MIDI Studies A - Creative Project

Frikkin Insane
Daniel Trembath
03‘12

Description:
Instruments used in song:
Drums: Kick, Snare, HiHats (open/closed), Toms, Crash. Ride.
Synthesizer Leads: Flange Wave
Bass: Deep Synth Bass, Dry Synth Bass
Pads: Sweep Pads, Euro Pads.
Strings: Trance Strings
Abstract sounds: Rain, Falling Stars, ‘Crackle Dive & Scream’

Influences:
The song has been filled with layers, like The Prodigy used. It sounds like Cosmic Gate, Blank And Jones, even a little Groove Coverage in there somewhere.

Ideas:
I had the idea of remaking a song one of my friends has made, while incorporating my own ideas with it. The beginning tune is the remake and the second tune is unique.

Methods:
Beginning: The start of my techno song would be a catchy bassline. When the tune fades in, there will be a build up and all instruments will be played together (bass, drums, tune).
Breakdown: Consist of Drum and Bass, with added percussion every 4 beats. This will build up to a new tune.
Middle: Catchy tune with drum and bass, strings to work with the bass.
Ending: The ending will have a fade out of the new tune, and a fade in of the old tune, which will sound rather awesome. The ending will be pretty basic, with a fade out and a crash at the end.

Processes:
After coming up with all my ideas and methods, I put those thought into action. I constructed the song with all the required instruments. After finishing the song, I started to use some automation. I used fade in’s and fade out’s of instruments. I panned two of the instruments so they go from left–right-left-right, giving a very abstract feel. I EQ’d the Flanged Wave to emphasise it above the other instruments.
I had trouble with the overall volume of the mix. When mixed with headphones the song would sound rather great, but when played on speakers, it lacked something. Also, to make other instruments heard, I automated them to be louder. This caused me to automate a number of tracks to be louder, which produced peaks in the mix that I couldn’t get rid of without it sounding bad. The overall tempo of the song was slow, so I changed the tempo to 125BPM. Other than that, there were no troubles at all.

Link to MP3:
http://www.wikiupload.com/download_page.php?id=158817