What's up guys, recently I've stumbled across some beats that have all had this certain "sound characteristic" to them... The best way I can describe it is similar to using the vinyl compressor but even better. It sounds very warm and organic. But anyways, I've tried messing around with my 404 and even using other effects, such as compressors, in Ableton. No such luck as of yet, so I figured I would post here to acquire some techniques that maybe some of you use.

Here's an example beat by a very dope 404-user named Fawks. I actually just came across this track today, but it has the sound I'm referring to.

https://soundcloud.com/skwaf/cherry-blossoms

Feel free to pm me if you don't feel like it should be posted for everyone to see, I realize not everyone likes to give away their tips.

try messing around with flutter in vinyl sim
you can try pitching down or up
compressor or vinyl sim compressor
fitering
sound selection?
adding drones or noise in the background

not sure if my shit is considered warm since "Warm" is so subjective. But I just tweak around with those things until it sounds warm to me. Could be the way i play shit too.

Thanks for the reply Andy. I've tried some of the techniques you mentioned already, but yeah after giving your soundcloud a listen your stuff is definitely "warm".

haha thanks

a lot of it has to do with sound selection and how things are articulated. it's not just one thing but a culmination of a few or a lot of little things.

i've been processing my shit pretty heavily

maybe others can give better input

good luck. i think this is one of those things were you just gotta experiment and find out what you like on your own. it takes time...at least for me it did

Well I appreciate the words of wisdom man. Guess I just gotta keep experimenting with different things until I'm satisfied

sound choice, chords, and eqing are also significant here.

there are some instruments we associate with moods and feelings, choosing those is a good place to start. filtering some of the lowend off of the parts of samples that are not a focus helps things sound less muddy and cleaner which can be a source of that warmth

also, major chord progressions are likely to seem warmer and happier than minor...important to remember

there's a few things going on in that track that are contributing to warmth. first off, like you noticed, its compressed. that will always help. also the dirty percussion could be described as warm. there is a definite tape hiss and/or vinyl crackle sound--that analog noise will give a warm feel. recording onto cassette +3 or 4 dB into the red will get you there

Are you sampling from vinyl?

Thanks for the feedback.


I will have to mess around with filtering off some of the los, thanks for the tips. And yeah I try to stay away from minor chords for that reason!


Sometimes.

eq-filters-some vinylsim/vinyl crackles-add drums and bass..but..
the authentic 'warmness' is a lot of other stuff imo

Seriously, how much warmer you trying to get. You shits dope! If you could get warmer than that, you'd have to get naked. Be hot as fuck!
Keep it up man.

i think my monotron has a warmer sound than my microkorg.

Perhaps utilize some analog equipment. tape recorder, or synth.

Sometimes just sampling some vinyl crackle directly off of a record, looping it and layering it over your beat can add that warm dusty sound.

use extreme compression and vinyl flutter. Filtering out His can take the brightness off of a track and make it sound more muddy/warmer.

I know exactly what you mean with "warm " organic etc , and I feel the bases have been covered , however you cant always manipulate everything into that analog soundspace you speak ... Or better yet even when you sometimes obcessing over an organic sound will just leave you with a dirty muddy as it were sounding mix



Heres my tip (its been covered but this is MY tip)

First i understand you are utilizing ableton you may want too download cooledit pro 2.1 IME it lends itself very well to "digilog" feel I think your seeking out

Start downsampling .....(and on two levels )take your main sample and apply a low end cut too the right channel after that apply an eq filter that suits your ears

(too the channel you cut lows on...it doesnt matter wich channel thats more of a personal preference ) then if it sounds like too much you can cut 3db off the applied channel and mix the whole thing down

A lot of producers are also engineers and if not it will show up in theyre sound or a lack thereof I think thats where you should focus


And While cooledit is a dinosaur these days for achieving the sound your looking for I believe it too be the bridge between the gaps