IRC-20385

I wasn't going to post this here, but I couldn't resist.
 
Nothing to do with my lack of confidence of my ability, or me being my usual negative self. It's an ambient track, and I know that most peeps on this forum don't really dig ambient stuff.
 
A bit about IRC-20385
 
I wanted to step into the genre... After all, I already create pieces that have slow build-up. But this is truly ambient, with virtually no beat or structure to it at all.
 
There are just five audio tracks.
 
Track 1 - Bass Drone
 
The bass drone (because that is what this is, a drone track) was created by a piece of software that I have only just discovered. It's called "Paul's Extreme Sound Stretch," and it does what it says on the can... I took a bass guitar recording that I did for one of my other tunes, which was ten seconds long, and consisted of a short riff played on open E and an octave higher. I then used the stretching software to take it to over ten minutes long.
 
I then placed an instance of Tantra in the effects bin and adjusted it so that it provided a mild beat and filter sweep to the bass drone.
 
 
The output of this track was routed to a Drones buss, which then had Sends routed to separate Reverb and Delay busses.
 
Track 2 - Drone 1
 
This time I created a new guitar sample, specifically for IRC-20385, again, playing an open E for about 12 seconds, and then I stretched it to well over ten minutes.
 
I placed an instance of Saturn in the effects bin which produced some interesting buzzing artefacts, which I liked.
 
I also added Sends routed to a Tantra 1 buss and Tantra 2 buss. Each of those busses had a slightly different Tantra set-up and add yet a bit more of a throb to the higher pitched drone.
 
The output was routed to the Drones buss, panned hard right.
 
Track 3 - Drone 2
 
Similar to Track 2 but panned hard left.
 
Track 4 - Guitar 1
 
This is now a "normal" guitar recording that I improvised over the top of the drones. I used Guitar Rig 5 using the EpicTexture preset, which I though was suited to this piece.
 
Sends were routed to the Reverb and Delay busses and was output directly to Master, panned 50% right.
 
Track 5 - Guitar 2
 
Another guitar track, similar to Track 4, Guitar Rig 5 Solo FX preset, but panned 50% left.
 
Automation was added to control various effects parameters and buss levels.
 
And that's about it I think... Other than to say, I really enjoyed doing this... It made me explore effects that I wouldn't normally use and experiment with some different buss and send routings.
 
If you made it this far, you can check out the tune
 
cheers
 
andy
 
(you may have to roll a fat one...)

Hi there Walt,
 
Thanks for listening to IRC-20385 (doesn't roll of the tongue that, but I've typed it so much now that I don't have to keep checking if I've spelt it right LOL).
 
That Paul's Extreme Stretch thing is a pretty cool tool, if your are wanting to experiment with sounds. I've spent a good few hours on it since discovering it, putting different sounds into it and seeing what comes out.
 
Then add to that Tantra, which I purchased a few months ago, you can't help but be inspired...
 
Let me know when your ambient idea is cooked... I look forward to that
 
cheers
 
andy

Hi Tim,
 
Thanks for listening to IRC-20385. I know it can be a bit boring to try and listen to a piece that lasts so long and hardly changes, but you summed up what this piece is about, "serene." I could probably have cut it down to three minutes and still got the message across, but you know me now
 
I do like to write a little bit of what went into my music and I'm glad you found it interesting.
 
cheers
 
andy

Mesh
Very cool & interesting process/technique there Andy.....I truly like to see how people do things and learn from them. I suppose I should go & listen to it (tonight) to hear the results of this and imagine about a fat one.

Right'o Mesh... Let me know how you get on. It's a long track, and if you got past two minutes you're doing well. That's the way with ambient... I often listen to Music For Airports by  Eno, for instance, so I'm used to just sitting (or lying) there with my headphones on, listening to those subtle changes over time.
 
It's not everyone's cup o'tea, and I can understand why

Really cool stuff Andy. I actually like your ambient stuff a lot. This is like astrophysics set to music!!
 
Cheers,
 
 
Billy

As noted above this would suit a nice fat one, thanks for sharing.  Cool stuff.
 
(Yes all 10:53 of it)

Spacey  music, buddy.  Sounds good.  I think ethereal applies here, at least for me.

.

Rikkie
I also enjoyed playing along

 
Now... There's a thought ...
 
So glad you checked it out Rik
 

smallstonefan
I really enjoyed this - and I'm grateful to you for sharing your technique! I'm a huge fan of Tantra - will have to check out the time stretch app.

Wow! James... Thanks
 
Let me know how you get on with that stretch app... I think there are other options out there. I just stumbled upon the one I've mentioned as I was checking out other ambient stuff on SoundCloud.
 
cheers
 
andy

Well... I don't suppose it needed to be on a send, but I was mindful of Tantra being somewhat CPU hungry, and I wanted to process quite a few tracks.
 
It gives you similar control over the wet/dry level as you get within Tantra, because I set the Send to Pre, instead of the normal Post.
 
Experimenting with stuff like this is as much fun as the composing/writing 

smallstonefan
I like the idea of using it on a send because you could feed one instance from multiple sources - that could be really cool.

 
Absolutely...
 
With my two Tantra busses, each one slightly different (just tweaked the same preset), and the two drones going to each, I used automation to alternately vary the levels of each buss.
 
It's actually quite amazing how many ways you can cook a few simple audio tracks  
 

smallstonefan
Are you going to do more ambient?

I'm sure as hell going to give it another go
 
I've got one on the go at the moment that is using a three minute recording of morning bird song I did myself a couple of years ago. So cliche I know, but I thought I'd see what I can come up with.
 
I'm currently distracted though... My old keyboard controller no longer works because I've switched to Windows 10. On one the one hand, that's a right PITA, but on the other, I've dragged my JP-8000 and OB-12 out of retirement and I am trying like %^£& to learn how work them again haha!
 
I'm quite surprised at the response to this actually... I wasn't going to post here at first. Just goes to show, you can't tell what other peeps are into just by knowing what music they themselves produce.
 
Here's to the next one 

Here's to the next one! :)

ohgrant
 Another great sounding production and stress draining tune Andy. Great job

Hi Grant
 
Thanks for taking time to listen to IRC-20385, as always, I appreciate that 
 

smallstonefan
Here's to the next one! :)

  
 

Rikkie
Hi Andy, be careful what you wish for ; )

 
Rik! Dood! You honour me with your masterful guitar playing...
 
Do you want to take this further? Or was that just a bit of fun?
 
cheers
 
andy

Hiya Steve,
 
Thank you very much for listening to IRC-20385. You have shown great patience , as has everyone else here haha!
 
cheers
 
andy

Hello Andy , 
IRC-20385, caught my ear last week …I made a mental note to come back and give it another listen when I was fresh enough to post a comment….
Yeah , I'm listening to IRC-20385 right now and I think it is effing radical sounding  
You have certainly nailed the Space Vibe . Also , I think your clean guitar parts have a nice Hendrix type of vibe to them .
 
Kenny