Disclosure: 11 Best Music Tips from "In My Arms" (& how to use reverb like a PRO)

TL;DR

Disclosure shares 11 music production tips for better sound.

Transcript

played this in with serato sampler so it's like that's the backbone of the tune that just rolls the whole way through so there's something about that like doom doom so with no plugins this is how it sounds missing something so initially i ran it through some overdrive then some eq there's like a in one of the cowbell... Read More

Key Insights

• The backbone of a track can be enhanced by using overdrive and EQ to improve its sound quality and make it more engaging.
• Utilizing a stereo enhancer like Ozone 9 Imager can significantly boost the highs and widen elements such as shakers and tambourines.
• A short, punchy kick is recommended when paired with a long, legato bassline to avoid cluttering the low-end frequencies.
• Panning different shakers or tambourines left and right creates a wider stereo image and enhances the overall sound texture.
• Overdriving and distorting shakers and tambourines can add fullness and emphasize the underlying transient elements.
• Using reverb creatively, such as combining it with pre-delay and tremolo, can add groove and space to a track.
• Automating pitch changes in elements like hi-hats can give a track a more analog feel and make it sound less static.
• Saturation and overdrive can be used as substitutes for cutoff modulation, providing dynamic changes in a track's sound.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the benefit of using overdrive and EQ on a track?

Using overdrive and EQ on a track helps enhance its sound quality by adding warmth and clarity. Overdrive can introduce harmonic distortion, which adds character, while EQ helps balance frequencies, ensuring the track sounds full and engaging without being overwhelming.

Q: How can a stereo enhancer like Ozone 9 Imager improve a track?

A stereo enhancer like Ozone 9 Imager can improve a track by widening its stereo field, making it sound more expansive and immersive. It can boost high frequencies, adding brightness and clarity, which is particularly effective for elements like shakers, tambourines, and reverbs.

Q: Why is a short, punchy kick recommended with a long bassline?

A short, punchy kick is recommended with a long bassline to avoid frequency clashes in the low-end. This approach ensures that the kick and bass do not compete for space, maintaining clarity and impact in the mix while allowing each element to stand out distinctly.

Q: What is the advantage of panning different shakers or tambourines?

Panning different shakers or tambourines creates a wider stereo image, making the track sound more spacious and dynamic. This technique enhances the overall texture of the sound and prevents elements from sounding flat or monotonous by introducing movement and depth.

Q: How does overdriving shakers and tambourines affect their sound?

Overdriving shakers and tambourines adds fullness and emphasizes their transient elements, resulting in a richer and more textured sound. This technique can bring out subtle details and enhance the percussive impact, making these instruments stand out more prominently in a mix.

Q: What creative uses of reverb are discussed in the video?

The video discusses creative uses of reverb, such as combining it with pre-delay and tremolo to add both space and groove to a track. This approach can make reverb an active, rhythmic component rather than just a spatial effect, contributing to the track's overall feel and movement.

Q: How does automating pitch changes in hi-hats affect a track?

Automating pitch changes in hi-hats can give a track a more analog feel, making it sound less static and more dynamic. This technique introduces subtle variations that mimic the imperfections of live performance, adding character and a sense of movement to the percussion.

Q: Why use saturation and overdrive as substitutes for cutoff modulation?

Saturation and overdrive can be used as substitutes for cutoff modulation to introduce dynamic changes in a track's sound. These effects add harmonic content and warmth, creating a sense of movement and evolution without altering the actual filter settings, enhancing the track's expressiveness.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Disclosure shares valuable music production tips, focusing on enhancing tracks using techniques like overdrive, EQ, and stereo imaging. They emphasize the importance of a punchy kick when paired with a long bassline.

• The video highlights creative uses of reverb, such as combining it with pre-delay and tremolo to add groove. Panning different percussion elements enhances the stereo image and adds depth to the sound.

• Automating pitch changes in hi-hats and using saturation as a substitute for cutoff modulation are also discussed. These techniques contribute to a more dynamic and engaging track, making it sound less static.