We’re back with another iteration of the How It Was Made series, this time featuring MAGNETIC MAG – HOW IT WAS MADE sue:ann – Nostalgia as she breaks down her track, “Nostalgia.” It’s the opening track of her EP and sets a tone that’s very characteristic of her style, which is heavily influenced by her upbringing in both Bavaria and the Baltic Sea, giving her music a unique perspective. With a strong track record, including releases on top labels like Anjunadeep Reflections, and now her new release on Blank Dust, we had to learn more about her creative process.
Listen to the track below to get a feel for what she’s sharing, and then dive into the plugins she uses and her unique production techniques that shape her one-of-a-kind sound. The rest of the words are from sue:anne, so let’s get into it
Since I started producing with Logic in 2022, Alchemy has been my go-to synth. This powerful software synthesizer, exclusive to Logic, is my playground for sound design with its extensive library of presets and creative plugins. And I’ve found myself incorporating it into nearly every
track I produce. What sets Alchemy apart is its ability to balance the intricacies of complex sound generation and modulation with an interface that’s surprisingly intuitive, making it a great tool for both beginners and seasoned producers.
THREE MAIN PRESETS FOR ‘NOSTALGIA’
For my track ’Nostalgia’, I leaned heavily on two main presets: ‘Dark Choral Soundscape’ and ‘Warped Pluck’. I crafted multiple layers using these presets, each with a distinct character, thanks to the Performance Pad, which allowed me to transform the sounds in unique ways. Layer one, built on ‘Dark Choral Soundscape’, creates a dreamy background atmosphere with an open filter, AHDSR1 sync, and velocity modulation. The second layer uses a smoother version of ‘Warped Pluck01’ with a slightly closed filter, heavy reverb, and similar AHDSR1 sync and velocity
modulation for more dynamic and different volume. The third layer, ‘Warped Pluck02’, is enhanced with a ‘Dark Glide Bass’ plugin, featuring a dominant ARP that drives the main beat. I further enriched these layers with delay, reverb, and vintage compressors, giving each element its own space while contributing to the overall texture of the track.
THE BREAK PART
For the break I turned to three more Alchemy presets: ‘Crystals and Voices’, ‘Moonlight Glimmer’, and ‘Gentle Sine Bells’.
With ‘Crystals and Voices’, I crafted three distinct layers. The first is a heavily delayed background atmosphere, rich with reverb and extended sustain and decay, creating an ethereal, expansive soundscape. The other two layers each utilize different ARP grid patterns, specifically the ‘Falling Glitch’ variation. By combining these ARPs, I was able to introduce more complex melodies and a richer overall sound, thanks to the ARP’s up and down variations set to 1/16 triplet and 1/32 rate. This added a rhythmic unpredictability and depth to the break, making it a pivotal moment in the track.
‘Gentle Sine Bells’ bring a shimmering, twilight-like quality to the break. The sounds are deep and resonant, with a full resonance and extended decay that allows each note to linger beautifully. I’ve adjusted the attack to create a soft, gradual entrance for each tone, while a carefully controlled tremolo rate adds a subtle, pulsing movement, making these bells feel almost alive. Their presence in the track adds an enchanting, delicate layer that contrasts perfectly with the more rhythmic elements.
Now, onto my absolute favorite preset: ‘Moonlight Glimmer’. This beautiful sound has become a signature element in nearly all of my tracks – it’s practically a part of my musical identity at this point. For ‘Nostalgia’, I used ‘Moonlight Glimmer’ with an ARP set to random mode, which adds an unpredictable, organic quality as the volume and velocity fluctuate with each note. To enhance its dreamy, ethereal vibe, I added plenty of delay and a vintage compressor, giving the sound a timeless, echoing presence that lingers throughout the track. It’s a preset that never fails to inspire me and always finds its way into my music.
MY VOCALS
For my vocals and vocal chops, I used a range of delays, reverbs, amps, and multi-effects to achieve the desired sound.
Starting with the main vocals where I sing ‘Nostalgia’, I applied a simple echo effect. I went with a 1/8 echo, set at just over 50% feedback, and kept it very wet to give the vocals a dreamy, lingering quality. I also added a reverb called Chroma Verb, with a 1.10-second decay and minimal distance, to enhance the atmosphere without overwhelming the vocal clarity.
The background vocals were looped three times and treated with an echo featuring over 70% feedback. To push these vocals further into the background and give them a smoother, more blended sound, I used an amp plugin. The ‘Clean Country Reverb’ amp was perfect for this, subtly altering the tone and ensuring the background vocals didn’t compete with the main vocal line.
For my vocal chops, I turned to the Delay Designer, a go-to tool in my production process. I used the ‘Ease In 04’ setting with a 1/64 sync and 50% swing, keeping the mix very dry. This setup allowed the chops to transform seamlessly, giving them a sharp, rhythmic quality that stands out in the mix. I also applied a linear EQ, cutting some of the lows and bringing the highs forward to make the chops crisp and prominent, perfectly complementing the overall vibe of the track.
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