background "filler"

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hutyluty
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background "filler"

Post by hutyluty » Sat Feb 05, 2011 3:07 pm

A lot of my tracks I've been making sound quite empty in my opinion, so I've been trying to use samples (like rain or radio chatter) back in the mix just to give it a bit more depth, but it all sounds very contrived.

Can anyone give me any tips on first selecting samples which would fit with what I'm trying to do and then how to place them within a song structure? Thankyou and apologies if this has been posted before
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SpungE
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Re: background "filler"

Post by SpungE » Sat Feb 05, 2011 3:21 pm

Light percussion is good. Can wet that up with some delay business too.

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Sinisterbeats
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Re: background "filler"

Post by Sinisterbeats » Sat Feb 05, 2011 3:40 pm

pads quite low in the mix with lots of verb, incidentals, short stabs with lots of verb. Try some panning on elements in your track to space them out more. Filtering white noise with lots of res to make a wind effect.

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abZ
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Re: background "filler"

Post by abZ » Sat Feb 05, 2011 5:16 pm

The easiest way to go is to use breakbeats layered in there. Not always what you want tho. I like taking nasty dirty samples and even... I haven't tried it yet but I was going to record my final mix out of my monitors onto my phone and then layer that underneath the original mix. Could get some phasing problems that way but it's being creative. I am sure I can find away to make it work. But yeah that very sterile sound can lead to a very boring tune. Need incidentals.

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Sharmaji
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Re: background "filler"

Post by Sharmaji » Sat Feb 05, 2011 8:31 pm

in general i think using musical elements to fill up space results in a cluttered, unfocused mix. work on your arrangement, specific reverbs & delays more than anything else.

Mala's "City Cycle" came on an old mix today as i was out & about-- that's a pretty fantastic example of what i'm talking about.
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barbearik
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Re: background "filler"

Post by barbearik » Sat Feb 05, 2011 8:59 pm

IMO less is more with the atmospheres. In my sig track, i was desperately trying to figure out how to fill the voids, and it turned out that one hat pattern and a 4 note progression that looped was all it needed. (strings with bass, hats before drop to be specific) but it all depends on what you are going for. but Sharmaji is right.
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gen_
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Re: background "filler"

Post by gen_ » Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:05 pm

Pads combined with a sound with sharp attack (like a bell) and lots delay so it echoes over the par.

Its good to keep things interesting though, so they key is to try new things. I find that a track feeling empty means there is a groove missing, as putting spaces in the right place is what makes the groove, if you get my drift.

Someone said somewhere, its not the sounds that make a good track, its the spaces between them, and I'd like to think he was right. Anyhoo best of luck, I'm off to rave :spam:

hutyluty
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Re: background "filler"

Post by hutyluty » Sun Feb 06, 2011 3:22 pm

Thanks for the help guys!
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djbmc
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Re: background "filler"

Post by djbmc » Sun Feb 06, 2011 3:37 pm

if ur gonna use rain and crowd noises hi cut it and keep it low in the mix, maybe sidechain it to a rhythmic part of ur track, doesn't have to be a compressor, try a gate for a more obvious effect.
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nowaysj
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Re: background "filler"

Post by nowaysj » Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:44 am

You have too space in your track? Holllly cow. I've always had waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too little.
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hutyluty
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Re: background "filler"

Post by hutyluty » Mon Feb 07, 2011 3:46 pm

nowaysj wrote:You have too space in your track? Holllly cow. I've always had waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too little.
Yeah well, it's all down to personal preference I suppose, but yeah ive never been into those tunes which are "thin" if you know what i mean- i like some texture
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