Song Prod. & Write Up
SHR4C004M-003 Song Production & Write Up Template
Task 1: Three Minute Song Production (70%)
Task 2: 1000 Word Write-Up (30%)
This project involved producing a three-minute track that combines elements of Dubstep and Pop, resulting in an overall Electropop style. The song features synths, sampled drums, a heavy 808 bass, and layered vocals. The Dubstep influence is primarily reflected in the drum patterns and low-end design, while the Pop influence is evident through the use of simple, catchy melodies and vocal hooks.
The track was created and produced using Ableton Live, drawing inspiration from multiple areas of the music industry, particularly artists such as Kanye West and producer Timbaland. The aim was to create a commercially viable track whilst experimenting with sampling techniques and vocal processing.
The production process began with the creation of chord progressions and an arpeggiated rhythm. I used the Ableton plugin “Expressive Chords”, which converts single MIDI notes into full chords. This allowed me to quickly experiment with harmonic ideas and develop chord progressions that suited the overall mood of the track.
Once I had established the harmonic foundation, I structured the song into a conventional pop format: intro, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, and outro. This structure was chosen to maximise accessibility and commercial appeal.
Vocals were recorded with the help of a collaborator who specializes in pop-style singing. I specifically chose a female vocalist to match the stylistic direction of the track and enhance its commercial appeal.
To ensure the vocals achieved a polished Pop sound, I used Ableton’s “Auto Shift” effect to correct pitch and keep the performance in key. Pop music typically requires precise vocal tuning, so this was an important step.
I also experimented with creative vocal processing by building audio effect racks with multiple pitch-shifted layers. For example, I created an octave-up layer (+12 semitones) to produce a brighter tone, and a perfect fifth (+7 semitones) to add harmonic depth. These harmonies were artificially generated rather than recorded manually, as I wanted a more synthetic texture that complements the Electropop style.
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For the arpeggiated synth, I carried out extensive sound design using Serum alongside various Ableton MIDI and audio effects. As the synth was not originally an arpeggiator, I applied Ableton’s “Arpeggiator” MIDI effect, which allowed me to generate rhythmic movement from static chords.
I automated changes in the arpeggiator’s style settings during the verse to avoid repetition and maintain listener interest. In addition, I used the “Expression Control” modulator, mapping its increment function to an auto-pan effect. This meant that as the arpeggiator progressed, the sound would gradually pan further left and right, creating a dynamic stereo movement.
I did a great amount of sampling and re-sampling, using techniques learnt from my seminars, and techniques I managed to uniquely create using various MIDI effects and other gadgets within Ableton such as the “Simpler”, which is a stock sampler that you can use to create loops and slices as well as one-shots by dragging any audio into it. Starting with the drums in the verse, I found a drum sample on Splice, a plugin that allows you to use royalty free samples by simply dragging them in. I placed the drum sample into the simpler whilst also adding an arpgeggiator and a MIDI effect called Random. Both of these together made it so that once I played a note, the simpler would play random slices of the sample in an ascending order in 1/16 notes, as I had set the distance to +12 semitones and the steps to 4. I also used a light tremolo on it to give it a more artificial sound.
I then created an audio track which i recorded the simpler midi into, whilst changing the beat division.
Finally I put the drum beat into a simpler again and sliced it up into a drum beat inspired by producers like Timbaland, with its raw and unique rhythm
I also sampled the main chords as well as the arpeggiator within the verse and outro by bouncing them out into simplers and slicing them up into the piano roll. I played them alongside their original counterparts to create a call and response feel, with the sampled versions playing at different times matching with the drums. I also automated the “speaker on” with each of the instruments which turns the channels on and off to help exaggerate the chopped feel I wanted in this section.
I see a great amount of commercial potential with this song as it manages to capture the catchy feel throughout the song, especially with the simplistic vocals. A song like this would specialize with scrolling social medias such as TikTok, as like TikTok, this genre primarily has a listener / viewer age of 15-25. The song will also gain commercial potential from its similarities to famous artists, one of which being kanye, as I was inspired by “flashing lights” with its simplistic chord sequence intro with only 2 chords. I was also inspired heavily with Timbaland especially with his drum style, and I managed to emulate his rhythmic style within the verse. this inspiration came from a song by Aaliyah called “More than a Woman”, which Timbaland produced. By taking ideas from each of these famous songs, I am likely to catch the eye of their fanbases, bringing more commercial success to my song.
Overall, one of the strengths of this project is the creative use of sampling and re-sampling, which allowed me to generate unique rhythmic and textural elements. The vocal processing was also effective in achieving a polished, modern sound suitable for the Electropop genre.
However, there are areas for improvement. For example, some sections of the track such as the vocals would benefit from greater variation to maintain listener engagement throughout. I could’ve done this by asking the vocalist to either record more vocals with different lyrics, or by articulating certain words.
In future projects, I would aim to further develop arrangement techniques such as the structure and experiment with more dynamic changes across sections.
In conclusion, this project allowed me to explore a range of production techniques, including synthesis, vocal recording, and advanced sampling methods. By combining Dubstep and Pop influences, I was able to create a track with both stylistic identity and commercial potential. This process has helped me develop both technical skills and a deeper understanding of modern music production.
