How to get a good "Crescendo"?

hduncan · 30th May 2008

I like to use crescendos to build up to a chorus sometimes (often its a reversed cymbal hit or just a cymbal swell). I experimented with timing and dynamics and found that to me, it seems to sound better if the swell DOESNT reach the same apparent volume as the passage it's leading to.

That is, I find that figure A sounds better than B as far as preserving and milking the tension/release of the dynamics of the swell/crescendo.

What are your experiences?

Newcleardaze · 30th May 2008

I definitely agree... if the crescendo reaches the same apparent volume of the part it's bringing in, then you steal some of the thunder and punch of what is about to happen. I think it's more about perception: the crescendo tells you that something is about to happen, but doesn't necesarily have to be seen as a PART of what's about to happen.
Also, for a good smooth cymbal crescendo, I recently had my drummer use a pair of fuzzy paint rollers as drum sticks... came off VERY nice -- all wash and no attack.

kcmoonshine · 30th May 2008

Nice. I agree. I was doing this just yesterday on a couple parts of a song, using reversed cymbals, strings, and vocals. It took a lot of experimenting with volume automation to fing the right levels. I too found that the crescendo cant peak louder than the part it's going into, or it makes the part after not as powerful. I do this with backwards gtrs a lot too, and with feeding back gtrs is great. I also like to build up the crescendo with some reverb so it just explodes into the next part.

hduncan · 30th May 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Curtin

Nice. I agree. I was doing this just yesterday on a couple parts of a song, using reversed cymbals, strings, and vocals. It took a lot of experimenting with volume automation to fing the right levels. I too found that the crescendo cant peak louder than the part it's going into, or it makes the part after not as powerful. I do this with backwards gtrs a lot too, and with feeding back gtrs is great. I also like to build up the crescendo with some reverb so it just explodes into the next part.

How do you use the reverb? Do you really soak it/apply it then reverse it?

kosi · 30th May 2008

Sometimes it can be also useful, to put a very little break between the ramp and the start of the chorus, gives it more power.
And yeah , the chorus should be louder than the ramp, definetely.
Backward echoes work also very good !

kcmoonshine · 31st May 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkEcho

How do you use the reverb? Do you really soak it/apply it then reverse it?

No. I'll reverse the part first(say.....gtr feedback), and get the right placement, and then automate the send to the reverb. The reverb send automation will have a similiar shape as the volume automation, applying more and more reverb as the crescendo gets louder. By applying the reverb after and automating send, I can get it just right. It works well with an electric guitar "dive bomb", for lack of a better term.

hduncan · 31st May 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosi

Sometimes it can be also useful, to put a very little break between the ramp and the start of the chorus, gives it more power.
And yeah , the chorus should be louder than the ramp, definetely.
Backward echoes work also very good !

What sort of distance is this break? a quarternote or smaller/bigger?

kittyboy · 31st May 2008

Great thread--I love seeing musical topics like this on GS.

Got any links to your music?

30th May 2008	#1
hduncan Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Fresno, California Posts: 2,013 Thread Starter	How to get a good "Crescendo"? I like to use crescendos to build up to a chorus sometimes (often its a reversed cymbal hit or just a cymbal swell). I experimented with timing and dynamics and found that to me, it seems to sound better if the swell DOESNT reach the same apparent volume as the passage it's leading to. That is, I find that figure A sounds better than B as far as preserving and milking the tension/release of the dynamics of the swell/crescendo. What are your experiences? __________________ //Hawk Duncan [2.66Ghz i7 MacBook Pro, 8GB, Logic 9, ProFire2626]

30th May 2008	#3
kcmoonshine Gear maniac Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 212	Nice. I agree. I was doing this just yesterday on a couple parts of a song, using reversed cymbals, strings, and vocals. It took a lot of experimenting with volume automation to fing the right levels. I too found that the crescendo cant peak louder than the part it's going into, or it makes the part after not as powerful. I do this with backwards gtrs a lot too, and with feeding back gtrs is great. I also like to build up the crescendo with some reverb so it just explodes into the next part. __________________

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30th May 2008	#2
Newcleardaze Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 879	I definitely agree... if the crescendo reaches the same apparent volume of the part it's bringing in, then you steal some of the thunder and punch of what is about to happen. I think it's more about perception: the crescendo tells you that something is about to happen, but doesn't necesarily have to be seen as a PART of what's about to happen. Also, for a good smooth cymbal crescendo, I recently had my drummer use a pair of fuzzy paint rollers as drum sticks... came off VERY nice -- all wash and no attack.

30th May 2008	#5
kosi Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Berlin Posts: 941	Sometimes it can be also useful, to put a very little break between the ramp and the start of the chorus, gives it more power. And yeah , the chorus should be louder than the ramp, definetely. Backward echoes work also very good !

31st May 2008	#8
kittyboy Gear addict Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 414	Great thread--I love seeing musical topics like this on GS. Got any links to your music?