Find Oscar's video courses here: courses.underdog.brussels 🖤🖤🖤 Join the Underdog Discord channel: discord.gg/z5N9CTA 👾👾👾 Sign up to the mailing list here: tinyurl.com/yy92sx5u 💌💌💌 Pledge to the Patreon: www.patreon.com/underdogmusicschool 🌱🌱🌱
While this is a great little video to give people the basics of the formula for a break it’s important they understand it’s just that - a formula. Part of the problem with so much mainstream dance music is it’s cheesy predictability right now. Many of us that came into the scene in the 90s and 00s came to it because of the ability of dance music to be adventurous, and there’s nothing less adventurous than giving up any idea of surprising your audience in favor of some of what is outlined here.
The hypnosis fact at the beginning is true! The term for it is “fractionation”, and it’s when you bring someone in and out of hypnosis repeatedly to get them deeper.
The term is "trance", hypnosis is the way to get trance, but the fundamental is simple: your atention is engaged with a repetitive (hypnotic) cognitive element (it could be external like a music beat, melody, or the feedback beetwen you atention and the images produced by a tv screen or could be totally internal like meditation beetwen your atention and your breath, chanting a mantra, etc). Its not only the atention engaged, you are in trance when you dont mind about your body or anything else, disconecting some parts of the brain to focus in something. A mild way of trance could be go to the cinema: when the movie starts you notice the people talking and checking the phone, but when your atention is captive by the story you could forgot for example some body pain you have for a time or be hungry. But your point is absolutely correct: like the good storytelling music has to build tensión and release to engage the listerner atention, but is the repetitive element of the music what creates the trance. A boring song like a boring story is linear and dull, without atention it couldn´t be any trance This increasing efect someone explained to you is the result of the expectation: the hypnotised subject is expecting the new batch of intensity in the "release" moment, it could seem like the repetition is over, but its just the intro of a new tensión, the process wasnt over, but again you are right, with some time of tension and release the trance goes deeper and deeper
m8 i've been to multiple music schools and nobody deconstructed breaks in electronic music as much as u did. Kudos on the great work, excellent material!
I have loved Infected Mushroom for half my life and Vicious Delicious was always one of my absolute favourites... Now i actually understand what i actually liked about it so much, the pressure it builds makes you want to jump out of your seat 3 times before the drop comes!
As someone who doesn't get electronic music too well (but still stubbornly tries to create it), this video was one of the most valuable pieces of knowledge I have run into in a long time.. thank you very much!
Electronic School baby🔥💯 I used to use the second Contour alot but now I use linear alot. The second Contour requires your song to have a special kind groove so you can keep your audience engaged. Trilogy.
*This was the first video that came up in my search. 🎶🌹 I’m really glad because at least it’s by somebody on TH-cam that makes things understandable and shows us how they are used.*
9:04 Good point. We've all been there, on a dance floor, thinking "this break is effin' long... And we just had a long break 5 minutes ago... I'm gonna go to the bar now..." 😹
I've always struggled with buildups and drops like throwing it so much FX, noise, filters, automations and at the end I had dozens of clips for a drop which was not even satisfying... So I just tried out the trilogy method with just a couple of tracks, a noise, a snare and a synth and it was so much better :D Thank you for these tutorials, they are amazing!
The continuous build up and endless chain of risers in that Infected Mushroom track you referenced is SO ENERGIZING that I literally just had a flashback ❤️
The Hypno thing is actually correct. I ve been a professional hypnotist for the last 13 years. The effect the music does create is the same as the effect you can find in hypnosis
Hi Oscar, just a few words to say thank you for your videos, I appreciate how you share your thoughts and advices to built proper techno tracks. Cheers from France!
Covid kept me off the dancefloor so I had been watching a lot of DJ-sets lately. The algorithm decided I might like your channel. The algorithm was right. I will now be diving downthis rabbit hole for the next couple of months.
I’m so happy I found your channel. This is so excellent. I am not ashamed to admit I need these tips. Great info, great delivery. Keep doing what you’re doing, I love hearing how you conceptualize things. The energy contour? This is what I need to hear!
@@OscarUnderdog -- You've got some great teaching skills. You're really good at breaking this down without any filler. These short pieces are right to the point but cover really important parts of production. I'm not in the market for classes at the moment, but if I was, I'd definitely buy it from you.
It's funny you would mention Vicious Delicious because whenever I think of the ultimate drop, that's the song I'm thinking of. That build-up is out of this world!
@@OscarUnderdog I'm guessing that on a proper dance floor, the drop works well, but I don't like it (too harsh and void of melody). The ending of the song though - pure magic! It's like a teaser of something completely new that you want more of. I can't even count the times I've listened to the last 30 seconds of it. 😂
2005 Brixton Academy. Chemical Brother's live...each song outdid the previous in break fall/rise...unbelievable how they did that. Still blows my mind. They were able to remix album tracks to new heights. Unfortunately, their subsequent DVD's didn't capture it as well.
Good guidelines, there are many other ways to do it. I think key learning from this video is energy rise and resets. Every artist should be creative about it and find its own way to achieve it.
I am trying to learn techno style MP. I don't know very much about music. I don't have money to join a paid course. Your videos are helping me a lot. They it's been very helping so far. I am learning how to make drops, how to blend household sounds with beats etc. Thanks man.
Great tips! I gave Vicious Delicious a listen with a spectrum meter and a VU meter. Brilliant stuff, gave so much insight on the never ending break. At the start of the break the VU meter was consistently at -20 dB and slowly rose over 2 minutes to -10 dB to when the drop hits. At the beginning of the same break there's a complete lack of anything above the 7k-ish region. Also this slowly increased with the a clear introduction of higher frequency sounds to emphasize energy and movement. I learned a lot. Thanks!
To be honest, there are a lot more different types of break than this, and you categorise them in a number of ways. As a DJ I tend to differentiate between "bass drop" breaks usually found in techno and percussive styles that are just massive builds to bring the bass back and "bliss out" breaks which tend to be big lush melodic moments. Then there are breaks that introduce something totally new in the breakdown (lead melody being the classic example) and the distinction between those that keep it after the drop and those that reset back to the rhythm. And then there are psy-trance breaks which tend to do all of the above, then take everything away and replace it with a sample from The Simpsons, and finally go into triplets.
What you're calling trilogy break is called an anticlimax (especially) in hardstyle. Giant build-up, then right at the Moment where you want to jump, it goes on for just a couple of moments longer than you expected, and extends the tension just a little more... and makes you look really stupid on the floor if you don't know the track
Man I love the videos. I learn a lot from your techno videos and your by far the most knowledgly gifted techno producer on TH-cam. Please keep it up! 😁
I know nothing about making electronic music but this channel is still fascinating. Makes me appreciate my favourite DJS and electronic music even more. I like the Trilogy break btw because it's the one that gives me a rest on the dancefloor.. never knew it was called a trilogy break.
Vicious Delicious is an amazing album all the way thru too! Some amazing builds with many layers in that album. Heavyweight is also great for that as well.
I tend to use a "Linear Break" early on after my intro, while progressing to the main break (Trilogy Break) and repeat this one into a new progression of my accent notes (melody). to come back to the "Linear Break" at the end of my outro's.
I think your channel is one of the best things that I discovered in 2021. Thank you so much for your work, its helping me improve my production a lot! Love from Brazil!
Nice explanation. Clicked though because thought you were going to explain drum breaks, which would be good ;) (though I know not really your musical focus in these vids)
Haha, funny you brought vicious delicious, possibly the biggest build-up I know. I am actually more into producing psytrance, but I am really enjoying your tutorials and analytic teaching style with fundamentals that apply to a lot of dance music. I'm not a native speaker either and many people say it wrong, but after some years I learned that you don't say the first letter at the beginning of psytrance, you speak it as if it was written without the "p". Cheers and keep the videos coming! :-)
Man, this is the best thing to come out of Belgium since chocolate! I'm just kidding! Fantastic channel, great production and really clear, insightful breakdowns. Thank you!
Vicious Delicious is also one of my favorite tracks from old days due to the break. There is so powerfull tensiosn. You think there is gonna be a relase. But they are just adding more and more. This is break bible
Really different than how others break it down. Describing energy as contour and hypnosis is really important to understanding this. I also like the breakdown of each different break.
Best tutorial videos I have seen by a long way. The videos are actually musical in themselves! Many people teach techniques but not so concisely and so simply, and the references and passion for music make you remember why you are doing it in the first place. Thank you Oscar
Having your videos be recommended to me has been such a blessing, I love that many of your tips focus on greater concepts instead of being laser-focused on one subgenre so no matter if I'm looking for advice on playing live DAWless modular stuff or producing genres like festival trap and bass a large majority of your content remains relevant and helpful. Keep up the great work! PS: As someone who's underwent hypnotherapy for a couple years, the anecdote seems... iffy. But it's definitely true for other *hypnotising* things like music! :D
Man this tutorial was simple but effective. Thanks for the final white noise tip. The best is that you also recommend tunes to listen. This is a great channel. Congrats and cheers from Madrid.
Sometimes the songwriter uses the break to stir emotions. My favorite break is from Boris Brechja song "one day" album "22". Suddenly a passive synth pluck takes the lead, along with the bass, dancing on its way into the future. and then go back to normal. masterpiece. Thanks for this video, very interesting topic.
I'm a subscriber already for a few weeks and I do love your content and now, I just found this video were you're wearing a Look mum no computer's T-shirt!? ❤❤❤❤ I just can say RESPECT!
Find Oscar's video courses here: courses.underdog.brussels 🖤🖤🖤
Join the Underdog Discord channel: discord.gg/z5N9CTA 👾👾👾
Sign up to the mailing list here: tinyurl.com/yy92sx5u 💌💌💌
Pledge to the Patreon: www.patreon.com/underdogmusicschool 🌱🌱🌱
While this is a great little video to give people the basics of the formula for a break it’s important they understand it’s just that - a formula. Part of the problem with so much mainstream dance music is it’s cheesy predictability right now. Many of us that came into the scene in the 90s and 00s came to it because of the ability of dance music to be adventurous, and there’s nothing less adventurous than giving up any idea of surprising your audience in favor of some of what is outlined here.
@@Noodles1771 z 👍
Thx!
The ability to explain musical concepts in terms the average Joe can understand is not to be underestimated. Great channel, thanks so much!
The hypnosis fact at the beginning is true! The term for it is “fractionation”, and it’s when you bring someone in and out of hypnosis repeatedly to get them deeper.
Aha! Thanks for this 😁😁😁
Sounds like a new track title is born.
...and deeper... deeper... deeper
The term is "trance", hypnosis is the way to get trance, but the fundamental is simple: your atention is engaged with a repetitive (hypnotic) cognitive element (it could be external like a music beat, melody, or the feedback beetwen you atention and the images produced by a tv screen or could be totally internal like meditation beetwen your atention and your breath, chanting a mantra, etc).
Its not only the atention engaged, you are in trance when you dont mind about your body or anything else, disconecting some parts of the brain to focus in something. A mild way of trance could be go to the cinema: when the movie starts you notice the people talking and checking the phone, but when your atention is captive by the story you could forgot for example some body pain you have for a time or be hungry.
But your point is absolutely correct: like the good storytelling music has to build tensión and release to engage the listerner atention, but is the repetitive element of the music what creates the trance. A boring song like a boring story is linear and dull, without atention it couldn´t be any trance
This increasing efect someone explained to you is the result of the expectation: the hypnotised subject is expecting the new batch of intensity in the "release" moment, it could seem like the repetition is over, but its just the intro of a new tensión, the process wasnt over, but again you are right, with some time of tension and release the trance goes deeper and deeper
@@MarcVFons Or news media that do brain washing.
Nice shout out for Sam "LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER". Thanks for the tips.
after 26 years in electronic music you are the first thatI see that explains clearly what a break is all ahout.Great content!
I was looking for this video 3 years ago.. thanks
Trance mixes have trilogy breaks every several minutes and people love it.
m8 i've been to multiple music schools and nobody deconstructed breaks in electronic music as much as u did. Kudos on the great work, excellent material!
I have loved Infected Mushroom for half my life and Vicious Delicious was always one of my absolute favourites... Now i actually understand what i actually liked about it so much, the pressure it builds makes you want to jump out of your seat 3 times before the drop comes!
Finally, somebody explained the dance music energy concepts in a human language! Thank you!
As someone who doesn't get electronic music too well (but still stubbornly tries to create it), this video was one of the most valuable pieces of knowledge I have run into in a long time.. thank you very much!
Ahhhh great to hear!
Your look mum no computer t-shirt is lit :D
Yeah nice shirt! I also keep up with his vids. I also just came across Master Margherita the other day. So cool!
It's also the TH-cam channel about this name ;)
@@i.syntaxerror :D call him an artist not a youtube channel :D
@@msz4598 apologies.
An Artist.
Forgive me this, please.
Honesty, talented an Artist.
@@msz4598 He has two channels on youtube in fact.
He is the best teacher from all of the unhelpful
Video tutorial out therr
Electronic School baby🔥💯 I used to use the second Contour alot but now I use linear alot. The second Contour requires your song to have a special kind groove so you can keep your audience engaged.
Trilogy.
I feel it coming just by you explaining it - the drop! 😄
Best production channel on TH-cam. When I have the cash I’m definitely getting some private tuition from Oscar 👍
Bro your videos... are really helping me out.
I like this guy as a teacher... More underdogs please ;)
Didn't expect vicious delicious to be mentioned. That was my favorite track of that album
*This was the first video that came up in my search. 🎶🌹 I’m really glad because at least it’s by somebody on TH-cam that makes things understandable and shows us how they are used.*
we need more of these tutorials. Never seen a video like this
9:04 Good point. We've all been there, on a dance floor, thinking "this break is effin' long... And we just had a long break 5 minutes ago... I'm gonna go to the bar now..." 😹
Great video. Lots of knowledge. Thank you very much.
I've always struggled with buildups and drops like throwing it so much FX, noise, filters, automations and at the end I had dozens of clips for a drop which was not even satisfying...
So I just tried out the trilogy method with just a couple of tracks, a noise, a snare and a synth and it was so much better :D
Thank you for these tutorials, they are amazing!
A good analogy for tension and release is the difference in "hyper"-levels between Look Mum No Computer and Underdog :D
The continuous build up and endless chain of risers in that Infected Mushroom track you referenced is SO ENERGIZING that I literally just had a flashback ❤️
this guy is my new music teacher
Best explanation ever.
The Hypno thing is actually correct.
I ve been a professional hypnotist for the last 13 years.
The effect the music does create is the same as the effect you can find in hypnosis
Loving the bloopers, thanks for sharing :-)
Really like your manner and the way you explain. Well done
Thanks for that!
Hi Oscar, just a few words to say thank you for your videos, I appreciate how you share your thoughts and advices to built proper techno tracks. Cheers from France!
Covid kept me off the dancefloor so I had been watching a lot of DJ-sets lately. The algorithm decided I might like your channel. The algorithm was right. I will now be diving downthis rabbit hole for the next couple of months.
I’m so happy I found your channel. This is so excellent. I am not ashamed to admit I need these tips. Great info, great delivery. Keep doing what you’re doing, I love hearing how you conceptualize things. The energy contour? This is what I need to hear!
Cheers Rob, thanks for the support!
@@OscarUnderdog -- You've got some great teaching skills. You're really good at breaking this down without any filler. These short pieces are right to the point but cover really important parts of production. I'm not in the market for classes at the moment, but if I was, I'd definitely buy it from you.
best arrangement video on YT!
It's funny you would mention Vicious Delicious because whenever I think of the ultimate drop, that's the song I'm thinking of. That build-up is out of this world!
Agreed :D in fact the drop is inevitably a bit disappointing, nothing could possibly deliver on that ultimate promise 😁
@@OscarUnderdog I'm guessing that on a proper dance floor, the drop works well, but I don't like it (too harsh and void of melody). The ending of the song though - pure magic! It's like a teaser of something completely new that you want more of. I can't even count the times I've listened to the last 30 seconds of it. 😂
2005 Brixton Academy. Chemical Brother's live...each song outdid the previous in break fall/rise...unbelievable how they did that. Still blows my mind. They were able to remix album tracks to new heights. Unfortunately, their subsequent DVD's didn't capture it as well.
Try a nice big balloon during that build up ;)
Excellent presentation about energy level and release. 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
I'm so glad you mentioned Infected Mushroom and Viscous Delicious. It's one of my favorites of all time.
I came across this channel two days ago and have learnt so much already, thank you so much for all your work! Looking forward to more goodness!
Glad to have you on board 😁
Great video as always, theory and good examples. Top notch!
This is great advice for people who want to make tracks that sound like lots of other tracks...
Glad I discovered this channel, today. So much value in one video. Thanks!!
This video rlly sparked inspiration for a project I didn't know what to do with
Great video. Thank you!
Subscribed 5 days ago. U are a hero
Congrats on the 30k subscribers! Went from 2k to 30 real fast :D
I know right???
Good guidelines, there are many other ways to do it. I think key learning from this video is energy rise and resets. Every artist should be creative about it and find its own way to achieve it.
Love your videos, everytime I watch I realize how much I don't know what I'm doing and how much more I could be doing.
I am trying to learn techno style MP. I don't know very much about music. I don't have money to join a paid course. Your videos are helping me a lot. They it's been very helping so far. I am learning how to make drops, how to blend household sounds with beats etc. Thanks man.
Brother, the way you explain things... you are the shakespeare of music teachers. Thank you so so much for all your great videos sensei 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Keep these videos coming! Great work brother!
Great tips! I gave Vicious Delicious a listen with a spectrum meter and a VU meter. Brilliant stuff, gave so much insight on the never ending break. At the start of the break the VU meter was consistently at -20 dB and slowly rose over 2 minutes to -10 dB to when the drop hits. At the beginning of the same break there's a complete lack of anything above the 7k-ish region. Also this slowly increased with the a clear introduction of higher frequency sounds to emphasize energy and movement. I learned a lot. Thanks!
Thats interesting indeed!
To be honest, there are a lot more different types of break than this, and you categorise them in a number of ways. As a DJ I tend to differentiate between "bass drop" breaks usually found in techno and percussive styles that are just massive builds to bring the bass back and "bliss out" breaks which tend to be big lush melodic moments. Then there are breaks that introduce something totally new in the breakdown (lead melody being the classic example) and the distinction between those that keep it after the drop and those that reset back to the rhythm.
And then there are psy-trance breaks which tend to do all of the above, then take everything away and replace it with a sample from The Simpsons, and finally go into triplets.
Thx for all your Videos! Just awesome. Greetings from Germany
What you're calling trilogy break is called an anticlimax (especially) in hardstyle. Giant build-up, then right at the Moment where you want to jump, it goes on for just a couple of moments longer than you expected, and extends the tension just a little more... and makes you look really stupid on the floor if you don't know the track
The channel of 2021 imo.
You're a legend 😁🧡 thanks for the support!
@@OscarUnderdog Well, you are the one doing a fantastic job. Be proud of this. A huge amount of subscribers, myself included, love this content!
Man I love the videos. I learn a lot from your techno videos and your by far the most knowledgly gifted techno producer on TH-cam. Please keep it up! 😁
Would you cover topic for Reverbs types and which one to use and when ? Cheers Oscar
Good question! Made me just write out some ideas, hope to use them in a future video! Thanks!
That was really helpful. I'm put in it to practice right now. Thank you
Best channel for producing 👌
Loved the hypnosis caveat! A producer is a magician. You are literally producing spells for the next techno pagan ritual.
I know nothing about making electronic music but this channel is still fascinating. Makes me appreciate my favourite DJS and electronic music even more.
I like the Trilogy break btw because it's the one that gives me a rest on the dancefloor.. never knew it was called a trilogy break.
Thanks! 😁 it's not really called that officially, I just made it up as a learning tool 🤭
@@OscarUnderdog Well that's how all names we have for things come from until eventually they spread to everyone :p
Vicious Delicious is an amazing album all the way thru too! Some amazing builds with many layers in that album. Heavyweight is also great for that as well.
I tend to use a "Linear Break" early on after my intro, while progressing to the main break (Trilogy Break) and repeat this one into a new progression of my accent notes (melody). to come back to the "Linear Break" at the end of my outro's.
I think your channel is one of the best things that I discovered in 2021. Thank you so much for your work, its helping me improve my production a lot! Love from Brazil!
Nice explanation. Clicked though because thought you were going to explain drum breaks, which would be good ;) (though I know not really your musical focus in these vids)
😄 yeah I struggled to figure out how to make it clear I wasn't talking about breakbeats. Inevitably I was going to confuse a few people 😂💙
Another great tutorial, thanks for dropping these! Also, no need to say the "p" in psytrance.
Haha, funny you brought vicious delicious, possibly the biggest build-up I know. I am actually more into producing psytrance, but I am really enjoying your tutorials and analytic teaching style with fundamentals that apply to a lot of dance music. I'm not a native speaker either and many people say it wrong, but after some years I learned that you don't say the first letter at the beginning of psytrance, you speak it as if it was written without the "p". Cheers and keep the videos coming! :-)
Great tutorial 😎
This is my new favourite channel 😻
me too
great tips, and fantastic explanation. trilogy breaks can get even more epic if you take out all the highs when the drop hits
Man, this is the best thing to come out of Belgium since chocolate! I'm just kidding! Fantastic channel, great production and really clear, insightful breakdowns. Thank you!
This video made me subscribe. Please do more of these deep dives on composition, you're quite talented at making it seem simple and fun.
I really liked the kind of homework you gave me. i need more homeworks. keeep it going. you are doing soooo great!!!!
your tutorials are super helpful!
Yooo great shirt from another great creator!
Also, very useful and well articulated tips, as per usual. Thanks!
Vicious Delicious is also one of my favorite tracks from old days due to the break. There is so powerfull tensiosn. You think there is gonna be a relase. But they are just adding more and more.
This is break bible
Oscar, you are crushing it on your channel mate! Loving it.
Really different than how others break it down. Describing energy as contour and hypnosis is really important to understanding this. I also like the breakdown of each different break.
loved it ... also, props for the t-shirt!
Could watch a video an hour Oscar, love them, always learning something (not normally hypnosis though)
Best tutorial videos I have seen by a long way. The videos are actually musical in themselves! Many people teach techniques but not so concisely and so simply, and the references and passion for music make you remember why you are doing it in the first place. Thank you Oscar
Bro, you are next level. Wish someone with your knowledge, teaching ability and reach were around in the early 2000s.
Great video, thanks.
Having your videos be recommended to me has been such a blessing, I love that many of your tips focus on greater concepts instead of being laser-focused on one subgenre so no matter if I'm looking for advice on playing live DAWless modular stuff or producing genres like festival trap and bass a large majority of your content remains relevant and helpful. Keep up the great work!
PS: As someone who's underwent hypnotherapy for a couple years, the anecdote seems... iffy. But it's definitely true for other *hypnotising* things like music! :D
I'm taking a course on music production and your videos help me a lot to understand the concepts better. Thank you! You are doing an awesome job.
Excellent video on a breakdown in a track! Well explained!
Great Channel. Thanks for your time and the Quality of the information
Cheers Hector!
man, I really love your tutorials!! so wel explained!! great job
Great job and a really good channel...
Thanks for the support!
I appreciate you. 👊
Respect!!!
how you explain this is so great
i have learnt so much through your videos, thank you for making them. you are a great teacher!
Man this tutorial was simple but effective. Thanks for the final white noise tip. The best is that you also recommend tunes to listen. This is a great channel. Congrats and cheers from Madrid.
Sometimes the songwriter uses the break to stir emotions. My favorite break is from Boris Brechja song "one day" album "22". Suddenly a passive synth pluck takes the lead, along with the bass, dancing on its way into the future. and then go back to normal. masterpiece. Thanks for this video, very interesting topic.
that's an AMAZING tutorial
I'm a subscriber already for a few weeks and I do love your content and now, I just found this video were you're wearing a Look mum no computer's T-shirt!? ❤❤❤❤ I just can say RESPECT!
I like the way you explain things, good good job man :-)
track : Return to the oz (artbat remix) is one of the best example for the trilogy break. Btw Thank you
W o w I did not expect advice to checkout Infected Mushroom!! Not many people talk about them and that’s a real shame! Great vid.