Hello internet 👋

I want to take a moment to talk about a major issue that many of your are struggling with (especially my students) and that is: choosing the right sounds in your tracks.

Why Choosing the right sounds is a crucial step in music production?

To define the overall theme of the track.Every track you work on has a unique theme, which can be inspired by anything — cinema, other styles of music, nature... Every sound you use should help defining this theme. For example, if you’re working on a dark cinematic-themed track, you’ll likely need analog-style evolving pads alongside darker FM leads made with your favorite Moog Model D emulation, sounds that wouldn’t necessarily suit a funky Rick & Morty themed groovy track.
Creates cohesive Q&A sequences and storytelling.
Just because FM leads are heavily used in psytrance doesn’t mean you can rely only on them. Good Q&A sequences in a track need contrast between the leads. Think of it like a debate : not everyone shares the same opinion, but they’re all trying to come to a common solution.
Transmits your artistic vision to the listener.
Every artist has a unique story and vision and I feel that this vision forms the moment an artist realizes he or she has something special to share with the world (the moment they decide to start creating art). The sounds used by a producer are a translation of this vision and must efficiently communicate it to the listener. A simple rule of thumb : if the sound doesn’t excite you or make you want to dance in your studio, it’s not the right one.
Inspires new ideas.
Sometimes, during the process itself of sound designing or even surfing presets, you might stumble upon a sound so good & inspiring that it sparks new ideas and you might end up creating something you’ve never done before, like a UK bass-inspired drop in the middle of a super psychedelic forest track. Who knows? The only limit is your imagination😉

Over the years, I’ve developed a simple method for choosing the right sounds for each section of my track:

First, I find a lead that I like, for example: an electric FM one.
Next, I look for a second lead to complement the first. In this case, another FM lead , but it has to share the vibe, yet, sound different enough to avoid feeling like you're listening to the same sound.
Then, I search for another sound that creates contrast. Here, since I’ve already used two FM leads, I’ll often go with a squelch or an organic Virus-style sound.
Finally, I like to add contrast at the groove level. For this, I typically create a new sound by glitching and mangling one of the FM leads using Infiltrator or any other multi-effect.

With my students, we go even deeper into this and many other topics — like finishing tracks, mixing, storytelling, and energy manipulation. All of that with one goal: to uncover the secrets of sequencing and arrangement. You still have until December 24 to get on the presale list before the price goes up, so if you want to level up your sequencing game and master your arrangements by the end of the holidays, hurry up, and I’ll see you in the studio!

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Happy producing 🤖

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