Well, isn't this interesting! I'm reading my March issue of Computer Music magazine (just found this one, it's great for aspiring producers!!) and they have there monthly feature called "Sound like..." where they give you certain tips and tricks to, well, sound like different artists.. this month is the Scissor Sisters (yippee..), but then at the end of the article, they say..



NEXT MONTH: "Sound like... THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS"



Woot!

YAY!!

It's been mentioned in articles from a long while back that Chemical sounds were used (or at least closely imitated) in sound banks for keyboards. But that article I read was a while ago, can't remember any details.



Although I think computer music magazines are helpful to the aspiring musician who wants to utilize computer technology, I'm not sure if the idea "Sound like the Chemical Brothers" sits very well with me. If one reads an interview with the Chems (like the recent interview in Remix magazine for example) there is more to their sound than what goes on in computer software - more or less they know their equipment and instruments and software initimately. They know the ins and outs with their trade of producing their own material, their art of crafting their songs, and they draw inspiration from themselves and transform that into music and that's a combination of skill, talent, and love of what they do. This is something that imo, at best can only be cheaply imitated even if you have the right software... then you get results like that awful Chemical Brothers tribute record that sounds hollow and empty and just plain lacking. I don't know, maybe I'm just being a lil bitchy here but... trying to sound like someone takes too much away from the creativity that lurks within the imitator who is probably capable (if he/she tries hard enough) of creating their own unique sound and style. I'd like to think that the Chems are more than capable of inspiring other musicians rather than drawing in a slew of imitators.



At any rate, it'll be interesting to read the article anyway, just to see what it says.

whirlygirl Escribi�:

It's been mentioned in articles from a long while back that Chemical sounds were used (or at least closely imitated) in sound banks for keyboards. But that article I read was a while ago, can't remember any details.



Although I think computer music magazines are helpful to the aspiring musician who wants to utilize computer technology, I'm not sure if the idea "Sound like the Chemical Brothers" sits very well with me. If one reads an interview with the Chems (like the recent interview in Remix magazine for example) there is more to their sound than what goes on in computer software - more or less they know their equipment and instruments and software initimately. They know the ins and outs with their trade of producing their own material, their art of crafting their songs, and they draw inspiration from themselves and transform that into music and that's a combination of skill, talent, and love of what they do. This is something that imo, at best can only be cheaply imitated even if you have the right software... then you get results like that awful Chemical Brothers tribute record that sounds hollow and empty and just plain lacking. I don't know, maybe I'm just being a lil bitchy here but... trying to sound like someone takes too much away from the creativity that lurks within the imitator who is probably capable (if he/she tries hard enough) of creating their own unique sound and style. I'd like to think that the Chems are more than capable of inspiring other musicians rather than drawing in a slew of imitators.



At any rate, it'll be interesting to read the article anyway, just to see what it says.

I see you are still making valid points whirlygirl and i agree with what you are saying but the one i thing i may add is that it is often reported that aspiring artists often use imitation of their idols as a source of inspitation for finding their own sound.







In the find what you like

Try and copy it

Take it to the next level.. etc etc.



I think this was the case with Keith Richards replicating muddy waters and chuck berry.



I can also imagine that the early brothers work in student gigs was strongly based on the likes of the dust brothers, Kratwerk and a plethora of others on the flip sides of all those amazing hip hop records that only they seem to be able to find (no jealousy obv :)



I guess you could also include John Cage and all that white nosie stuff..



I for one will be looking at Computer Music Weekly for any tips on how the borthers are using their kit. Unfortunatly as you point out unless it is the brothers stood behind the equipment its never going to be their sound.....





ps. sorry for never posting the glasto photos.

The issue with the chems sound like has been out for about a week over here (uk) they use galvanise as the template it's a good mag and i enjoy the sound like tutorials.

wayno52 Escribi�:

Well, isn't this interesting! I'm reading my March issue of Computer Music magazine (just found this one, it's great for aspiring producers!!) and they have there monthly feature called "Sound like..." where they give you certain tips and tricks to, well, sound like different artists.. this month is the Scissor Sisters (yippee..), but then at the end of the article, they say..



NEXT MONTH: "Sound like... THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS"



Woot!

Cool!

Heh, I know what it should say:



Save up 20-30k, invest in an EMS Synthi AKS, an Arp 2600, an Octave Cat and a few more recent synths like an Alesis Andromeda and a Nord Modular. There's your synth sounds covered.



Now save up another 10-20k and track down some old analogue delay pedals/boards that sound "just right", some vintage distortion pedals (again, that sound "just right") and a few samplers (don't forget an MPC). There are your beats and effects sorted.



Buy yourself a guitar, teach yourself to play it well and make friends with a cool bassist. There are your more rocky riffs and basslines (DYOH styleee).



Now, track down some mates that sound like Beth Orton/Tim Burgess/Noel Ghalleger and hire out a top of the line studio (hopefully you live near Miloco studios). There are your vocals.



And there you go. Just add years and years of experience, a natural gift for piecing bits of sounds together in a psychedelically funky way, another mate who you've known for years and who you work with incredibly well, a talent for creating amazing sounds through various convoluted processes that take days/weeks/months to perfect, more talent for adding all the elements together in a truly intense and funky way (and some luck) and there you go - you _might_ sound like the Chemical Brothers.





I read one of those articles ages ago that was like "Sound like Orbital". They gave you a few pointers on how to program a synth to sound kindof like a synth you can hear in the back ground of one of their songs. Another part was about their drum tracks, but it wasn't about getting similar sounding kicks/snares/hats, it was more "place the kick drum here, and the snare drum here and hey presto, the drums from Impact USA!"

ps, sorry to be a downer guys, I just don't think you should get your hopes up...



... that, and like Whirly I don't agree with trying to sound like someone else.

I can relate to the next cat that says "The Chemical Brothers are a symbol of uniqueness. And to try and recreate their sound would take away from their certain definition." I whole heartedly agree with this, BUT ----- As an artist, and as a fan, I can say that even the chems didnt get where they are without trying to sound like someone else. To recreate something to call their own. Hard to believe but sometimes its alright to copy. And I will most certainly pick up that magazine with utmost respects to the chems. After all, Im sure they volunteered for it.

Of course it's alright to copy stuff, what do you think sampling is??



Also, trying to imitate sounds doesn't mean copying, as you'll never get the same sound twice using an analog synth. Take Orbital as a good example - Impact live has a different lead sound than Impact studio, simply because of the variation of analog gear.

"Sound like the Chemical Brothers", to be honest i don't really associate a sound with them as they vary so much in what they have done.

Anyone fancy scanning it in an posting it?

That magazine is far to expensive for my breadline student existance...

It costs, like, �5!!

That's 2 pints (well, 3 in the union I guess)!



2 pints is bugger all, you can blag them off your mates towards the end of the night

What software are they using to "sound like the Chemical Brothers" this month?

They used reason rewired into logic although i cant remember all the soft synths they used they did use the es1 though.

How do I rewire reason into a sequencer?

You open the sequencer first and and then open reason instead of of using a mixer in reason plug the instruments straight into the hardware interface.

The hardware interface? That's the bit at the top right?

Yep that's it!

chemicalfan Escribi�:

It costs, like, �5!!

That's 2 pints (well, 3 in the union I guess)!



2 pints is bugger all, you can blag them off your mates towards the end of the night

Its ?10.50 in the republic man! Thats a weeks eatin'...

Our uni's usually don't offer cheap pints either... :(