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Inside the Studio How Myles O'Neal and Stanaj Created Their EDM Hit 'Naked' Using Modern Voice Production Techniques

Inside the Studio How Myles O'Neal and Stanaj Created Their EDM Hit 'Naked' Using Modern Voice Production Techniques - Inside O'Neal's Home Recording Setup The Custom LA Studio Behind Naked

Myles O'Neal's recording setup, nestled in a custom-built Los Angeles studio, highlights a meticulous approach to sound creation, particularly for the genre of electronic dance music. The studio's architecture and sound treatment are specifically geared toward capturing and enhancing vocal performance, a critical component of their production process. To achieve the desired sonic textures, O'Neal and Stanaj utilize advanced digital audio tools, including DAWs and specialized audio interfaces, alongside cutting-edge techniques like pitch correction and vocal layering. This tailored space fosters efficiency and facilitates experimentation, proving that artists today can attain professional-grade sound without relying solely on conventional recording studios. The outcome, "Naked," stands as an example of how technology and artistry converge to produce a polished sound that resonates across a diverse musical landscape. The seamless integration of sophisticated tools with creative vision is evident, shaping a modern approach to recording within the home environment.

Myles O'Neal's LA studio is meticulously designed for optimal sound capture and manipulation, emphasizing a precise recording environment. The studio's acoustic treatment plays a vital role, effectively controlling reflections and eliminating unwanted sonic interference. This, combined with the use of sensitive condenser microphones, ensures the subtle nuances of vocal performance are preserved.

Modern voice production relies heavily on the power of digital audio workstations (DAWs). These tools provide real-time voice modification capabilities, allowing for fine-tuning of pitch and tone. This level of control is especially relevant within EDM music, where sonic manipulation is central to the genre's signature sound.

Furthermore, the studio's custom vocal booth is specifically engineered to eliminate background noise, creating a pristine recording space. Myles leverages this with advanced vocal layering techniques, layering multiple vocal takes at varied pitches and timings. This complex process draws on psychoacoustic principles, building a fuller, richer sound, an approach common in contemporary music.

The studio is equipped with MIDI controllers, granting fine-grained control over virtual instruments and audio modulation. This is a fundamental aspect of composing electronic dance music, enabling the creation of complex and intricate soundscapes. Mixing and mastering are critically dependent on a correctly calibrated monitoring system, tailored to the studio’s acoustic environment. This precise control helps to ensure a consistent listening experience across different listening devices, a crucial factor for artists who distribute their music widely.

Exploring the realm of artificial intelligence, Myles uses voice cloning technology within his setup. This process, rooted in machine learning, dissects vocal qualities like phonetics and tone to produce extremely realistic synthetic vocals. This technology, while still developing, opens up new paths for vocal layering and production workflows.

Additionally, automated mixing techniques have become integrated into the studio's operations. These tools offer consistency when applying essential mixing effects across multiple tracks, streamlining the workflow and potentially saving a significant amount of time. Myles’s approach to sound design extends into real-time synthesis, generating and manipulating sounds directly, opening a vast array of creative possibilities within the boundaries of EDM production. The ability to manipulate audio signals in this manner allows for unique, constantly-evolving sonic explorations. This, along with the other aspects of his setup, illustrates how the future of music production is deeply intertwined with technology and creative ingenuity.

Inside the Studio How Myles O'Neal and Stanaj Created Their EDM Hit 'Naked' Using Modern Voice Production Techniques - Raw to Refined Voice Processing Through Antares Auto-Tune Pro

a close up of a control panel with knobs, Guitar Effect

Antares Auto-Tune Pro has become a cornerstone in the evolution of vocal production, especially within genres like EDM, where precise manipulation of pitch and tone is paramount. This software serves as a bridge between raw, unrefined vocals and meticulously sculpted sounds, allowing for both subtle corrections and more pronounced creative effects. In the creation of "Naked," Myles O'Neal and Stanaj utilized Auto-Tune Pro's capabilities, showcasing its power in modern vocal processing techniques. The software analyzes and adjusts vocal pitches in real-time, ensuring they align with predetermined scales and keys. By tweaking the retune speed, typically within a range of 10 to 50 milliseconds, producers can achieve a natural-sounding result or create more noticeable effects. This balance between precision and artistic expression is a testament to the way technology influences the evolving landscape of music production, enabling a wider array of sonic possibilities than ever before. While some may view such software as a crutch, it’s undeniable that Auto-Tune has opened new doors for artists seeking to explore the nuances of vocal sound. The software, with its ability to seamlessly blend transparency with creative manipulation, ultimately reinforces the crucial role technology plays in shaping contemporary soundscapes.

Antares Auto-Tune Pro, a prominent tool in modern vocal production, employs sophisticated algorithms to analyze vocal pitch and timing in real time. This allows for on-the-fly adjustments, beneficial for both live performances and studio recordings where immediate vocal corrections are needed.

The beauty of Auto-Tune Pro lies in its flexibility. It empowers engineers to fine-tune the pitch-correction process through parameters like retune speed and humanization. This leads to a range of outcomes, from transparent and natural-sounding corrections to more exaggerated, robotic effects often featured in EDM.

A notable feature is Auto-Tune's Automatic Mode, which cleverly identifies and rectifies pitch discrepancies in recorded audio without needing manual intervention. This significantly streamlines the process, especially when dealing with the complexities of layered vocals.

Auto-Tune Pro's graphical display provides a visual representation of pitch fluctuations through waveforms. This allows for incredibly precise alterations, adjusting vocals down to the smallest pitch unit (cents). This level of control directly contributes to the recording's clarity and quality.

Preserving the natural sonic character of the voice during pitch adjustments is crucial, and Auto-Tune Pro achieves this through its formant preservation feature. This prevents vocal distortion, a common issue when altering pitch, ensuring a more believable and realistic vocal sound.

Auto-Tune Pro's integration of built-in compression and EQ functionality allows for simultaneous dynamic and tonal shaping. This simplifies the vocal mixing process, potentially eliminating the need for separate plugins.

The software's MIDI mode opens doors to expressive performance techniques through MIDI control over pitch and effects, proving especially useful for musicians exploring creative avenues during live sets.

Less publicized but still significant is Auto-Tune Pro's time-stretching feature. This tool lets producers alter the timing of vocal phrases without affecting their pitch, creating interesting rhythmic variations and creative syncopation ideal for EDM compositions.

Interestingly, the software provides access to a "Classic Mode" emulating the sound of older Auto-Tune versions. This mode facilitates recreating that iconic vocal effect popularized in the early 2000s across pop and hip-hop music.

Lastly, Auto-Tune Pro incorporates analytical tools that visually represent vocal pitch and timing data. This analytical capability is particularly beneficial for audio engineers in their pursuit of refined production or for pinpointing specific vocal performance issues during mixing.

Inside the Studio How Myles O'Neal and Stanaj Created Their EDM Hit 'Naked' Using Modern Voice Production Techniques - Programming The Bass A Mix of Roland TR-8S and Arturia V Collection

Blending the Roland TR-8S with the Arturia V Collection offers a robust approach to crafting bass lines within electronic music production. The TR-8S's strength lies in its ability to generate complex rhythmic patterns, thanks to a wide range of built-in sounds and sample options. Its advanced controls provide fine-grained adjustments to various sound properties, including pitch and resonance. The Arturia V Collection further enriches this process by introducing a vast library of virtual instruments, significantly expanding the available sound design possibilities. This union fosters a creative environment that thrives on flexibility and innovation. Through this combination, producers can craft distinctive basslines infused with dynamic polyrhythms and custom sounds that elevate the production quality and align with the creative direction of contemporary electronic music, exemplified by productions such as "Naked". While this is a compelling blend of vintage and modern techniques, the effectiveness of this combination isn't solely technical. It is also about inspiring new creative pathways and musical exploration in electronic music genres.

The pairing of the Roland TR-8S and Arturia V Collection offers a compelling blend of vintage and modern sound design approaches. The TR-8S, with its faithful emulation of classic Roland drum machines, delivers the punch and character of iconic sounds, while the V Collection adds a vast array of software synthesizers, allowing producers to seamlessly incorporate both vintage and modern elements into their productions. It's interesting how the TR-8S's "Pattern Variations" feature lets creators craft up to 8 distinct versions of each drum pattern. This level of flexibility is particularly valuable for maintaining audience engagement during live performances, keeping the rhythmic landscape unpredictable.

Arturia's approach of modeling "vacuum tube" circuitry within the V Collection presents a fascinating alternative. It captures the warmth and harmonic nuances often sought after in analog equipment, but without the hassles of upkeep and physical space. This digital approach to analog sound is a testament to the evolution of sound design, providing a bridge between the two worlds.

The TR-8S's 16 simultaneous audio outputs are quite impressive. It gives engineers the ability to meticulously process and mix individual elements within a DAW, adding an intricate level of control that can really elevate production quality. The high sample rate of up to 96kHz is crucial, especially when dealing with layered sounds and effects that are so central to EDM. Maintaining pristine audio through extensive manipulation is vital for avoiding a muddy or cluttered sound.

The Arturia V Collection’s “Analog Lab” feature, a vast repository of presets, proves a timesaver for producers. It simplifies the process of sound exploration and selection, offering a streamlined workflow without sacrificing sound quality, which is quite helpful during creative sessions. The inclusion of real-time effects on the TR-8S, like reverb and distortion, is also noteworthy. It enhances the immediacy and playability during both live performances and spontaneous studio sessions.

The integration of both systems uses MIDI Learn functionality for control mapping. This approach supports an efficient and customizable workflow, whether you're creating tracks in a studio or executing a live performance. This type of interaction is increasingly significant for a natural and engaging feel during the production process.

Furthermore, the ability to build complex rhythms and rich soundscapes through MIDI sequencing is a powerful tool. This feature offers tight synchronization between the drum patterns and synthesizers, a key component for the impactful builds and drops that characterize many EDM tracks. The interplay between the TR-8S and V Collection seems to lend itself well to exploring psychoacoustics, where sound perception can be manipulated through frequency modulation and spatial effects. It appears this setup enables artists to create a deeper sense of atmosphere and sonic depth, using tools like frequency and spatial audio to shape listener experience. It is exciting to see the application of these advanced principles in a contemporary context.

Overall, it’s easy to see how this combination of hardware and software provides a versatile platform for artists looking to explore both classic and modern approaches to sound production. The marriage of tried and true sounds with cutting edge software creates interesting options for shaping EDM sounds in the future.

Inside the Studio How Myles O'Neal and Stanaj Created Their EDM Hit 'Naked' Using Modern Voice Production Techniques - Live Recording Sessions With Stanaj at Sphere Studios Los Angeles

man operating audio mixer, Late Night Mixing

Stanaj's live recording sessions at Sphere Studios in Los Angeles showcased a contemporary approach to voice production, particularly relevant within the realm of EDM. This Los Angeles studio, known for its advanced audio capabilities, served as a fertile ground for Stanaj and his collaborator, Myles O'Neal, to experiment with innovative vocal techniques while creating their song, "Naked." The sessions aimed to explore the limits of vocal processing and sonic manipulation, leveraging cutting-edge tools and methods to craft a distinctive sound within the evolving EDM landscape. The collaborative atmosphere of Sphere Studios facilitated a deep exploration of creative ideas, ultimately producing a fresh sonic signature that echoes the forward-thinking nature of the genre. It's fascinating how the blend of these technical approaches and creative experimentation has shaped a unique sonic palette within the EDM space.

Stanaj's live recording sessions at Sphere Studios in Los Angeles provided a fascinating look into the modern voice production techniques employed in EDM. The studio's advanced technology, especially within the context of creating "Naked" with Myles O'Neal, offered a unique environment for exploring the nuances of vocal processing. The meticulous attention to dynamic range, specifically targeting a sweet spot between 10-14 dB, helped ensure the vocals cut through the dense sonic textures of the EDM genre.

A recurring theme was the incorporation of psychoacoustic effects. Techniques like binaural beats, which are created using slightly different frequencies in each ear, were employed to enhance the emotional impact of the song. Furthermore, deliberate use of harmonic distortion, leveraging the Shephard Tone illusion to create a sense of continuous pitch change, added an interesting dimension to the vocal textures. The team also experimented with temporal processing, stretching and manipulating vocal phrases without affecting pitch. This was pivotal in crafting the rhythmic complexity that EDM relies on, keeping listeners engaged with the evolving musical landscape.

Sophisticated software tools were instrumental in achieving fine-tuned vocal production. Real-time pitch analysis allowed for the identification and correction of even the slightest tonal variances, a critical component in modern vocal production. Formant control was crucial, especially when layering vocals. The ability to shift formants while adjusting pitch helped maintain a natural vocal quality, effectively mitigating the robotic effects sometimes associated with pitch correction.

Spatial audio techniques added a new layer of depth and immersion to the recording. Through careful manipulation of the stereo field and ambisonic recording methods, the sonic environment was expanded, immersing the listener in the music. There was a strong focus on controlled reverberation. Producers found that carefully managing the reverb decay times, usually within the 1.2 to 2-second range, provided an effective balance between spatial depth and vocal clarity. This is a delicate tightrope walk in EDM, where achieving clarity amidst the density of instruments is a challenge.

Automation played a significant role, allowing for dynamic adjustments to elements like volume, pan, and effects throughout the song's emotional arc. This fine-tuning is vital in sculpting a musical experience that flows organically through peaks and valleys. And finally, the application of machine learning to voice cloning showcased a developing frontier in vocal production. While still emerging, the ability to create realistic synthetic vocal layers by mimicking Stanaj's tone and inflection provided a glimpse into a future where creative vocal layering options can extend far beyond the traditional approach.

The collaborative efforts between O'Neal and Stanaj highlight a fascinating intersection of musical vision and technological advancement within contemporary music creation. It's clear that the approach in crafting "Naked" emphasized a forward-thinking approach to sound design, constantly pushing boundaries and exploring fresh avenues within the realm of voice processing. The result is a compelling blend of artistic expression and technological innovation that defines the ever-evolving landscape of EDM music production.

Inside the Studio How Myles O'Neal and Stanaj Created Their EDM Hit 'Naked' Using Modern Voice Production Techniques - Master Engineering The Final Mix at Abbey Road Studios London

Abbey Road Studios in London stands as a testament to the art of mastering, seamlessly merging a rich history with advanced audio technology. Mastering engineers like Oli Morgan and Sean Magee skillfully navigate both classic analog and contemporary digital tools, resulting in incredibly clear and detailed audio. The studio has become a destination for a diverse array of artists, including those producing contemporary EDM music, as evidenced by the work done on projects like "Naked." Abbey Road maintains its legacy by utilizing its five dedicated mastering suites, each equipped with top-tier equipment. The studio's dedication to audio quality remains paramount, constantly adapting to the ever-shifting landscape of music production, continuously exploring new and innovative ways to refine audio within its walls. Ultimately, this commitment to excellence ensures that each track leaving Abbey Road represents the absolute best in audio fidelity.

Abbey Road Studios, a historical landmark in music, holds a treasure trove of vintage microphones, some dating back to the 1950s. These microphones are highly sought after for their distinctive sonic character, which often can't be replicated by modern counterparts. This emphasizes that even in a digitally driven world, the analog realm retains a unique charm and value for experienced engineers.

While digital audio workstations (DAWs) are ubiquitous in modern music production, many established producers continue to use analog gear for specific sound design elements. The warmth and depth that analog equipment imparts seem to enrich the creative process, providing a valuable counterpoint to the precise control offered by digital tools.

Voice cloning, powered by artificial intelligence, is a rapidly evolving technology with exciting implications for audio production. This technology meticulously analyzes various vocal characteristics—pitch, tone, and emotional inflection—to create synthetic voices that are almost indistinguishable from human recordings.

The principles of psychoacoustics influence how we perceive music. For example, the perception of space can be skillfully manipulated through stereo imaging, making specific sounds seem closer or further away, influencing emotional responses without actually changing the sound itself.

Spatial audio techniques are increasingly prominent, particularly in electronic music. Through ambisonics, producers craft immersive 3D audio experiences, enveloping listeners within the music. This technique is especially effective for live performances and immersive audio setups.

Sophisticated vocal processing often incorporates intricate algorithms that analyze the human voice's frequency spectrum. These algorithms play a role in maintaining clarity and creating unique sonic blends. This is especially crucial in dense EDM mixes, where numerous instruments and sounds vie for the listener's attention.

The "Loudness War," the trend towards maximizing audio volume, has had a noticeable impact on music across genres. EDM tracks often utilize heavy dynamic compression to achieve maximum loudness, but excessive compression can lead to a loss of richness in the audio. This underscores the delicate balance between loudness and preserving the dynamic range of audio.

Automation within mixing enables engineers to carefully refine the audio landscape. This automated approach allows for real-time modifications to effects, levels, and panning throughout the track, contributing to a dynamic and captivating listening experience. Maintaining consistent engagement throughout a track is particularly vital for EDM, where a constant flow of musical momentum is desired.

The combination of MIDI technology with DAWs has fundamentally altered the creation of electronic music. MIDI provides precise control over virtual instruments, allowing a level of expressiveness and detail previously challenging to achieve in a digital environment. This convergence of technologies bridges the gap between digital and acoustic sounds.

It is intriguing that modern pitch correction software extends beyond basic tuning to encompass creative applications. These applications allow producers to achieve unique vocal stylings and effects that are not easily achievable naturally. This fusion of techniques blurs the boundaries between natural and synthesized sound in modern music.

Inside the Studio How Myles O'Neal and Stanaj Created Their EDM Hit 'Naked' Using Modern Voice Production Techniques - Testing Club Sound Systems From Exchange LA to Sound Nightclub

The evolution of club sound systems is evident in venues like Exchange LA and Sound Nightclub, where a focus on high-quality audio has become paramount. These spaces utilize advanced technologies, often employing speakers like Funktion One's F221 and Rev 3 models, to optimize the audio experience. A significant part of this involves understanding how sound behaves, specifically frequency distribution across bass, mids, and highs. Achieving clarity and impact within these spaces depends on precise system tuning and careful consideration of how sound projects, particularly with larger speakers that can create focused sound beams. Club sound engineers increasingly experiment with strategies like "beaming" to enhance audio clarity, especially at certain frequencies. The push for innovative sound solutions, including advanced sound processing, reflects an increasing focus on creating immersive experiences for club patrons. This trend exemplifies a wider effort within nightlife to use sound design to enrich sensory engagement. The desire to improve both the artist's and audience's experience drives ongoing changes in the way club sound systems are engineered and employed, creating ever more sophisticated and engaging environments.

From Exchange LA, known for its Sound Investment AV system featuring Funktion One speakers, to Sound Nightclub, the challenges of sound system optimization in club settings are fascinating. Understanding how these spaces affect sound is key. For instance, the dimensions of a room create resonant frequencies called room modes. These can lead to uneven sound distribution if not addressed through careful EQ adjustments.

Moreover, the human ear's perception of sound, known as psychoacoustics, is a crucial factor in sound design. Nightclubs often exploit this by using bass frequencies to increase the perceived loudness. This clever manipulation enhances the energy of the music without always needing excessive volume. Sub-bass frequencies, in particular, play a crucial role in generating that desired physical response from the crowd, requiring careful calibration. Using specific test tones helps assess the system's ability to produce these lower frequencies with accuracy.

Capturing the space's response to sound using impulse response measurements is another valuable tool. By observing how sound reflects off the walls, floor, and ceiling, engineers can pinpoint areas needing equalization adjustments. This allows for improved clarity and overall sound coherence, a challenge in environments prone to reflections. Speaker positioning and timing also play a part. Strategically placing speakers and using delay allows sound waves to reach different parts of the venue at precisely the same time. This uniformity creates a more consistent and impactful listening experience, especially when handling the complex audio of an energetic EDM performance.

EDM music often has heavily compressed dynamics, attempting to maximize loudness. However, preserving a degree of dynamic range is vital. It ensures that musical changes retain their intended impact and don't collapse into a homogenous sound. Higher sampling rates, now common in club sound systems, enable a level of fidelity that showcases more of the audio details. This is particularly important for the intricate sonic landscapes and vocal clarity found in modern electronic music.

Additionally, real-time monitoring is crucial. With sound systems that can continuously monitor performance, engineers have the ability to instantly adapt EQ and volume levels to ensure a consistently positive listening experience. This is even more necessary in a club setting where audience energy can be dynamic and volatile.

An interesting frontier is the increasing use of AI in acoustic analysis. AI-driven systems are able to rapidly analyze sound test data to provide insights into optimal sound system configurations. This speeds up the setup process, particularly in larger venues, allowing engineers to focus on more fine-tuned sonic aspects, like the overall feel of the music in that space.

These testing procedures and techniques are vital for achieving the desired auditory experience in venues like Exchange LA and Sound Nightclub. They demonstrate the constant need for adapting to the unique characteristics of each space and harnessing the technical power of sound engineering to create memorable listening experiences.



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