Music Production Knowledge Backlog

Learn what Mesh is, how it compares to VCV Rack and FL Studio Patcher, and how to build VST feedback, modulation, and sampler patches fast.

Download Polarity-RES, a free resonator plugin for Mac, Windows, and Linux, to build bandpass filters, learn harmonics, and create drones.

This time we’re heading to the beach. Waves are pretty easy, but getting that bubbly water sound just right isn’t so simple. On top of that there’s a seagull and some wind / a light breeze.

I tried using simple sequences based on probabilities or “chance” modules to create little melodies and chords. The melodies in the “pitches” modules play differently too, since I randomize the phase every 32 bars.

Download the updated Polarity SC spectral compressor to fix dry/wet output gain, add smoothing and custom spectral curves, and control harshness.

The patch sounds like you're sitting on a rooftop in a futuristic city, listening to the rain, the wind, the roar of engines, and some undefined banging and hammering.

Learn all-pass reverb design in Bitwig Grid with the all-pass reverb calculator to choose non-multiple delay times and build smoother custom ambient reverbs.

Calculate all-pass delay times for smooth reverb tails. Pick a preset for plate, hall, shimmer, or metallic reverb, set the first and last delay in ms, and the calculator spaces each diffuser stage to avoid clustering and comb filtering.

So in this patch I tried to recreate animals or like a meadow vibe. Basically I’m building a little stream, a bunch of bees and birds, some distant car noises, and of course crickets chirping and stuff.

Gotta admit, I kinda lost control here. Some modules don’t really make sense, and in a few spots I’ve got no clue what’s going on.

Polarity SC is a free open-source spectral compressor for Windows, macOS, and Linux (VST3 & CLAP) with spectral ducking, resonance suppression, freeze, and IR export.

Alright, here I made another static pad using multiple sine oscillators. of course, everything’s heavily modulated. The rest are sound effects that play sporadically and based on chance.

Polarity MD update adds a native GUI, linear-phase crossovers, per-band clip thresholds, and better scaling for faster, clearer multiband compression.

Learn how to build complex ambient generator patches in Bitwig Grid by layering small modules for raindrops, wind, harmony, and reverb.

I took the old idea from the previous video and pushed it a bit further. The raindrops and wind sounds create a really nice vibe, and they’re made entirely from noise and filter movements, they actually make up most of the patch. The rest I filled out with some drones and a random noise generator.

Rainy city at night! This time I’m using different oscillators again for pads & lead sounds. On top of that there’s a lot of generated synth rain with droplets and noise.