KVR Audio

flashinlights · Post by **flashinlights** » Tue May 21, 2013 9:45 am

Hey everyone.

I'm just wondering when you guys aim to create melodies in your tracks, do you sound design first to have a sound to play with in creating melodies. Or do you start with a basic sound to find a melody such as an acoustic piano, and then find a sound that would suit it?

Just curious as I'm trying to improve my workflow.

Krakatau · Post by **Krakatau** » Tue May 21, 2013 9:53 am

Good question IMO,

...i, for one would say related to melodies you would better don't bother about sound design (rather than harmonies and scales), it would be too much hassle in the same time

Perhaps think about what kind of instrument or similar profile, like mono-legato, or polyphonic staccato, etc..., and choose an approaching kind of preset !

ferez21 · Post by **ferez21** » Tue May 21, 2013 10:08 am

^^ so, yoy basically keep sound-design to the mixing?

Krakatau · Post by **Krakatau** » Tue May 21, 2013 10:12 am

ferez21 wrote:^^ so, yoy basically keep sound-design to the mixing?

well, i might THEN choose a sound more accurately, (as much as possible one of my own presets)...but during an arrangement process (the creation of a melodic line and it harmonization) just avoid the sound design aspect, me thinks..!

...I would even say that most of my sound design creations are involved sparsely into composition and very rarely as a main melodic line

flashinlights · Post by **flashinlights** » Tue May 21, 2013 10:23 am

Krakatau wrote:
ferez21 wrote:^^ so, yoy basically keep sound-design to the mixing?
well, i might THEN choose a sound more accurately, (as much as possible one of my own presets)...but during an arrangement process (the creation of a melodic line and it harmonization) just avoid the sound design aspect, me thinks..!

...I would even say that most of my sound design creations are involved sparsely into composition and very rarely as a main melodic line

Thanks for the tip, but for some reason I actually like creating my own sounds and don't really like using presets as I'd like to know what specific sound and "feel" my track is heading for.

I've always wondered if the majority of professional producers use presets or design their own sounds? Or a bit of both?!

Krakatau · Post by **Krakatau** » Tue May 21, 2013 10:27 am

So do i too, but for all the composing process the less sophisticated soundwise is the better, i might use my own presets preferably but won't do both work in parallel

...perhaps it is the gift of some rare geniuses that i'm likely not !

sqigls · Post by **sqigls** » Tue May 21, 2013 10:54 am

it really does matter (I think) which music style(s) you are working on.

I approach things differently, sometimes far more differently even with slightly different styles, if that makes sense?

Whatever you're writing, it needs a feeling. A groove of some sort, wether it's a drumbeat, pulse, bassline or something that is a kind of backbone. The backbone might not be more important than the head or the heart, but it's a start. As I say, it would differ for me depending on the 'genre'...

Generally though, I let each part simmer, and don't add anything until I feel what it is. KEEP IT SIMPLE. Syncopate. Think TIMBRE, TONE, FREQUENCY... Listen for the ghost in the machine. Go mental on the simplest of loops, until the ghost appears. Then you know what to add. A 16th note high pitched sound, a low swelling pad, a upbeat piano stack, a dark atmosphere, whatever it is...

I just let the sounds tell me what comes next.

It all differs, again, also when vocals are involved...

Unless you have a killer tune in your head to start with, the melody can take some time to appear, depending on how apt you are with that sort of thing.

Mostly I like to write, produce, mix, all at the same time. It feels fun to do. The think I try to do though, is separate your sessions into fair sized chunks of left/right brain action. It helps to keep a flow going.

Yes, I may sound like a freak, but i'm not sure how to word all this.

Jbravo · Post by **Jbravo** » Tue May 21, 2013 10:56 am

I generally just play around with sounds until I create something I really like, then it usually suggests to me what to use it for. So for me, sound design comes before melodic ideas as the particular timbre is what triggers the musical ideas. Just my 2 cents for what it's worth

Loki Fuego · Post by **Loki Fuego** » Tue May 21, 2013 11:03 am

I usually quickly make a rough approximation of the timbre I want before starting making a melody. Sometimes it can be very hard to change the instrument once you have laid down the melody, thus for me it's better to have some kind of timbre beforehand.

However, when composing chord progressions I'll usually work with anything at hand, as for me it's much easier to change the sound behind chords.

lfm · Post by **lfm** » Tue May 21, 2013 11:51 am

If you get hooked on a melody just in your head, or playing a simple guitar or piano sound - potential that it's good is probably the highest.

But that does not mean that you cannot make good songs any other way - inspired by a good guitar or synth sound or even a beat. It happends all the time.

There are no rules, really - what works, works.

flashinlights · Post by **flashinlights** » Tue May 21, 2013 12:18 pm

Awesome feedback

GeckoYamori · Post by **GeckoYamori** » Tue May 21, 2013 12:26 pm

Anything with a good amount of sustain or decay will do for me. I also generally find it more inspiring to create melodies with some delay on it. Usually I also put on some automatic delayed vibrato for longer notes. I especially find usage of vibrato important for a melody to really feel great.

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Tue May 21, 2013 12:32 pm

do you have an idea of the melody or the sound?

do whichever is nagging your brain saying "you know you wanna make me!"

cyphersuit · Post by **cyphersuit** » Tue May 21, 2013 12:50 pm

if possible i would advise to find the melody first.

flashinlights · Post by **flashinlights** » Tue May 21, 2013 12:51 pm

vurt wrote:do you have an idea of the melody or the sound?

do whichever is nagging your brain saying "you know you wanna make me!"

Haha I definitely get that. I'm currently trying to make a song a with a similar atmosphere of Deadmau5' remix of You and I; by trying to create a chord-like melody. I have the progressive sound but I'm having trouble creating a chord-like melody.

Any tips?? I've already looked at the midi file for the remix.

Creating Melodies. Sound Design or Melody First?