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The track is a combo/cross of electronic and orchestral (scoring) stuff, based on a rather unusual harmonic/rhythmic structure.

The following is the gear I used on this track:

  • Dave Smith Evolver for the intro lead.
  • Moog The Roge for the lead at 01:00.
  • Sequential Circuits Six-Trak for the organ/lead at 1:44.
  • Nord Lead 3 for the lead at 02:14.
  • Roland SH-101 for the theremin-esque ending lead at 2:58.
  • Omnisphere and Albion for pads, piano and orchestra.
  • FX: Strymon BigSky and TimeLine.
  • Synth tracking chain: Synth, TimeLine, BigSky, Radial Engineering DI, API Channel Strip, ELI Fatso, Burl ADC.
  • ITB mix and master (UAD SSL G Buss Compressor, Fabfilter L2).

Being both the producer and the mixing/mastering engineer is definitely not optimal, so I am ready and prepared for critics. Thanks!

Best, always,
Val

Comments

audiokid Wed, 12/08/2021 - 11:57

Sounds really good. I don't have any criticism. Thank you for including your tools as well, I wish more people did that.

I love Nord Lead's. I've owned a few over the last few decades. Bought the original and then upgraded to Nord Lead 4 about 8 years ago. Had to part with it a few years ago and that was painful. Nice hearing it.

When you are listing to your piece and composing, what are you envisioning and where would you market it?

DP75 Wed, 12/08/2021 - 15:48

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Audiokid, I do appreciate it a lot.

To be fully honest, synth geek here, I find the Nord Lead 3 core-sound somehow cold/sterile (other nords are supposed to be better), but its interface is the best I've ever seen/used on a synth, all its parameters (and it's a huge amount) are visible and controllable even from a single midi CC (and that's just one use case). So, deep/complex modulations are its strenght, in my opinion. Whereas for the cold/sterile sound, a bit of fx and analog outboard treatment (such as transformers, saturators) are definitely welcome.

Regarding the last questions (thanks for asking), it depends, while writing I generally think of the harmonic structure, the modes, the notes, the melodies and everything (using a basic piano sound, for if I like that, then it can only get better later on). Then, while programming and tracking, the sound itself is the driving factor. I like synthesizers because they allow shaping sound from silence to noise at your will.

When the tracking work is done, I would send the stems (and a rough mix) to a proper mixer engineer, but unfortunately that's not the case, so I am still at the DIY stage.

Regardin the marketing, I'd love to answer your question, but I have no clue and no connections, so I guess I will just keep working on my stuff for the pleasure I get.

All the best,

Val