The Art of Simplicity: Tips to Start Producing Better Tracks

[@tristen_grant]

Over-complicating things is what I'm struggling with right now. That and getting different sequences to fit well together. Its all practice, and I know I'll get there.

[@SkyscanX1]

"New Gear leads to confusion" You have that right. I would add. Too much gear adds to confusion and frustration because your not producing and always on the learning curve.

[@skullydied]

the quality of videos getting better and better, great one as always

[@Gnarly_Waves]

Started having an ego death as this video played and zoned out then he comes in with the “it’s all in the mind” . I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be

[@kenlusk4528]

Great video, Chris. Thanks so much for this. Reminding us all to embrace simplicity helps to create valuable elegance in our music. Sometimes I'm guilty of having so many components in my arrangement that there is no more Space in my Space Ambient. Yikes!

[@7percentSolution]

Excellent as always, Chris! I really appreciate the way you "combinate" the philosophy of music production, a pep talk and practical techniques, with each video.

[@timguba]

Excellent as always, Chis. A superb blend of tutorial and reassuring support. Can't wait for the next video!

[@TheCubeMusic]

This is right up 🆙 my alley way but you know that Chris thanks for keeping it up ⬆️

[@philippschirmer8752]

Such a legend! Super motivating, exactly what I needed! 😀

[@carlgrovestudios1]

Love your use of vital, pigments, omnisphere, serum and u-he soft synths!

[@ToreGThomassen]

Your videos are amazing, thanks again for making such inspiring videos, I learn a lot every time 👍😊

[@DetlefRecktenwald-Healing]

Greetings from Vancouver Island, thank you for this video, helpful as always.

[@AapyMusic]

First thump up and comment from your new subscriber ;) Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Keep it up

[@carlgrovestudios1]

Always enjoy your videos. I got into ambient music through Brian Eno and his friends in the seventies. Looking to go from hobby to pro in bandcamp in the near future.

[@EchoesOfMelodicExistence]

This video makes me want to resume some ambient production again. It's been a while. 🎶

[@Canalyutufpar]

Pleaseee make a video on how to jam: what equipment do we need, how to do it and so on. Would be great :)

[@Dirty_Trippy]

Loving those beats❤

[@themorphingorb]

Spot on, Chris! Simple is often better.. Sometimes my tracks become huge untamable monsters and when that happens I start loosing interest in finishing it. I also see people talk about this new synth vs this and that, and really it's nothing new at all! It's just the same ol' in a different (and sometimes very pretty too!) wrapper;) Thanks for the video!!! Cheers;)

[@scottgillespie5287]

Thanks once again Chris excellent tutorial 👍

[@LucasDegen]

Great tutorial for creating #IDM added to my How To IDM playlist :) Thanks again for sharing great video's on your channel. I started crearing a Trello board for myself and added all the plugins I bought over the years, because sometime you forget what plugin you bought. A friend of mine who's a music producer told me, start with 8 track. Think of it like a band with 8 band members. Also I once read the Board of Canada produce in mono. If your song sounds great in mono, I will sound awesome in stereo.

[@fp1183]

Hi, can i buy the presets for HIVE you use from the beginning?

[@ObsidianEchoes69]

Everything in the Universe is mental. That sounds like Hermetic teaching from the Kyballion 😊

[@cstanleyhns]

Hi from the North West of England, UK. I'll be working through this later😊

[@Gedagnors]

Gorgeous!!!!!

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

Thank you so much!

[@andrew4982]

My take on your "mental": I remember myself at a relatively young age sitting in front of a piano, with a beautiful song in my mind, but next thing when I touched the keyboard an ugly sound was coming out. Yes, it was beautiful in my mind, but there was no connection between my mind and fingers... Yes, it is mental once you are "over the hump", but to get there you need a minimum baggage of fundamental music stuff (usually very boring, illogical): like why did you chose B minor, or why did you chose 110 bpm, what is B minor, what is 110 bpm, and so on. Often people forget about basics once they become more experienced in doing something, it goes into reflex, that is human nature. But ask yourself the struggle and effort you spent to get the basics into your mind, to turn them into reflex. You can have wonderful stories and ideas in your mind, but if you do not know "the communication language" they remain there, locked.

[@journeythroughdarkness]

HEllo, freaking love your channel. I have been DJing for a couple decades and have finallly decided to perhaps make soem music. I have Ableton Live 12 and am very new to it and have a dumb question. When someone purchases plugins or packs with stems, what are the point of stems? I have a very cool ambient pack and I used various stems and overlapped them which ultimately made a very cool complete composition. However, I allowed to now export that track with the various stems that I used and now make it a song? Forgive me if I am not explaining it correctly but I am uncertain if people can just download packs, use the stems and now they have their own song using someone elses kits. Thank you for any insight. Again sorry for the dumb question. I hope I dont get trolled in the comments. If I do, just delete my post. Take care my friend.

[@s1gns0fl1fe]

If you purchased the stems, chances are they are 100% royalty free which means you can absolutely use them in your own compositions. If you're unsure about it, check the terms and conditions. Stems can be great musical starting points and can help those who are just starting out. Best of luck!

[@journeythroughdarkness]

@@s1gns0fl1fe Thank you my friend. I just got pigments as well but unfortunately due to the hurricane that just came through I cant get your chromatic 1 and 2 packs. They sound amazing. Now have another one roaring this way. Once things settle down I may be able to get to your patreon and supprt you and get those packs. Take care, keep kicking butt!! Your energy is cool!

[@marcus_ohreallyus]

I just finished a track yesterday that I started when I got bored with the vp debate. It's got a piano spine with a couple of synths layered in the top and bottom end. I'm struggling to resist the urge to go back in and "fill it out", even though I consider it finished

[@khatashkan]

Omg, That's the name of an article I was writing couple days ago

[@meganekkoi3282]

GAS is not a problem for someone who desires simple, powerful and free DAWs/plugins. The other things have been an issue.

[@amado7760]

S1gns of L1fe :)

[@huszkasz]

100 k

[@refinedish]

bro why you shout always on video's...its tuff to listen to the music....why cant you match both the sounds.. of you talking and music playing in a good level, which doesn't hurt ears by your loud talk when on headphones!! 🥲

[@AmbientShores]

Which headphones are you using? All sounding perfect here :)

[@refinedish]

@@AmbientShores man is loud in all the videos bro! i think he is a leo!! 😁 Sony mdr 7506

[@tristen_grant]

@@refinedish Sounds fine to me. Listening both on my Tascam studio monitors and my DT 770 Pros.

[@SteamvilleQuintet]

...and if he lowered his voice, you'd whine you can't hear what he's saying. I also have the same Sony's you do. "And it's alright now. I learned my lesson well. You can't please everyone, so you have to please yourself." - Ricky Nelson (Garden Party)

[@refinedish]

I learned a lot from this dude …i really love his videos 😍 but his voice is loud on all his videos compared to the music in the videos! I wrote what i felt! End of the story! Thank you all 😍