How to find "your sound"
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2024
- Once you know how to make music, the real question begins: what is "your" sound as an artist? How can we find that sound? Here is a little video that wants to reframe this issue as a question of "owning the process". What processes do you use to get outcomes that represent you?
The song ► / irreversible
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Contents:
0:00 What' your process?
0:36 Why make and defend weird art?
1:38 The process defines the outcome
1:58 An example of this in practice
4:36 Your emotions are you compass
5:15 Are presets evil then?
6:15 Mick Gordon's method
7:18 The sine wave method
8:45 The doom compressor method
9:52 Mick Gordon's result
10:27 Own the process, own the outcome
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Mick Gordon @ GDC Conference 2017 ua-cam.com/video/U4FNBMZsqrY/v-deo.html
This philosophical approach of breaking down unique creative processes was exactly what I've been waiting for from producer content creators. Big ups to you my man! Making waves with your lessons!
Exactly. The technique is nothing unless you understand the “why” and the thought process behind making certain decisions.
yea it's nice to have these vids and point of view of certain situation that alone I will not check it the same way
I’d never be fast widknthmmsonhrtr than writing 😅
Strong W
I always say that after reaching certain level of technical skill in any art, there's no good or bad piece of music/painting/writing, it just become different strokes for different folks.
Oscar is one of the most enlightening teachers on this platform. He is so articulate
nicely explained 'own the process' applicable in all creative processes, nice video thanks.
currently clashing with an occasional composing buddy, he's just got into polished vocal house, whereas my stuff is a bit 'messier' and chaotic. He's giving me tips on how to be slick, which annoys me. Having watched this video, I shall now 'own and defend' my style, even if I'm the only person who likes it!
What really stood out to me was that first you have to learn how to make different music styles before you can really start to find your style. Coming from a programming background, this was really my experience, learn how to code, now that I am advanced, I find myself looking thru a few ways other people have solved a problem, then I forge my own path, taking pieces from one way or another. My results have a little bit of the spirit of the other people who solved it their way.
As far as music goes, I'm only 1 song in. I just need to remember how to be patient and take solace in the fact that it takes time to become good, then more time to find my own spirit from within my music.
I was fascinated by Brian Eno's early works, and how he got such murky lush ambiences with very simple analog gear.
I found a diagram of his studio set up in the liner notes of one of his early albums that walked the reader through his process, which involved taking a VCS3 through an EQ to shape the initial sound, and then processing it through a tape echo unit, and then processing all of that into a very long tape loop , to record sound on sound. This became his method,that he then added his famous pitch shift and reverb fed back into each other in the mixer"shimmer" effect he used in later works. By analyzing his methods, and reproducing them as best i could with plug ins, I was able to learn how he made the sorts of sounds I loved.
Ive done the same sorts of analysis and learning from following examples, with both the BBC Radiophonics workshop material, and Robert Rich's work as well
in a sea of " how to make techno like (insert trendy name here)" - this is so refreshing.
i took the approach to make my own sound a few years ago, every-time my sound started getting to similar to someone else, i scrappped the song. this year i started releasing music regularly and i am so happy and proud of what i am achieving. its a longer process, but is so rewarding! I have a couple of process developed through time.
i've realized that all i can do is make music that is true to me and i can't think about what the world would like...it's only about my own growth as a person and creatively...the tech and theory are fun but it's just about feeling it...and experiment with each moment with each note of who you are
Great. I wish I had seen this when I waa getting started because I was exceptionally insecure about everything in my process, especially because my process is definitely non-linear, let's put it that way. I would say it is only about 20% of the time I build something to spec. Mostly my process is building context and letting the context drive what the next thing is. The downside of this is every track is wildly different, and I used to be insecure about that, but now I am cool with it. I have been trying to inject a little bit more structure into it in order to please a broader audience I suppose, but it's a fine line with that. Awesome presentation.
Oh yeah, on the Doom compression thing. I had heard about it before and forgot about it. I might try using that on something I'm working on. cheers!
Found my new favorite youtube channel. already recommended this to like 10 of my friends
😁❤️🙌 sharing helps so much
"Defend." As in 'defend in the world." That's the best way I've ever heard it put. This way, you don't have to find your song or sound because your song or sound will find you.
Hi Oscar, this is VERY good advice, especially for budding artists. I'd add to it by saying that in the beginning you should not worry too much about both process and outcome and just fool around and have fun with it. Over time you'll start to notice things that resonate with you as a creator and you can dive into it and explore to see how deep it goes. In the beginning, don't try to make a "masterpiece", but do what feels right and let your friends listen, or even better a person that you have no relationship with, to give you their constructive feedback. And lastly, even if you have made music for decades, you are still evolving your sound, process, outcome, all of it :)
Thanks for this great video. It helps a lot in finding MY sound.
I like the cutting of the vid a lot!
I remember once while washing up some glass milk bottles for recycling, i started rapping out a rythm tapping them with a fork. By the time i knew it i was setting up two SM57 mics and the ideas came poring out. Those milk haven't made it to the recycling and are now part of my kit, but it hasn't stopped there. I now look at all sounds as my studio.
i totally agree it takes courage to just trust yourself...as you mentioned Oscar
This kind of content that's not the normal are super high value, thanks Oscar!
i certainly own the process because my main goal is performing live. i always make music with gigs in mind.
"Sound Bath" - Love that..... :)
Nice video, Oscar........ Some liberating thinking here.
Love the track too. 👍
Deep AF. It's a life lesson, not just a music lesson.
This is brilliant Oscar !! That Mick Gordan track is one of my favorites. Killer Intro !!
Tuning ones creative rhythms to the ebb and flow of certain aspects of the cosmos is quite helpful as well. Certain days carry certain energies that are otherwise inaccessible and if the window of time for creation is missed, it is gone.
When I first started playing around with cuebase I was too focused on having everything being perfect on timing so that there ended up being no life to the sound. This is a really instructive and inspired video!
First of all “Much Love” from Au Oscar
I think this what new producers need to hear especially people like me i really obsessed with music since at young age & I know there’s connections between music and your emotions/feelings but never knew how important it is plus no one ever on UA-cam explains like Oscar just did everybody making tutorials videos about composition but never explained how it is so important to connect yourself rather than copying same things from others. I see myself sometimes in positions where too much focus on composition and literally no emotion involved then I start losing interest such as writing block.
Thank you so much this really open my mind!
Nice comment 🫶🏻☺️
That's a long sentence
Didn't expect Mick Gordon. The gdc talk is really awesome indeed.
Great Vid, Oscar.
I only upload sounds/music that is resonating with me.
In the end, I have to listen to it for a long time during road trips.
If anyone else enjoy the music as well, that's just bonus for me.
So inspiring! Thank you 💪
For me, this is applying software engineering to the process to make it faster, tighter, more scientific. I’m just at the beginning of this with Reaper scripting but I’m completely obsessed!
I have been messing with synths etc for a while and I am litterally just arriving at this point in my evolution. I am certainly not a talented musician and getting the confidence to say to myself "Hey this is how I do it" has been slow for me. I have been excited lately because I think I am just discovering my sound and how I arrive at it which has been a nice feeling.... I have a way to go yet but fingers crossed I am finding my process!!!
Thanks for the excellent video.
That compressor trick is awesome for harder techno.
thank you so much, it help me feel more confident about the way I work
I do the same as you said in the video, playing with every setting until I feel like this is the sound I want to share with the world, the problem is that it can take days some time and is hard to not lose hope and start seeing everything bad, but in the end it is worth it
True that, sometimes it feels easier to make what you think other people want to hear, but that can burn you out in other ways 🥵
Every single video of yours is priceless. Thank you Mr.Oscar.
Chapeau, Oscar !! Truely inspirationnal video, talking about the process is important, most youtube input only teaches you about technics and reproducing pre-existing gimmicks and music genres. It would be very interesting to talk about the "gear" aspect of finding your own sound, because gear is part of the process and of your identity. The tendency that producers worldwide have to use the same DAWs, the same controllers and synths from the same brands (actually same goes for DJs) is kinda limiting the global creative possibilities !
this is a beautiful episode, more of this
For the Doom 2016 Soundtrack, Mick Gordon did a fantastic job capturing that classic Doom sound, all the while giving it his own unique sonic interpretation. He was recently featured in a song called "Merchant of the Void" by 3teeth that just premiered on UA-cam about a week ago, as well.
Thanks for recommending his GDC talk and thank you for uploading this and sharing how to find "your sound"!
New Torc track!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 And a great video, as usual. Thank you, Oscar :)
Amazing subject, I really appreciate your videos. And that’s my most big complication: process.
Wow! This short video is deeper than I thought. Need to rethink it.
hi oscar! i love this ancient china wisdom for techno! estimulate the feng shui in my arregment ♥
Own the process, own the outcome. I like that idea. We often imprison ourselves in the "rules" of the genre of music we trying to make even against our own tastes. I watched a video yesterday that explained how a German band called Kraftwerk made their music in a minimalist way, they only added what they thought the song needs, or what helps to push the song forward. To me their method fits perfectly with your concept of owning the process = owning the outcome. This frees me to create however I like too.
Excellent! This is so important and so rarely covered in the millions of YT tutorials. I think you nailed it in that your own sound is a result of your own particular process. It's in all music, but especially underground electronic, the sound the great producers get is a result of their own process, their own equipment.
One tip - when you make a sound you like that has a long effect chain, save the effect chain away. Then later, you can plug different sources into that same chain, mangle and effect them the same way. With a nice FX chain, you can keep plugging in routine samples and make something unrecognisable and unique amazingly quickly.
second that !! you can actually make a whole song out of one short sample with a collection of complex fx chains feeding off one another and link all parameters to low rate LFOs to have a slowly evolving piece of music. Very fun and creative process !
Thanks for the great insights.
thank you sir! 🙏
There is a time and a place for both this and the more punchy and, perhaps, more formulaic techno with the kick bass drop etc. Both have a place.
i've always enjoyed the "random but rhythmic" sounds of nature and try my best to mimic that in my music. i like to use ableton's random and arpeggiator plugins to create intricate rhythms in my drums. then, i like to put subtle resonater and vocoder on my high hats to wash them all into one layer. i think of my songs as vast oceans of sound one can sit in and ponder.
My idea for future if creating an album or adding new tracks already getting promoted is something unusual which still connects to previous tracks.This can broaden number of listeners greatly.Someone can like 50% of tracks from my album. If finding the "strange one" can relate to rest of album.
your the reason i still use youtube man, love your content
Thanks for making this, Oscar. I've been discovering this on my own the last few weeks and this video came at the right moment for me. Your gut will always be a better indicator than your brain will.
"If it sounds good, it IS good."
Thanks Oscar :)
Love the mindset stuff. Keep leaning into Venus Theory territory while keeping w the technical stuff too.
Thank you, for being there.
Bravo! Great and relevant topic. I love the presentation as always. And I love your "brave!" artistic decision to not add a kick and overproduce the outcome.
Reminds me of Brian Eno's "cards" - finding ways to disrupt the formulaic response, and find a new one. Keeps it fresh and challenging My favorite : " Think about the recipes you are using, and abandon them." Great Videos man!
woa, this is actually exactly the question I'm asking myself actually, not easy to deconstruct what is a song and what need a song to be a song, accept the fact there can be only on synth and one little piano with a strange arrangement is not easy to say, ye sound good, it's a full track ! but, i think, it's exactly that, the work to do on us !
really loved this video, I love your approach.. I do have my process.. I like to play around with the sound .. just play with it and see what my ears like.. i dont have anything in my mind that i start with.. ijust put the beats and then add sounds and put them together
Your channel is so underrated man
I personally like to vary my process. However, there is one thing that I do pretty consistently, which works toward an end goal, either an image or a scene or a mood. Sometimes it’s self-contained, but it often part of a larger whole.
Wow, I'm floored by the candid discussion and honest words about an art form that is so difficult to quantify and justify. Beyond loving the process of it, I've often felt torn in my journey that I'm never ready to release anything into the wild. I'm not completely able to articulate everything i want to do, but thanks for helping me and others along the way.❤
Thanks Oscar! When I first started to learn production, I made the decision to learn sound design in and out. Took me 12 years, but now it's starting to pay off. I'm starting to find my sound and make unique-sounding songs.
Love those evanescence chords in the beginning
playing -- I love you - stoked for your style coming out
that snippet is ready for movie backround music
Thank you for all you do, Oscar.
I really like this ways of thinking. I recently was wondering what would be my style, even if i knew it would some edm/house/techno/ambient kind of music. And i figured out what i liked to do (which is achieving one particular sound or phrase or sound design, then add things around) something like old techno. Thanks anyways ! =)
My perfect sound is to not use any compressors, only a slight limiter, compression destroys sound quality, also to have high dynamic range is very important.
Totally inspired.. so relevant for the time we are in. Profound, heartfelt, inspirational and then…..That green moustache…….. perfect! We’re you hesitant to publish or just thought, hell yeah!
Although I always get something out of your beginner oriented videos, I REALLY appreciate this video as an intermediate producer wanting to take it to the next level and find my own voice. I'm looking for as much discussion about the creative process of electronic music as possible so this video is a glittering gem for me. And I wanted to mention, although the beginner demographic is a huge one, beginners come and go. It's the intermediate level producer that will stick with you forever.
Agree
I am a newbie to music production, and I love your channel. And your course, too! Phenomenal!
Thanks for the great vid
Yes, I am making music full song on piano, if its good then I can use presets to make it better.
Good song on piano + great presets, drums and automation = masterpiece
Thank you good sir! Perfect timing. Fun to watch and very relatable.
Thank you for a great idea!
Actually I thought I have one nice method. I use teenage engineering pocket operator sampler - just walk around and record anything that sounds weird. Then usually if you pitch down things they become really groovy. And then I just randomly push the buttons turning some steps of the sequencer on and then I probably end up with some inspiring loop. After I add some sounds in a DAW but it’s really nice to start DAWless cause I’m more focused on how it sounds rather than how it looks.
Interesting how you mentioned working with Emotions then fighting your head about wanting to make it part of a pre-learnt formula, I originally dove into my first DAW not knowing anything and just playing with the plug ins, drawing random melodies, applying effect on top of effect and I loved it. Then I started to learn more about Genre formulas and now I find myself listening to the earlier stuff feeling like it has more emotion to it than todays me attempting to make a house track.. in a way it's almost like I lost part of me in trying to conform to an audience expected Genre Formula..
uugggghhh sounds like hesitation ahahaha love it!!!
I absolutely loved this video!! You gave some great takeaways and your explanation on the how's and why's behind the process of finding your own sound really resonated with me. Great upload :)
feel ya
Very important video thanks man. I still have to find my own process but I guess it’ll revolve around pad design, they’ve always been my favorite thing in music.
@OscarUnderdog - Listening to you use Portal reminded me of The Disintegration Loops. Have you heard that. If not, it'll definitely be something you might appreciate.
fantastic video Oscar. thank you!
🥇🏆 and the best teacher award goes to Oscar.. very well structured and main idea delivered flawlessly, much appreciated 👍
I truly appreciate this video.
Despite not working in the techno field in any way, shape or form (I have a 16 year semi pro metal background and now make John Carpenter inspired synthwave with heavy guitars) I wish I could hire someone like you to help me with my option paralysis and being stuck in a rut.
I have invested a ton in gear and software, but the manifold possibilities work more against me than anything...
Keep up the good work!
Sometimes option paralysis comes from us being uncertain about the possibilities of each tool. A carpenter knows what each tool in his toolbox does, and when to use it. Sometimes it comes from us not having a clear objective in mind. We want to explore ideas, but what ideas do we explore, and how do we get them? Sometimes it's neither, and we're at an all you can eat buffet. We know what each food is, we like most of them, we can't decide even though we have an objective. The difference is that once you choose the meatloaf and eat it, you're full, and you don't want anything else. It's easier to stop mid-bite in music. So we pick something (like musical meatloaf) and we do that. Might end up being bland, but it's better than not eating.
Give each piece of gear a number. Pick 4 numbers out of hat randomly. Then after that have 1 wildcard choice to choose freely
0:19 yes
Next level video! Thank you!
3x Bullseye.
Simplifying a very emotional and personal topic into short powerful video that will resonate long after watching this.
Also making clear and bold statements that will help creatives evolve, grow and learn to identify themselves.
And your timing is amazing. Yesterday I had some vage questions running around my head. Not clear and straight forward questions, so answering them is impossible. But Owning the process = Owning the outcome is an eye (ear) opener.
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Amazing, all the way around thank you so much!
Now what about the genre ! Should we choose one? I like to produce downtempo /deep house / tech house ! And some times melodic house !
This is hands down one of the most important videos on music production out there. Thank you so much Oscar ❤
Super inspirational thank you! ❤
thx for this experience and these tips !
Man i love your videos, you go way more deeper into music creation than a lot of youtubers on the platform 💜
Love it Oscar! Thank you ! And of course i can only totally agree with this. Change the process to change the outcome is really interesting. And it is also what can happen if you collaborate with someone else that will have a different process. You will learn on the way and get a different outcome ☺️
Thank you so much for this! You articulated so well the feeling I had regarding my music. I think one extra thing to consider about this is to practice being open-minded! Like you said, sometimes we find out who we are through realizing what we are not. But if we have a negative attitude towards other processes and outcomes than our own, we might also put limits on our creativity. I think we all have some ideas of "the right way" to do music or what genres of music are "worse" than our favorites, or how we should be improving. Go break those ideas and have fun!
My process is usually to start with Operator or another "pure" tone source and get a chord progression or melody that I like, then build out the song from there. Sometimes I'll start by making a trap/rap-influenced beat and build from there. But I always try to bring in my bass guitar and vocals where it makes sense, and I love distortion and the human voice (preferably not my own). Usually my biggest obstacle at the end is cutting out low frequencies because I love big kicks and bass synths. Thanks for sharing this, love all your videos!
Your videos are always so educational! Even when they are on topics that I think I know everything about, u have a way of bringing up a much needed, fresh perspective! Thank you Oscar! 💜
Thank you so much for your hard work, Oscar. A great creative block-breaking video here. I'm super ready for Foundations of Electronic Music 2.
Incredible, Oscar! Thank you for sharing this with us. I am definitely going to try this approach and see where it takes me.
Such a great video. Thank you for sharing these thoughts. You are always inspirational.
I am still struggling to find "my sound" I do have some ideas, I try to experiment but I am very much a beginner, I listened to music of any kind for 40 years but only now getting into "the how to" things. Great tips :) thx
Hello Oscar, thank you for bringing this important topic ! From my experience, I needed to make a great backward step with plug ins and technical stuff to think more about the message I want to deliver. In this situation I really enjoyed working with presets to create a very first draft of my track, than wait for few days to check if the goose bump are still here 😀 Then I move to the more the technical stuff and sound design things.
Love your videos very much. My process revolves around turning audio into midi & experimenting with that output to inspire new riffs & melodies. Great starting point to inspire new ideas.