Really digging this "Efdemin Artist Tips" feature...

[Andre_Crom]

https://www.xlr8r.com/gear/artist-tips-efdemin

What struck me especially, was how he talks about limiting oneself to 4 - 8 channels.

I think that's one of the reasons why he creates such timeless and memorable music... if you just focus on a few elements (amd get them right) instead of getting lost in a sea of layers and stuff, the message in your music will come across more clearly.

Since reading it, i'm doing my best to apply the "max. 8 channels" rule, and i feel it really helps to focus on the essence and work faster.

Let me know what u think!

A.

[dubdub]

I already posted this last week, it's still on page one ...

[buffered]

https://www.xlr8r.com/gear/artist-tips-efdemin

What struck me especially, was how he talks about limiting oneself to 4 - 8 channels.



A.

Why do people find this approach so interesting or new?
To me this is totally normal. Never made a track with more than 8 channels. (sends excluded of course)

Kick (send for rumble)
hihat
hihat1
shaker
texture (send for process chain)
percs
synth
pad(optional)

what else?

[damagedGoods]

Yeah, I think constantly referring back to a question of simplicity is always of value. Too common a scenario is working on a loop for too long and getting too 'inside' it, thinking it's awesome. Then, the next day with fresh ears realising it's too busy, stripping things out and finding the essential core of it that now sounds so much better without all the contradicting or confusing (to the ear) parts.

I note that you, Andre, speak of elements rather than Efdemin talking in terms of tracks - an important distinction: that hihat that sounds good enough without a million other things going on may most easily be constructed by stacking 3 hats with different characters, and I'd think of that as 1 element out of this nominal 8, rather than 3 tracks...

The right number of elements is always going to be specific to the style though, I guess... trying to write anything stirring/epic with very few tracks is going to be hard - and that's why orchestral music sounds different to a classical octet...

[Prophän]

https://www.xlr8r.com/gear/artist-tips-efdemin

What struck me especially, was how he talks about limiting oneself to 4 - 8 channels.



A.

Why do people find this approach so interesting or new?
To me this is totally normal. Never made a track with more than 8 channels. (sends excluded of course)

Kick (send for rumble)
hihat
hihat1
shaker
texture (send for process chain)
percs
synth
pad(optional)

what else?

I have almost the same approach except that I may I use two different synths as one synth, and different percussions as well such as toms, congas, rims, some rides as well..

[Críoch]

This really echoes with me. I've been using a mpc to sequence maybe 2 synths & a basic sample drum kit for the last while.

It's been liberating having less. More performance & ideas based than the 'kitchen sink' approach.

[buffered]

came across this if anyone is interested.

http://inverted-audio.com/feature/in-th ... h-efdemin/

[Huck Farper]

have made full tracks with 3 tracks and returns.. can be done with even less

nothing makes me laugh (cry) more than seeing a techno track with 48 channels full