A Beginners Guide to Making Ambient Music: Ep 1 - Instrument Choice
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 พ.ค. 2024
- Thanks for watching the first episode of my beginners guide to ambient music! I hope you found it useful.
Andy Othling's ambient guitar playlist - • Ambient Guitar Tip #1:...
Table of contents
Intro 00:00
Guitar 02:16
Groovebox 09:56
Tape loop 15:49
Modular 19:35
Acoustic instruments 27:30
All animations were done by myself in Adobe Animate.
Sound was recorded through a Yamaha MG 10 mixer, and sent into a focusrite 2i2 interface, and recorded into Logic Pro X. The only post processing I did was adding a limiter.
MY MUSIC:
open.spotify.com/artist/0nuZ3...
benjwilson.bandcamp.com/
/ ben-wilson
I stream on twitch - / ambientbenji
Social Media:
/ the.benji.boi
/ thebenjiboi - เพลง
a man with a mullet and a guitar gives you advice, you better listen.
Not gonna lie, when I was about to upload this video, I had just given myself that haircut, and I said out loud, “if anybody watches this and is able to take me seriously, they are a stronger person than I am” 😂😂😂
I hope you enjoyed the content!
so true haha
Dude the second I first saw him I was like: "yep, this guy knows what he's talking about"
He's great!
Got this video as the first one in my search results for "making ambient music" and was so disappointed that it only had a few hundred views, even though there is just so much quality in this. Hopefully the algorithms finally picked this one up, because it just deserves so much more. Had a lot of fun watching this, especially the guitar part, the rest are fire as well ngl haha, all I wanted to say is don't ever lose faith in this and I hope you'll eventually find the audience you're after!
Wow, thank you so much for such a kind comment!!! I’m glad you found something you enjoyed in my video. I’m glad that you think that this content is quality, and I’m glad that the work I put in comes through!!!
If you ever have any other questions, hit my Instagram up and shoot me a dm, I’m happy to chat about any other questions you might have about creating music. Thanks again for such a kind comment. If I keep getting comments that are this nice, then I don’t really care if I don’t get a whole bunch of views 😂
this video hitting 30k rn
Table of contents
Intro 00:00
Guitar 02:16
Groovebox 09:56
Tape loop 15:49
Modular 19:35
Acoustic instruments 27:30
i just started learning how to produce music, specifically ambient and sound healing music. I've been so overwhelmed by all of the possibilities, but 1 min in to this video i feel calm, inspired and informed. thank you!!!!
One of the best guides to make ambient music - thanks a lot for sharing your ideas!
Dude YES, thank you a lot. I was havin a big crative block, then i found your video and the second you ended speaking about the use of guitars into ambient music, i had to run to my room and start creating. I made 4 tracks im expecting to release as a part of an EP i´ve been working on.
Again, thank u thank u
this is super awesome. thanks for the inspiration, just spent some time recording the sound of the first real monsoon of the year for my neck of the woods.
ambient music is such an antithesis to this highly structured and constantly rushed modern society we are coerced to participate in.
looking forward to embracing the chill and finding creative ways to let it pour from my heart and mind.
thanks again
Third time coming back to this video in a year, this deserves way more views.
Absolutely fantastic.
It’s been nine months sense I first saw this video/discovered your channel, and I can honestly say that this video still holds its own as being one of the most helpful video for ambient music making.
killing it with the videos! we need more videos like this one for people to get started making ambient music!
Amazing video my man appreciate you and the detail you went into alot of terminology i wasnt hipped to really started making more sense
peace to you bro
I'm really happy to have found this.
This was truly inspiring and informative Ben, thank you! Gonna watch the next 3 episodes now :)
Great video! Thanks for taking the time to make it!
thank you so much for this.
WOWW thank you so much Ben, this is very helpful!!! I love it so much!
I enjoyed your friendly way of showing us how to use what we have, thank you.
Great idea for a video. Thank you!
Thank you for the kind words! Glad you thought it was a good idea!
Great video mate! Can't wait to see more episodes :)
Thanks so much! I’m laptopless right now, but I have basically filmed the entire next episode, just need to edit it all together!
this is the most useful video I've seen in a while. Thank you a lot
Thank you so much! I’m glad you got something useful out of it!
Hey friend, this is a wonderful introduction and quite possibly the most helpful series I've come across so far. Thanks for all the work you put into this!
wowww so cooll thanks for sharing!! ✨
Excellent information well-presented. Thank you!
Thanks for the positive feedback! Glad you thought it was well presented! (And again, thanks for the timestamp heads up
Great content thanks
Great video man, really love the format! You share some real valuable knowledge - keep on doing what you do ✨
Thank you so much! Glad you found some value in what I had to say!!!
LOOPERS MAN
SPOT ON!
“there’s just something magical about it”
💖💖💖💖💖
Great video bro, well explained and beautifully shot, deserves a few hundred thousand extra views
Wow, thank you so much! I’m glad so many people are finding it useful, and I’m glad you think it deserves that kind of attention!
I second this
I third this. Absolutely beautiful stuff.
This comment thread is just so full of positivity! Thank you so much, I hope future stuff holds up to that standard!
+1
back in my day we only had tape loops and we liked it. -Grumpy old man
These are great examples of working with what you have. I am a 67 y.o. ambient musician and drummer. I use this same approach with different equipment but I feel the results are really what counts. This is is good resource.
great video, explained everything very well! you deserve way more recognition
Thank you so much! I’m just glad I’m getting the recognition I am right now, I hope you like future videos I’m planning on putting out!
This is great! Thank you for putting this together. Your performance sounds wonderful, by the way.
Thank you so much! I’m glad it’s useful to you in some way.
thanks for this, really full of good advice!
Thank you so much for the kind words! Keep your eyes peeled on the channel tomorrow, I miiiight have the next episode about to drop
Big respect, awesome looping skills!
Thanks so much! The fun part with ambient looping, is you don’t have to be good, you just have to lean into the mistakes!
Love the work of art. Holy Ghost!
Very well explained and succinct without being pretentious. Thank you for the info, many blessings to you and what you do!
That might be the first time I haven’t been called pretentious... 😂😂😂 thank you so much! I’m glad I was able to communicate things in a way that felt inviting to you.
So helpful, thank you so much!
Thanks for that! I’m glad you got something out of the video!
Man excellent video.
I have none of these tools but watched anyway as the sound hypnotised me
Cannot thank you enough Ben. This sparks so much of inspiration! Thank you so so much. Love from India :)
Thank you so much!!! I’m glad you got inspired by it, I hope I will continue to make inspiring content in the future!
Thanks for doing this
Thank you for watching!
Really informative, thanks.
Glad you thought so! Thanks for the kind words!
Smart man. Thanks for the details.
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed what I’m putting out there, and glad I was able to communicate it effectively!
Enjoying the graphics, the text overlays, and just your general approach to this video. Nicely done. Thank you. :)
I particularly appreciated the "you probably already own all the equipment you need" which was delightfully refreshing.
Thank you! that was the part I really wanted hammered home like, I get GAS so bad with youtube stuff and I just wanted to really make the point that it doesn’t matter what you have, its what you do that counts! thanks again, glad you like the video!
Dude, you're great, thank you.
Thank you!!!
your modular box presentation is nice
Loved this video!!!! The background music and editing 😍 reminded me of Mia Minerva’s vlogs (she’s an illustrator but also musician!)
you save my life, thanks man
Doing my best… thanks!
This is a great video. You're an excellent teacher! I'm an older musician looking for something to do with my skills, and although I'm not entirely sure this is the way to go, you've given the information I need to decide. Thanks doesn't begin to cover it, but thanks.
Thank you so much!!! That means a lot to me, I’m glad that you found something useful with what I said! Best of luck in your musical journey!
Really enjoyed that Benji. I'm always trying to work out what the hell I've been doing and will be doing. That was a very useful re-orienting exercise.
Thanks so much! i’m glad something about this video helped center your thoughts, that makes me really happy to see people finding new ways to enjoy my content. Thanks again!
Ben Wilson seems like a legitimately wonderful person.
This is excellent. TH-cam suggested this first in the search for ambient music tutorial. Really good explanation, examples, and I gotta give props to the Holy Spirit. Subbed.
Thanks so much! glad the algorithm is doing me favors!!! I hope you enjoy future content!
I love you man
You deserve more views bro, beautifully presented! ;)
That’s so kind of you to say! I hope future content can keep up with that standard.
Just stumbled across your channel. Lovely vibe, beautiful sound. Subscribed 🙏🏻
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoy what I’m putting out there 😊😊😊
This shit was so inspiring, very excited to work with some of these ideas
Really useful video!
Thanks so much! Glad it was a good resource for ya!
Tnks man.🙏
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the vid man:)
Glad you enjoyed it! thanks for the kind comment!
I really enjoyed this. :)
That’s awesome, I’m glad so many people have found this useful and helpful!
this is awesome :)
Thanks so much! 🤩🤩🤩
Great information! So I've been looking at playing guitar for 4 weeks and found ambient guitar music, but I have 0 experience playing the guitar. So I think I'm going to focus on the other tools. I've been meditating for 19 years and playing tai chi for 15 so I know what sounds and feels great. I also would love to do a movement based sound to utilize my tai chi movement transfer into sound.
cool
Love this video. I would say I have too much gear. ... But. It's fun to lick and choose delays and reverbs.... Or which looper to use... Picked up an ocean machine which is fun when u want to just use one pedal.... Plug a synth into it and have fun (or guitar if coarse). Chase bliss mood is on the way. Should be interesting. Anyway. Such a great video. I really like what u are doing.... All of it. Rad
Haha, me too, I get totally stuck down the gear rabbit hole. I’m really thinking about getting a hologram electronics microcosm. Let me know how you like the mood! It’s on my list as well, so I wanna hear more people’s thoughts. Glad you liked the video! Hope I can keep the content looking good in the future!
thank you, real ish bro
Thank you for watching!!!
Really cool tutorial :)b
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed
this is a great video, learned a lot. i'm new making ambient myself and am always curious about what gear i should use. this video really made me realize i have more than enough gear to keep going :). i especially loved the modular part of this.
Thank you so much!!! That is so good to hear, I’m so glad that you came out of this video with that realization, I was afraid if I showed too much gear I had, the message would be lost, so I’m glad it came across!!! I hope you continue to enjoy my content as it goes forward, thanks so much for the kind words!
knew the video was gonna be fire from the haircut
Me with my shaved head now, wondering how to draw in new followers 😂😂😂 just kidding, glad you enjoyed the video though!
I love that you have walrus pedals as well (:
Oh, of course! I love their pedals, they do some really cool stuff, I always have at least one in my setups. Highly recommended IMHO!
Hi Ben, very thankful for your cool video. I‘m just starting off and want to learn how to create my own music. Do you have a video comapring different grooveboxes?
And - another question: can I also do this with just piano skills? Or will there be limitations in respect to sounds I can create with just synthesizers? Thank you!
Thanks for the questions! I dont have any videos comparing different groove boxes, but I did recently drop a video about making music with just my OP-1. The groove box idea is really good though, and I would love to do that in the future! Currently I need to be at a point where I can afford all the groove boxes that I want to use, but i’d love to do something in the future with things like the digitakt (or anything elektron tbh), an MPC, and something like the 1010 blackbox, just to see how they can each be applied to the ambient landscape.
As for the skills question… Of course you can make great music with just the skills and tools you have! I love working within the limitations of a specific instrument, and piano voicing are so specific, and so interesting all on their own, there is so much you could do with that! Especially if you are using software synthesizers, the only limit is what you can personally conceive! Limits are never a bad thing either, I love getting stuck into a specific workflow, and refining it down to its simplest components. I highly recommend you just start trying things, because you will surprise yourself with what you can do with so little.
Best of luck with the journey musically, make sure to have fun with it!
Very helpful video, thanks 😊
Also I noticed you have Minecraft on your Mac. *Respect*
Haha, I don’t even know how you saw that, I’ve been found out!!! Just kidding, glad you enjoyed the video! And I’d be lying if I said that the Minecraft soundtrack wasn’t an inspiration to me, it’s one of the best ambient albums in the last 20 years, no lie.
can I get a list of the modular devicse in your box and I want to compare and research
Nicely explained. Wished you had louder audio in this vid.
Thank you! Yeah, I was mostly using my vlog mic, as opposed to my actual studio mic. Total beginner mistake, and that led to my levels being all janky in the mix. I think I figured it out better in future episodes though, but I’ll deff keep an eye out for that in the future. Thanks for the feedback, I hope I can use it to make future stuff better! 😊
What was the module you were using to interface with the pedals?
Hello ! Great video. Is your modulare case a 3 or 6u ? And also what module should you recommande for someone who start to get into ambient modular synthesis ?
Hello! So first off, my case is actually 4u, it’s the intellijel palette case. It has a regular 3u row, and then a special 1u row for some specific intellijel modules. They make a few different sizes, so you can absolutely pick what’s right for you!
As for module recommendations, that’s a really tough one. There is no “one module” that’s going to do it, because you generally need a few to actually make things happen. However, if you were to go with the fewest modules you could, I would take a fully formed voice, like Mutable Instruments Rings, intellijel Plonk, or even just the 2hp Pluck or Bell modules, and pair it with some sort of a generative sequencer, and some effects. My current sequencer is the Mutable instruments Marbles, and it is a really creative generative machine. It does gates, quantized cv for musical notes, and it even has a smooth unquantized cv for random modulation. if you want to have more control over picking the notes you play, you could go with something like a varigate 4+ or any other sequencer that can do CV as well as gates. Lastly, some sort of reverb or delay is a really great choice, but if you are tight on the budged, you could always throw that on in your DAW. That being said, mutable instruments just put out a wonderful granular effects device based on their old module, clouds, called Beads. That might be a good place to start looking. I hope that was helpful to you, if you have any other questions, my Instagram is linked on my page and in the descriptions for my videos. Shoot me a message there and I’ll try and help you the best I can!
Thanks again for enjoying the video!
Hey, are those Grooveboxes similar to MIDI keyboards? What are the differences?
I'm loving this short series (when's the next one?), I'm watching it for the second time this week. I especially like this episode, it's a great introduction to the idea of making ambient music via various methods. I accidentally found this video because I was searching for ideas on how to use guitar pedals with a DAW, which led me to seeing videos on using pedals with keyboards/synths, and using pedals for ambient guitar music, and then here. A nice accident.
I have a question, if anyone knows the answer. So, I've just bought my first electric guitar (finally, after years/decades of not getting around to it) and I got a bunch of pedals to play with too, so I thought that while I learn to play the guitar I'll hook my pedals up to a DAW (probably Reaper) via an audio interface (probably M-Audio 192/8) and make some 'electronica' or something (of course, now I'm thinking about making something ambient!), my question is: do I need a re-amp box to deal with the signal out of my DAW/interface going into my pedalboard, or can I just connect the output straight into my pedals without issue?
Hey thanks so much! The next episode is coming soon, I’m dealing with computer issues at the moment, but I’m glad you found the series!
With regards to your question, I just wanna clarify a thing or two. Are you planning on recording your guitar directly in, and then sending it to pedals after the fact? If so, then yes you need a reamp box, the levels your audio interface is sending are not gonna be calibrated to your pedals. However, I would honestly reccomend recording with the pedals into your interface, and using an amp sim or even an amp in the box style pedal. But if you want to do it your own order, go for it, but you will really get some use out of a reamp box. The way I have always used a reamp is whenever I’m tracking a tone that we may want to adjust later, but it’s usually a fail safe for me.
I hope that helped, and if it didn’t, feel free to ask more questions!
@@ambientbenji Hey, hey, Ben, thanks so much for your cool reply, I really appreciate you taking the time.
To clarify, for now I probably won't be using the guitar at all - I need to learn how to play it a bit first, I'm a newbie - right now I'll be using synth VSTs on a DAW and playing them through my pedalboard so my pedals can add their analog goodness to my sound, and then recording the results back into the DAW (I really like the idea of getting some good synth action going on the DAW and then, for example, playing it through my 3 delay pedals while 'playing' the knobs and seeing what happens). The Interwebs did seem to strongly suggest that I'd need a reamp box for this, but it's good to have it confirmed by someone knowledgeable, experienced and who knows what they're doing; so thanks for your help and advice.
Good to hear the next episode is on its way, I'll look forward to it.
Hi, this is very useful gear wise, i have a bunch of synths (Ondes Magnetique, mini Buchla clone, effect pedals, etc) but im more curious on how to actually compose?
I know its a bit of an odd question cause ambient is so loose... but for example, if i want to make quick house jam i know ill need a four on the floor drum pattern. So whats like a beginner way to get started on ambient structurally speaking?
Hey! Thanks for the question, I might recommend you watch the next episode, since it’s a little more tailored to that question. It should be in the playlist on my page. In that episode, I talk to a friend of mine about the different ways we approach things, but I’ll give you my two cents now.
I usually start with some sort of a warm textural pad, and that’s usually my first “hook” that will engage me. Then I just start adding elements that I find effective to enhance that sound. (For instance, maybe a tape loop that engages me, and then I’ll start to find more dynamic elements to accentuate it)
That being said, the weirdest part with ambient is… it’s much more free. As lame as it is to say, just… try things. If you like it, then awesome, and if you don’t, spend some time asking yourself why, and try something else that you think would be better. Focus on making yourself happy, and less about sticking to the “genre” label. So maybe try to find a melancholy pad (maybe use that Ondes Magetique to mess with a weird tape loop) and then start expanding from there. But that’s just my thoughts! Hope you find something helpful here!
@@ambientbenji hey thanks! Yea i didnt realize you had more episodes for this guide. Watching it now and taking it all in. Appreciate your reply 🙏
Please more tape loop tutorial
Hey, what are you specifically looking to learn with tape loops? I’d love to talk more about them, but I don’t just want to make a tape loop tutorial, since there are already very good tutorials out there (like amulets tutorial, hainbachs reel to reel videos, etc)
However, if I can find a way to add something, I’d love to make a video on them, and my approach to using them!
Hi! I’m sorry to ask this but I was wondering if you knew if there is an instrument that can organically sound like 6:23 like the swelling noise? I think that sound is absolutely beautiful and it’s driving me bonkers not knowing if there is an instrument that originally can produce that residual sound. You are awesome!
Hey!!! Thanks so much! So, there isn’t a non synthetic instrument that can create the swelled attack sound. Just due to the nature of it, it just doesn’t work without having a volume pedal or something. However, there are lots of options to be able to get that sound on any instrument! For instance, take a synth, and set the attack time to very slow on the envelope, and it will fade in. Or record something into a DAW, and automate the volume to fade in, and that works too! A swell is just a fade in with some delay and reverb after it, so there’s a lot of flexibility, and there are easy/cheap ways to make that happen.
Definitely everything I recommend is one way to do a thing, but feel free to experiment and try to find your own solutions!
wind instruments sort of do that, though in that case, the breath noise is more noticeable when played quietly
who would have thought that I`d be having youtube video lessons with hacker man himself XD. Great video thou, bruh.
I recently shaved my head and all I’m thinking is “but what about my public image!!!” haha. But I’m glad you liked the video! Glad you got something out of it!
To Ben Wilson: Hi Ben! First of all, thank you very much for this video. I hope you have time to answer this question as well: Throughout my childhood I have played piano, but only classical music. Now I am 40 years old and I would like to start making ambient music, although I would also maybe like to throw in a beat or two. I don't have ANY instruments at home anymore, nor do I have any software or hardware (except a laptop running on Windows 10). You have made a lot of suggestions for instruments, but which would you suggest me to START with? I don't think it would be smart to buy everything at once, and I don't know where to start!
So, thats a great question! It’s a pretty personal decision, and I would kind of work backwards a bit. If you dont have a DAW, I would recommend something like Ableton, it is really well tuned to a specific creative workflow, and it comes with a lot of really great stock plugins and sounds to start working with. Plus, there are some ways to pay over time, so you don’t have to drop a whole bucket of cash right off the start. Then, you really want to get an interface to get your sound into your computer (built in sound cards are not powerful enough to take in a clean sound source, so unless you want really lo-fi production, get an interface) I recommend the Focusrite Scarlett series, there are lots of different inputs to choose from, from 1 input, to several, depending on your needs. Then, I would sit down and see what really calls to you. If you want to go down the synthesizer route, the Korg volcas are cheap but really rich and full sounding, and they have everything from synths to drum machines. If you want more the acoustic instrument route, finding something that is inexpensive, but has its own character, like a cheap guitar in the corner of a used shop, or a thumb piano that you can start building up sounds from, combined with a small mic, you can get wonderful sounds. I want to make a video on starter ambient sets, but honestly, the best video out there already exists, and its Hainbachs, “How to Hainbach on a budget” video.
all of this is very personal though, at the end of the day, its what pulls you in more than anything else I could recommend. Just enjoy the search!
God bless TH-cam`s Algorithm
Amazing video, Ben
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it that much! I hope future content meets that same standard there!
Is the guitar you used an electrical guiter?
Your imagination is the most important tool. The rest will follow :)
Love the 80s hairstyle
The mullet is now gone, but it will not be easily forgotten, haha. maybe one day it will come back!
just so straight into modular spend the time learning each module before u buy it
which modules did you use ?? sound great
Thanks! I actually made a video talking about my modular case, it’s my 500 subscribers video, but the real key modules are marbles, plonk, and a basic oscillator/filter/envelope style voice.
Wow very interesting. I was expecting your line-up would include a synthesizer, but surprisingly it isn't there.
Yeah, I am also a bit surprised in myself that I don’t have a traditional synth at this point either… But the modular or the OP-1 usually do the things I would use a traditional analog machine for. Really, right now it comes down to money and wanting something polyphonic. I’m sure you will see me in a year or so with something like a novation peak or a prophet style synth, haha.
Can you please provide that op 1 one shot sample?
Hey! which specific one, I used a few in the video. Timestamp the spot, and I will see if I can find the link to the pack I got it from!
Great video, why do I found this video only after a year...
Haha, i’m glad you found it eventually! i’m shocked that youtube decided anybody should see it, so thanks for finding some enjoyment with it!
i can't concentrate on what ben's saying because he's too cute help
Hmm not seeing timestamps in the description...
Ahhhh thank you I forgot to pin a comment with the time stamps! I threw them on the screen but I totally forgot about that in the upload. Thank you!
You're cute. Thank you for video. It's really useful and informative :3
This could truly be the most hipster thing on TH-cam
I’m not even gonna argue with that… 😂
try to increase the volume
Thanks for the heads up! Definitely it was an early attempt at mastering lots of audio from a lot of different places, and you are right, it is pretty quiet everywhere. I’ll make sure to spend more time in the back end of my audio in future!
@@ambientbenji I loved this vedio. If your voice was a little louder it would be great!
based mobo enjoyer
Nice Hair :)
Who among us has not made some interesting choices in quarantine
@@ambientbenji im bald. I wish I had hair to make those choices lol 😆
Oh don’t worry, I’ll be joining the bald club sooner than you might think. I’ve seen my family, I’ve probably got 5 years left of this stuff looking decent, so I’ll live it up while I can haha
26:17 dude, that's a lot of cables and pretty unclear explanation?
I’m sorry, I thought I explained it clearly, what specifically did you not understand? I’ll definitely explain it out here in text, just let me know what I missed!
If you want everything he's speaking about on incredible budget go for the zoom G1four you can build five effects in one page and it has a looper....... That is a serious budget machine but a brilliant starting point! Nice advice fella, i admit I almost switched off when I saw the hair...... that will teach me for being a fascist🤪
Haha, the hair was as bit shocking to some, you weren’t the only one. The zoom g1four is a great reccomendation! I dont have one myself, but everything I have heard about it is amazing, and the price can’t be beat! great shout there!