Analysis of S5E12: Joe Ford – Sound Design

Meant to type this up earlier in June, this is the final set of videos for Season 5 of Sample Genie, a two part tutorial from Joe Ford. Coincidently, he also did a producer masterclass for Computer Music, which came out in June as well.

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Joe Ford – Sound Design Pt. 1: Stabs

Using Serum to create “techno-inspired chordal stabs”

02:45 – FabFilter Pro-L inserted on Serum track to control output level

03:20 – Working with Serum, getting a thick sound, and then filtering to get some rhythmic stabs

04:00 – Comparing a square wave to a saw wave, goes with a saw because it has more harmonic content to filter

05:15 – Oscillator’s unison set to max value (16), slightly detuned

05:50 – Narrow detuning makes a digital sound, while wider detuning makes a bigger sound

06:15 – Adding white noise from the noise OSC

07:00 – FabFilter Pro-Q used to cut off frequencies. Joe Ford gives a good explanation of dB slope / poles.

08:00 – MG Low 18 filter, a low pass that slopes down by 18 dB per octave, starting at the cut off frequency

08:30 – Using an envelope routed to filter cut off, to create movement

09:30 – Adds in some resonance

09:55 – Explains how he assesses sounds at each stage of his sound design process

10:15 – Using LFO in ENV mode to restore some desired high frequency character, then moving on to the Effects module

11:00 – Likes using a separate SerumFX insert, after the instrument, finds it gives more control of the individual parts

12:45 – Modulation reverb room size, prefers a tight range, maybe only about 20% of the range

14:00 – Vocoder to add some noise

15:15 – Starting with modulations of parameters, using automation of macros. The macro controlling envelope’s attack control -> slower attack makes the filter slope

17:50 – Pitch automation

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Joe Ford – Sound Design Pt. 2: Build Ups

FX creation for a build up / transition.

01:00 – Comes from a period where he was learning how to make a drop relevant to the rest of the track, replicating a main riff but in a different timbre.

02:30 – FabFilter Timeless delay applied to fill in space between notes. One side (right side) is slightly offset.

05:00 – Arranging the breakdown, starting with low end rumble that has a long delay to its amp envelope. Also adds a crash cymbal.

07:00 – Low pass opening up over the phrase

08:45 – Kick build up, says it is “overused, but effective”.

10:00 – Sound design for the build up, using Serum. uses a fifth of the root note, goes in to details of modulation. Macros on the warp (sync setting) knob, and detune amount.

15:30 – Vocoder added, automation on the dry/wet knob, and an EQ doing both low-cut and high-cut automation movements.

17:30 – In addition to risers, likes reverse sounds to indicate something is happening.

18:30 – “Screams”, described as quick incidental sounds to help accent other sound elements.

19:15 – Demonstrating the difference between the kick build just starting on its own (“sounds amateur”), versus the reverse snare, crash & scream.

20:00 – Repeating the scream, with frequency shifting automation

21:15 – Creating tension & energy in the track

21:40 – Having elements going down rather than rising up, as another technique

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I still need to write up the bonus videos with Hypoxia (three total, two on Sample Genie and one on YouTube), might do those after the first Season 6 video analysis is posted.