Getting Started with Textural Based Compositions

[charliedontsurf]

Hello All,

I'm wondering how one should get started (hardware and software wise) with a setup for textural/timbral/ambient compositions in the spirit of Eno, Ligeti, Penderecki, Biosphere, Aphex Twin, etc (to name a few examples).

What I currently have is pretty standard: Cubase 5.1, M-Audio-Oxygen-61 Midi Controller and soon-to-include Kontakt 5 as a general backbone library sampler. If there are any other specific libraries, programs or devices that are helpful in textural/timbral/ambient compositions, let me know what I can add to my modest current setup.

I suppose that I will probably be dealing with pre-sets initially as I am pretty much a beginner in this field but I would like to eventually get on the path to creating my own methods of synthesis. I realize that this initself is a long period of study but what are the best ways to get started in synthesizing your own sounds? Thankfully, I have experience in the composition front from writing chamber music during University but I am pretty much starting from scratch in the sequencer/synthesis arena. Any bit of advice for someone starting out is appreciated!

All best,
Charlie

[Plasuma!!!]

If you have Kontakt 5 and a microphone, you already have more than enough to make that kind of music.

[Harry Lightfoot Music]

you could probably write an entire album of that genre just by using Omnisphere alone. I highly recommend it!

[Bod]

I've heard many amazing things about Omnisphere, although sadly I don't own it.
With that and the power Kontakt has as a sampler, you'll be well on your way.

[musophrenic]

I've been getting into that a bit over the last year. Try something like this: get an audio sample of a melody, a chordal pad, or even a complete piece of music, and insert it into Cubase. Mess around with re-pitching it, time stretching it, processing it multiple times (like pitching it down an octave then pitching it back up then down again and so forth, several times) - just use the processing submenu under the 'Audio' menu. Also, maybe try taking a small portion of the sound, fade its beginning and end points in and out, and put together multiple copies of it fading in and out of each other, so it sounds like one continuous sound. Stack things in different pitches to make up some weird and wonderful chords. Aim to make the original source sound unrecognizable - it will retain its essence in a way, but you'll end up with some cool original stuff

[peter5992]

Omnisphere will get you there indeed; Absynth by Native Instruments is wonderful as well.

EastWest has got something in development as well although I forgot the name.

[Muziksculp]

You might like 'iris' by iZotope, a very handy tool for creating your unique textures, and much more :

http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/iris/


Cheers,
Muziksculp

[sidfrancis]

I own Omnisphere, I use it for similar projects and it will definitly be your best investment and keep you busy for about...no...even longer., very very long.;-) years!

[Dreamcube017]

The beset thing to do is start experimenting. have you sampled thigns before? If not, try something simpler as it can get pretty crazy.

In the same way though, it can be as simple as tossing random sounds in a sampler and putting random effects over them. Does Cubase have a drum Slicer?... well you said you have Kontaikt right? You know that annoying clicking sound the air conditioner might be making, record that. The cranky sound the garage door is making when it opens? Record that. Those crunchy potato chips someone's eating? Record that.... well you might wanna ask them first, but you get the idea. Just start recording and sampling anything.

And before you know it, you're a sound designer.

Peter, the product you're referring to is called Lost Planet... and it really did get lost... either that or Forsaken Planet. I can't remember exactly. I know Colossus and Goliath has some strange sounds burried in there somewhere.

[shambler]

EWQL Orchestra and Choirs and SD2, Zebra 2, Alchemy...sorted.