Nightloop

Nightloop...

http://soundcloud.com/waveformblue/nightloop

I feel this needs some more personal/less stock sounding synths. Don't know if it has anything to do with the soft-/hardware you're using, but it honestly sounds a bit tame as it is now. I guess there's a certain charm to this kind of sound, but I don't know. The main melody (that one that plays at the end) is alright, so it's kind of a shame about the synth.

Drums needs a little fattening up. not asking for brickwall drums or anything, but again, it sounds a bit... stock, for a lack of better term.

Hope this isn't too harsh.

The past called, they want their music back.

Yeah I agree with Friendly Foil. The sounds are lacking somewhat and have no real character to them. Try using some other hardware/softsynths and play with dynamics of the melodies and harmonic movement?

Hope that helps buddy!

  On 3/14/2013 at 10:25 PM, Friendly Foil said:

I feel this needs some more personal/less stock sounding synths. Don't know if it has anything to do with the soft-/hardware you're using, but it honestly sounds a bit tame as it is now. I guess there's a certain charm to this kind of sound, but I don't know. The main melody (that one that plays at the end) is alright, so it's kind of a shame about the synth.

 

Drums needs a little fattening up. not asking for brickwall drums or anything, but again, it sounds a bit... stock, for a lack of better term.

 

Hope this isn't too harsh.

  On 3/15/2013 at 12:08 AM, PolyKrome said:

Yeah I agree with Friendly Foil. The sounds are lacking somewhat and have no real character to them. Try using some other hardware/softsynths and play with dynamics of the melodies and harmonic movement?

 

Hope that helps buddy!

Thanks guys...and no worries. I don't get butt-hurt that easily.

I made this track to see how far I could get using only a single synth. Nightloop was played and sequenced entirely on an Ensoniq SQ-80. No external sounds, effects, or computer was used. The keyboard is limited to 8-note polyphony and 8-bit waveforms. At least the 8-trck sequencer is easy to use.

I hear you about the drums. The SQ-80 has a miserable five-piece drumkit - even by 1987 standards. It doesn't even have a crash cymbal. I had to build one with shaped white noise! I did what I could with the kit - layered with itself and added a metallic wave. I faded those in with a resonant-filter.

The breathy "oooh" patch was some high-pitched vox waves with filtered resonance thrown in. The gated effect is done with an LFO. Unfortunately the LFO slows when the sequencer is running, it gets even worse in a busy mix. So getting the patch to synch at 122 bpm took a bit of trial and error.

Yeah...the bass, piano, and pipe organ are pretty conventional. I was trying to ground the tune wit some familiar sounds - I guess too familiar!

The droning sound near the middle and the end could use more punch. I would have layered it more, but ran out of voices. Note stealing sounds like butt.

Thanks for the feedback. Maybe I should MIDI it to my ESQ-m to get a fatter sound. At least that would double polyphony. Sixteen voices...woo-hoo

  On 3/14/2013 at 10:28 PM, 3849 said:

The past called, they want their music back.

Yeah...damn 80s won't stop calling. I keep changing my number, but they always find it.

My butt hurts

Hahah, AWESOME. Could be the introduction to a mid-80s cop drama.

80s da best, man.

The one bit of advice I have would be to fatten up the mix a bit. Check out the UpStereo VST, use it sparingly and it can really open up a mix. Drop some PSP Vintage Warmer on the master and watch the track gain some low-mid frequencies.

Really cheesy synth.

Skinamax!