Ebb & Flow (Original Mix) by ShiftGorden

Style: House/electro

BPM: 132

Production Time: 2 months (on and off)

Comments:

UPDATE: 05/31/09 – I remastered again.  After a mixing session, I realized my beats were too loud and the instrumentation was too quiet.  This remix now accounts for that.  I’ve added a few bonus bits, too.  The new MP3 is available for download.

My first complete track made using Ableton 8.0 Suite – the additional effects and upgrades to soft-synths are awesome!  Aside from the instruments/FX that come with the software, I didn’t use any third party plug-ins.

The beat intro is fairly standard – I spiced things up by adding some bongos and woodsticks just to give the track a little movement.  I used the a few of Ableton’s Latin Percussion sounds here, and added a “groove template” to make it sound more natural.

Around 40s in, I add a nice floaty synth.  This was made using Operator with the Kontact effect applied (so the instrument has a membrane like quality).

1:41 sees the intro of a liquidy squelchy bassline.  This was made using Analog.  Using automation lanes, I tweak the oscilator octaves every now and again to add a little texture – and, of course, there is a filter in there somewhere.

I love distorted sounds, so I added some in the background.  The idea was to have a harmonic and rhythmic effect.  Around 2:40 is where I really start having fun with the distorted sound.  Lot’s of fun edits, cuts, and variation there.

The piano sound, at first, has some serious bit-crushing going on, and a filter behind it.  It emerges at 3:09.  I gradually reduce the bitcrushing as time goes by, so at the end of the break the piano is all natural.  Oh yeah, I used a standard piano preset from Sampler, but added a MIDI effect to vary the velocity.  I wanted the piano to have an organic and natural feel to it.

One of my “things” at the moment is to mess around with melodies and counter-melodies.  The string/synth patch (Operator) at 3:31 is an interesting touch.  I wanted the sound to be saying something different compared to the piano.  I add variation by changing chorus levels, cutting notes and messing with pitch.

Once the beat kicks back in, I lower the piano by an octave and change the arrangement timing.  I bring in my fun synth patch as well – I think it adds some beef to the track.

At 4:16 is where I start to have real fun with the track.  Again, I use a lot of cutting effects to provide some interesting sounds and rhythms.  I add another floaty synth a few bars later.  Here I use a lot of panning and cutting techniques to vary the sound without changing the melody.  It reminds me of someone going crazy on the keyboards.

5:27 sees an alternate bass groove kick in.  I like to change up my tracks to keep them interesting – I like to use DJ inspired transitions, which sit naturally in a record designed for a club.  That sound was made using Operator, aslo.

From that point on, it’s back to original bassline and outro.

I hope you enjoyed!