Help me figure out the best "Drone" solution for myself...

[valhallasound]

stuff like this




I listen to each one and its like WTF?! Made on a 4 track tape recorder I think only with guitars and fx. Each track sounds SO different.

I gotta admit, there is something about that 4-track sound that tugs at the strings of my heart...

What I hear in those tracks: VOLUME. My guess is that the signal chain went some thing like:

distortion->reverb->modulation->loud tube amp

Inside the box, I would experiment with running your reverb and modulation effects BEFORE a tube amp simulator. Distorting the outputs of a reverb gets you a more violent sound (think of late 70's Neil Young for an early example of this).

Running delays into an overdriven amp works in a similar way. A "classic" low-fi setup of the 1990's would incorporate fuzz, through a BBD pedal, into a Fender or Vox amp turned up loud.

One of my favorite low-fi loud ambient tracks from my vinyl days:



Sean Costello

[zerocrossing]

A few other suggestions, for guitar:

- EBow. You've got one of these, right? If not, GET ONE.
- Big Muff. The real thing, not a plugin. Or pick your flavor of fuzz box. Rat, Fuzz Face, what have you.
- An external analog filter. As a plugin manufacturer, I am obviously prone towards suggesting solutions ITB. However, external analog filters all have their own individual grit, and I'm not sure if any existing plugins simulate this perfectly yet (The Drop is still under development as I write this). I love my Moogerfooger MF-101 filter, and the filter in the Monotrons is a thing of noisy distorted beauty.

Sean Costello

This man speaks the truth, though I'd add that at some point in your signal chain it's worth while to have a volume pedal. This is just as well done in software. I use Amplitube 3's. Put Valhallashimmer after it. (see what I did there?) Reverb with good modulation is important.

An alternative to an ebow would be to either install an Sustainiac system or use their model C. Why? CHORDS! My Steinberger's got a Sustainiac Stealth Pro in it. I love it.

Then, learn the way of the looper. If you've already got Live, you've got a good one built in. Basic, but good. Will do half time and other cool stuff. Check out Mobius. Free and amazing. I also love Augustusloop for it's "tape machine" like qualities.

I don't know if you have Reaktor, but there's an ens called Blackbird that does some amazing delay/harmonizer stuff that is great for Frippy type soundscapes. Also, Eventide will be releasing H3000 software soon.

[33tetragammon]

Some very nice tips here!

Subscribed!

[robogone]

I don't know if you have Reaktor, but there's an ens called Blackbird that does some amazing delay/harmonizer stuff that is great for Frippy type soundscapes.

Yep. I used it in my entry to the monthly contest in the Music Cafe. Didn't actually use a guitar (too lazy to take it out of the case ), and didn't really apply much of an effect but that ensemble is really useful.

[Liquidclear]

The "Glissando guitar" technique plus fx is pretty darn swell

[metalifuxx]

Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree has a drone side project called Bass Communion. He incorporates many drone/noise techniques in Porcupine Tree and his solo albums.

He talks a bit about some of those techniques he used a lot on his Insurgentes album here

:EDIT: Damn they truncated the article, it used to be the full 5 page article with Steven's in depth processes he used on several tracks from that album.

http://www.emusician.com/features-inter ... iew/137038

He talks about bit reducing and lofi plugins to create walls of sustaining noise from multiple guitar tracks.

[rpc9943]

It's ok, I stopped reading this when it said that they filmed this guy shooting an iPod with a rifle to symbolize. ... right there I stopped. You've got to be kidding me. my douche bag alarm went off. This guy looks like a total asshole.

I do however like the idea of using bit reducers... interesting!

[rpc9943]

The closest to making an awesome drone was this track I made, to give you kind of a reference where I'm coming from:

http://theconsolationproject.bandcamp.com/track/ether

[Doug1978]

I can't add much to the already excellent replies with regards to software etc.

What I can suggest is learning to play (like, just in a couple of weekends), similar to this:

[rpc9943]

I don't know if you have Reaktor, but there's an ens called Blackbird that does some amazing delay/harmonizer stuff that is great for Frippy type soundscapes. Also, Eventide will be releasing H3000 software soon.

I don't have reaktor, and have no idea what a frippy soundscape is. I DO however know that nick mccabe was known to use an eventide h3000 (I hope no dongle needed?), and I am wondering if there are any equivalents to this... Perhaps I already own what I seek in my valhalla shimmer?

There are specific moments in early verve albums where McCabe absolutely NAILS my jaw to the floor with his guitar and effects.... This is what I seek!!!

I also want to make it known that I am not seeking to EMULATE anyone else, but to know these specific tools so that I can then create new sounds. That is my goal... To create my OWN drone workflow to make newer sounds, not to contribute to a specific genre or to tip my top-hat to any artists or (sub)cultures out there. NEW.

[robogone]

I...have no idea what a frippy soundscape is.

[rpc9943]

Strange. I was expecting ya know, like maybe a youtube clip... Shrug.

You're probably going to flip out at this:
I've never heard an ambient Eno track. Ever.

RonC

[metalifuxx]

I saw Robert Fripp when he was opening up for Porcupine Tree on their Deadwing tour. It was just him, his guitar/amp and about 3 or 4 big tall racks of gear and probably a number of foot pedal controllers, and an ebow, a violin bow. He was creating these synth/string like symphonic drones that were interwoven with feedback and pitched noise and other effects, that went on forever with just his guitar. No midi pickup or g/v synth hooked up from what I could tell. It was interesting for the first 10 minutes, but then me and my friend got real bored. It just wasn't what I was expecting to see at a Porcupine Tree show, especially when they were touring on a more metal/heavy album. I am sure the people who dropped some acid or ate some mushrooms were probably loving it.

I know Adam Jones, guitar player from Tool, uses some kind of women's electric hair removal device in place of an ebow to make his strings vibrate and sustain differently. Paul Gilbert is known to use a tiny monitor speaker on a swivel stand that is placed close right in front of his guitar pickups to create endless feedback/sustain.

Never heard Eno or Fripp? Eno and Fripp are the masters at ambient droney music. Fripp more so if you are just using a guitar, along with later King Crimson stuff. That should be required listening for this type of process you are trying to employ, even if their music is not as heavy/distorted/noisy.

[rpc9943]

The way I figure it, is why not find your own way like they did, and gathering knowledge of brilliant software vst's in order to get there? If I hear what they've done, I might try to copy them or take too many cues, and then simply be at a loss for making my own path... See what I'm saying? I just want to know what people use to make their own wheel, and make my own way.

I hope this makes sense.

[Doug1978]

...
I also want to make it known that I am not seeking to EMULATE anyone else, but to know these specific tools so that I can then create new sounds. That is my goal... To create my OWN drone workflow to make newer sounds, not to contribute to a specific genre or to tip my top-hat to any artists or (sub)cultures out there. NEW.

sorry to disagree, but there aren't any NEW sounds to make.

Seeking your own direction with existing sounds is the best one can ever hope for.
This is why the suggestions above both of useful software and excellent artists, such as Fripp / Eno / Bhattacharya, are worth paying attention to if you're serious about exploring this musical style further.

And in seeking your own direction with existing (non-new) sounds , you will be at least partly emulating your fore-runners, as you yourself have recognised in your OP:

Hey all,

I really want to get into making some cool drones with guitars mostly... I really love hearing what Nick McCabe did with his guitar in early verve recordings. I love Talk Talk's later stuff. Lovesliescrushing I find very inspiring, I would love to know how to make these guitar drone sounds! Stars of the Lid also very awesome.

I just really want to start making more soothing albums with heavy use of drones and loops with hypnotic guitar lines/bass on top of it all. I have tons of tracks with the guitar lines and bass, now I really want to create some highly engaging sounds to really make each track differ wildly, but not sure how to get there.

Is my answer "paulstretch"?

Here's my tools:
Ableton Live + m4l (Barely touched m4l, any suggestions?)
GS-201 (and tons of free delays)
Valhalla Shimmer (Perfect, but doesn't really "make drones" in the way I'm thinking)

What do I do???

It seems I can't just make stuff out of piling reverb on top of reverb...

Any solutions that make sense? I could use maybe the looper...? Please guide me!

Any help would be AWESOME.

THANK YOU!