KVR Audio

eassae · Post by **eassae** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:35 pm

Just trying to get back into making music after taking a few months off. Quick and dirty, but it maybe has something there?

One thing I tried to work on is using mono reverbs. In my self-taughtness, I never considered this until the mastering engineer I work with mentioned it.

Updated 12-25-21: ♪(๑ᴖ◡ᴖ๑)♪

Happy holidays everyone!

shawshawraw · Post by **shawshawraw** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:45 pm

The tones are AMAZING!! Punchy and rich in details.

eassae · Post by **eassae** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:50 pm

shawshawraw wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:45 pm The tones are AMAZING!! Punchy and rich in details.

Thanks shawshawraw. I was really happy with the kick on this one. I also was trying out a new reverb, twangstrom by u-he that I think has a really nice sound.

jethrobull · Post by **jethrobull** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:52 pm

Sounding nice, love the openness of it. Mono reverb...lets try it

shawshawraw · Post by **shawshawraw** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:55 pm

eassae wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:50 pm Thanks shawshawraw. I was really happy with the kick on this one. I also was trying out a new reverb, twangstorm by u-he that I think has a really nice sound.

Me too, the kick is killin' it!!!

eassae · Post by **eassae** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 5:18 pm

jethrobull wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:52 pm Sounding nice, love the openness of it. Mono reverb...lets try it

For this track, and in my general template, I set up three aux channels for LRC in my template.

There are a few things I want to try with this setup in the future: Have an instrument that's panned hard right sent to the left mono verb and vice versa, also duplicate any of the aux's, keep the same input, then put different verbs on each then use an eq to target different frequency ranges to effectively make a multiband mono reverb.

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 6:56 pm

eassae wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:35 pm One thing I tried to work on is using mono reverbs.

Apart from the added creative flexibility, they can definitely help to unclutter a mix at times...weird how people will record a mono synth / instrument and then automatically plonk a stereo reverb on it!

You've got me started now...

Also with reverb width: You can still use a stereo one, but reduce it's width with mid-side processing...also very effective at uncluttering the sound stage.

One more and then I'm done...

Pop hits/ EDM tracks sometimes use this technique to expand the apparent width of a mix - widen a reverb effect to such an extent that it produces that classic 'outside the speakers' feel....just use a little hint of it and it'll give everything a little extra space! (It's not hugely mono-compatible, but it's only a wash of reverb, so in my experience doesn't do any serious harm).

Really enjoyed the track - both production-wise and in terms of musical content...

It's full of great ideas and at the end of what you've got so far, I wanted some new material based on the little riffs and melodies already there and a slow rise towards a more full blown texture.

eassae · Post by **eassae** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 8:19 pm

ChameleonMusic wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 6:56 pm
eassae wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:35 pm One thing I tried to work on is using mono reverbs.
Apart from the added creative flexibility, they can definitely help to unclutter a mix at times...weird how people will record a mono synth / instrument and then automatically plonk a stereo reverb on it!

You've got me started now...

Also with reverb width: You can still use a stereo one, but reduce it's width with mid-side processing...also very effective at uncluttering the sound stage.

One more and then I'm done...

Pop hits/ EDM tracks sometimes use this technique to expand the apparent width of a mix - widen a reverb effect to such an extent that it produces that classic 'outside the speakers' feel....just use a little hint of it and it'll give everything a little extra space! (It's not hugely mono-compatible, but it's only a wash of reverb, so in my experience doesn't do any serious harm).

Really enjoyed the track - both production-wise and in terms of musical content...

It's full of great ideas and at the end of what you've got so far, I wanted some new material based on the little riffs and melodies already there and a slow rise towards a more full blown texture.

Yeah, that's exactly what I would do with a mono synth:) It's those little ideas that make a big impact on a mix.

Good tip on widening. I'll play with that as well.

Makes sense as well to build on the riffs. I'll lengthen the track by a minute or so and see where it goes.

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 8:50 pm

Wow! Those are some awesome synth sounds. Hardware or software? My gut tells me definitely hardware.

Anyway, very enjoyable listen. Wish it was longer.

eassae · Post by **eassae** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:00 pm

wagtunes wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 8:50 pm Wow! Those are some awesome synth sounds. Hardware or software? My gut tells me definitely hardware.

Anyway, very enjoyable listen. Wish it was longer.

Thanks wagtunes! All software actually. iZotope Trash, PSP Vintage Warmer, and Sound Toys Decapitator and Radiator have become my best friends over the past few years.

The only hardware synth I own is a Mother 32, but it wasn't used in this track.

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:00 pm

eassae wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:00 pm that's exactly what I would do with a mono synth

Did it myself on that Snow Maiden piece I just posted!

Most of the orchestral instruments were changed to mono quite early on (or mid-side processed to be much narrower) and then it took me bloody ages to work out why they still didn't have enough space in the mix...reverb was still set to stereo!

jethrobull · Post by **jethrobull** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:03 pm

Running my pro 1 and neutron thru a bass driver. Never even thought to feed them thru a mono reverb. Some messing to be had now ....

eassae · Post by **eassae** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:17 pm

ChameleonMusic wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:00 pm
eassae wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:00 pm that's exactly what I would do with a mono synth
Did it myself on that Snow Maiden piece I just posted!

Most of the orchestral instruments were changed to mono quite early on (or mid-side processed to be much narrower) and then it took me bloody ages to work out why they still didn't have enough space in the mix...reverb was still set to stereo!

Ha!

In the past I've used mid-side quite a bit. I like Waves Center for this. That said I almost always had everything in stereo(I would just say two is better than one right?) so I think it will take me a bit to learn when and when not to use mono.

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:26 pm

eassae wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:17 pm
ChameleonMusic wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:00 pm
eassae wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:00 pm that's exactly what I would do with a mono synth
Did it myself on that Snow Maiden piece I just posted!

Most of the orchestral instruments were changed to mono quite early on (or mid-side processed to be much narrower) and then it took me bloody ages to work out why they still didn't have enough space in the mix...reverb was still set to stereo!
Ha!

In the past I've used mid-side quite a bit. I like Waves Center for this. That said I almost always had everything in stereo(I would just say two is better than one right?) so I think it will take me a bit to learn when and when not to use mono.

Yep - 2 is def better than 1!

Mono instruments in a stereo mix can actually make it all a lot easier at times...easier to place them in the soundstage - in terms of width, depth and height!

MID / SIDE processing always needs to be approached with great care as it can cause huge problems sometimes for various reasons. Nowadays, I will only use it if there's a clear reason for it...same for the nightmare known as 'multiband compression'...boy, have I screwed up some mixes with that!

eassae · Post by **eassae** » Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:32 pm

ChameleonMusic wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:26 pm
eassae wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:17 pm
ChameleonMusic wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:00 pm
eassae wrote: Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:00 pm that's exactly what I would do with a mono synth
Did it myself on that Snow Maiden piece I just posted!

Most of the orchestral instruments were changed to mono quite early on (or mid-side processed to be much narrower) and then it took me bloody ages to work out why they still didn't have enough space in the mix...reverb was still set to stereo!
Ha!

In the past I've used mid-side quite a bit. I like Waves Center for this. That said I almost always had everything in stereo(I would just say two is better than one right?) so I think it will take me a bit to learn when and when not to use mono.
Yep - 2 is def better than 1!

Mono instruments in a stereo mix can actually make it all a lot easier at times...easier to place them in the soundstage - in terms of width, depth and height!

MID / SIDE processing always needs to be approached with great care as it can cause huge problems sometimes for various reasons. Nowadays, I will only use it if there's a clear reason for it...same for the nightmare formally known as 'multiband compression'...boy, have I screwed up some mixes with that!

The pan knob upgrade that happened in Logic a few years ago is very nice as well as you can pan and set the width. Not sure if it's the same in other daws.

After Break ♪(๑ᴖ◡ᴖ๑)♪