The Outlier Saga…
The Outlier saga begins in March, 2018. I had retired from a job I had for thirty years to devote more time for music and video pursuits. I scrapped my web hosting service, began learning WordPress, set up a new website, fired YouTube, Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn, learned a new video editor (Filmora), began a blog, and just walked away from anything that I could not support. Also, we began a two month home renovation, so it was a very transitional time, indeed.
Now What?
Now, we began by getting a couple of sounds together… I chose Waverazor to get a bass we can drop in when needed. Then, I added a couple more sounds using Waverazor (again) and Syntronik. SampleTank 3 is a VST I often use, and this time is no exception. These plugins are made by Ik Multimedia. I chose a 16 instruments-worth of sounds that I think might work. My philosophy is simple- use a lot of instruments for small stretches. If I’m bored, you’ll be bored, right?
I needed to have a title track for my new album-“Outlier”, so now what? First, I had to shove away the clutter by getting the Skyypilot website back up, start a blog, switch my video host to Vimeo, learn Filmora (for editing my videos), and began to use some new, essential Waves plugins.
Let the Music Begin!
After choosing 87 bpm (beats per minute), let’s let the music begin! I just started out on Waverazor and got sounds for the two tracks that those two instances occupy. Then, I picked a sound that Syntronik would trigger. These samples are from vintage synthesizers, so that’s always interesting. Putting old sounds with new is a good thing for we short-attention span folks! No instrument is totally set in stone at any point (in my view).
OK, now I let the recording roll along and sparsely fill the space with sounds and little themes that I attempt to stitch together. After starting and stopping for about 8:37, I decide to end the free-form with a little rock.
I put a rhythm and two slide electric guitar parts through Amplitube 4, another fine Ik Multimedia product for guitar and bass processing. You can completely change any guitar tone AFTER the recording-invaluable!
I decided the bass parts would be shared with a sample from Ethno 2 , Waverazor, and Waves’ Codex.
Get a Groove Going
Time to get a groove going on the Outlier saga… I put together midi loops from Waveform 9, DrumCore 4, and various odds and ends. Usually, I have a couple of different-sounding midi kits that blend together. I selected drum kits in DrumCore 4 and one of in previously chosen SampleTank 3 instruments.
Now, I put my simple blues guitar theme on it- two slide and one rhythm guitar. Next, I added a simple bass part, trading with a Waverazor instrument track. I filled in a couple of chord progressions with SampleTank 3 instruments and percussion from Waveform 9.
Taking Shape
This song is taking shape. Next, I wrote the lyrics to rock section- “Walk Away”. After singing along a few times, I have a melody in a framework.
The end has a call and response thing going on. I decided to be the three piece one-man chorus, so there you go…
The Choices…
All the choices we have in audio plugins are staggering. I use mainly Waves and IK Multimedia plugins, but I’ll describe these and the others more in depth as my blog slogs on… You have to “fish or cut bait” at some point, and live with your choices.
I’m finishing up this 16:30 monstrosity soon…
To be continued,,,
© 2018 J. Mark Witters Skyypilot.com