Effects and Atmospheric parts - concepts
Lesson time: (1min 9sec)
Paul Whalley breaks down the effects and ambience tracks he layered in to fill the space between the drums and synths and give the production its own character.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Produce a killer pop track
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Exploring Effects and Ambience Tracks
Hey, guys.
In this last section, we're going to be having a look at the effects and ambience tracks that I've added here. These are a really unique part of record making.
Why Effects and Ambience Tracks Matter
For one, they allow you to:
- Put your own stamp on the track.
- Achieve uniqueness: You'll very rarely find the same atmosphere track used in two different compositions.
- Get creative: You can make some fun sounds that help glue the sections together.
These tracks serve to:
- Fill the empty space left in between your drums and your synths, for example.
- Make your music unique and special sounding.
What We'll Explore
So, we'll have a look at a few of the layers I've added here, and I'll show you:
- The role they're playing.
- How I made some of those sounds.
About the instructor
Paul Whalley is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter with a deliberately broad sound. He spent years on the road as a touring session musician with artists including Mumford & Sons and Ellie Goulding. Classically trained, he holds an undergraduate degree in instrumental performance and a Master's in composition from the Guildhall School of Music. Since moving from touring into production and songwriting he has worked with artists such as NAO, Wretch 32 and Nina Nesbitt, and played on top-40 records around the world, including Little Mix's 'Shout Out to My Ex'. He is based at Tileyard Studios in north London, where he writes and produces for major UK labels and develops new artists. On MusicGurus he and Emmi Green deconstruct a pop record from scratch - every arrangement and production decision laid bare - for songwriters and producers who want to hear how hit records are really built. read more