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JWM - "The Shrine" Ambient created in Korg Gadget 2
https://jwmmakerofmusic.bandcamp.com/track/the-shrine
Note: Comments are always appreciated. Free to stream online, but any purchases are much appreciated. $0.50 minimum.
This is "The Shrine". I crafted this Ambient piece to show how versatile Gadget 2 is. I used nothing but the gadgets that already come with the basic purchase, no IAPs, no external compatible apps (although I did master the piece in Cubasis 3 with AUv3 plugins, but more on that in a bit). To further break this down...
-The main evolving drone is Kiev, which is basically an amazing soundscape synth with a nice selection of sounds. It utilises vector synthesis to evolve slowly over time.
-The deep bass drone is Dublin, a wicked semi-modular synth. While I didn't use any modulation this time around, I did use two triangle waves slightly detuned so the bass would flow out and in.
-The ostinato synth bass is Wolfsburg, a fantastic all-rounder subtractive synth. I used the "ensemble" effect to get that crunchy "supersaw" feel.
-Finally, I used Marseille for the Shamisen. Marseille is a decent rompler with a nice selection of sounds to choose from.
So I couldn't resist giving this piece some "sauce" in Cubasis 3. (Didn't feel like running it through AUM to be honest, lol.) I mastered it with RX950, MagicDeathEyeStereo, Pitch Drift for a bit of wobble, Lo-Fi-AF for vinyl crackle and a bit of flux and press, and Barricade set to around -14LuFS to bring it all together. Of course I used Youlean's Loudness Meter in order to ensure I got the levels exactly right (it's the only loudness meter I trust, lol).
Cheers and enjoy!
Comments
I always love Japanese temples, and enjoy my visits to Japan.
Thank you for this serene ambient music.
Kiev is so nice!!!
Love everything about this from your cover to the intuitive volume shifts that move the energy hither and yon. I’m guessing you’re pushing ambient to the limit and maybe a little beyond. I like that. The production was crystal clear.
If it were my track I would break it in two parts at around 5:30. There are four distinct sections, do two and two. I think hearing the part at 5:30 as a beginning rather than a continuation would be intriguing. Also, to listen to it with a little intermission would work for me. I paused it anyway, as I went.
I hope @McD and @rs2000 will give this a listen. An excellent track, indeed.
Thank you so much for your beautiful, thoughtful comment. ❤️ May God bless you and your family this wonderful Easter season my friend. You're truly a pure spirit. And you've been to Japan before?! Ahh, I'm a little jealous, heehee. I always watch Japan travel channels on Youtube.
The man, the myth, the legend himself! 😃 Thank you for taking time to listen. And yes, I keep trying to push Ambient in new directions, and this time in Gadget of all apps for goodness sake! I tried to see what I could produce only using the gadgets included in the initial purchase of Gadget 2, nothing more, and nothing less.
And I always try to shoot for the best clarity possible. My trusty Beats Solo 3 headphones help with that immensely, although your mileage may vary regarding headphones and monitors.
This is a brilliant idea for my next foray into Ambient! I'll give that a shot next time I take a crack at it.
Thank you again my friend. May you be blessed during this Passover my friend. I hope they give it a listen too.
And @R_2 as well who started that "Gadget experiment" thread back in 2021.
And here's a screenshot of the project I forgot to post in my original post. 😂 Whoops, well here it is then mates.
Yeah, definitely one to make the ambient police come out of hiding here 😂 because this is for sure at times edging into 'song' territory. It's fun to play with people's ideas of what ambient is / was / should be.
I really like what you did with your logo, btw, using those characters. Am I reading them correctly as 丁山巾 (nail mountain cloth)? Anyway, very clever that you managed to find characters that look like your initials!
@jwmmakerofmusic : Sir, this is the ambient police. I am going to ask you to step out of the DAW with your hands raised. You are clearly in possession of an illegally held song structure. This is way too engaging to count as ambient. And too fast. In places, anyway.
Good use of the Kiev gadget. Helsinki is labeled the ambient synth but I prefer Kiev since it’s more diverse. Did you use different tempos per scene?
Nice to read the description, i bet you could’ve done this 100% in Gadget. ‘Wobble’ from the IFX flanger (0 feedback), vinyl crackle in Recife, bit of IFX saturation and master limiter
In general for this type of music, recording the speaker output (or any ambient
sound the mic picks up) back into Zurich/Rosario/Durban can add interesting material.
LOL! Indeed, I'm sure Svetlovska will be along any minu...oh, there she is, lol. (I'll get to you don't worry, lol.)
Thank you so much.
It's actually a font I found online. I used AI to generate the image, but then I add the text in ProCreate, export as PNG, then use the simple photo edit functions in the Photos app to adjust the tone of the image, add a vignette, etc.
Lol, well in my defense, at least it isn't Pulse Emitter's cringe idea of "Ambient". 😂
https://www.youtube.com/live/F7aEQREtXnw?feature=share
Remember this live stream from a couple years ago? 🤣 He should have the book thrown at him.
Helsinki is nice for pretty pads, but that's about it really. Kiev has more options, can evolve sounds over time, and is fun to experiment with.
Nope, I programmed the "pulsing bass" as 8th note triplets, and when it goes up a half step, as 16th notes.
This is true, but then again, I ran out of IFX space on most of the tracks, lol. Also, Gadget doesn't have an LuFS meter so I can ensure it's at -14 LuFS. I also don't have access to RX950 in Gadget's master track (or any plugin or IFX on the master track for that matter). Sure I could route Gadget as IAA into AUM and load Youlean's Loudness Meter to set Gadget's limiter proper, but eh.
...that's effing brilliant! Or I can even route stuff into Memphis (iMS-20) if memory serves proper.
Lovely piece, one of your best for a while I thought. Lots of variation of pace and feel which makes the time just wiz by. Excellent 🙏
Awesome stuff! And I appreciate the breakdown. I don’t have the MagicDeathEye yet but I’ve heard only great things. And you used 2 of my favorite Gadgets (Kiev and Marseille).
My family is from Japan but I haven’t had the chance to visit yet. It’s on my bucket list though.
Hey mate. I thought you might get a kick out of this.
This is what I did before music.
This is at my club.
It was a “3 Gun Match”. Google it.
I was there that day.
This isn’t me but I know the guy.
Thank you so much mate. ^_^ Sometimes with Ambient you just gotta switch it up a little. Then again, sometimes it's better to stick with one pace or a lack thereof.
I love Kiev for its evolving timbres and such, and Marseille for quick and easy sounds. 🫶 I simply stuck with the basics as I was trying to help someone else out and basically crafted this piece in under an hour to demonstrate Gadget 2's "powers".
You're Japanese?
That's really cool! I hope you do get to visit them mate.
That's really cool! Looks like a lot of fun. ^_^ I might sample it for an Ambient experiment later on if you're cool with that (of course I'd use PaulXStretch and other processes on what I sample). I will check private messages tomorrow. 🙂
Sometimes just sticking to the base Gadget apps is the most fun for me. I get too lost in the sauce otherwise lol.
And yeah! My grandma came here from Japan when her and her mom were younger. Still have family here and there but definitely plan on going soon!