Part 2 of a special Track by Track examines the production techniques behind ARTCORE OffSonar VA Vol.2.

Flug - Racing Cars Feat. Liz McFarlandI started working on the percussive patterns using the Elektron Analog Rytm and Octatrack. Then, I recorded all the patterns into Ableton Live, where I added compression, sidechain, saturation, reverbs, and parallel compression, especially on the mid frequencies. Some of the plugin brands I used include Native Instruments, Plugin Alliance, FabFilter, SoundToys, and iZotope.

Another recognizable element is the bass, created with the Moog Mother 32. I composed the main sequence using its internal sequencer, then recorded it into Ableton to add effects like reverb, saturation, a touch of chorus, and finally EQ and stereo enhancement to achieve that warm, surrounding bass sound.

The last element was the vocal. I wrote some quotes about our typical clubbing experiences and used ChatGPT to refine them. Then, I asked my good friend Liz McFarland to record the vocals using a Blue Microphone. I layered the vocals with the Manipulator plugin, adding some tape effects, compression, reverb, delay, and reverse effects created from the same vocal track.

To finalize the track, I normalized the volume of all channels using an SSL channel strip to amalgamate all the sounds. If you're interested here's a list of plugins I use

Native Instruments - Reaktor, Native Instruments - Replika XT, Native Instruments - Choral, Native Instruments - Guitar Rig, Fab Filter - Pro Q3, Fab Filter - Pro C2, Fab Filter - Saturn, Plugin Alliance - Kirchhoff EQ, Plugin Alliance - Cassetem, Plugin Alliance - SSL4000 E, Sound Toys - Echoboy, Sound Toys - Decapitator, Output - Thermal, Infected Mushroom - Manipulator, Cable Guys - Shaperbox, Audio Damage - Kombinat Tri, Plugin Boutique - Stereo Savage.

Find Flug on Instagram.

</iframe

AD7USTMENT - Queen

'Queen' is a track I produced inspired by Indira Paganotto. First, I was inspired by some psy trance samples, such as a typical psy trance bass line.

Sometimes I start with my machines, sometimes I start with some samples. This depends on my mood. In this case, I started with the kick I made with the Vermona Kick Lancet followed by some samples because it's the first time I produced something with this kind of psy trance touch. For my bass lines, subs I mostly use the Moog Sub 37.

The vocal I did by myself. I recorded it and used several UAD plugins, FabFilter, the Decimort and a reverb from D16 group. The drums are mostly made with the Elektron Analog Rytm Mk 2, the Ace from u-He, and I added some top loops. For the tops, I worked with by the Dave Smith Pro 2, I created a synth also with the Analog Rytm and added some FX samples.

I always try to work only with my machines, but using samples sometimes gives me a better workflow and more inspiration. But even if I use some samples, I always make them sound like my signature sounds using UAD plugins.

Find AD7USTMENT on Instagram.