What Makes Punk Rock Sound So Good?

[@SugarpillProd]

Apologies if my voice sounds weirder than usual, I'm still getting over a festive cold, haha. Level up your productions today! 🎸www.sugarpillproductions.com/category/all-products

[@d.t.3958]

Man, your videos are like turbo-punk-rock-university. Thank you so much for educating those in need 😂

[@SugarpillProd]

Haha thank you, glad you're finding them useful 🙏

[@alextinu8841]

The first punk albums I was introduced to were Smash, Ignition, Dookie (like 95) and later with the mp3 the rest of punk stuff. So I kinda miss the "sloppy" sonud where you could hear some mistakes on guitar or even bass. Not that I criticise the more elaborate sound of "modern" music but those first albums were like, music made by kids who leaned to play music together and was more about the fun of playing than perfection (or is just my nostalgia kickin in). Great work as usual! ❤

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks! I think there's still plenty of that around today. Bands like FIDLAR, VeggieHammerr, Jeff Rosenstock, PUP, etc., all have that scrappy punk rock sound. It might not sound quite the same as the albums you mentioned - though I'd argue they're a lot more polished than you're giving them credit for, haha - but that has more to do with the vast improvement in technology than with the bands themselves.

[@alextinu8841]

@@SugarpillProd Agree, tech has made music more accesibile to play or to have acces to it, even in interaction between fans as we do today!

[@greycoven4479]

I appreciate that you talked about the concept the tone is built from with a guide on amp EQ, the exact settings not needed when you know the idea to go for. Some experimenting still required.

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks, I'm glad you thought so! I think people can get misled by focusing too much on exact settings when it's always going to vary a lot based on the gear you're using. But if you understand the general ideas of how to create the sound you're looking for, it’ll make things much simpler.

[@greycoven4479]

@@SugarpillProd It took me a while of learning how to play the guitar, and understanding my gear/interface/amp sim to learn that.

[@Paprokh]

Can you do a video about sound effects and layering synths with guitars on the example of hyperpunk artists like NOAHFINNCE, South Arcade, Waterparks, Stand Atlantic, RedHook & Belmont?

[@SugarpillProd]

For sure! I actually made one a few weeks ago that I haven't uploaded yet. It doesn't necessarily cover those particular bands you mentioned, but it does cover a lot of similar ground, so hopefully they'll be something in there for you, once I upload it!

[@RojGames]

@@Paprokh As an Aussie, it makes me proud to see Stand Atlantic and Redhook in that list!

[@SugarpillProd]

@@RojGames I'm mostly proud of you guys for bringing us Aunty Donna above everything else 🤣

[@RojGames]

@@SugarpillProd little bit of Christmas pud!

[@louisxD]

Great video as always

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks Louis!

[@nathanfuchs1998]

Number Girl mentioned rraaaahhhhh

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks Nathan! Number Girl are awesome!

[@HanyalahSeorangKodir]

Thank you for the tips! I'm currently looking for some guitar sound for my punk song! 😄

[@SugarpillProd]

You're welcome! I hope they come in handy 🙌

[@RojGames]

Do you have any experience using STL Tonehub? So far I've enjoyed playing with the Sam Pura, Andy Wade and John Feldmann packs, but I'd love to hear your thoughts if you've used any of them?

[@SugarpillProd]

I have! At 4:13, I was using one of Zakk Cervini's presets. I don't use them all the time, as I predominantly use my Axe-FX, but if I feel like the guitars aren't sitting right in the mix, or perhaps the tone I initially chose doesn't quite fit the song, I'll re-amp things either with a Neural DSP amp - usually Nolly's - or something from STL Tones. I usually find a decent sound in a matter of minutes. I'm definitely not one for going into the weeds with all the settings, so I like the simple interface they use.

[@RojGames]

@SugarpillProd I've heard a lot of great things about Nolly. I'm not familiar with Axe-FX but I'll definitely check it out!

[@SugarpillProd]

@@RojGames Yeah the Nolly plugin is great! Is has all the tones you could really need for anything punk or metal adjacent. Axe FX's are great too, they're a rack unit though, like a Kemper or Helix. But I like them a lot because you don't have to worry about CPU overload when recording, haha.

[@RojGames]

@@SugarpillProd ohhh ok. That's definitely a nice bonus then! Cheers for the advice!

[@BurntMcgurnt]

Do you use the Shiva on your Ska stuff? Been trying to create a Ska patch lately

[@SugarpillProd]

Yeah, usually that or a Deluxe Verb with my Axe FX, which I think is based on a Fender Deluxe Reverb. Normally you just want something dry, and a little thin. Sometimes the middle position can work really nicely too - it's a little similar in sound to the tone on that LTJ song I used in the video. Hope that helps!

[@BurntMcgurnt]

@SugarpillProd ya it's the Deluxe Reverb thanks man I'll try it I'll go back and check that vid out too

[@gringogreen4719]

Guitar tone in a mix are so limited. It also changes whether you are playing live or recording. Honestly you might as well use two different setups because the settings are nowhere near each other. Don't be afraid to try new gear recording as your own gear isn't going to sound the same as onstage.

[@SugarpillProd]

Yeah, I'd always separate the live situation from the studio. There's not much sense in comparing the two, as they're just inherently very different scenarios - what might work in one situation might not work in another.

[@tomstewart2685]

​@SugarpillProd one of the reasons I enjoy my Boss Katana so much is the ability for it to double as an interface. I can bring my live tone across to Ableton and then start tweaking - definitely difference scenarios though.

[@gringogreen4719]

@SugarpillProd Sound wise live, you can get away with just about anything. In a Studio, you hear EVERYTHING! 😳 I'm more of a live player and when I have recorded in a studio, I was not looking for perfection, more of honesty and a vibe. 😉👍✨

[@gringogreen4719]

@tomstewart2685 Yeah, you are catering more to a Studio mix than live at a gig. So you are more of the new school where I am more of the old school with playing outside on stage, dive bars, and less than ideal situations. The complete opposite of what you are doing and definitely a different setup.

[@AnAntidisestablishmentarianist]

The only authentic punk rock guitar tone is the shrieking, ear-splitting tone of the Dead Kennedys. If you're not walking around with a constant ringing in your ears you're not punk.

[@SugarpillProd]

For sure! Tinnitus is so punk rock 💪