Blade Runner (End Titles)

On the complexity of the theme

It is obvious that it's not such a complex musical theme, but it is fantastic, majestic. A challenge for how much I respect the work of Vangelis, but not so much for the sonority because I feel very comfortable programming synthesizers, and in this case there was no need to search to fit every sound.

The progression of base chords is very simple and only has 4: Cm, Gm, Dm dis and Fm. Of course it has some small variations. The main melody is quite simple, but that's where the essence of the composer, Vangelis, is.

The beauty of synthesizers

Every artist who cultivates the love for electronic music enjoys spending hours in front of the panels of a synthesizer because the possibilities are often endless. In my case, I do not have access to physical synthesizers, only virtual ones, but I work with what I believe is just and necessary. Everything else is in the imagination and search for the solution on how to get the sound you have in mind.

It is true, in electronic music there is a more or less defined basis of waveforms used, but there are an infinity of combinations, and results of combining filters and modulators.

Bass Line

As you can see in the video, I didn't use an arpeggiator for this. I recorded playing the bass line, and then editing to do the loop and adjust the duration of the notes. The duration determines the groove because of the silences between the notes. Very important.

I used 3 synthesizers for the Bass: SEM V and JUP-8V twice with different sounds.

Electronic Drums

This was the next step I considered important before continuing to add instruments. And it was quite simple to decide what sound it would have. Of course a sound between the original theme and something more updated, but not completely actual.

For the Hi-Hats I used samples of Roland drums: TR-909, TR-808 and MC-303 with certain adjustments in the tones. I went into the original arrangement and gave variations to get the result that I liked.

I played the Kicks and Snares with samples from the Ill Jointz pack from the collection created by East West. Two different Kicks and 7 different Snares. A hype is heard throughout the song, and has a soft sonority, similar to 808. The second hype with much more attack and greater body in the middle frequencies. I arranged the snares in a slightly more complex way and I also got a little closer to the accents of the original drum but with variations.

Kicks and Snares from Ill Jointz sound collection by East West. Hi-Hats from sample packs sounds like Roland: TR-909, TR-808 y MC-303.

Sound effects

For this cover I used several samples from some Glitch Machines libraries with some editing. It's important to be careful no to abuse with the use of these effects.

Pads and other synth lines

I wanted to add that taste of old synths, so then I went into the Farfisa V by Arturia, and prepared the pad until get the sound I wanted.

Also you can hear another synth doing the same notes as bass but with an invertion. I didn't wanted to use an arpeggiator because I wanted to play it thru the track.

Farfisa V for Pads, and ARP 2600 V3 for synth lines. I did a manual panning for the synth lines.

Arpeggiators

Maybe you thought that because I did not use arpeggiators for the bass, or for the synth lines I would not like them, but the truth is that I really like them. And this song could not be without a couple of good arpeggiators.

I used again the SEM V, the MINI V and the Prophet V with its arpeggiator functions, with which I managed to reach what I had in mind, and I really liked the result.

Arpeggiators from: SEM V, the MINI V and the Prophet V

And the Leads

Finally, in this blog, but not in the recording order, the Leads for the main melody. As you may hear in the track, I started playing with synth strings (2 synths: MINI V and ANALOG LAB), then I added the MATRIX-12 V to include the Vangelis type String for the Melody and the result is amazing.

Another instrument I used as a lead was one of SOLINA V, a kind of horn with a lot of reverb (Spaces II by East West). I played the solo lead with this.

MINI V and ANALOG LAB for Synth Strings, MATRIX-12 V for Vangelis String and SOLINA V for the Solo Lead.