Journal
This section will contain a short journal about all of the tracks I compose from my first commercial release onwards. This also will include free releases.
Note that "channels used" mentioned below each track contains the following: VST tracks, audio tracks (usually containing sound FXs) and mix buses (or 'groups' in Ableton Live). Does not include send tracks.
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Title: Dragor - Horizon (3xOsc Mix)
Aim: 3xOsc only project to test my skills and knowledge of subtractive synthesis, and to get used to the new features and workflow of FL Studio 9, and celebrating 5 years of trance productions
Release Date: 11th of October 2009
Released to: Acidplanet, SoundCloud, Flipside, FL Forums
Produced in: FL Studio 9
Created: Friday, September 11, 2009, 5:03 PM
Finished: Monday, September 21, 2009, 2:42:31 PM
Hours Spent: 20 hours, 50 minutes
Notes:
- Uploaded exactly 5 years after when I first joined acidplanet (which marked the official beginning) and my very first song to the public (Strike), thus "celebrating" the event
- Brief explanation of the creation of the project included in the project file
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Title: Dragor - Strike
Aim: First ever song to be released pubically by me, I had to start somewhere!
Release Date: FLP: 11th of October 2009, Originally released: 11th of October 2004
Released to: Acidplanet, Sifon, Flipside, FL Forums
Produced in: FL Studio 4
Notes:
- First ever song released to the public
- FLP uploaded exactly 5 years later
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Title: Dragor - Rising
Aim: This is an experimental orchestration track aimed at intergrating electronic elements and production techniques into an orchestra
Release Date: 27th of August 2009
Released to: Acidplanet, SoundCloud
Produced in: Cockos Reaper 3
Channels Used: 31
Created: Sunday, August 23, 2009, 12:16:47 PM
Finished: Thursday, August 27, 2009, 10:02:14 AM
Notes:
- Vienna Library was used for the orchestra
- Inspired by the Dark Knight soundtrack
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Title: Dragor - Dreams
Aim: This project focuses on implementing tempo changes and analog synth sounds into uplifting trance
Release Date: 5th of October 2009
Label: Only One Records
Produced in: Ableton Live 8
Channels Used: 76
Created: Saturday, May 02, 2009, 11:18:27 AM
Finished: Tuesday, August 04, 2009, 4:03:46 PM
Notes:
- The piano solo was the main focus of the track, which the name of the track was inspired from. The piano solo was inspired by Chopin Nocturnes. The main purpose was to see if I could implement constant tempo changes with in a trance break, and also to successfully switch from 136 to (about) 110bpm and back without ruining the flow. Being a piano player myself, these tempo changes (rubato) were meant to add "realism" and "emotion" to the piano solo.
- The piano solo was sequenced in a new project, and then rendered into the main project
- The piano solo is in 6/8 as opposed to the track tempo of 4/4
- This is the first time also that I have featured a prominent analog synth melody line in my tracks, which you may hear more often since I'm finding the sound of analog synths appealing.
- Another production technique used was "emphasising melodies" which is most noticeable in the build up (the solo analog synth melody would fade in, followed by the emphaised melody). I had discovered this technique while remaking "Epicentre" in FL Studio and thus this was an attempt to implement that production technique into my own productions just to try it out.
- The synth arpeggio in the intro, build, and outro is constantly panning hard left and right
- The glitch effects near the the intro and outro were done by combining the Live vocoder and a ping pong delay on the whole mix automating the wet knob (for both) and the format (on the vocoder) which gives it a gradually "lifting" effect, a bit like the sound of a High Pass filter.
- 5 VSTs were used for the bass,
- 5 VSTs were used for "emphasing the melody". Two primary timbres were used, Supersaws (2) and Bells (3)
- This time the track does use pre-recorded loops, used to give it that "extra touch"
- 12 individual samples were used for the beat (including the kick, open hat, and clap)
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Title: Dragor - Flare
Aim: The main focus of this track was high energy using production techniques to achieve it
Release Date: 5th of October 2009
Label: Only One Records
Produced in: Ableton Live 8
Channels Used: 73
Created: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 3:39:18 PM
Finished: Wednesday, August 05, 2009, 12:38:50 AM
Notes:
- There was meant to be an orchestration part originally in the break to attempt to integrate the orchestra into trance. However it did not go very well because I felt that the two timbres overall (between the acoustic orchestra and the electronic sound of trance) were very different and the transitions did not feel smooth and thus I felt I did not integrate it successfully this time around. I will try again in the future.
- The glitchy effect just before the climax was once again done with Glitch
- The pitch down effect in the intro was done with automating the wet/dry of a ping pong delay and a pitchwheel on the master and then finally automating Redux (bit crusher) to come out of the effect.
- The following glitchy pitch up effect after the intro was done by automating a (trance) gate along with another pitch shifter effect.
- The pitch up effect in the outro was done using the Ping Pong delay set to repitch and automating the "Beat Swing". At the very end a reverb was automated to 100% wet. All done on the master.
- This track also used the "emphasising melodies" technique, but this time with the pad melody which is emphasised later on in the climax
- The pad melody is not properly introduced until the climax, normally the melody is introduced somewhere near the start of the break
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Title: Steven Force - Across The Sky (Dragor Remix)
Aim: Similiar style to sky, aimed to have a dark atmosphere to it. Middle Eastern influenced sounds were used becaue of the interpretation I had towards the vocals.
Release Date: 10th of August 2009
Label: Only One Records
Produced in: Ableton Live 8
Channels Used: 69
Created: Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 10:39:06 PM
Finished: Saturday, May 30, 2009, 1:50:40 PM
Notes:
- Because of the sliding nature of the lead synth, no layering was used (otherwise it would be very tedious). The main lead is just one VST playing (normally I tend to layer my main melodies).
- The track starts and ends in the same way, just like in Sky
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Title: Dragor - Sky
Aim: The aim of this project was to see if I could create unique and unusual effects but still have it sound like an uplifting trance track. In other words, it is an experimental trance track.
Release Date: 11th of May 2009
Label: Only One Records
Produced in: Ableton Live 7
Channels Used: 52
Created: Wednesday, March 04, 2009, 11:22:26 PM
Notes:
- This releases is very special, since it was the breakthrough track which got me signed to Only One (an indie label)
- The atmosphere effects in the intro and outro breaks the cliche start of a trance track (usually it's kick/bass first then building up)
- The music box is in a 3/4 time signature
- The music box melody was inspired by FEAR 2 Project Origin's own music box melody
- That section was meant to bring an element of surprise, and become unpredictable
- The "special" effects like the slow down/speed up, gating, effects were done by Glitch on the master bus
- The vocal and bass fades in the intro were a combination of automating the wet/dry of a reverb and automating Live's Redux bitcrusher effect
- The atmosphere effects run right throughout the song from start to finish (except the music box part)
- The grainy part just before the music part was done by automating the redux plugin in Ableton Live on the strings
- The weird (and creepy!) "wah" effect just before the end of breakdown (after the climax) was done by automating: wet/dry knob, LFO rate (becoming faster) of two different vowel filters to give off the human-like wah effect, then after that, the glitch plugin was used to give the very fast retriggering sound at the end
- 16 individual samples were used for the beat (including the kick, open hat, and clap) no loops were used
- The track starts and ends in a very similar way
- The track was created in a linear manner
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Title: Dragor - Nebula
Aim: High energy uplifting trance!
Release Date: 11th of May 2009
Label: Only One Records
Produced in: Ableton Live 7
Channels Used: 55
Created: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 11:06:02 AM
Notes:
- 23 individual samples were used for the beat (including the kick, open hat, and clap) no loops were used
Other tracks
19/7/08 Matthew Chin - Silent Theme (Piano Solo)
This sprouted out of now where when I messed around with my midi keyboard.