Ambient for Beginners (everything you need to know!)

[@MM4F]

You hit the nail on the head… it’s not uncommon for us to spend two, three months on a track.. including, experimentation, learning, setup, re setup, lost setups. crashing, arguments and binning the whole thing and starting fresh… Fantastic times.

[@bentojgaard5434]

When I was young, I had great fun slowing down ambient recordings and applying effects to it (using Sound Forge 4 on Windows 98)

[@TempleOvBlackLight]

I've been an ambient "artist" since around 2006 and have released a few albums, but this just gave me insight and a whole new way of seeing things. Mind blown! Thank you so much, you are amazing!

[@HealyHQ]

Interesting thought process. You approach music much like a sculptor, gradually revealing what lay within the stone all along.

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

That's exactly it!

[@lukec3069]

Great comment!

[@BaileyJim11]

I've said it before, but it bears repeating. Thank you Chris, your willingness to share is one of the (many) qualities you posess which keeps me coming back time after time. More please!!

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Thank you Jim! Truly appreciated.

[@meme-mx4eq]

@BailyJim11 yep, the willingness to REALLY share !!!

[@Skiddoo42]

I've been trying to get started for a few years now, had a lot of health problems and couldn't make myself do the work, but I've been listening to a lot of ambient and falling deeper in love with it. Then I discovered earthing a few days ago and my drive and focus started to go the other direction, about the time I found this video. I rearranged my workspace, set up a new computer and have this tutorial on heavy rotation. I've always enjoyed ambient but never fully understood what it was. I have other genres I want to create but I realize this is the genre that's going to teach me the skills required to excel in all the others. Much gratitude your way, this is profoundly well-produced and written and your energy is infectious.

[@TimGoins2112]

Your thought process is unlike anything I have ever seen! Extremely simplified yet the sound is complex! I have been trying for years to find a good process of producing ambient music.. come to find out I have been overthinking and over complicating things.. I wish I wouldve seen this video when it came out!

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

That’s awesome! Check out my other tutorials on my channel. You’re in for quite a ride!

[@GreasyDaddy]

I watched this a few months ago and began to incorporate a lot of the ideas here in to my own music. My cousin is a therapist and mentioned off hand she was tired of using the same old "spa" music in her sessions, and we had the idea to make some music custom for her practice! So now I'm back and diving in head first. Thank you for putting these videos out here and being such an excellent teacher!

[@nate4732]

This is honestly one of the best youtube videos I've ever seen in my life. I had plateaued progressing with music for years, but finally I've decided to sit down and be patient and your tutorials have already blown my mind and I don't feel so completely clueless or just 'winging it' completely. Thank you for the amazing lessons Chris!

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Thank you so much! Truly appreciated.

[@pk3776]

New to this channel. I listen to metal, techno and other banging fast music….. However, when I sleep, I only listen to ambient. I also use Ableton live. I am inspired 👍🙏❤️

[@stickytentaclesmusic]

Super inspiring and helpful tutorial. I`ve been trying to start making ambient music to free myself from my regular more beat/groove oriented music life, but I`ve struggled getting a meaninful project going. Keep ending up fiddling endlessly with random note generators, reverbs and making a mess. Love how clearly you explained the thought process and the steps to take starting a track. Really loved how you used that sample to get things going. Must try that. Thanks for the brilliant video, now I need to watch more 😊

[@ronaldwild]

Great, thank you! I love ambient music and always wanted to do music like that. Your Tutorial is a great door opener. I am a graphic designer and we painted a lot on art school. Making ambient reminds me really on that process of sculpting, visualising, texturing, using light/shadow atmospheres, not loosing in details in the beginning, but concern about the holistic overall built... so similar, really

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

That's a great analogy and I feel the same way. The parallels between art and music are everywhere!

[@billtrantos19]

Thank you for this Chris! I've been playing and writing music for almost 20 years now, ranging from classic rock, grunge and prog metal to melodic techno and film scoring, but only recently I started having an itch for ambient music. This video has been very insightful, I realized I was overplaying and didn't let things breath and develop on their own. New sub here :)

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Thank you so much! Cheers and welcome aboard.

[@SongOfItself]

This is fantastically useful, thank you! You answered one of the questions I've always had - do you quantize the pad washes, or are they entirely "free-time". Very interesting. But then you add that rhythmic element with the pluck sound, and that opens a whole new terrain. This to me would be a great lesson #2: how long can you stay on that single rhythmic pattern of four notes? How would you go about extending it, complicating it (if at all)? At what point would it become too much of an obvious melody and maybe break the ambient spell? How do you go about finding the sweet spot between randomness and repetition? Or how would you go about composing an ambient piece that has no such rhythmical, periodic element (again, if at all)?

[@patriciaoudart1508]

This is the big deal!🙏🥺🙃

[@matt304]

Very helpful and inspiring video. I've been in love with dark ambient for years now, but I've been hesitant to try and make my own tracks. I have absolutely no experience with music production, but from this video I can see just how large and free the ambient space is. I think I'll have to try it out

[@AcousticSerenity]

Widek was my introduction to ambient style music. I actually started an ambient project years ago, and only got 2 tracks in before i became distracted with life,work,etc. Looking at starting it up again. Ty for all the info

[@TexasTimelapse]

I guess KZbin's algorithm is getting better. It FINALLY recommended a channel worth subscribing to. This is right up my alley!

[@rothritter]

You have multiple gifts my friend. Your music enthusiasm and knowledge is inspiring. Thank you for sharing.

[@sidminor9284]

I make music for myself but I have 16 tracks on soundcloud for the sake of curiosity. I have two clicks and listens in two years. The fact is I don't listen to other people's music either at all. Actually I don't really care if anybody listens to my music. This makes me relieved and happier.

[@karl.weaver]

I would like to listen to your music!

[@nakiradams]

I'm at minute 6:00 and I don't need to look any further to subscribe to your channel. I know what I'm looking for. Thanks

[@astrofreq]

SOOOOO good. Instant sub. I've been writing music for decades and still feel like a total beginner at every turn. This is helpful AND inspiring. Thank you.

[@ThaRuralJuror]

Couldn't agree more with you on returning to the basics!! Preach brotha!!

[@joon_lagoon1]

i’ve been dabbling into ambient music but recently it’s all i’ve been making

[@meathead919]

Did I already say this is my favorite music production channel? THANK YOU!

[@franpower8208]

Thank you for creating such an in depth video with easy to understand steps and techniques. This video was so helpful as I have listened to ambient music for years but never created any for myself, as a musician who usually creates guitar music, I think I now have a better understanding of technique.

[@EdgarDavey]

Thank you so much for this. As a beginner hobbyist producer this is pure gold

[@sevynn3970]

I’ve become interested in ambient music over the past couple of years and have considered exploring it creatively. This video was really educational. You’ve got a new follower

[@hvrmnd]

this was amazing! love your music man. thanks. I am a car designer, but your music and space ambient in general kept me inspired to be creative in my field. I really wanted to have a go at making music, then paused, now I feel I shall revisit. Thanks to you.

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Thank you so much. Keep me posted on your journey!

[@HeavenlyBridegroomMusic]

I need to create ambient pads for my own worship music. This is new to me, but I need that sound!

[@amineatarodi8649]

I made my first ambient song thanks to you and Thank you for your pure energy.

[@duncansmith6318]

Love the reversed market sample through the resonator. Need to try that trick today!

[@DeeNimmin]

I use Logic but still get a ton of value from your excellent tutorials. Thank you.

[@Normandy_Mike]

What I love about this is that these techniques work well with Berlin School composition too. I'm finding new inspiration here for a piece I'd been losing interest in. But emulating the atmos you create with that sample is putting a lot of sonic energy and interest in - thanks!

[@broqli4016]

One minute in and I already love the video, your passion and respect for the genre shows from the start, thank you, can’t wait to learn from you!

[@StarMaze]

For me it all started with Brian Eno, Harold Budd, Steve Roach & Vidna Obmana… later I discovered Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze and Pete Namlook. Ambient is a story you tell to the world. Thanks Chris for all the value you provide to us

[@Scriabin_fan]

You should check out Taylor Deupree and Celer if you haven't already.

[@lewisforsythe1403]

Roger Eno is also amazing.

[@StarMaze]

@@lewisforsythe1403 yes he is. I still have a CD from him.

[@robmlisanti]

I own 4 synths and tons of software plugins and they are both great as long as the end result makes you happy!

[@lukeuseforce]

I've been watching you on and off for a few years. This 'recent' change in content quality is amazing. Thank you so much! Looking forward to joining your Patreon soon 😉

[@mdue72]

I really enjoyed your open-ended approach to setting up a beginner project, great ideas with plenty of possibilities for extensions, thank you 🙂

[@ChandroJi]

I came across your channel by accident but after just two videos I already love what you are doing here! I’m very much interested in Ambient and Berlin School Music but I always struggled how to Beginn my own ambient journey. I’m so much happy that I found your channel and I’m quite sure you will help me to find my own way. I’ve just subscribed to your channel! Thanks a lot for your good work and many greetings from Germany! 😊👍 See you!

[@ChandroJi]

What M4? Sequencer ou are using at 35:20 ? Looks quite useful! 😊 Do you have a link for me? Thanks a lot!

[@matthewclark9248]

One of the best tutorials I've seen in a while. Thank you

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Thank you so much!

[@nanocyde_artist]

4:00 yep I made my first EP with a Yamaha TYU-40, a portable cassette recorder, and Acid Pro 4.0...

[@gotube22e]

Ambient king! Loving this so much,,, inspiring me deeply .

[@medicisounds1384]

Glad i found this channel. I want to create ambient inspired music with a blend of wave, dnb, trance, Future garage. I just love the huge lush ambiance sounds but still want to implement drums and rhythm. Another great artist i enjoy listening to is AES DANA. Wish he made some tutorials like you did!

[@ivansoto9723]

This is really helpful. Very often when you first try to get into ambient music, there's not really a lot of information on it. People just say "throw reverb on it" and occaisionally "Paulstretch" but not much more. I've noticed that ambient music producers are a small but growing bunch as far as content goes, and I've learned a lot more just from watching streams of people actually making it.

[@robbybobbyhobbies]

Thank you you beautiful person! Your videos are bringing a lot of joy and your stuff on Stepic in particular has really provided a lot of inspiration.

[@Nophera]

The concept of sonic depth of field is exactly the piece of advice I was missing

[@dominicdoyle2895]

What a fantastic video. Thank you so much for covering so much detail in a way that doesn’t seem really intimidating for a newbie like myself.

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

You are so welcome!

[@xd-gm1mq]

1:55 we really have to appriciate this guy for counting all of the ways for ambient music.

[@birchsongsltd.6831]

For me Ambient is the journey that first grabbed me into music all those decades ago. There are worlds that appear in my minds imagination that show themselves when I listen.

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Same here!

[@inferno4001]

You had me in the first few minutes! The journey begins!!

[@agreen9903]

love the positive energy in your videos dude

[@tomnorris195]

Chris, thank you so much for your enthusiasm and expertise in this world of sonic promise! You are such an inspiration, I’m just beginning my journey. Please keep these amazing vids coming. 👍👍

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Made my day! Thank you so much.

[@EkoSounds510]

I love how your approach to music and definitely excites the viewer to learn.

[@brianmitchellfolk]

I'm a total nubie to this genre. Thank you for all your effort and advice.

[@SteveMaggioncalda]

mind blown. what an amazing core to launch from. THANK YOU!

[@patriciaoudart1508]

Very interesting subject for me. Arythmic landscape and melodic things is the music I like to play, mostly live as partial improvisation in my studio. I've two aspects about life, fist writer keeping my goats in the hills, playing wind instuments, some hand made, some bass recorder and clarinet, an ideal natural sound synthetiser for melodics and landscape... But I love sound in my electronical and numeric studio, so said, Wav, AND Analogic synthesis, like the reason I came here today, buying a new one, a Berhinger Deepmind 12 rack. So for me my absolute brain ear needs proper natural and chosen food. Sound matters. My fist journey is to play live, commercial is not my way. Secondly, can be recorded to have wav landscape for my headphones as I keeping goats and Writting a novel. So I have to use a palet of sounds I can modulate in studio, but what I hate, is electronical coloured sounds. On the synthesis market, some instruments, hardware or software are recognizable, or all their sounds makes a sort of boring family, so for me, no matter where I find sounds, they must be a creation , original in mind. Natural is also a keyword. Being in Nature, as if this is Nature of electronical wold! That means space, respiration, moving, surprising, weather type, changing, events, far, near, left, right, living music. Technical aspects are boring for me but in a studio, lot of keyboards, cables, expanders, midi things to learn, sound machines, midi ones again, record,, play, manipulates, knobs, knobs, knobs, screens, harwares softwares softhardwares, manuals, old material, Juno6, monosynths, no memories, do I sold them, do I buy news....😵🤭😱🤗😡😏🙀🥺🙃... So. 🤭😏The journey is sometimes loving technology more than emotions... And the goal is..... CREATIVE EMOTIONS. SO, first having to keep my goats, keep creativity and emotion, landscapes, life, beauty, natural beauty, natural sound (ooops, I have a Roland Jupiter 60!🤗🤭) And making technical things as companion more than feeding the system. End of worlds, music ambiant is not made for all, this is subtile vapor for Good's brain's absolute ear, not supermarket music, or mono sound like a !ot of people ears on their phone😱 Some like to relax with shamanic natural sounds, mostly there's this new age neoshamanic rythmic I hate, plus running water, this is stupid brainwashing. So going to life music, natural melody if I Can say registered music is for me the one I can put in my good headphones, with me on my wave player, returning to it's source, this is Wisdom, not a product. So, will see what I can do with that, knowing the Sun is going to it's dramatical renew in a few years, so saving technological music is a big deal in itself, but saving human life, Wisdom and Knowledge, here about Our technological music, or natural instruments, or just being alive, All that is my journey! Keep it?🙏🧡💚😌

[@BrentODell]

I'm only a quarter of the way in, and I've been playing/recording my own demos for decades, but this is SO good. GREAT video, thank you.

[@theunfortunatemelon6400]

This is so well put together and super helpful!! absolute goldmine and I feel equipped for my uni project now. Thanks:)

[@kat.leighb]

So very helpful! I'm just starting music production and I'm doing an ambient music challenge, so I wanted to learn more. Your explanation of sonic depth of field totally blew my mind. Thank you!

[@audiosmyth5549]

Damn you're so creative man.... I feel ambient as a genre is so deeep !

[@itinerantghost]

rewatching...So many nuggets on this video, Chris! Great job

[@FerboseSounds]

Very nice introduction to Ambient production, very well done!

[@nakiradams]

It also shows that you're really encouraging the audience to give it a try. Thanks

[@albshore8]

Thank you . You have helped me get back into ambient, but with and understanding of what I'm doing. I'm in a musical hole trying to find my way back to L1fe. I recently got Vital and have tried to follow you with it.

[@electropunkzero]

0:50 ok you got me hyped! I'm starting to make ambient music and I realized it fits my writing style perfectly. I can get away with having 0 drums and providing rhythm through delays, stutters and gates, and sequences. It also challenges the boundaries of my taste and "how busy" can ambient music be and all these kinds of things. I feel like it has opened a whole new world to me, and I was wondering if I was overthinking it, but you got me hyped!

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Sounds like you're on the right track! Check out my Patreon if you want to learn more. Cheers!

[@SuperRingoffire1]

Been my go to genre for a good while now ☮️

[@Sacredcreative]

Lost for words! Love your approach so much. 🙏

[@viola_venom]

Thank you for this amazing video!! I’ve been wanting to do more ambient composition and this video has been super helpful!! 🤩

[@L1ghtOn3]

As someone who was brought up with Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis, De Vorzon, DiCola etc and Dj'd in the 90's from early hardcore to trance, the mid 2000s I lost my love for Djing and dance music in general, because everywhere I looked it was American import of RnB and Hip Hop, then the killer for Dance music, Dubstep, yeah music wasn't the same anymore, especially the Djing world, so I was officially OUT! Roll on maybe 5/6 years later and stumbling upon Ultimae records, hearing Solar Fields, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Asura etc, and others like Lauge and Baba Gnohm, and so on, my interest was piqued and a new interest and passion was born! Unfortunately my life took a left turn and my listening dipped mid 2010s, but after going through some turmoil and getting back on the right track, I am now ready to delve into Ambient once more, I have installed Cakewalk and will slowly be trying to create some background music for my apps. Great Channel! 👍

[@callumrankine2170]

I'm on the first step of my ambient journey, thank you so much for drawing back the veil.

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

You are so welcome!

[@mystiknow]

Thanks a ton, Chris! I truly appreciate… your time, energy and passion for sharing your enlightening guidance on this beautiful music genre.

[@daviddechamps8840]

I definitely have picked up something today. Thanks!

[@mr.katnip1513]

If YOU’RE REALLLY INTOO AMBIENNNT; youuu’lll watccch thisss videooo innn 0.5 speeeddd!!! 🫠🫠🫠

[@ericwillett8709]

.25 is even better 😵‍💫

[@zenith7024]

Haha, I started off many years ago as well using reason 2.5, it was great at the time, but even still the malestrom and subtractor synths come in handy

[@SkyscanX1]

Thanks Chris - Great session. I was interested in your preloaded audio effects template. I see Utility, EQ8 and the Compressor loaded. I am interested in the thin strip to the left of the utility. I cannot see it very well. I beleive you mentioned in another video you always use this template for your ambient tracks. This seems to work as your basic template? Thanks for your feedback and sharing.

[@paulonuneesx]

Really inspiring tutorial, love you passion for music!

[@Blaq.Liquid]

Such a wealth of knowledge with this channel

[@Rollur1234]

Totally agree with you. Favor the software results ❤

[@misterfox9468]

It's always interesting seeing someone else's approach. It's very different yet strikingly similar to how I do things. Thanks for sharing. The genre needs more artists.

[@greatwall2003]

Thanks, great tutorial. And the sound you've created is really good

[@axamesvc]

"SOL" and "SKY TREES" tracks from Solar Fields comes to us from some another universe. Nowadays, HUVA Network is taking the lead with their abstract sci-fi dystopian producing style, and Solar Fields are one of two producers in this duo.

[@judyvibes]

Thank you so much for showing your creative process! So interesting! Btw, I'm loving your pink floyd shirt!

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Woohoo! Thank you!!

[@ronnie_cutmore]

this is so informative and helpful. I really enjoyed listening to the track unfold. thank you 🙏

[@nathanwyatt385]

Amazing video! I learned a lot. I know I'm 2 years late now haha but keep up the good work Christopher!

[@VeryNicePerson]

Thank you for awesome tutorials. I wish more people could watch them. But right now, only us with 4K (or at least 1440p) monitors can watch your videos. While it is fine with me, you could consider increasing Zoom Display in look&feel Ableton settings, just for those viewers that are stuck to 1080p monitors. I don't think it would ruin your workflow too much. Thanks!

[@sleeptwitch8950]

I think the whole clue is that it's not about copying very specific settings, but learn the general workflow and feel. Even on a phone I could understand what he was doing.

[@molotulo8808]

Great job promoting music.

[@LiamKoiter]

bro is the guy from alvin and the chikmunks, respect

[@paulusandronicus]

Amazing video, super useful! Thank you much!

[@SRC503]

Thank you. I want to make this music. But im not a musician. What should indo first on this journey?

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Download some free software and start! Go through my tutorials. You can try out most DAWS for free too (Digital Audio Workstations)

[@KristijanMatas]

Great, every minute is worth. You brought a lot of happiness and a-ha moments. Thank you.

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

You are so welcome!

[@Larsmop]

This is inspiring, this is the best I've seen. Thank you

[@cecily4216]

This channel is awesome! Thank you

[@sandrawilliams9812]

It's all about experimentation and feeling. Try everything 😁

[@raphaelshklarek]

What a good dude you are.

[@danielsigg8405]

Really nice overview into ambient music creation and insight into your creative process! Thanks so much for sharing your expertise. PS: Pink Floyd is my favorite band of all time ;-)

[@mattcook3936]

I'm in the same place as Tomasz below. This video is not only informative but also wonderfully inspiring, thank you!!

[@robertomartin59]

Fantastic. Great to see someone with real passion for their craft and pleasure in sharing.

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Cheers and thank you so much!

[@scottsmart9283]

loved watching this. I am going to begin my ambient journey soon. Very inspiring you are

[@AntiPattern123]

I stumbled upon Freetousesounds recently. The have a lot Hi-Res Audio with 192kHz samplerate. It is nice to slow down the audio quad-times without quality loss. Some crazy things you can do with it.

[@audiolego]

Golden video right here.