I want to try something new, and I encountered this track:
So I tried to recreate the vibe, and this is the result:
I feel like I’m missing something? Because it doesn’t sound like my reference track at all, nor where to start.
Any ideas?
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For some reason it reminded me of Minecraft videos on YouTube, but showing the timeline of things that most players do or have done in the game (sorry for mentioning that but it reminded me)
But then, I would think it would be ideal for you to make an action-adventure game. The two tracks made me have a false memory that when the player started the game, they played this soundtrack in the lobby.
It could also be a game that has a similar theme to get more ideas and creativity.
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Note: Im going to yap about music theory.
I notice some differences between your track and the reference.
First off, your chord progression in the beginning sounds very minor and sad, while the one in the track sounds melancholic, it might be your not extending your chords, you can use minor 7s and minor 9s to get that uplifting feeling. You can also use some modal interchange to spice up the chord progression. For example borrowing a chord from the Dorian mode, which will give it a slightly darker tone.
Another reason is your instrument choices, you are using a piano, while the track is using strings and bass, which gives that orchestral feeling, and with the chops are making it feel sci-fi and modern, it might also be the drum loop, your drum loop has quite a fast chopping style, kind of like break core, with a ton of repeats and very VERY fast chops, but the one in the track is still fast, but has less things going on, so its still fast, but has a more modern feeling, probably because of the sample choices as well.
They also use a ton of chops on the piano(closer to a rhode than a piano, but ill call it piano for convenience sake) and strings to convey that melancholic feeling because of that orchestral touch.
They also use a ton of delay on the extra effects, on the glitch sounds. Again, giving the sound a more modern feel. And a ton of bitcrusher on the drums, again giving it a very modern feel. And probably some flanger, just gives it some texture.
Also in your beginning part, you add an EQ to the piano, which is kind of unnecessary, because it sounds like the piano has no freedom and is contained in a box, unlike the strings in the reference track, which feel open and convey a kind of modern style.
The reference track also kind of transitions into a melancholic orchestral part, into a fast chopping piano break core type of thing, so you might want to adjust your song to this.
So to summarise:
Your chord progression seems depressing rather than melancholic. Extend your chords to minor 7,9 and 11s on different instruments to give it that melancholic orchestral feeling. Then you can switch up and add those cool piano/rhode chops.
Drums in the reference track feel more modern and compact, you might want to change up the samples for them.
Add more instruments, try to make it more orchestral. For example the deep strings in the reference track.
MORE CHOPS ON EVERYTHING.
MORE GLITCHY SOUNDS ON EVERYTHING.
Thats probably it, probably missed some ideas because they slipped out of my head. But your track doesn’t sound to far from the reference, maybe try to attach these tips into your track, might help a little.
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Your theory is very valid and makes sense, I didn’t observe much due to a false memory I had, but it’s an excellent idea.
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maybe missing the 2 or 3 layers of sound
the original is layered as follow:
- calm ambient 0:00-0:25
- abruptly changed to electronics 00:26-0:38
- mixed in electronics with drum and beats 0:39-1:01
- faded in ambient and then developments 1:02-2:13
- some ambient faded out, left with electronics and drum and beats 2:14-2:36
- faded out drum and beats, reintroduced ambient as main 2:37-2:50
- gradually faded out electronics 2:51-3:00
- ending
so there are at least 3 main layers fade in and out mixing with each other, with some other percussions layers sprinkled in for variety.
Your creation,
- Piano with ambient background 0:00-0:41
- added drum and beats 0:42-1:24
- dropped beat 1:25-1:46
- reintroduced beat 1:47-2:29
- dropped beat again and ending 2:30- the end
while your piano track has its developments, it lacks the original reference’s that the ambient and electronics layers fight for the focus of attention.
What do you think?
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Would it be possible for you to clarify this more? I don’t understand but I assuming it has less layers of instruments?
I tried to do that, but it would make the sound more “muddy”, basically too many things happened in a specific range of frequency.
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Interesting, however I’m not trying to copy the exact layout of my reference song, I want to learn if I can recreate the style of it.
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I just feel it sounds less muddy on the reference track because of how the drums are very compact, for example the snare, its very short, making it sound modern and futuristic. And the bit crusher makes it sound kind of retro, giving it that cool effect.
Add EQ if you think the sound is too muddy, remember the bass should only have low frequency, drums should be high frequency(hi hats and snares, probably excluding kick drum). And other elements panned out or in the centre frequency.
I guess just make an orchestral intro and outro, and probably the second chorus as well, and just make everything else with a choppy piano, a ton of textures and glitchy sound effects.
The whole song feels both orchestral and modern, kind of like break core, so if you get elements from both, you might get a similar result. Its just how you analyse the track to recreate something similar.
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Ooh I understand now, thank you so much! Now the only obstacle left is how to recreate those glitchy foleys and compressed drum patterns (this one is more challenging).
Might just going to use a glitch sample pack, but I will see if I can recreate by myself.
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