Sampling Session
In a recent class ableton session we focused on using sampling and samplers to achieve new sounds and learn new aspects to sound design. Using an industrial hum sample from an engine, I cut the sample to a very short waveform which could then loop over to create a continuous tone, with this I then added a chorus plugin, Plus to give the sound richer harmonic content, as well as a delay to stretch out the sound as this would be hen be used to create the chord progression throughout the track, and being an abstract ambient piece I prefer lots of ringing transients, which I achieved by increasing release times on the sampler and feedback amounts on the delay.
As well as this sound, I took the door sample we had been given and down-tuned / reversed it to create some soundscape for the track with an industrial feel, drawing out the metallic chain like sound from there. This was then layered with some drums I midi programmed, using the thicket kit samples and a beat repeat delay unit to achieve the heavy dub tape delay sound, along with light compression to again push those background harmonics through to be more prevalent in the mix. I finished off with adding in some cymbal samples from the same kit, these got modulated slightly using the mod wheel on the keyboard to breakup their tone subtly.
Taking this session project home led to me drawing out the abstract sound to this track further with some of the tools more familiar to me in Logic Pro. Bouncing the stems and transferring them to this other daw gave me access to a favourite plugin of mine, surprisingly another tape delay unit. The reason for this being that with these types of audio processing units, even in a digital domain (which is the case here), thick and lush saturation is possible by laying up a sample many times with the feedback parameter.
Usually this in a delay unit is used to get the delay of course, and the repeating snippets of sample span across a short duration, however with reducing the delay time to naught the result is the equivalent of building up more voices on a sound, adding in a multiplicity of layers which can be effectively controlled using the frequency amount and wet fader. This paired with stereo width automation can lead to very immersive and directional audio, as the main dry signal maintains it's original stereo settings, with the spread to the wet adding the wider moving signal. This is what I did with the final whole audio file, linking my midi controller in to the feedback and spread settings and recording in the automation to finalise the track.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vqDGjdzJy735AnXWMKnd5Kjj_HmCDLvR/view?usp=sharing
