Clear Lake Recording Studios

Tag: music production

  • Best Trap Splice Packs

    Best Trap Splice Packs

     Best Trap Splice Packs

      

    Over the last five years, trap-infused production has become ubiquitous in studios of all sizes. Pounding 808s and flittering hi-hat loops reverberate from bedroom studios to powerhouse main monitors and everywhere in between. If you need to upgrade or update your trap sample library, these Splice packs are an excellent start. Check out our top five picks below! 

     

    1. UZ – Real Trap Samples

     

    Megastar DJ and cultural influencer UZ offers one of the best trap packs in the Splice catalog. The pack is full of diabolical synth atmospheres, searing basses, and larger-than-life 808s. The snare rolls in this pack are particularly useful if you’re looking to save time: simply drag and drop one at the end of your phrase to get a crispy transition (cue cymbal crash on the downbeat). This pack is a great place to start for foundational trap sounds, with plenty of obnoxious kicks and snares to bring a smile to your face as you turn them up.  

     

    1. SOPHIE Samples

     

    Another pioneer in trap and pop was the late SOPHIE, who passed away in January 2021. Her production credits speak for themselves, including Charlie XCX, Madonna, Cashmere Cat, Vince Staples, and a range of other talented artists. Known for her “hyper-kinetic” take on pop and trap music, SOPHIE has crafted a pack that delivers metallic synth glitches, massive subs, creepy textures, and some of the most innovative percussion one-shots we’ve ever heard. Take a listen for yourself above. 

     

    1. Naderi’s Secret Sauxe

     

    Sydney-based producer Naderi has amassed quite a track record, engineering and remixing for the likes of Flume, Skrillex, Trippie Redd, and The Killers. In his “Secret Sauxe” pack, Naderi has included inspirational synth arpeggios and quick, echoing vocal phrases that serve as outstanding ear candy when combined with panning automation. The closed hi-hats in this pack are all processed in a way that makes them smack harder than the hats in your average trap pack. This is a go-to selection for sprinkling unique trap flavors on top of your track.  

     

    1. umru: sound cache

     

    umru’s “sound cache” presents some of the hardest-hitting drum samples on the Splice market. Scrolling down the samples, each percussion hit somehow seems to hit you in the chest more than the last. The Estonian-American producer, well-known for his remix of Lido’s “Citi Bike”, has gifted the Splice community with his mix of knocking kicks and disrespectful snares, which are familiar enough to hook listeners but also different enough to maintain their interest. This pack is a great place to start if you are looking for the backbone of your trap drums.  

     

    1. KRANE Samples

     

    With seven volumes in total, KRANE’s sample packs display versatility and thoughtfulness that will leave any producer satisfied. The cracking snares are the highlight – they sound fantastic and will make your drops punchier while giving them edginess and attitude. They also function well when layered on the twos and fours. Aside from the snares, these packs boast a range of crafty percussion loops, huge bass one-shots, and rich, emotion-infused arpeggios that will leave you downloading volume after volume. 

     

    We hope you enjoyed this list, but why pigeonhole yourself into one genre? Check out our top five indie Splice packs here.

    https://splice.com/

     

    Polish Your Sound at Clear Lake Recording Studios & Fever Recording Studios

    Contact us at Clear Lake Recording Studios and Fever Recording Studios to learn more about our comprehensive assortment of recording services.

     

  • Creative Uses for Your Free Plugins

    Creative Uses for Your Free Plugins

    Producers and engineers of all skill levels can get caught up in wanting to purchase the latest game-changing plugin. Unfortunately, many of these new tools have a tendency to break the bank. For the budget-conscious producer, we’ve identified several unorthodox ways that free plugins can add character and life to your tracks. Check out the full list below! 

     

    Camel Crusher on Synths

    Camel Crusher was once a staple distortion plugin for major EDM acts, primarily to fatten basslines and lead synths. In 2015, Camel Audio was acquired by Apple, discontinuing the line of Camel products. For those who are willing to search, Camel Crusher is still available and can have wondrous effects when its distortion, filtering, and compression capabilities are applied to synth material. Take a listen to the example below – by adjusting the Mech and Tube Distortion settings and automating the filter cutoff, you can easily transform a synth in seconds. 

    Regular Synth:

    Camel Crusher Synth: 

     

    Tal Chorus LX on 808s 

    The Tal Chorus LX, a standalone version of the chorus implemented in the larger Juno 60 emulation plugin by TAL, sounds great on just about any source. It shines on pads and synths, creating a gooey width and depth that instantly gives them a lush feel. A more uncommon use is to create width on the top of your 808s. Try creating a send, hi-passing everything up to 130 Hz with an EQ, and then place the Tal Chorus LX after it with the stereo width and the dry/wet knobs at 100%. Be judicious with this one! 

    Regular 808:

    Tal Chorus LX 808: 

     

    OTT on Vocals 

    OTT, or “Over The Top” Compression, is typically used on instrument sources, such as synths in massive EDM drops, or pianos that need to poke out of the mix. However, when applied subtly at the end of a direct vocal chain, OTT helps a vocal sound more front and center by lifting some high frequencies and boosting the gain a touch. This application can be a game-changer if your vocals are competing for space in the mix, and also works great on vocal chops. 

    Regular Vocals: 

    OTT Vocals: 

     

    Slicers on Melody Loops 

    Logic, Ableton, and FL Studio all come with built-in slicers (if you’re in Pro Tools, try Structure Free). These plugins allow you to slice a sample of audio into smaller pieces and trigger them in any sequence you please. If you’re a loop maker, try throwing one of your finished loops into a slicer and messing with the timing and order of your audio sample! Get creative and make a whole new loop. Oftentimes, these textures and flips are great ways to spice up different sections of your song. 

    Bonus tip: try pitching individual slices up and down, or duplicating certain slices and stretching them out to double their length (the popular “half-time” effect) to layer underneath your new loop.

    Regular loop: 

    Slicer loop: 

     

    Dimension Expander on Electric Guitars 

    The Dimension Expander is a standalone plugin based on the “Dimension” feature that comes standard inside Serum by Xfer Records. The plugin has two controls: a dry/wet knob and a size knob. The magic of Dimension Expander is on full display when it’s placed as an insert on an electric guitar track. With the size at 100% and the dry/wet around 33%, the plugin transforms the dry signal into one with a unique depth hard to achieve with other plugins. Hear the difference below: 

    Regular Guitar:

    Dimension Expander Guitar: 

     

    If you want more of these tips, be sure to check out this article for creative ways to use other plugins in your collection! Happy producing. 

     

    Polish Your Sound at Clear Lake Recording Studios & Fever Recording Studios

    Contact us at Clear Lake Recording Studios and Fever Recording Studios to learn more about our comprehensive assortment of recording services.