Simplify to amplify
A search of simple composition through selective elements.
Today I’m posting a short explanation of my simple but effective setup to record on the fly (whenever I have 5 minutes or more).
My process is often the same: I play, I record, and slowly I organize the sounds as they appear to me. I love this relationship with sounds, how they present themselves to me, and how I listen.
"Giving yourself limitations is a great way to be creative. It pushes you to dig deeper."
First the recording: raw, non edited, capture on the fly.
Essentially the workflow is as below:
play around with everyday objects and small instruments (kalimba, glockenspiel, music boxes). Scratch, move things around, tap, talk… Can be also applied to synth or guitar or whatever you like.
capture via a microphone or a recorder (in my case the internal mic of the Wingie and use the built-in resonator or not.
loop what you like (I’m using the 4MS DLD where each channel can be recorded separately with freeze, scrub and reverse).
record everything inside AUM (I like to use the Ipad as it is quick to set up for impromptu sessions)
For this, I have a chain of effects to add some extra movement and control eq / stereo image. The DLD channel is sent to my Analog Heat for extra flavor then back to AUM.
repeat as much as you want!
Hope this is helpful and now go make some sound :)
Peace.
Very beautiful sounds. Thank you for sharing your workflow, very interesting. I've borrowed a Dual Looping Delay off a friend but haven't had time to fully explore it yet perhaps now is the time... 👍
I love these articles of yours where you share your way of working, especially when you show me how simplicity truly fosters creativity.
I think that's the biggest mistake I always make—I forget to strive for minimalism or the simplest approach, and I end up lost in overload.
Having a workflow as simple as you describe is perhaps the hardest thing to achieve.