WB05 by Liam Benn

Initial Ideas

liambenn67 — 2022-09-22 23:22:29 UTC

this is a rough idea that hasn't been mixed and isn't even close to being finished, but this will likely be used for my studio track for this semester.

Initial logic file of the track

liambenn67 — 2022-09-22 23:33:56 UTC

Logic file screenshot week 3

liambenn67 — 2022-10-06 14:06:33 UTC

I added a lot of layers in and tried to recreate the kind of sound design and synth use Mick gordon uses in his work, using tracks like BFG division as an example

Harvard referencing List Week 3

liambenn67 — 2022-10-08 09:55:31 UTC

Gordon, M., 2017. DOOM: Behind the music. [online] Youtube.com. Available at: [Accessed 6 October 2022].

Gordon, M., 2016. THE TUNES OF DOOM – IT DJENTS INTERVIEWS MICK GORDON. [online] Origin Effects. Available at: [Accessed 8 October 2022].

Gordon, M., 2016. Doom: Behind the music part 1. [online] Youtube.com. Available at: [Accessed 8 October 2022].

Gordon, M., n.d. MICK GORDON. [online] MICK GORDON. Available at: [Accessed 8 October 2022].

Gordon, M. (2022) Re: Form Submission - Message Me - Case study for innovation in music.

Influence Vs Inspiration

liambenn67 — 2022-10-08 10:12:13 UTC

Harvard referencing list Week 2

liambenn67 — 2022-10-08 10:26:53 UTC

Youtu.be. 2020. 10BMTHS2-mick gordon-.mp4. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 September 2022].

Plan for WB05:

liambenn67 — 2022-10-08 10:29:45 UTC

Recreation of Mick Gordon synth sound example

liambenn67 — 2022-10-08 10:33:26 UTC

I used the graph Mick created and displayed in his GDC talk on the music of doom (Gordon, 2017) to digitally recreate the sound of his synth as part of using my influences work to inspire new ways to write my own music

Track so far as of 08/10/22

liambenn67 — 2022-10-08 10:40:55 UTC

Mick Gordon Questions and Answers

liambenn67 — 2022-10-08 11:17:32 UTC

I reached out to Mick to see if he would be up to answer some questions I had relating to how he created his sound and who his influences are, he agreed and sent over these answers to my questions:

Q: How did you find working with bands like Bring Me The Horizon and monuments on their tracks in regards to bending your style with theirs?

A: It was pretty straightforward on both albums. Post-Human had deliberate spaces where Oli/Jordan had left room for me to do my thing. On Monuments, it was more about making arrangement decisions that benefitted the song.

Q: Whilst making the DOOM soundtracks, what was your thought process on creating your signature synth sounds?

A: Only to make it cool and avoid modern cliches (dubstep talking basses, for example).

Q: How did the idea of blending the sound of the guitars with things that aren’t usually musical (Chainsaws being the most well-known one) come about and did it change the way you
wrote parts on the guitar for the tracks?

A: It didn't change the parts - I usually decide upon the parts first before exploring sound design. The intention was just to find guitar tones that were a little more unique and interesting, avoiding cliches and stock-standard approaches.

Q: What process do you follow when writing with both synths and guitars, do you tend to write the synth parts first and then build around those or do you go another route?

A: I write the song first and then decide what parts will be performed by which instrument. The arrangement is essential. For example, you can't just have six instruments playing the same thing - that's pointless. It's better to create an intricate arrangement where each part supports the other.

Q: Who would you say your biggest influences were when you were developing your sound?

A: I'm not sure - I try to find a unique sound for each project, an approach I learned from my mentor, Charles Deenen.

Q: Would you say that sound design is a highly overlooked part of writing and producing music?

A: I'd say that writing is heavily overlooked in favour of sound design these days.

Planning the produced track

liambenn67 — 2022-10-09 16:30:50 UTC

Harvard referencing list week 4:

liambenn67 — 2022-10-14 14:10:35 UTC

Holcomb, M., 2013. Mark Holcomb of Periphery: My Five Most Influential Guitarists. [online] guitarworld. Available at: [Accessed 14 October 2022].

Wegiel, N., 2021. Misha Mansoor: Periphery Founder & Guitarist. [online] Produce Like A Pro. Available at: [Accessed 14 October 2022].

Case study research table:

liambenn67 — 2022-10-14 14:24:54 UTC

Produced track - finished writing

liambenn67 — 2022-10-15 13:20:12 UTC

This is the produced track prior to mixing.

Screenshot of the logic file prior to mixing:

liambenn67 — 2022-10-15 13:23:01 UTC

Track analysis: Marigold - Periphery

liambenn67 — 2022-10-15 20:28:38 UTC

Who are you - Interview:

liambenn67 — 2022-10-20 13:55:15 UTC

WB05 Formative:

liambenn67 — 2022-10-21 12:31:01 UTC

Marigold - Periphery playthrough:

liambenn67 — 2022-10-26 12:01:04 UTC

Screenshot of logic file week 8:

liambenn67 — 2022-11-17 19:32:41 UTC

WB05 Presentation:

liambenn67 — 2022-11-17 19:33:38 UTC

Writing the final solo for the produced track (now called throne)

liambenn67 — 2022-11-30 00:28:45 UTC

This is the first time I played the final solo and had it recorded on camera. This is the final solo and will be recorded in properly and polished.

Decided on the live performance track - Whiplash:

liambenn67 — 2022-11-30 00:31:20 UTC

I have changed the track I am doing live to a track I wrote a few months back. This track is a lot of fun and presents a unique challenge that it is difficult to play live.

Helping others with 90s night gig- Bulls on parade rehearsal

liambenn67 — 2022-11-30 00:43:29 UTC

Helping others with 90s night gig- Suck my kiss

liambenn67 — 2022-11-30 00:43:40 UTC

Helping others with 90s night gig- Break stuff

liambenn67 — 2022-11-30 00:43:44 UTC

Helping others with 90s night gig- Headup

liambenn67 — 2022-11-30 00:43:46 UTC

Helping others with 90s night gig- Killing in the name

liambenn67 — 2022-11-30 00:43:48 UTC

Helping others with 90s night gig- Them bones

liambenn67 — 2022-11-30 00:43:52 UTC

Helping others with 90s night gig- Blind

liambenn67 — 2022-11-30 00:43:55 UTC

Helping others with 90s night gig- Freak on a leash

liambenn67 — 2022-11-30 00:43:58 UTC

Gig video from 24/11/22:

liambenn67 — 2022-12-02 13:01:45 UTC

During this gig, I played whiplash and throne, the 2 tracks I wrote and will be using for this semester.

Interview with Mick screenshot:

liambenn67 — 2022-12-06 17:43:14 UTC

WB05 Performance footage GoPro footage:

liambenn67 — 2022-12-07 19:48:42 UTC

WB05 Performance footage Wide shot footage:

liambenn67 — 2022-12-07 19:49:08 UTC

Contents List:

liambenn67 — 2022-12-12 16:51:41 UTC

Bibliography:

liambenn67 — 2022-12-12 16:52:19 UTC

Periphery (2019) Reptile [MP3], Periphery IV: Hail Stan. Adam "Nolly" Getgood.

Periphery (2016) Marigold [MP3], Periphery III: Select difficulty. Adam "Nolly" Getgood.

Wegiel, N. (2021) Misha Mansoor: Periphery founder & guitarist, Produce Like A Pro. Produce Like A Pro. Available at: https://producelikeapro.com/blog/misha-mansoor-periphery-founder-guitarist/ (Accessed: December 6, 2022).

Gordon, M. (2022) Re: Form Submission - Message Me - Case study for innovation in music.

Gordon, M. (2017) Doom: Behind the music, YouTube. GDC. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4FNBMZsqrY&t=1452s (Accessed: December 6, 2022).

BMTHchannel (2020) 10BMTHS2-Mick Gordon-.MP4, YouTube. BMTHchannel. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDYiw1v0P98&t=137s (Accessed: December 6, 2022).

Mansoor, M. (2021) Periphery's Misha Mansoor: Dream theater "absolutely changed my life", Revolver. Revolver. Available at: https://www.revolvermag.com/music/peripherys-misha-mansoor-dream-theater-absolutely-changed-my-life (Accessed: December 7, 2022).

Holcombe, M. (2021) Periphery's Mark Holcomb: Why dream theater are like "no band on the planet", Revolver. Revolver. Available at: https://www.revolvermag.com/music/peripherys-mark-holcomb-why-dream-theater-are-no-band-planet (Accessed: December 7, 2022).

Browne, J. (2016) Interview with John Browne of monuments and flux conduct, Prog Sphere. Prog Sphere. Available at: http://www.prog-sphere.com/interviews/john-browne-interview/ (Accessed: December 7, 2022).

Gordon, M., 2016. THE TUNES OF DOOM – IT DJENTS INTERVIEWS MICK GORDON. [online] Origin Effects. Available at: [Accessed 8 October 2022].

Gordon, M., 2016. Doom: Behind the music part 1. [online] Youtube.com. Available at: [Accessed 8 October 2022].

Gordon, M., n.d. MICK GORDON. [online] MICK GORDON. Available at: [Accessed 8 October 2022].

Holcomb, M., 2013. Mark Holcomb of Periphery: My Five Most Influential Guitarists. [online] guitarworld. Available at: [Accessed 14 October 2022].

Dream Theater (1999) The Dance Of Eternity: Scene Seven [MP3], Metropolis part 2: Scenes from a memory .

Lever, G. (2022) Mixing Mick Gordon's post-production W/ Monuments & George Lever, YouTube. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuLEvh9Tcos (Accessed: December 8, 2022).

Composerily (2020) How to sound like Mick Gordon, YouTube. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcYvrR_hLxs&t=230s (Accessed: December 8, 2022).

MrGeoffDaigle, G.P.G. (2021) I made a doom compressor for Ableton Live 10 + 11, YouTube. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziQZJI0gDy4 (Accessed: December 8, 2022).

WB05 Programme Notes:

liambenn67 — 2022-12-12 16:53:17 UTC

WB05 S2 Case study:

liambenn67 — 2022-12-12 16:53:51 UTC