Audio

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec04/articles/qa1204-4.htm

126bpm. (later 124bpm)   stage 1: So I decided to start the song with claps first. Then I lay the kicks, and rides (sounds like cymbal snares) Now to create the first RISE.

• Omnisphere , default, source: aloft high, up bend = 18.  (for more details see ‘LOL Erock‘ omnisphere pitch mod ‘air raid’ use.)
• PLUS .. prologue synth rise.. and automated its Drive, Emphasis and ring mod (for more details see ‘Candlelight‘ prologue synth use.)

2nd rise sweep.

• Prologue! automate cut off … gradient down and back up ..  24db LP .. (experiment the differnt cut offs HP or LP etc). Adjust noise, drive and EMPHASIS (for that whistle sound)

That special crunchy lead into first chorus:

• Find a suitable drum n bass like rift/beat that leads nicely into the chorus
• Add Datube, Multiband Compress, EQ the whole thing so it sounds radioish, then add AMP. (built-in AmpSimulator? I used the Solo100 preset to make it sound technoish and dirty.)

2nd verse

• Clean sharp kick? nexus progress kicks.
• Not using snare, using hihat instead.

Changed tempo to 124, saved the file as rough. Duplicate any files/waves/references from 126 tempo to 124 to continue. Bounce to rough_bounce. Unload to rough_bounce_unloaded. stage 2: Adding more details to the beats!

• Adding dubstep wobbles and effects to make fills more interesting.
• Muffled kicks can be achieved using the built-in automation EQ in Cubase, to act like highpass filter.

Bounce to rough_stage2_bounce. Unload to rough_stage2_unloaded.   stage 3: Adding music!! Bounce to rough_stage3_bounce. Unload to rough_stage3_unloaded.   stage 4: improve chorus vocals and effects

• Used Drums > Masarati DRM stereo > on claps to PUMP it up!! (+EQ)
• Also EQing drums and bass
• Added quite a few defining instruments
• Bounce to rough_stage4_bounce.
• Unload to rough_stage4_unloaded

Stage 5: More padding and guitar

• Added more defining instruments to verses
• EQ’ed non-essentials low end frequency so BASS can stand out more.
• Current problem is high-end frequency limited! Some key crash/rides cannot be heard anymore. Fix later?
• Bounce to rough_stage5_bounce
• Unload to rough_stage5_unloaded

Stage 6: Vocals

• Wrote lyrics and recorded Jeric vocals..
• EQ and modify arrangement tracks a bit to fit new vocals!
• Jeric’s vocals  – see project file for private vocal unique sound ideas.
• Bounce to rough_stage6_bounce
• Unload vocal effects and stuffs to rough_stage6_unloaded ( it seems turning off (bypass) is similar turning off all manually or unloading the plugin .. so not necessary to delete plugin effect)

Stage 7: Upgrade ah jia vocals

Stage 8: Adlips Party!

• 3 tracks of adlips and then solo each and keep the good stuffs

• use speakers first, then use ear phones for details after volume adjust below
• feeling/sexy (slice pick)
• diction (slice pick)
• style/skill (end of slice pick)
• volume (adjust – sounds soothing to ear, mix well into music) – if cover, same volume or louder.
• use earphones to hear and adjust.
  • Test on iPhone
• vari length pitch (crossfade sources, bounce and do – turn off track and stereo out effects!)
  • during or after this stage is fine – (listen on earphones) fix  lip noises (fade or lower volume), x-crackles mono on clicks, x-hum mono on bass pops
• … position first.. finally pitch check (solo track to be clear when pitching)

This is a 6/8 song.. therefore when quantizing, you need to choose ‘Triplet’ version or else it will always go off sync.

So I used, 1/16 Triplet

Stage 1:

• Get tempo 62, and laid out piano rift, and chords.
• Working on a good intro. and first chord into the song.
• stylus:Reset crazy stylus, select stylus > Mixer > Kit , then select ‘Multi’ after one second.

  apparently, stylus keeps forgetting or going crazy when used with jBridge, so when u have finished a Multi set up, save the whole Multi in /stylus_multis and load it when it goes crazy.

  Not a good idea to add EFFECTs to different stylus channel, will cause MIDI lag/delay later.

• Got my nice kick from Superior Drummer. Now looking for nice snare in Addictive.

Stage 1:

• Building the chorus beats and bassline using Nexus only!
• Created chorus lead here
• Feeling like adding samples.. so.. let’s do it!
• Nexus > Dance Leads > LD A simple Saw is a nice lead that connects between 2 notes.
• Add vocal leads into chorus (skipped… unable to remember next day)
• Bounce to stage1_bounce
• Unload instruments to stage1_unloaded

Stage 2:

• Feel like adding strings, ended up adding ‘Omnisphere > Steps of Eternity 1’ feeling good!
• Remember to fix LEAD trailing missing note.
• Working on intro and verse
• “2Sweet” lick
• Bounce to stage2_bounce
• Unload instruments to stage2_unloaded

Stage 3:

• Complete the skeleton

Stage 4

• Improve intro and ending
• Lovely guitar feedback from omnisphere is nice guitar feedback
• Oink Oink from omnisphere is nice lead that connects between 2 notes.
• Bounce to stage4_bounce
• Unloaded to stage4_unloaded

Stage 5

• Fills nicely.
• Nexus > Xp Drums SIngles > DR FX 6 is thunder sound.
• Nexus > XP Drums singles > DR Subbass – is subsweep
• Added a funny dropping sound from Omni > Sinedrop > drops from any note!
• Bounce to stage5_bounce
• Unload to stage5_unloaded

Stage 6

• Make bridge fuller, add piano?
• Bounce to stage6_bounce

So after 7 months, they wanted the full version..

So resuming from stage 3…

Stage 4:

1. Copy and pasted all the vocal parts for the song for the full song.

Stage 5:

• Adding details to icing on the arrangement..
• Bouncing to rough_stage5_bounce
• Unload to rough_stage5_unloaded

Stage 6:

• pads pads pads!
• Omni > Synth Poly
• Bounce to rough_stage6_bounce
• Unload to rough_stage6_unload

Stage 7:

• Mix!