Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Electronic Music Production // Dark Arts
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bram2000
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Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by bram2000 »

I've just been listening to some of the tracks over in the members tracks area and a comment on one of Mslwte's tracks (Klinca) got me thinking...

I always try to avoid the use of white noise in builds/drops as it sounds horribly cliched, but it does certainly help to build and release tension in a track. Does anyone have any neat alternatives?

As a start, I sometimes use very long reverb tails with lo-fi effects and lots of EQ/Filtering, but even this sounds a bit too obvious.

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Lost to the Void
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by Lost to the Void »

Feedback, granulising, scattering of the beats into chaos, risset tones.
There are many things you can do.
I think really it is down to personal creativity and experimentation.
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bram2000
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by bram2000 »

Thanks for the ideas!

I'm familiar with shepherd tones but never heard of risset. Just read wikipedia and can't say I'm entirely clear on the distinction. Can anyone shed some light?

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Lost to the Void
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by Lost to the Void »

Shepherd tone/risset tone, same thing, technically the scale is shephard, the rising tone is risset.
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by Walsh »

For my style of techno, I use an atmosphere that builds throughout the track rising up to its peak in the big break then cutting out to let the main synth drive the chorus of my tracks, then i have usually a half to 1 bar break letting the main synth drive through into the 2nd chorus where then I filter up the atmosphere back in again.

Personally for me that seems to be working for my style, I'm liking the tracks im building that way. The most important thing to remember is creativity.

Instead of white noise, i use the Erosion tool in Ableton to get that gritty feeling sometimes i use it on a return track and filter the erosion in and out of the track.

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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by ste »

parameters and automation... you can work with almost everything. parameters and automation is all you need.

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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by Mslwte »

Emphasis of elements is another way to add transitions. I.e if you have a off beat hat running through your track you can add another type of hat above or below it to keep things moving along.
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Mattias
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by Mattias »

Ah this is a very big area when it comes to production. It's also one of my favorite moments in producing music.
Theres so many ways to get nice builds, tensions & releases in tracks.

In my experience if you have a MIDI device with knobs etc, hit rec and records your automations. It always gets much better flow-wise compared to drawing lines with your mouse. Sometimes it just gets better by having the hands-on-control and rotating knobs gently even if you could achieve the exact same effect by drawing lines.
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benjaminwilliams
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by benjaminwilliams »

Reverbtails, (rev.) crashes and sweeps/risers still work for me, kinda straighforward i guess. Also i find by just intensifying a lot of sounds during the course of the break you can avoid the white noise. Sky is the limit really, although i still have to get more creative myself.

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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by gabe DM »

wow, lot to think and learn here :)

I used noise builder in the past but got tired pretty soon, now what I do it's automation on filters and eq building up like a dj would do live but not sure if it's a good idea or technique cause this way I don't leave anything to do for the dj :)
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by Dirk L »

Slam something straight in. Bang. That can be really powerful.

Or filter things down as you bring something else in. I think it helps if you can have a few things going on at once. So, if you are bringing something in, have a one shot or fx punctuate its intro. I think that sounds a bit less bare and obvious.

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sam
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by sam »

Yep, as already mentioned anything can be used to build really.

A lot of it can be embedded into your tracks structure and emphasized with subtle (or not so subtle) automation of the right parameters.

I feel spoiled for choice ITB and it really does come down to experimenting and letting loose with creativity.

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bram2000
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by bram2000 »

Some great tips here guys, cheers! :D

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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by Mslwte »

Yeah just map your controller to some parameters and hit record. The randomness is suited to techno in Particular ;)
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by jon_fisher »

I'd say almost anything goes with builds and drops and automation of Effects is probably the difference between a good build and a great build.

As for the white noise to me its the same as snare rolls, shepards tone opening release times! They have all been done to death but their is a reason, They work !! simple and effective and still probably the most effective ways to build and drop and track. I wouldn't avoid them if i was you, i'd embrace them if they fit your track. I've heard far to many tracks on beatport ruined because the producer has tried to do something "cool & new" and its not worked, sure if you can make something else work well with your track then do it, its always great when someone pulls something new out of the hat but if the snare or white noise work then use it and don't ruin a good track.

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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by rollah »

im quite partial to a bit of ragga mc-ing over my build ups. works a treat ha ha

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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by ozias_leduc »

lol. yeah just use a sample like "LETS GO". this way the people on the dancefloor know it's time to lets go.

seriously though, the fact that white noise has become so common is a good reason imo to avoid it. save that shit for tech house and so forth.

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Críoch
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by Críoch »

Its so tech house isnt it? It is a cool sound though.. has a lot of energy.. just a pity its been overused.

Definitely sounds better than a trancy snare rush though :)

I still think white noise sounds ok when its put on the "4" beat - just a splash before the next section. Just a restrained amount is acceptable.. but not sidechained for 16 bars afterwards like.

The white noise riser thing is definitely slightly whack.
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by ozias_leduc »

totally agree. white noise is still a useable sound; like anything (in techno) it pays to experiment:)

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helloitsmeagain
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Re: Avoiding the white noise build cliche

Post by helloitsmeagain »

Yeah, white noise still works, but you can try increase the length of a sound to create suspense. Open the release or decay (or both!) on the envelope. You move from separate notes to overlapping notes -> rises the volume level and creates a sustained chord. Pull it back when you wanna pop!

Otherwise, you could try use delay to build a wall of sound. Just keep progressively rising the feedback. Pull it back when you wanna pop!
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