Evoking memories & Emotions with Sound Design

Originally posted: 12/10/18

Last night I spent some time creating a pad sound for one my songs. In designing something unique is important because there are billions of pad presets one can choose from billions of sound libraries. This means one has to have creativity as well as tech know-how in order to manipulate things your way. Tech combines with art??? I LOVE IT!

Ok. But as I was in the middle of creating the pad I wanted, many other sounds emerged and were tweaked. And all along pictures were rolling through my mind as I listened. And when I’m listening I’m not really looking at anything except my mind and my emotion. No really….I’m sure an observer would be looking at me like I’m staring at nothing. :) Anyway all sorts of pictures and emotions came about. I felt sad, then melancholy, then scared, then surprised, or it felt like I was being lifted up through clouds in peaceful serenity.

I spent an hour like this before it was time to finally hit the hay. Yet I was satisfied and excited by all of these emotions and pictures in my mind happening. The point here is that choosing a preset and sticking with that didn’t give me satisfaction. It was going through the process of actually creating which did this to me. Yes its sound design for my music, and music is there to manipulate our emotions. (Yes I mean this in a good way).

Its interesting isn’t it? Choosing a preset doesn’t engage your emotions and the mental pictures in the same way as going through the process. I feel life is very much the same way. The easy win won’t do it for you, the process will work for you every time. Even when you lose.

Hear some of my emotional sound designs on my latest EP. Tap/Click below, listen, and get a copy for yourself!