob is the starting point of the modulation, that means that the sound will not be altered if cutoff is set to maximum.

Moreover, it is sometimes possible to inverted the envelope and reverse its behavior.

Envelopes, Basics

In sound design, an ADSR envelope modulates the sound and sculpts its timbre thus changing its sonic character. ADSR is an acronym that stands for its four stages Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release. The contour of the ADSR envelope is specified by three time-parameters and one level-parameter like this:

(A) Attack time is the time it takes for the signal to go from minimum to maximum when the key is pressed.
(D) Decay time is the time for the signal to drop to the designated sustain level (if it is not set to maximum, then decay time has no meaning).
(S) Sustain level is the level of the signal while the key is hold.
® Release time is the time taken for the signal to fade out after the key is released.

Note that the signal will jump to the release stage when the key is released no matter where it is in the envelope. Hence if a short note is played, the signal might not had time to rise to the maximum in the envelope, therefore release will be relative to the level reached in the envelope.

Envelopes can be applied not only to volume, but also to filter frequencies or oscillator pitches.

To correctly tune the pitch envelope modulation range:

1. First turn the modulation/envelope amount knob down.
2. Press the key and set the desired minimum with the pitch knob (offset for modulation).
3. Turn sustain level all the way up, press the key and let the signal reach maximum.
4. While on sustain, dial the modulation knob to the maximum pitch.

About cutoff modulation, the cutoff knob is the starting point of the modulation, that means that the sound will not be altered if cutoff is set to maximum.

Moreover, it is sometimes possible to inverted the envelope and reverse its behavior.

Mixing with Pink Noise

Setting basic level and pan are usually the first things to do in the process of mixing. Choose a sound/channel, e.g. kick drum, to act as your main level reference, and balance all the other instruments tracks against it. So establish the initial gains and then refine with dynamics processing and stuff. That’s what I usually do.

But – here’s a neat trick to help you get the balance right: use pink noise as level reference and balance each sound/channel to it.

Generate or play pink noise at the stereo bus. Calibrate the noise to a sensible reference level that allow ample headroom on your master bus when mixing. Use an averaging meter, a RMS-type meter, to establish the level of the noise.

Start with soloing the first instrument and play it alongside the pink noise, and balance it directly against the noise by ear. That is, try to find the level at which the instrument is just audible above the noise, but not hidden. Now mute that instrument and solo the next one. Repeat. Kill the noise and voilà!

Mixing this way won’t make it perfect, but accurate enough for a start and then some.

Another (general) tip is to listen to and learn by mixers that are much better than you, and that you admire.

Note: Pink noise is a random signal, filtered to have equal energy per octave.