Whether it’s our melodies, chord progressions, or rhythms, as producers we often focus on the ‘compositional’ aspects of our music.
However, an entirely separate (and equally important) element that should never be overlooked is sound selection—having the right sounds play the parts we spend so much time writing. A perfect synth or instrument choice can make the simplest musical idea feel emotive and captivating. Meanwhile, poor sound selection can greatly undermine even the most ingenious compositions.
In the tutorial video above, Cedrick of SweetScale TV dropped by our YouTube channel to share his creative process for choosing sounds. Exploring genres spanning drill, house, and R&B, he walks through both effective and underwhelming examples of potential timbres and discusses how you can use effects to further refine your sounds.
What factors do you keep in mind when selecting sounds? What topics in music production would you like to see us cover next? Let us know in the comments below.
Explore royalty-free sounds from leading artists, producers, and sound designers:
May 9, 2021
