Development Diary by

Ideas

jackrobinson15_2 — 2024-10-02 10:09:20 UTC

Listen to “Receive You” different versions. Shows how you can have different versions of the same track.

I won’t necessarily take direct inspiration from these songs, more the ideas of how they differ across different arrangements.

SWOT ANALYSIS

jackrobinson15_2 — 2024-10-09 09:45:41 UTC

First track start

jackrobinson15_2 — 2024-10-31 23:17:31 UTC

I made a 16 bar loop that took inspiration from Odetari’s “Keep Up”. This is not in a genre or style I’m comfortable with. This may be beneficial though as it could be easier to make a hiphop version based off this rather than the other way around.

I sound designed all 5 synths and added very simple drums. Some of the sounds could be changed like the bass which I’m not fully happy with yet.

2

jackrobinson15_2 — 2024-11-01 00:50:05 UTC

I added more instrumental lines including a pad playing chords, two synth loops where I added pitch automation and a Memphis vocal chop.

I also started working on the remix. I felt it would be easier to work on the pieces side by side instead of starting from scratch once I finished the first.

3. Slight mixing

jackrobinson15_2 — 2024-11-01 00:58:49 UTC

I wanted to make the synths sound more dirty, drums more punchy and the bass to have more presence in the mix. Mixing is one of my struggles as a producer so I took more time trying to get the sound I wanted.

I reworked the bass just a single osc saw with distortion also side chaining it to the kick. I also created a new Reese bass for the bridge sections for contrast.

I made a separate drum bus for the kicks and snares. I then added a soft clipper and boosted the samples into it. This worked for creating distortion when the kicks play with the snares but not on their own, which is what I wanted. I’ve never used buses before this.

To make the synths sound more dirty, I added tape effects and changed the formants for a detuned effect.

4. Remix progress

jackrobinson15_2 — 2024-11-01 01:03:33 UTC

I added the same synth loops and Memphis acapella. I also changed the arrangement to make it match the original more by adding a bridge with the same chord progression and same pad preset but with less processing and a more colourful melody.

Since this is a remix the acapella is chopped a lot with stutters and pitch effects. It creates the feel of a live DJ mashup which I like.

Track Progression

jackrobinson15_2 — 2024-11-01 01:06:50 UTC

I wanted to add a switch up in the original track so, at around 2 minutes in, I put a half time effect on the master channel which creates a really creepy vibe especially on the lead and vocals.

This could work as a good outro to the track

Remix Progression

jackrobinson15_2 — 2024-11-01 01:33:04 UTC

I found working on the progression for the remix to be challenging. Since this was a trap beat, I found it difficult to introduce new themes or variations without a complete beat switch or without deviating too much from the original.

I found a way around it by switching the 808 sample and snare sample around halfway through. The snare is also on beats 3 and 8 instead of the traditional 3 and 7 which creates a new groove for the track.

For more variation, I also chopped the acapella slightly different adding stutters that feel more percussive at times due to a change in transients.

BEAT SWITCH

jackrobinson15_2 — 2024-11-01 01:39:39 UTC

I decided that I didn’t want the first track to end with that halftime section so I turned it into a transition into a Drum and Bass section. The tempo increased and I added new versions of previous melodies and patterns like the bridge lead. Using the same lead preset, I made a melody that’s pretty much the same but I chopped it up more for variation. The main detuned lead loop and Memphis vocals are also chopped up and have new grooves that fit the dnb style more appropriately.

I did end up using the halftime section again as an outro for real this time except it transitions better from the dnb section. This part also has a bit crush automation on the master.

Remix outro

jackrobinson15_2 — 2024-11-01 01:45:14 UTC

I wanted this to end similarly to the other track so I also ended it with halftime on the master. There’s not much more added here except for a change to the chord progression. Instead of i V iii i, it’s i VI V. There’s also a added pitch bend on the ctm 808 as the track ends which makes a cool wishy washy sound.

Variation

jackrobinson15_2 — 2024-12-16 01:01:05 UTC

After some consideration I decided to swap around which track is the original and which is the remix. My “original” track that I made is a bit more experimental so I think it would benefit being called the remix instead.

I added some variation to the trap track by adding some new layers as I felt it was a bit empty at times. I added a guitar power chord towards the end and switched the wind synth pattern into a more atmospheric synth in the second half of the track for more variation.