Ambient Dub Techno (checking out the Spectralis)

[fragletrollet]

Hey there!
Some time ago I got to borrow a Spectralis from a friend. It has been gathering dust for a long time, due to its horrific interface, and that it has been a little hard to put into my mainly software-workflow. But I really wanted to see what it was good for, so I started a track with it. Here is the result:

http://soundcloud.com/unknown-cause/subtle-traffic


Main bassy pads, the tingly randommy lead and percussion (except kick) are all from the Spectralis. There are a few percussion samples added after the break to help the spectralis percussion.

The track gets a little help from Omnisphere aswell (the pad melody before the break). The sound in the break is from a car passing by my window.

The dubby pad melodies after the break is an accordion I inherited from my aunt that newly passed away. There is also some small guitar one-shots.

Really tried to keep it minimal, delicate and precise. Hope you like it, and I`d love some comments!


Peace!

[Simonator]

Nice work.

And... an Unknown Cause track that is less than 3 hours long! Well done ;-)

[AvS]

I really like the atmosphere here but i think the levels are messed up. The kick, hat and snare are so loud that I'm having trouble hearing all other sounds properly. They just drown underneath the percussion. :(

[fragletrollet]

Originally Posted by Simonator

Nice work.

And... an Unknown Cause track that is less than 3 hours long! Well done ;-)

Haha yeah, feels great to do something that is not dragging out forever. Short and compact.

[fragletrollet]

Originally Posted by AvS

I really like the atmosphere here but i think the levels are messed up. The kick, hat and snare are so loud that I'm having trouble hearing all other sounds properly. They just drown underneath the percussion. :(

Interesting.

I feel that if I mixed the percussive elements you are talking about at a lower volume, the track would loose much of its driving factor. I might be wrong?


I have in the pas been struggling to mix percussive elements so that they are present and punchy, but not overwhelming.

[AvS]

I really do think that those elements are to loud but i know exactly what you mean when you say you lose drive when you turn them down.
Actually listening to it again i think I would rather turn a few of the synth elements up instead it the percussion down. I think if you turned up the chord stabs and the subtle noise/pad/thing that would keep the drive but enhance the dreamy feel that i really like.

[minibof]

This is really nice Magnus I've only listened in my headphones so far but the levels seem okay to me on them....I'll check the monitors later. It reminds me of 'My Life With the Wave' by Mike Huckaby with the low pad running all the way through it. The rim sound is also lovely and the reverb/delay splashes.

Good sh!t.

[jtregoat]

Yeah, I think you need to turn up some of the main synth parts. Also, I think panning some of the percussion a little more would help. Not the kick, of course... but that kick could use a little more high end imo. Just a tad .

[Charles Nydus]

I'm not in the studio at the moment, I'm listening on my MacBook Pro speakers so I won't comment on the mix just yet.

Instrumentally, I'm really digging the track.
Arrangement has improved since I last listened to something of yours, too.

Would love to know who your influences are.

Keep it up. :-)

[fragletrollet]

So I updated the mix a little, changed around the levels abit. Tell me what you think :=)

@ Charles Nydus: thanks for you input! I have many influences, but for this kind of tunes, I guess Deadbeat, Deepchord, Mikkel Metal, Basic Channel etc... I`m kind of new in Dub Tech as a genre, but I really like the Radio Rothko compilation by Deadbeat.

[fragletrollet]

I still might do some more automation and panning when I get the time. The mix still sounds a little boring, in a way.


Maybe add some variations to the delays, pan some more and just make every sound sound a little more unique.

[erikdrink]

Cool!
Have not worked on spectralis yet!

[tvsky]

nice work . mix sounds ok to me level wise

only thing that really stood out is the first synth lead could be a little less dry , for such an ambient spaced out sort of track , it could do with a touch of reverb/delay to place it in the soundscape with the other synths