BUY OR CREATE

Today I wanted to talk about buying sample libraries or creating your own. When it comes to music production they can become very different worlds. This article is purely my opinion and I do not claim to have the ultimate truth about it. Everyone is entitled to have their opinion and that is why I wanted to talk about this, to start a discussion and see what people has to say about the topic.

There is a wide universe when it comes to Sample Libraries or VST's. Some of them are made by incredibly dedicated creatives, taking for them a deep understanding of sound engineering and microphone placement. We can find libraries for Electronic and Organic type of sounds, being each of them a different creation process. 

There are libraries made by LFO's (Synths) and libraries that come from recordings (Violins). There are great libraries such as CineSamples, Native Instruments Libraries or Independent ones that can provide us with the sonic tools that we need to achieve our goal. 

On the other hand we have DIY samples that can be made entirely from scratch. Though this process shares the same principles as the ones you can buy, we have to take into account that: a lot of this libraries are made in professional studios with HQ professional equipment, to which not all of us have easy access or even access at all. So we have to be creative in order to choose: a)what are we recording, b) where are we recording it, c) for what we are recording it. The equipment does not necessarily has to be the top of the top. I have had made samples from recordings on my phone but usually I tend to use a MXL condenser microphone. The difference would be in the amount of processing you will have to make after recording in order to take out the best frequencies of that sound.

Now, what is the difference in between Buying or Creating samples FOR ME. I believe the usage of both is a great combination to achieve big professional sounding and uniqueness to the project. 

Music now days is changing faster than ever and the possibilities of sound, textures, colours, rhythms is wider than ever and keeps expanding just like the universe. When buying samples we get access to the patches other people have, though we can edit them and change here or there the source keeps being the same. On the other hand when you create a sample from a recording YOU did, the sound is unique. Yes... the pan hit might sound like a Closed HH you can get from an 808 drum kit or whatever. But the source is not the 808 drum kit, is something that you had access to directly and not everybody has. By experimenting with it, we can achieve interesting sounds that when combining them... sometimes great results can come. 

It can be very tedious every now and then because after trying with many recordings no good sound can come out from them but, the satisfaction you get when something is working out and sounds rad... is priceless and guess what?... Only you have it. You can mimic Hanz Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Olafur Arnalds, Blink 182 etc but influencing people enough that your sound becomes a trend or with its unique stamp is something completely different... I believe.

In conclusion both roads are OK to follow but one adds something that the other doesn't. Give it a try to experiment with rare sounds and maybe you will find something interesting enough to include on  your projects.

Thanks for reading.

M. Pelayo

TOM DELONGE: THE PURSUIT OF TONE

Some of us know him as the high pitch voice and distorted guitar from "Blink 182", the creator of "Box Car Racer", Singer and creator of "Angels and Airwaves", the owner of "To The Stars" or for his creative projects such as "Dreamwalker" or "The Lonely Astronaut in Christmas Eve". Others know him as the crazy guy from Blink who started to do weird stuff and let down his own band.

  

This are the two sides of the coin I have heard from Tom Delonge, everyone has the right to have their opinion; I understand that. What I think is important here, is to know the reason behind actions.

I've always resonated with Tom's projects, since blink to his more recent ones. I even like that I'm still discovering new stuff he has done that I haven't heard or seen before. I think the mood, vibes and visuals from his projects are very deep, honest with deep symbolisms and meaning.

Some Tom Delonge projects:

I have had this POV until I saw "TOM DELONGE: THE PURSUIT OF TONE". If you haven't... go watch it. Where he talks about how Blink and its sound started to develop, how they found each other, the transition from Blink to Box Car Racer, Angels and Airwaves and what art and music means to him. This last part is the one I want to focus on, his POV comes from challenging himself towards new things that are completely unknown for him (get out of your comfort zone). I think this approach towards any work/life/experience is important in order to: keep our lives interesting, be motivated everyday, keep our curiosity alive, experience success when we accomplish something we challenge ourselves for.

On the other hand when he talks about his life, I found interesting habits that made me relate to him in a deeper way. His fascination for the universe, space, conspiracy theories, that he listen to scholars talks, interest in different religions, his addiction for physics and how things work. While watching this documentary it was like if I heard my self talk about things that I like, how I see life and what matters to me. I bet it must be deeply interesting to have a talk with Tom on other topics that are not necessarily music related. 

I believe that not knowing his life and each of his projects, is what takes out there a wrong image about Tom. (He even say something like this in the Documentary) When we enter the backstage about his work, is when it becomes more interesting than you think. 

I wanted to write about this Documentary because, it gave me the motivation and POV to start making my own sounds and pursuit my own tone (I still haven't found it... but I am working on it haha) On the other side, whenever I have a lack of motivation, feel down, lonely or any negative mindset. I watch this documentary or at least listen to it. This totally reminds me why I am doing what I am doing, it gives me motivation to challenge myself (not only in music, in everyday life) and it fills me with energy to go to my studio and get to work or explore new sounds if I have the chance.

I am not saying that this documentary or Tom's story should inspire everyone. What I am trying to say is go found that source of energy that change your mindset, makes you want to be better than yesterday and put a smile on your face. It can be going for a run, listening to scholars, look the sky, walk your dog, talk to a friend, watch a movie etc... everyone has their own "medicine" to cure down mindsets. For me in personal is making or listening to music, hearing my influences talk about their lives, their own music, their creative process, their believes and what music means to them. I take all this as a reminder of why I chose this path and keep it alive everyday.

Here is a link to Ernie Ball's website where you will find the trailer, info and videos of Tom Delonge: Pursuit of Tone". Thanks for reading and hope you like it!

Ernie Ball Website:

https://www.ernieball.com/thepursuitoftone/tom-delonge

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2GSnW5Fiw4

M. Pelayo

SAMPLE MAKING

I did it! or at least I think I did... if not I am sure I am one step closer to cracking the code towards sample making.

I decided to leave my Kontakt Sample libraries aside and start creating my own sounds from scratch. Kontakt libraries are awesome don't get me wrong, I just wanted to challenge myself and dig deeper into the art of writing music. My curiosity started to grow after I heard that "Music Making is an extension of one true self". I am not a big esoteric guy but I do believe that what we express in any art, is what we can not express in words.

I was amazed by the possibilities of sound, I mean... record a water bottle hit and turn it into a kick, a window being closed becomes your snare, pans and kitchen utensils become your cymbals and hi hats... and even better you can access unique melodic sounds. Record a small whistle and turn it into a synth, record a Aaaaah! like at the dentist and make a choir synth. I have done this in a very superficial level where I just tweaked a sample or use just one or two original sounds.

Besides being entertaining, you have to be creative to decide which sound sources you will use. Each one of them leads you to unique and different possibilities. I wont lie, tweaking each of the wave properties and processing the signal to achieve a sound you like... can be tedious and sometimes slow, but if you are patient enough... the satisfaction of achieving a unique sound texture is worth.

So if you had never tried it, get a mic, some toys and gadgets and start creating your own libraries. You will be amazed by the results you can achieve.

Here is a short video of what sound sources I used and the final sounds I created.

https://www.facebook.com/pelayo2/videos/vb.610250004/10157333064955005/?type=2&theater&notif_t=like&notif_id=1473744049950461

M. Pelayo

CREATIVE INTERACTION

For the last couple of days I have been getting together with a friend to jam and produce some tracks for a new project we are putting together. I have had the opportunity to jam some popular tracks with other musicians, but it is a completely different thing to get together to create something from scratch.

Music collaboration is an interesting thing when you have people with similar influences, different perspectives, backgrounds but share the same vision. It becomes a thriving thing that takes each one out of their comfort zone, What do I mean by that?

In my personal experience, I have been making music mainly on my own wearing headphones talking literally to my self. Though entertain a lot while doing it, it becomes quite lonely every now and then or frustrating cause you are stuck in the loop, using the same sounds, rhythms, mixing techniques etc... forcing yourself to try new things it is always a good idea, but the source of inspiration still the same... is YOU!.

I find a great learning experience when creating with other musicians. Sometimes they have skills you might not have, knowledge, understanding, likings or a sense of rhythm, melody and dynamics that it is different than yours. Have you ever heard someone play and say... man why does my tracks can't sound like that? Of course it all comes down to composition, voicing techniques, harmony, mixing, and musical concepts that can helps us achieve the desired sound. Now days with computers we can replicate a wide variety of music, still a virtual instrument is never going to replace an organic one (in my personal opinion).

What I am trying to say here is that: interaction of two or more creative minds thriving together, can bring interesting and unique results. They are not going to be good all the time but the experience and what you get out of that time is priceless. This interactions is what steals my attention, how two or more points of views can create something that lots of people can understand and relate to.

M. PELAYO - MONOMYTH THE HEROS JOURNEY

I wanted to share my first concept instrumental album with you. Download link and description bellow.

Download

About this album: 

Short instrumental pieces based on Christopher Vogler's 12 stages of The Hero's Journey. Monomyth expresses an introspective journey. It's concept starts in an post apocalyptical world where the Hero's mind being asleep in the dark, the unawareness, the “ordinary world”. Story develops as curiosity and questioning arrises in the Hero's mind, taking the initiative to “Do Something”, to wake up, to become... mindfulness. Trough out the journey the Hero faces mentors, challenges, temptations and finally its own transformation. Let your imagination be free while creating its own story. 

If this resonates with you. Please share! 

Cover Album by Cheche 

____________________________________________________________

Sobre el álbum:

Piezas instrumentales cortas basadas en las 12 etapas de Christophet Vogler de “El Viaje del Héroe”. Monomyth explora un viaje instrospectivo. La historia comienza en un mundo post apocalíptico donde la mente del Héroe esta dormida, ciega, en el “Mundo Ordinario”. La historia se desarrolla al Héroe sentir el llamado de la curiosidad y custionamientos que lo llevan a tomar iniciativa para “Hacer Algo”... para despertar. Durante su travesía el Héroe se encuentra con mentores, desafíos, aprendizajes y finalmente su propia transformación. Deja que tu imaginación forme parte de esta travesía creando su propia historia.

Artwork: Cheche

credits

Released January 1, 2016

Thanks for listening:
Composer: Manuel Pelayo / www.manuelpelayo.com
Cover Album by Cheche

M. Pelayo

WHAT IS THIS SITE ABOUT?

Music is one of the oldest things that has, and keep having a huge impact on us. Now days is not only melodic lines and harmonies made with instruments, technology has allow us to explore sound textures and colours such as the ones used on electronic music.

"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything" .- Plato

Trough out the years I started to be aware of the hard work great artists put into their creations, from their creative process and recording to mixing and mastering. Technology has allow us to create music even in our phones now, (that is awesome do not get me wrong) we have more people discovering the joy of creating your own expressions coded into frequencies. At the same time I feel that its oversupply, has taken a little bit away from its value to some of its listeners. Artists spend months or years writing, producing, recording, mixing, fixing and touring their songs into something unique and special, and I feel that is underrated by some... now days. 

The goal of the topics here is to share my experiences, thoughts and tips about the processes of creating music and sounds, in order to make others appreciate the work behind their favorite songs. So if you are a Producer, Composer or just a music lover you are in a fun site.

Here is a link to THE DISTORTION OF SOUND documentary, where artists talk about this topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDZcz-V29_M
Director: Jacob Rosenberg
Cast: Slash, Quincy Jones, Mike Shinoda, Snoop Dogg, Hans Zimmer.

I hope you find something useful and if you like what you see in here please share!.

Thanks. 

M. Pelayo

ABOUT ME

Hi! I am a Composer for Film, Media and Games from Mexico.

Following my interest for musical and visual arts, I moved to achieve a Film Scoring Certificate at UCLA. During 2011 I developed a solo independent project called Close Fact City as singer- songwriter; Close Fact City has been distributed online. At the present time I act as a Composer for Film, Media and Games. I also produce concept instrumental albums where I get to explore with freedom my own creativity.

Sound and musical forms have been shaping my life. Music is like magic to me!, I find its strength and complexity fascinating. Sometimes I like to think of it as: “What is one of the oldest things that still have a huge impact on humanity?….Music”.

Over the years I have explored new knowledge, fields, sounds, textures and colours that have helped me expand my Compositional skills. A lot of it came from awesome friends and amazing teachers at the UCLA program that helped me open my eyes towards the musical language.

If you would like to check out my material you can go to:

www.manuelpelayo.com

Thanks for reading, pls share.

M. Pelayo