Music Production Knowledge Backlog
Here you can find my latest published content. Use the Search!
Aug 16, 2023 Tutorial
Discover the art of crafting drum & bass in Bitwig. In this tutorial, we delve into setting the pace at 170 BPM, a typical drum & bass speed, and explore the intricacies of loop creation. We also introduce a custom grid patch named 'Drum & Bass Drums' and demonstrate its sound dynamics. While the patch is available on Patreon, alternatives like random drum bass loop wave files can also be used. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of modulation, the use of different synthesizers for unique bass sounds, and the strategy of building an arrangement progressively. By the end, with minimal compression and limiting, we achieve a deep roller track that's loud and clear. For those interested, the drum preset will be available on Patreon, and there's a possibility of a full track release on Bandcamp in the future.
Aug 07, 2023 Tutorial
In today's video, I want to discuss melodies, chords, and scale highlighting features. Somebody commented on my previous video about using a note grid that emits random melodies and modifying it with a key filter to accommodate those who are less familiar with music theory. However, I believe this approach is not feasible because the scale highlighting feature in Ableton Live, for example, can be misleading. When you select the scale feature in Ableton Live, it highlights certain notes in green. For C major, all the white keys are highlighted. However, it also selects other scales and modes such as D Dorian, E Phrygian, and so on.
Aug 04, 2023 Tutorial
In this video, I start with a completely empty project in Bitwig Studio and build a track from scratch. I start by creating a loop with a melodic kick drum using a Grid patch. I then add variation to the pattern by using a note delay effect. Next, I add hi-hats and claps using the E-Hat device and XO plugin. I create a drone sound using PianoTek and Supermassive, and then add melodic lines using the Polymer synth and a note grid step sequencer. I also use various modulators to add movement and variation to the melodic lines. Finally, I create a bassline using the Polymer synth and apply sidechain compression to the bass and the entire music bus.
Aug 01, 2023 Music-Video
Hello there! I'm excited to share my latest track, which I created using the versatile Bitwig Studio. Throughout the process, I ...
Jul 31, 2023 Tutorial
In the video, I showed how to make music in Bitwig Studio using global modulators. I used two step modulators, one for values and one for melody. I connected them to a polymer synthesizer and routed them through a node grid. I used the values from the step modulator to modulate various parameters in the synthesizer, such as decay time, amplitude envelope, and mix levels. I also used the melody step modulator to generate notes and trigger them using clock and XOR modules. I demonstrated how changing values in the step modulators can instantly modify the sound and trigger different sequences. Overall, it was a fun and nerdy way to create music in Bitwig Studio.
Jul 24, 2023 Tutorial
In this video, I demonstrate how to create a trumpet or saxophone sound in Bitwig's grid using subtractive synthesis. I avoid using samples, wavetables, or physical modeling. The sound is shaped using pinch and bend modules, as well as a phaser, before going through a filter and an amplitude modulation module. I also add filtered noise to simulate the air going through the horn. To simulate the characteristics of different instruments, I use fixed frequencies in an EQ module. An impulse response and delay are used to simulate room and add space to the sound. The main trick of the preset is shaping the phase signal with pinch and bend modules, which creates trumpet-like harmonics from a sine wave. I use Bitwig's expression modulator to map timbre, pitch bend, and pressure to add expression to the sound. I show how to do this in a separate polygrid. It took some time to find the right modulation amounts and timings, but the result is a cool and realistic trumpet sound. The preset is available for Patreon and YouTube subscribers, while others can try out the techniques I demonstrated.
Jul 20, 2023 Tutorial
The video is about a website called Basic Pitch developed by Spotify, which converts audio to MIDI. However, the drawback is that it runs slowly in the browser. The video then introduces Neural Note, a native VST plugin developed by Damien that can be used in any DAW. It shows how to use Neural Note in Bitwig Studio to convert an audio file of a piano sample into MIDI. The video explains the various settings and features of Neural Note, including note sensibility, split sensibility, minimal note duration, scale quantize, pitch bend mode, and time quantize. However, the video mentions a drawback with the recording feature and suggests improvements for future updates. Overall, the video recommends Neural Note as a useful tool for converting audio to MIDI and provides a link for viewers to download it.
Jul 20, 2023 Music-Video
I made this ambient background drone bed yesterday in Bitwig. Mostly generative and Bitwig only. You can download the project ...
Jul 18, 2023 Music-Video
Small eerie generative ambient patch in @bitwig that sounds to me like a deep dark cave. Download the patch on my github: ...
Jul 17, 2023 Tutorial
In this video, I introduce you to the "Rewind" plugin by MonkeyC Audio, which is a rolling sampler similar to one I showcased in a previous video. The plugin costs $50 and can be used in Bitwig as a plugin or as a standalone application. It utilizes iLok, which is a downside. I demonstrate how to use the plugin in Bitwig, where you can load it onto the master track. To hear the recorded audio, you need to enable input monitoring. The plugin continuously records audio, so you don't need to press record. If you accidentally create a great sound while sound designing, you can simply rewind back and select the desired portion to save as a wave file or as a sample within a sampler instrument track. Additionally, the plugin allows you to record MIDI data along with the audio. By switching to the MIDI page and configuring the MIDI settings, you can record MIDI notes and their corresponding audio output simultaneously. The plugin also offers features such as normalizing the exported wave file, changing the output resolution, selecting a different export location, and more. One interesting feature is the gate hold length, which allows you to set a threshold for audio recording. When the audio signal goes below the threshold, recording stops after a set amount of time, creating distinct regions. These regions can be easily selected and exported. Overall, the "Rewind" plugin provides a convenient way to capture and reuse creative moments in your workflow.
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