Metabolomics 2a by Hans Mikelson
I started this piece by searching through some patches until I found one I liked in Dune (analog modeling software synth). This fades in around 0:10. I modified it a bit until I liked it more. It has a bit of a brass sound to it. I then added a pad track with Morpheus (additive synthesis). This is the sound that fades in at around 1:00. This was a good start. I originally set up in A minor apparently, then for some reason added F so that pushes into more of a D minor vibe?
I wanted to make use of some Native Instruments stuff since I had bought the "Lite" version and one of the instruments generates some ambient noise (Metaphysical Function). Searched around until I found one that sounded decent. This sound can be heard mixed with the droning sample at the beginning of the song and can also be heard around fading in around 4:50.
I also used the NI drum machine (Aerobic) and scrolled through until I found a patch that worked with the piece. Tweaked it a bit. These fade in gradually between 1:00 and 2:00.
Next I added some samples from one of my other pieces (Dark Quanta). I pitch shifted this to approximate C and D# tones (at this time thinking the piece was in C minor). Tried a few effects on it such as high pass filter but ended up just using an auto panner (Luxonix). This starts out the piece. 0:00 to 0:10 or so and shows up again near the end.
Added another Dune synth with a pulsing modulated filter. This comes in at 2:00.
Added another track using Dune for a chorus sound. I checked the Dune ARP and thought it was in C minor but I forgot that it is shifted based on the midi note so it was really in A minor so I created this part in C minor. This is the part that comes in around 3:30.
I wanted to liven up the rhythm section a bit so I added some acoustic and analog synth percussion samples to a track. I then used a granular/glitch tool to randomly envelope and repeat them (Michael Norris: Grain Streamer) ((Free)) This makes the insect like sounds beginning around 1:22.
I routed everything to a master reverb in Reaper (AUMatrixreverb Small Room) Added some fades and pans and that got it to its present state. Finished it off with Voxengo Elephant Ultrasmooth 3 dB (compressor).
So at this point the piece was sounding pretty good in the form that you can listen to above, but I thought it could use some analog synth like Moog part around 4:00 or so. I went down to record it thinking the piece was in C minor at this time and found out that it was closer to D minor. I haven't got the part recorded yet.
So then I went back and changed everything to all be in A minor (except the F note in the one pad) and now I'm trying to decide if that will make the whole song sounds more sterile maybe it was better before? OK, so this is still something of a work in progress but I like the way it is coming around. Currently the drums seem to be going on for too long but I fade them out a bit in the latest version that isn't up yet.
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