polarity_music

Simple is Good

Added 2023-11-14 16:49:44 +0000 UTC

In today's video, I'm going to share my thoughts about simplicity in music production, particularly in the context of Bitwig Studio 5.1 and its new features. Here's a rundown of my key points:

Complexity vs. Simplicity: I've noticed that setting up these segments as modulators is time-consuming. You have to switch settings, change shapes, etc., which is a bit too tedious for my workflow.
Preference for Simpler Shapes: I tend to fall back on simpler shapes, like ADs, and combine multiple of these to achieve a more complex and richer result than using one complex segment.
The Issue with Repetition: When using complex shapes for things like baselines, they initially sound great, but soon become repetitive and boring. This requires constant changes to keep the sound interesting, which can be quite a hassle.
Approach to Ambient Sounds: In ambient music, instead of using a single complex pad sound, I prefer combining multiple simple sounds in different ways. This achieves a more organic and interesting result.
Presets in Synthesizers: Many synthesizers, like Native Instruments' Massive, come with presets that showcase the synth's capabilities. However, these presets often occupy too much space in a track, leaving little room for other elements.
My Strategy: I like to layer and combine multiple simple sounds and shapes. For modulations, I prefer using two or three LFOs on bass sounds and cross-modulating them for richer and more interesting results.
Overall Philosophy: While complex shapes can be appealing, for sound design, I believe in the power of evolving and organic shapes rather than relying on a single complex one.