Alder
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Posts: 228
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Post by Alder on Jun 7, 2017 11:02:10 GMT -5
Fellow dungeoneers - I'd like to open a general thread about percussion, drums, and non-tonal instruments in Dungeon Synth. What have you heard that works well, contributes to the genre? What do you dislike or think is antithetical to the dungeon sound? Any die-hard purists who don't think percussion has any place in the dungeon? Are there any advancements or current trends which have caught your ear, good or bad? Does the presence of percussion in DS form boundaries around different sub-genres? Who are your favorite percussion-using artists? What specific instruments/beats/time signatures etc. do you think fit well in the framework? Are timpani over-used in "Orc Battle Music" type DS? Under-used? Just right? What do you use in your own creation? Drum machine? Sound clips? Midi? Real instruments? I'll start off with a bit of lauding & a question: Erang, particularly the album King of Nothing, Slave to No One, which I think is generally beloved around here, is filled with great examples of using percussion in DS to set the scenery. One song int particular captured my fancy immediately: Every Moon and Every Sun But - what is that one instrument that sounds like a woody rattle ending in a tambourine-like hit? The first instance, I believe is right at 0:41 and comes and goes throughout the track. It's so beautiful and sort of haunting. I love it. A dark corner of my brain keeps poking me about it being some traditional instrument I learned of some time ago...does anyone know?
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Post by Pilgrim's Shadow on Jun 7, 2017 11:20:50 GMT -5
Heya. I find it hard using percussion in DS and make it sound good, in my own experience anyway. Of course though, it is possible and i really like it when it's done, depends on the atmosphere the artist is trying to bring. I love the MIDI drum parts in "The Bane of Balak Gaahl" by Nazgal Dracul: nazgaldracul.bandcamp.com/album/the-bane-of-balak-gaahlAlso, as for Medieval DS, of course percussion were used in medieval times, so it is definitly possible and well placed. Best Example, IMO, is "Those Who Stand Against the Fallen" by Verminaard: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsQn8cz0l7Q&t=271s
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Alder
Magic User
Murky dungeon sounds: alderen.bandcamp.com
Posts: 228
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Post by Alder on Jun 7, 2017 11:25:50 GMT -5
Every Moon and Every Sun But - what is that one instrument that sounds like a woody rattle ending in a tambourine-like hit? I think I may have just found the answer to my own question (maybe?): a "Monk's Bell" Smaller: A bigger one: What an awesome instrument!
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Alder
Magic User
Murky dungeon sounds: alderen.bandcamp.com
Posts: 228
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Post by Alder on Jun 7, 2017 11:32:32 GMT -5
Heya. I find it hard using percussion in DS and make it sound good, in my own experience anyway. Of course though, it is possible and i really like it when it's done, depends on the atmosphere the artist is trying to bring. I love the MIDI drum parts in "The Bane of Balak Gaahl" by Nazgal Dracul: nazgaldracul.bandcamp.com/album/the-bane-of-balak-gaahlYeah, it's difficult to not sound artificially tacked on, but can be great when used right! That Nazgal Dracul track is a great example of percussion done well (and the cover art is great) - thanks for reminding me of a fantastic album!
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Alder
Magic User
Murky dungeon sounds: alderen.bandcamp.com
Posts: 228
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Post by Alder on Jun 7, 2017 11:33:27 GMT -5
Also, as for Medieval DS, of course percussion were used in medieval times, so it is definitly possible and well placed. Best Example, IMO, is "Those Who Stand Against the Fallen" by Verminaard: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsQn8cz0l7Q&t=271sThis has a very much old-school-RPG vibe to the percussion for me. Dig it.
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Post by Pilgrim's Shadow on Jun 7, 2017 11:38:17 GMT -5
Every Moon and Every Sun But - what is that one instrument that sounds like a woody rattle ending in a tambourine-like hit? I think I may have just found the answer to my own question (maybe?): a "Monk's Bell" Smaller: A bigger one: What an awesome instrument! Nice idea! very original. It gave me the idea of, well, wind chimes, if you're into happy dungeon synth like Fief's awsome album "II". though it is not percussion as much as it is atmosphere
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Post by nahadoth on Jun 7, 2017 17:19:58 GMT -5
I've experimented a lot trying to get more epic symphonic/tribal type sounds a-la Summoning as well as using some elements of kit percussion (bass drum and snare drum sounds) in Nahadoth music. Generally, I like to play it in by hand through a keyboard where possible, usually doing a scratch track to get a sense for the pattern and then re-recording everything as individual tracks - one track for bass drum (and/or toms), one for snare, one for cymbals/hi-hats, possibly a fourth for other auxilliary percussion.
I am the furthest thing from a purist on this subject, but generally I don't feel like anything automatically ruins the atmosphere - generally, though, I find I prefer more spacious/spare percussion to full driving percussion (either kit or epic/tribal styles)
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Post by chaucerianmyth on Jun 7, 2017 19:32:36 GMT -5
I've always liked the way percussion was utilized by Tarkin Turfer. It adds a lot to the atmosphere imo. I definitely think it has a place in Dungeon Synth, even kit percussion.
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Tyrannus
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Knowledge is Night
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Post by Tyrannus on Jun 7, 2017 20:58:34 GMT -5
Interesting topic! I've always had a lot of difficulty with incorporating percussion...I can never quite mix it properly
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Post by andrewwerdna on Jun 7, 2017 22:45:31 GMT -5
I like to put a low-pitch timpani heartbeat over everything, but I think all sorts of percussion could work well depending on how it's applied. There's definitely a lot of room for new approaches in regard to DS percussion. Hedge Wizard's "Local Portal" is especially interesting, very non-traditional percussion for DS but it still works great with the style.
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nazgaldracul
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Post by nazgaldracul on Jun 7, 2017 23:59:04 GMT -5
I like to put old school drum machines on my tracks, give them some extra rythm. Roland 808 drum machine sounds are surprisingly effective to spice up ones mix.
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Alder
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Posts: 228
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Post by Alder on Jun 8, 2017 12:01:52 GMT -5
I like to put old school drum machines on my tracks, give them some extra rythm. Roland 808 drum machine sounds are surprisingly effective to spice up ones mix. The 808 deserves its legendary status, and you use it well. Do you have an actual 808 or do you use some sort of digital emulation?
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nazgaldracul
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Post by nazgaldracul on Jun 8, 2017 12:37:24 GMT -5
I like to put old school drum machines on my tracks, give them some extra rythm. Roland 808 drum machine sounds are surprisingly effective to spice up ones mix. The 808 deserves its legendary status, and you use it well. Do you have an actual 808 or do you use some sort of digital emulation? I use hi res digital samples, but I am looking for the actual hardware though it has proven to be expensive.
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Alder
Magic User
Murky dungeon sounds: alderen.bandcamp.com
Posts: 228
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Post by Alder on Jun 8, 2017 13:19:31 GMT -5
The 808 deserves its legendary status, and you use it well. Do you have an actual 808 or do you use some sort of digital emulation? I use hi res digital samples, but I am looking for the actual hardware though it has proven to be expensive. Yeah, I believe it - a friend of mine once sold a 909 in "ok" condition for something like $3.5K. Have you looked into alternative hardware that gets similar sound to the 808? I've heard a lot of good whispers about the TR-8, which allegedly perfectly emulates both the 808 & 909, coming in around $4-500 new. There's also this funky little thing called the Korg Volca Beats ($100 - 150) which I'm highly intrigued by, considering its low price tag, apparent ease of use, and analog-esque sound, though I'd like to get a chance to fiddle with one. Seems like a potentially excellent tool for live work.
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olofdigre
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Post by olofdigre on Jun 8, 2017 13:41:47 GMT -5
Also consider that rhythmic sound starting as a weak pulse at about half a minute into En mΓΈrk Horisont. And then almost all of the crypt of the wizard tracks. Fanget I Krystal for example where some of the instruments have a short attack and release used like percussion. That is the way to do it. Mortiis knew back then.
Then I do not think that the drums playing melodies, like in Γ Heimr Heljar, sounds very good. It should be the other way around. Drums can play as drums and short sounds meant for melodies can play as rhythm. But drums can not play as melodies.
This is of course not a rule but what my taste has decided for me.
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