Creating Ambient Music With Field Recordings | Thomann

[@macpaz]

From all the creators, producers, and reviewers on KZbin, there are few that combine musical talent and technical aptitude the way Felix does. I know I sound like a fan boy, but every time I watch one of your videos, I want to get up and make music (or buy gear 🤤). Thanks man. Keep it up.

[@thelastaesthete]

unbelievably homosexual

[@jacobclayton4828]

Excellent!! I think I will go out today with my Tascam DR 5 and capture some quality field recordings. Thanks for the inspiration, and btw, that Erica Synths Zen Delay sounds incredible!

[@ThomannSynthesizers]

nice, hope you capture some beautiful sounds. best, Felix :)

[@Jesiahjesiah]

This is a beautiful performance with really great gear but leaving out the part where the field recording goes into a DAW and gets chopped before feeding into the hardware is like half of the process of "Creating Ambient Music With Field Recordings"

[@ThomannSynthesizers]

First of all thanks for the kind words. Regarding the process in the DAW: There really isn't much more to be seen than what I mentioned. I just pick 2-3 moments intuitively and made a loop from them. The actual creative part really starts in the delay in my opinion. Best, Felix :)

[@jjjamieson4740]

@@ThomannSynthesizers Hi, I think Jesiahjesiah is asking how you get the field recording loop in and out of the external delay. Where is the signal coming from, and how are you connecting to an interface? Thanks

[@fantastic_n0b]

How do you feed your field recording into the effect pedal? I mean those are just wav files, how can you feed it into an external gear? sorry for the noob question, maybe i'm missing smth

[@pavinder]

I like the performance, and I liked the sounds in the forest, but the video completely skips what happened in between. Was this entire piece constructed from the field recordings? Which sounds from the field recordings were used, and what specifically was done to transform them from the original sound to what we heard here? I think the most fundamental thing we need to be able to learn anything from a video such as this is 1. the original sound 2. what you did to it and 3. the final result.

[@z0kiss889]

Agreed. It was an interesting watch, but as i am doing my final project for university where i go out, record soundscape, mix it later with synthesizer and have some people listen to the final composition, i wanted to see the original sound and especially what he did to it as well as the results, too.

[@gigachad192]

Mezzanine, Selected Ambient Works and Dummy in the background. Nice.

[@magnus5170]

Everything about his performance is stellar, but that sound of that Moog is absolutely insane.

[@TeraMangala]

All gods are homemade, and it is we who pull their strings, and so, give them the power to pull ours.

[@mooimacow9533]

beautiful thought

[@telmwilson2167]

Videos like these are a good source of inspiration! good work

[@ThomannSynthesizers]

That is great to hear. keep it up, Felix :)

[@leonardopaterno1628]

What a video mate! This is amazing! I’m speechless...production, music, video editing, sound design, EVERYTHING!

[@brownswarm]

That music taste is goated

[@lofilukelukoala8121]

Beim Fieldrecording hab ich erst gemerkt wie verschmutzt unsere Welt durch die Lautstärke der Straßen eigentlich ist… Selbst oben im Wald höre ich noch die Autos auf der B1 vorbeirauschen. Da geht es einem wohl ähnlich wie dem Astrologen, der die Lichtverschmutzung des Himmels durch die Städte beklagt.

[@isolateddemon9438]

I decided to stop playing extreme metal and continue going in deep my drone noise solo project. After many years I realized that conventional music becomes too obvious....

[@jacobwatkinson6071]

2 years later but do you have any drone noise out in the world I can hear??

[@sociologie4507]

Did you upload this track somewhere? Do you have more materials like that? This is Nils-Frahm quality.

[@kerwinfernandes9583]

That was so enjoyable, I loved the simplicity of it. Thanks for this aural treat. God bless! 🙂🙏🏻❤

[@neb2612]

Instantly inspired instant sub.

[@jamesAL9]

For those with no proper recorder - many mobiles now record in stereo, with 2 mics. You may need an app that allows for WAV recording, or convert them (usually m4a on most phones) in audacity. I've tried the Samsung S20 and the results were surprisingly good.

[@dalemettee1147]

I have a Tascam DR-40 recorder and like you love this unit. It is similar to the Zoom model equal but cheaper. I've also got the remote so that I can handle the unit without pickup my noises from handling the recorder. I've also used it with external condenser mics.

[@mauriciomandara5946]

Great post production on your videos ... very nice makes everything more exciting.. thanks

[@Jegkedermigmega]

I see you've *really* stepped up your production here. This is lovely - keep it up :)

[@ThomannSynthesizers]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@holasoypablo1]

is ok but the music so so

[@she3po945]

My God. 😳 Absolutely beautiful! A perfectly fine-tuned art. It is a true honor to watch/hear you orchestrate such magical perfection. I’m trying to learn how to create ambient music and finding it quite challenging. Thanks for sharing!

[@cryptotrader2779]

Fantastic. Really enjoyed that a lot. Superb end result. Could listen to that for hours.

[@zemlemer_music]

from russian field recording kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4O3epeBhddpb68

[@ufopiloot7553]

Nice! Keep it going

[@WhiteyKnuckles]

Flat Beat Eric!

[@jonathanyoung6397]

I find this so inspiring and would love to emulate it. Unfortunately I’m stuck at the part where you’re using the delay to effect the loop coming from your DAW. How do you connect a hardware effect to a DAW to allow you to use the delay in real time like that?

[@xn4pl]

don't bother and use vst effect

[@UNDERST0RY]

I've read the Tascam recorder gets terrible interference anywhere near water. Have you experienced that?

[@johndeer6766]

I've been listening to this track like crazy for the 5th day in a row, I need it in Spotify 😄😄 Thanks to this track, I now seriously want to start learning how to write ambient

[@khemshet]

Would you recommend the dr-05? The dr-05x looking for an entry level field recorder, considering the zoom h1n too. Would love some insight how you hook feed into your synths too! Great stuff man, thanks

[@ThomannSynthesizers]

I haven't tested the DR-05x yet but I think the Dr-05 is discontinued and the Dr-05x is just the slightly optimized version, so I'd probably go for that one. Best, Felix

[@steven9878]

I'd like to see what's going on in Ableton to learn how to apply it to my practice myself

[@antonisfakiris505]

Nice vibes Felix!! Great jam!!

[@RayRay-uw6ms]

How is this music in any shape or form? It's just noise ... Am I crazy?

[@tristen_grant]

You don't hear the melody and texture?

[@nathanc777]

Super video! Great production and sounds. Piece had a great vibe to it, very Interstellar meets Steven Wilson or something.

[@ThomannSynthesizers]

thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Best, Felix :)

[@rg533able]

Very nice! I am going wild... and getting some new sounds. Great inspiration.

[@VLena_art]

dude I love it! this video is so underrated! the production value is amazing!

[@EarlyMist]

This technique is right up my alley currently. I'll copy and paste a post I recently put on another tubers ambient channel... "I feel a good portable recorder like a Zoom, Sony, Tascam, Olympus etc can greatly enhance sound design, ambient music etc. Especially when hosted by a granular synth, wavetable synth or just a decent sampler. Sampling the real world out in the field and bringing it back to the studio can allow for such manipulation that adds that otherwise intangible element not able to provided by synths alone. I love making a nature sound (frogs, birds, creeks etc) into something barely recognisable that still has that ambient/otherworldly connection to something that is a bit, or a lot alien, but that people can still recognise on some real world level. Especially fascinating is using a Lom Electroslutch or other piezo magnetic mic to record anything with an electrical signal. Picking up that EMF interference makes for some intense contrast to the natural side of things. Take it round the city, on a train, through your own studio...you get some good contrasts. Still all for synths though!!!!"

[@Systemv1]

Wonderful :)

[@embersandash]

How are you not getting the Erica Synths confirmed 2k sine tone with your Zen Delay? It makes the high pass all but useless.

[@sinefabula]

Those forest scenes have very strong Dark series vibes, which in my book is great :) the music is great, too! I'd like to see your sound design and sample mangling process! And also how you store and categorise your field recordings. Mine start to accumulate and it becomes quite a mess :)

[@jyandel1]

A tip about recording with a smartphone: newer iPhones (not sure about Android) record video in stereo, so instead of using voice memos use your camera to record a video, then take the audio from that.

[@carolinapolicarpo9607]

What other (cheaper gear) could be used to play with the recorded sounds?

[@stuartdennis8506]

What beautifully produced film

[@ruisearts]

I have so many questions about this beautiful intro.

[@awesomegamerscientist6404]

Best video ive seen on KZbin in a while

[@famousarmystudio]

432hz

[@ThomannSynthesizers]

Actually I think everything was tuned to a=440hz here :D Best, Felix

[@LucasDegen]

3:52 Good old Flat Eric in the back.

[@stuartleighton]

Great to see you using the Tascam. Just bought one myself for recording foley samples in order to put into my tracks.

[@SM_zzz]

Aphextwin fan 👌🏻

[@joeyasaperson]

lovely thank you

[@zhaojian]

I hit subscribe when I only watch the title

[@jerrykovis5417]

Curious what the tempo is on this. Thanks

[@terrorboot]

Thank you so much

[@eAzygunOne]

Danke für dein tolles Video und deine Mühe 👍

[@dietervoser4425]

Sehr schön gemacht ! Wie hast du die DR05 field recordings - vor dem Zen Delay - bearbeitet ?

[@ThomannSynthesizers]

Klanglich überhaupt nicht. Einfach nur stellen rausgesucht und geloopt. Alle veränderungen kommen also vom Zen Delay (mit Ausnahme vom Reverb dahinter) LG, Felix

[@dietervoser4425]

@@ThomannSynthesizers Aha. Merci:-)

[@leNotstrom]

Wow, der Bass aus dem Pulse 2 ist der Hammer.

[@craigsurette3438]

I was thinking the exact same thing! When i heard the bass, i assumed something so thick had to be coming from the Moog, and the sequence was from the Waldorf. Nope, it was the other way around

[@mistergenerator5430]

Wow, so good! I need to go out to the forest.

[@orio3416]

You are so rad

[@chriskonsultant725]

That is some delay. Kinda want one now.

[@k4rb0n3]

recondite is that you?

[@the_newvoice]

That's very cool! Danke schon)

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

love it!

[@isolateddemon9438]

AMAZING.

[@guitarbrew6391]

Does anyone know of any examples of modern artists who input field recordings into their synths?

[@EarlyMist]

No but this is where I'm headed. Particularly interested in loading my field recordings into granular, spectral and wavetable type synths.

[@jyandel1]

Any dark ambient albums on the Cryochamber label

[@europeanambience]

Sehr nice cinematics und Sounds 🔥

[@sc8890]

Great video

[@neuzethmusic131]

"Hi! I'm Felix, and it's good to have you back" 😂

[@mindsoundmeditation7962]

So much fun!

[@relationcurieuse]

Great one! 🌿🕊

[@rastcheck6037]

Great. Sponsored by Erika?

[@ThomannSynthesizers]

No, I picked that one myself. It's really just a very good delay. Best, Felix :)

[@marioschmitt2849]

❤️

[@vitakombu9759]

je viens

[@jonnygeld9510]

Aaals ob du in Bielefeld located bist. Habt ihr da auch nh Thomann store oder nh office? Oder wohnst du einfach in der hood und produzierst die videos im Auftrag von Thomann ?

[@catalinmunteanu78]

❤

[@LockStoppageSandwich]

Like it BUT would be more interested in seeing what could be achieved using lower priced gear set ups too. I mean the basic set up you are using cost well over €3,000

[@josephwright5921]

You can do a lot with a Volca or two, a delay or reverb pedal, and a cell to record environmental sounds upon. The microphones in the cell phone are not the best though, but they will do.

[@equalequalslopezcartoons3702]

For real you can do all this with an audio recorder, Korg monotron, and your choice of volca. Gonna probably do something like this for my upcoming album.

[@PCHSwS]

Ihr brauch nen englischen Synchronsprecher. Vielleicht ist das für deutsche native speaker besonders schlimm, aber das tut ja in den Ohren weh 😂😂

[@lindsaywebb1904]

PCHSwS find’ ich nicht so schlimm

[@Jay_Deeee]

Ich glaube eher, Du einen Englischkurs... Finde seine Aussprache super authentisch

[@ThomannSynthesizers]

@@Jay_Deeee Sänk Ju! Gruß, Felix

[@tiouip]

Dude… intense hipster!🤣😂

[@ambientguitar6832]

the perfect toy for people who can neither play an instrument nor compose

[@ambientguitar6832]

@Salim Sivaad am i right when i suppose that you dont play any instrument (exept casio keyboard or groove box) nor know how to compose ?

[@atommachine]

@@ambientguitar6832 Some casios looks can be deceptive ;)

[@threesuits]

You can absolutely compose using these instruments such as these - Obviously you can't use conventional music notation but it isn't hard to create your own shorthand. Creating abstract ambient works using multiple instruments through improvisation take a good deal more intelligence than following a guitar score.

[@ottam]

People like nice sounds. Isn't it a net positive for the world if there are more beautiful sounds, whether we harvest them from nature and enhance them or play them ourselves? It's not a competition. We just want to hear pretty things.

[@CCornellE]

There are many non-musicians who have made great albums.