Do you have 'core sounds' or kits?

SouvlakiPlaystation · 2024-05-11T14:09:27.082Z

This is something I grapple with sometimes. Early on I would have an everything but the kitchen sink approach where I would just scroll through hundreds of different samples in my Digitakt and see what sounded good with a particular synth. After that I would mix them in all kinds of odd ways and while yeah, that would lead to unique results, the downside is total lack of cohesiveness. These days I make much better use of the “sounds” feature in my Digitakt, and when I start working on something I envision as an EP I try to have certain sounds that carry across the entire release. Always a learning process.

4517 · 2024-05-11T14:15:03.176Z

For drums, I stick to the stuff I have made over the years because that’s the reason I made the stuff in the first place. I’m not going to spend six hours sorting through some massive hoard of samples to find something new for the sake of it. I’ve already made the drum sounds I want to use, so I’m going to use them.

Everything else heavily depends on what I am doing, but I will very often at least recycle sounds from previous tracks especially within an album with alternative processing applied.

If everything is new every single time, you easily end up with the “I like this one particular song from this person, but the rest doesn’t sound anything like it.” -effect.

feedback · 2024-05-11T14:16:01.056Z

I think it depends a lot on the musical instrument in question. Some instruments don’t have the concept of sounds that can arranged as kits. Others might not even have patch memory.

And in the case of the Rytm — and with Elektron style instruments in general, — yes, it does reward taking advantage of their abilities and bringing all of the features together, enhanced with sequencing and performance features on top.

Even a nice starting point doesn’t preclude being able to deform sounds into something new.

alechko · 2024-05-11T14:21:44.519Z

I keep saving presets (especially since the 1.70 made saving p-locks so fast and easy!) but never use them again, every time I start a kit I do everything from scratch, don’t really understand why, guess it’s a mentality thing…

thejewk · 2024-05-11T14:32:54.761Z

My releases are fairly few in number so far, but when I have released something cohesive it has generally been based around exploring a single idea in various ways, or a certain pairing of gear. I also think I benefit from working towards a fixed endpoint (like an EP release, for example) and then I am more inclined to use starting point sounds across those tracks to try and prevent any sort of whiplash feeling of change from one track to the next.

I’m currently doing mixing and fine tuning on a batch of four songs as I type, and I definitely hear a benefit to keeping some cohesion in this way.

That said, some of my favourite albums have massive changes in sound from track to track and I like them because of that, not in spite of it. It’s hard to say quite why though.

holonology · 2024-05-11T14:33:12.732Z

I do have go-to packs, sounds and presets (as a humble preset hunter.) I see a song like a cake of sorts, with various layers. In my mind I have a vibe for each layer, for example I’m a fan of plucks/bells and other similar sounds for leads, which leads me to try many physical modelling synths as well as analogue synths for plucks. I like to layer these so the more the merrier. I have similar thoughts about drums, bass, pads and everything else.

In the end, I find what works for me is a core of preset packs and sounds I get to know well and use often, with a rotating cast of alternatives that can fill in the gaps, offer something new or similar. It’s a constant process of discovery which can inject variety into using some sounds intended for a similar purpose. I only found my go-tos after a certain period of time, and one day I may delete the rest, but for now it’s a nice combo.

feedback · 2024-05-11T14:39:59.187Z

thejewk:

That said, some of my favourite albums have massive changes in sound from track to track and I like them because of that, not in spite of it. It’s hard to say quite why though.

Maybe because you’re able to appreciate the novelty of variety and don’t frame the world in absolutes.

golddust · 2024-05-11T14:59:51.761Z

It’s so funny being on one of the other DTII threads and seeing people say my modest/mid size 100mb library - that is beyond gigantic to me!!

I once got a free samples from mars x0x pack and threw it into my DT. Even having ~350 samples felt completely unnecessary, listening to 808kick1 & 808kickmpc & 808 kick tape sat or whatever they’re called… what an unpleasant experience scrolling through listening for minor variations on so many similar sounds… deleted them all and never looked back. Occasionally I’ll throw a few back on or download a legowelt sample pack and goof around, usually deleting everything after a few days except maybe a sound or two I’ll keep.

thejewk · 2024-05-11T15:12:14.782Z

I grabbed the Everything from Mars pack in the sale late last year, downloaded the ‘Essentials’ part only. I went through and grabbed 10 or so of each drum hit type and arranged them into roughly matching ‘kits’ with a naming convention for when I wanted to just grab things and go, and I haven’t looked at the samples again since haha.

Jindrek · 2024-05-11T15:12:45.648Z

I’m on patreon and have some sample packs of course.

alechko · 2024-05-11T15:16:25.983Z

thejewk:

Everything from Mars pack in the sale late last year, downloaded the ‘Essentials’ part only

I did something very similar with the stock samples from Ableton Live, just took some one shots and some other stuff that wasn’t too big, uploaded once and never got anything else again

thejewk · 2024-05-11T15:17:39.407Z

Don’t remind me. I got Ableton Standard too this year and it has been fantastic for my setup, but I haven’t used a single instrument or sample included with it yet.

I haven’t even looked at any VSTs other than the Elektron ones for Overbridge.

sacguy71 · 2024-05-11T15:19:30.967Z

I try to start with a core 909 drum kit if I am creating EDM, techno or dance music. For other stuff, I either start with basic 808/707 drum kit that I program in a DAW or I use experimental stuff.

Jindrek · 2024-05-11T15:22:54.540Z

But on transfer everything is neat and tidy.

Jeanne · 2024-05-11T16:32:32.310Z

Often a track starts with a sound created from scratch that inspires me, but I also use my own sound packs (which then can be tailored to the track). Makes music creation especially much nicer if the synth‘s init sounds are awful (Syntakt).

derb · 2024-05-11T16:35:11.170Z

No, all is kind of unique. It may happen that I use the same snare but usually it does not happen.
I start all from scratch, I don’t utilize any templates with pre-made stuff

alechko · 2024-05-11T16:35:24.228Z

Jeanne:

synth‘s init sounds are awful (Syntakt)

rytm default kit is terrible too, actually would be cool to do a comparison which is worse

Jeanne · 2024-05-11T16:38:53.044Z

alechko:

rytm default kit is terrible too, actually would be cool to do a comparison which is worse

Of course Syntakt‘s is far more terrible because of all those digital machines‘s init sounds! But to be clear, I love Syntakt and Rytm and they can both sounds absolutely fantastic and amazing and are like chameleons of sound.

stiiiiiiive · 2024-05-11T21:59:40.726Z

Another yes and no answer here.

I remember starting new kits over and over on the MD, just for the sake of learning/exploring it. I rememebr patching a Clavia G2 for hours too. I’m not a preset user.

That being said, I’ve spent my music time mostly in bands. So when an idea shows up, you have to be ready. For these situations, I often use existing patches/kits that I edit on the fly to better match the ongoing idea development.
I usually use a limited amount of samples (MDUW Mk2 : 48 slots…) and synths with limited features in order not to dilute inspiration in possibilities.

All that was about the process.
Now, about the sound, I’m attached to the idea @Mistercharlie mentioned earlier:

In a band, the drummer, guitarist, bass player etc will use the same instruments on whole albums

So in a way, using the same (or almost same) samples/patches/kits over time are not a problem for me. I know if I need new ones, I can use some.

percussionboy · 2024-05-12T01:15:27.289Z

For naturalistic sounds, I have a core drum library, single hit samples of me playing my own drums and cymbals. It was a huge amount of work but it’s been very satisfying to use, to hear what I want to hear. There are still a few instruments to sample but I’m too lazy to do it right now.

At the other extreme, I love shaking things up by using almost any drum machine that doesn’t sound like acoustic drums—whether programming a new timbre, like on the Simmons, or just using preset sounds with character, like on the R8 or RX5. Put them through the pedalboard too. I have few go-to drum machine sounds, the fun is that the machines provide something different for each occasion. (If I don’t sell off the Volca Drum and TR-6S, will have to see how wild those can get, with the FM on the 6S and all…)