Daydream (Bome Network, Noire, Nucleus, SWAM Double Bass, Lumina, Solo, ZebraHZ, Spectral Suite)

DavidEnglish

This is a music track that I improvised on two MIDI keyboards connected to an iPad.

I used Bome Network software to send the iPad's MIDI notes to Bitwig Studio running on a desktop PC. There the MIDI was routed to Noire for the piano, Nucleus for the violin, and SWAM Double Bass for the bass. I also used Lumina, Lores, and Solo for the singing voices, as well as ZebraHZ as a background instrument. And I used Bitwig's Spectral Suite as an audio effect for the piano.

After bringing the audio recording into Vegas Pro, I applied the Lurssen Mastering Console plug-in to the audio mix.

It's titled Daydream.

GeoTony

No idea what most of this s/w is but the results are always good 🤔

DavidEnglish

Thanks, @GeoTony. They're all instruments, except for Bome Network and Spectral Suite.

I usually try adding instruments after improvising the notes, to see if that might somehow improve the track (I copy-and-paste the original notes to the added instruments).

Later, I often mute some of the instruments to unclutter the track (again to see if that might improve the end result).

In this case, I kept most of the added instruments, but brought down their volume levels to make them more background than foreground.

McD

I’ll like this type of music… It helps me find serenity. You can’t make these soothing sounds using traditional techniques like string ensembles, brass sections, woodwind choirs or pipe organs in massive cathedrals. The closest might be the drones of India for inducing trancelike states or Paul Horn playing his flute in the Taj Mahal that has a marble dome and a hang time in the minutes.

To make this music you need masterful control of EQ’s and Reverbs. The best synths also provide these controls in the instrument design.

Now here’s the part that might sting a bit: Every Night for a while I asked my Google Home device to “Play some music for sleep” and it brings up a play list. The music has these massive pianos with soiften attacks and huge Bass EQ filtering that drive reverbs that hold a note for a long, long time. The music makes an effort NOT to provide any shocks to the system but rather to pull the mind into restfulness. But, since I don’t pay for Spotify but the Google Home speaker uses that service I get a commercial at twice the volume and it just shocks me out of my dream sequencing. So I tried a Spotify trial but Google Home doesn’t honor it.

So, I guess I need to curate a playlist on my phone and take control of the turntables at bedtime.

The music is a really good example of the type of music I will use to help my manic brain accept the time for beddy bye.

McD

Just woke up, s’up?

DavidEnglish

Thanks @McD . Much appreciated.

When editing some of these, I will sometimes almost nod off. I had figured that quality was a feature, not a bug.

If the music is helping me relax enough that I want to nod off, then it may be doing it's job (assuming that's the kind of music it is). It seems like the trick with this kind of music is to constrain the elements, while still keeping the music interesting. It explores dynamics without being too adventurous. And it moves through tones without being too bombastic.

I listened a lot to Ali Akbar Khan back in my college days. I even heard him perform at City Center in NYC. I also attended quite a few musical sessions of the Indian classical singer Pandit Pran Nath around the same time in NYC (La Monte Young and Terry Riley would sometimes accompany Pran Nath).

So there is probably some Indian influence in my music on wanting a drone-like resonance to give the music a soft shape and subtle motion.

McD

I’m very glad that my comments did not offend you… it can be tricky to comment without reading more from the creator. I like to see comments turned into conversations… even if they wander off topic. It’s damn hard to find a good conversation these days with social distancing, no particular schedule, exception for hospital visiting hours.