«How I made the track 'Invisible Island'»

by Greg Lemmenmeier, posted on 21. July 2023 at 02:36, 1962 Views

I believe that music should make you feel *good* about yourself by generating good vibrations. Yesterday, I was in the mood for creating an uplifting track with a simple structure and just six instruments: drums, bass, piano, guitar, sax and flute. As I've written before, composing music is a series of decisions, and I'll tell you about them in this blogpost. But first, here is the finished track from my one-man-band project:


("Invisible Island" by Greg Lemm, a funky Jazzpop track with lots of sax and joy)


(my session screenshot shows which samplers I've chosen for this track — click to enlarge)

Introduction

In the heart of the musical cosmos, where funkiness reigns supreme, a hidden gem was born — a track that would set the ears on fire with its infectious groove. Today, I invite you to embark on a journey through the rhythmic paradise that is "Invisible Island." So, tighten your seatbelts and get ready to groove, as I reveal the special process behind the creation of this funkadelic piece.

Laying down the Foundation: Drums and Bass

Like the architects of groove, the rhythm section came first — the drums and bass. I wanted a rhythmic landscape that would make even the most rigid hips sway like palm trees in the tropical breeze. The drums danced with intricate patterns, blending syncopated accents and a sprinkle of hi-hat shimmer. Meanwhile, the bass guitar laid down a solid foundation, its thumping presence resonating deep within my soul.

I started by MIDI-writing a simple 'Philly' drum groove at tempo 105 bpm which seemed to be the best tempo for this track:


(Drum sampler 'Deviant Drums' with a drum track that I "painted" with my mouse)

After having tested just about every virtual drums on the market during the years, I chose my favorite drumkit which I use in all tracks: 'Deviant Drums' by 'Chaos Tone' with a maple snare drum by 'Canopus'. In my opinion as a former band drummer, 'Deviant Drums' sounds better than the most popular drum plugins such as EZD3, AD2, SSD5, NI, BFD. GGD, Mixwave, 8dio, Hertz, Trivium, Spitfire, Jamstix etc.

This is what my simple drum groove sounded like:


What the heck is a sampler? A sampled instrument is a digital instrument that produces sound by playing back pre-recorded, short audio clips called "samples".
To sample a drumkit, for example, the audio recording experts in a music studio set up a drumkit and then hit each drum while recording it with the best microphones. Many variations are sampled. These recordings are then made into "samplers" and can be used for composing new music by writing 'MIDI' notes (little dots and lines) or by playing them on a music keyboard. Sampled instruments can be highly realistic, mimicking acoustic instruments like pianos, guitars, drums etc. Most modern music, e.g. HipHop, uses samplers.

For composers, the big challenge is to write realistic MIDI notation. In general, the result will only sound convincing if the composer knows and understands how the real instruments are played. In my case, this is true with the exception of sax and cross flute.


Next, the bass. I chose the 'Evolution Roundwound Bass' by 'Orange Tree Samples' and programmed a simple but syncopated bass line:


(OTS Bass with simple bass line)

Together, it sounded like this:

Tickling the Ivories: Piano Vibes

To add a touch of elegance to this funky playground, the piano joined the party. It was like a suave pianist serenading you at a dimly lit jazz club. With every chord, the piano brought sophistication to the mix, weaving its way between the drums and bass like a skilled tightrope walker.


(Pianoteq 9 grand piano with the model "Shigeru Kawai")



The basic chords were Dm⁷ and C. I wrote the rhythmic 16th pattern of the piano in syncopated form – a composing style often heard in Funk music.

Enter the Rhythm Guitar: A Funky Messenger

What's Funk without a funky guitar? It's like a tropical island without its sun-kissed beaches. The guitar served as the funky messenger, sending its distinctive voice through the track.


(OTS 'Dracus' guitar)



The 'Dracus' by 'Orange Tree Samples' is not a typical virtual guitar. Actually, it's a sampled 8-string guitar made for Heavy Metal – but apart from its distorted sounds, it also has a clean sound that's surprisingly good.

I programmed the rather complicated 'Strummer' of the OTS 'Dracus' guitar in order to achieve an organic sounding rhythmic pattern. In this track, I didn't want to use the 'Wah-Wah' effect, but a phaser guitar effect that better works with the existing frequencies of the piano.

Sensual Saxophone: Where Seduction Meets Funk

Ah, the saxophone — the ultimate embodiment of sensuality in music. It slithered into "Invisible Island" like a mysterious seductress, its sultry notes flirting with the rhythm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. When the saxophone took center stage, it was as if time slowed down, and the entire world grooved to its irresistible charm.


('Vhorns' Tenor Sax — with painted pitch bends and playing articulations)



I chose a saxophone sound which is close to the signature sound of the famous sax player 'Kenny G'.

Flute's Enchanting Spell: Airy Fairy Dust

In this musical paradise, the flute was the sprinkle of airy fairy dust that transformed the track into something magical. Its airy melodies danced with the saxophone's charm, creating a dreamy atmosphere that was nothing short of enchanting. The flute weaved in and out of the groove, leaving a trail of joy and wonder in its path.


('Simple Flute' by 'Fluffy Audio' — with expressions played via modwheel)

Groove Convergence: Where Magic Happens

As the track took shape, the different elements melded together like a celestial alignment of funkiness. The drums laid the steady heartbeat, the bass held everything in place, the piano added sophistication, the rhythm guitar brought the Funk, and the saxophone and flute sprinkled their enchanting allure. Together, they created a universe where the irresistible groove reigned supreme. To top things off, I populated the master bus with a mixing/mastering tool:

The 'Sonible smart:limit' plugin is an AI-powered audio mastering tool that acts as a true peak limiter, designed to simplify the process of preparing music for streaming and other platforms. It analyzes a track and recommends limiter settings, while also providing tools for monitoring loudness and dynamics, checking for distortion, and refining the sound.

I ususally do all the channel mixing and mastering with only one tool – the Sonible limiter. Other audio engineers might use 50+ plugins, but I like to have everything compact.


(minimalistic mastering with only one plugin!)

Device Compatibility Testing

'MixChecker Ultra' by 'Audified' is a special plugin that helps audio engineers check how their "perfect" mix will actually sound on common consumer devices like phones, by simulating them directly within a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Since most people nowadays listen to music on phones, earplugs, tablets, laptops, boomboxes, car stereos, and other non-studio-monitor devices, MixChecker addresses the need to ensure a mix translates well across different playback systems by allowing users to quickly hear their mix on a variety of virtual emulations.

While analyzing with MixChecker, I adjust the details in my mix to make sure it'll sound transparent yet powerful even on tiny speakers.


(making sure that my track sounds good on all devices)

The Funky Finale: Embracing "Invisible Island"

And there you have it – the story of "Invisible Island," where drums, bass, piano, guitar, saxophone, and flute converged to form a fresh Jazzpop piece. This track invites you to a sonic paradise where worries melt away, and your body moves in sync with the irresistible groove. So, the next time you find yourself yearning for a musical getaway, close your eyes, press play on "Invisible Island," and let the magic of Funk transport you to that hidden paradise where saxophones whisper, flutes enchant, and groovy guitars talk in funky tongues. Embrace the groove, my friends, and let "Invisible Island" be your sanctuary. The paradise is yours to explore; all you need to do is let the music take you there!


(— the finished track :-)



• Posted on 21. July 2023 at 02:36     ▶ 1962 Views     ≡ Category: Life and Hobbies

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