Fade To Alabaster - album videoBenedict Roff-Marsh2026-09-18 | Fade To Alabaster - album videoVoicing & Mixing a Piece - Part II: MixingBenedict Roff-Marsh2023-01-09 | Second part of the pair of videos where MIDI of a suite of pieces is turned into Voices that suit the material and Mixed, ready for the real world. This is an exercise I use with students when I feel it is needed to help them see the bigger picture (than obsession with technical detail). You may choose to dip into the final mix first if you want to know where we end up before seeing the journey there.
Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:52 The Piece 00:05:14 1. Reverb 00:07:11 5-Step Mixing Process 00:08:48 2. Level 00:10:58 3. Pan 00:18:11 4. Tone 00:19:10 -Bass 00:22:48 -Brass 00:30:57 -Muted Solo 00:35:07 -Big Strings 00:37:27 -Acoustic Guitar 00:42:05 -Cello 00:49:53 -Thin String 00:54:52 -Piano 00:59:32 -Slow Swirl Pad 01:05:02 Details 01:12:46 5. Master 01:18:28 Conclusion 01:21:57 Final MixVoicing & Mixing a Piece - Part I: VoicingBenedict Roff-Marsh2023-01-07 | A (long) video showing building voices for a piece in 4-parts. I start with the MIDI and all sounds as sine waves, then build each sound to honor the "strata" or layers of the piece. In Part II, I will Mix the piece.
Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:24 The Piece 00:04:01 The Reverb 00:04:39 Understanding the Piece 00:05:52 Fretless Bass 00:09:41 Brass 00:16:54 Muted Solo 00:22:24 Big Strings 00:29:17 Acoustic Guitar 00:37:42 Cello 00:48:13 Thin String 00:53:59 Piano 01:00:12 Slow Swirly Pad 01:07:38 ConclusionGH King Lord - X Change Rates - Mix WalkthroughBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-12-26 | A Mix Walkthrough for a song fron Ghana that is technically possibly Afrobeat. I have built the Scene & Story up using my feelings about early Dancehall & Dub. The final mix is really "rich" & "touchable" with lots of movement. I am delighted with the result.
Song: X Change Rates Singer: GH King Lord Music: David Nana Kojo Affram-Subby
Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:04:15 A-B 00:08:23 New Mix 00:16:13 Mix Setup 00:23:27 Vocals 01:01:15 Rhythm Section 01:13:51 Melodics 01:20:14 Final Mix & Master 01:25:09 ConclusionKarn Napaj - previewBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-12-24 | This is a first mix of a piece composed over a few hours today. Technically it is based on some of the style of Mick Karn of Japan fame, hence the name. I used Bedroom Producer Blog Dirty LA VST3 for all compression duties seeing I could finally run it easily in Reason.
Blurred hands at Bandcamp: benedictroff-marsh.bandcamp.com/album/blurred-handsMonitoring Levels & Mixing with Eyes or EarsBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-10-29 | Looking at two questions that are actually related as they are both about allowing our mind to be in the right place to be doing the Great Work we hope for, and not ego noise.
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:55 Monitoring Levels 00:11:12 Referencing 00:18:10 The Right Volume 00:20:50 Mixing With Eyes 00:25:07 Zen or Flow StateMoon Jellyfish on SaturnBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-10-16 | Another in what I now think will become an album with the theme of putting things that don't really belong together, together. In a distressingly musical format what with melodies and all, seeing most EM people seem offended by melodies. Muhahahaha.
http://www.benedictroffmarsh.com Blurred hands at Bandcamp: benedictroff-marsh.bandcamp.com/album/blurred-handsElektro Monks On PopBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-10-07 | I just did this in downtime. It came from a riff I was thinking of using for a review, but didn't as it wasn't really a match. So I built it up into something. Exactly what that something is, I am not entirely sure, but it seems to have something fun (for me at least).
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.com Chat Group: facebook.com/groups/indiemusicianGetting Spicy in the Mix - Movement is LifeBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-10-01 | People are always obsessing over what plugins they should be using to make their sounds pop in the mix. Here I show a couple of slightly different approaches that deliver more unique sounds than the same (now rather tired) things like Unison.
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.com Chat Group: facebook.com/groups/indiemusicianMixing for Magic - featuring Hz MultiplierBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-09-24 | Mixing is more than just preset technicalities. Mixing is about finding & building the magic or beauty in every song. This is part of what makes a real difference. A sound with magic or beauty feels large.
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.com Chat Group: facebook.com/groups/indiemusicianHalf Cubed - albumBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-09-15 | Half Cubed or Half 3 is a slightly experimental album despite it bearing many hallmarks of things I have done before. I figured I would try several of those ideas in slightly different ways; half of this, half of that, half of the other. Hence the cubed name. Each part has a different environment in which the music takes place. If you enjoy the music, please be sure to buy the album from $5 over at my Bandcamp as that is the only way I make a living.
Bandcamp: Official:Waves Studio Rack - VST 3 in ReasonBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-09-14 | A quick look at the updated Waves Studio Rack loading VST 3 into Reason. Does it work well, it is suited to Reason? UPDATE: doing a review for UAS in Reason, this device seemed to interfere with key commands for Transport (Play/Stop). Annoying.
00:00:00 Intro 00:01:37 Website 00:02:00 Portfolio 00:03:32 Personal Music 00:03:52 About Me 00:04:21 Music Production 00:05:02 FAQs 00:05:35 Tutorials 00:05:46 Artist Development 00:06:26 Who Are You? 00:07:07 Hiring My Brain 00:07:40 Being a Good Fish 00:08:31 Start the Conversation 00:09:04 Indie Musician's Guidebook Group 00:09:22 Budgets 00:09:45 ConclusionPremRock & Willie Green - Engraved Bouquet: Benedict Roff Marsh MixBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-08-20 | This is a quick Mix & Master I made of the song multitrack put up at Plugin Alliance. It is mostly to post in a tutorial. No disrespect or copyright issues intended. This is primarily a teaching exercise (as per the original post with the tracks).
Download: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnzND-JbllqegZFEjGupakw7bEgkag?e=Gqql3c Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.com Chat Group: facebook.com/groups/indiemusicianEQ & Phase: best friends - linear phase eq is not betterBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-08-13 | I show why the idea that we must only ever use Linear Phase EQ is completely unsupportable. EQ is built from phase alteration - as is all sound in the real world. The reason that EQ is so powerfully effective, and beautiful, is because of the phase alterations that happen.
At no point am I supporting the worshiping of tyrannical entities whether human or otherwise. I have a sense of humor which is my moral & legal right.Heart at Sea - Album VideoBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-08-11 | This is the whole "Heart at Sea" album in one go. This is very much New Age Sleep Music in style so it is quiet & sedate - along with a fade away at the end. All for the extra sleepfulness. If you like the music, please be sure to purchase it over at my Bandcamp as this is the only way I make my living :-)
00:00 The Working Man (Steel Town) 04:40 Wind Down 19:40 Go Liquid 28:48 Solid Centre 35:19 Heart at SeaDancing Drives - a technique videoBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-08-09 | Drive, or Waveshaping, can be great but it can also fall in a heap very easily as these processes are very level dependent. If we can control the drive amount dynamically, these processes become a lot more useful.
Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:05 The Problem 00:03:23 The Solution 00:09:37 How To 00:14:55 Strings & PadsSolid Centre - DaVinci Resolve Fairlight Page MixBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-08-05 | I have been using DaVinci Resolve for a few weeks now to replace HitFilm. There is a page for audio by Fairlight (the sampler people). It looks like it could be a future contender as a mixing space so I thought I would have a try with one of the tracks from my 'in the can' album "Heart at Sea".
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.com Chat Group: facebook.com/groups/indiemusicianDont Need Morph EQBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-08-03 | I was set to do a review of Minimal Audio Morph EQ but they don't have a Demo/Try option (straight to taking your $49). I then saw a video by @Alesismmt8 showing how the same results were doable in Bitwig. I wanted to show how the same results are doable in ANY DAW. We just need to learn to embrace the possibilities we already have around us.
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.com Chat Group: facebook.com/groups/indiemusicianBridgerton Scene ReScore - Spitfire CompBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-08-02 | #mybridgertonscore A couple of hours of quick work. I tried to imagine this completely outside of the usual. No harpsichords and string quartets. No samples at all. Very minimal and electronic. Notes: 00:00:00 we come in with a sense of "Gone With The Wind" 00:00:09 a troubling note creeps in 00:00:10 the tree is very electronic! 00:00:17 ominous tone + digital toads 00:00:43 a slight hopeful rise 00:00:51 awkward toads + turnover 00:00:56 recovery into pre-bride scene 00:01:00 repeating trap 00:01:13 odd rise 00:01:17 into resolution 00:01:20 let the batty bats be 00:01:29 a formal dance (using all the parts) 00:01:44 into dissolve
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.comLocation - a key to success in musicBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-07-29 | This video talks about the false assumptions around where we need to be to generate fans. Sadly most people make the most unwise choice they can - and then wonder why it didn't happen - digging a deeper hole, filled with even more unwise ideas in an attempt to solve the first wrong assumption.
Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:53 4-Pillars of Success 00:05:11 Location 00:10:46 Streaming Contract 00:19:11 YT Vids don't really exist 00:22:53 What You Can DoDepth in Mixing - better mixes by thinking Front-BackBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-07-24 | In this video, I take comparisons and discuss approaches to making a deeper, more natural-sounding mix. Everyone talks Stereo Wide, few discuss Depth which is Front to Back. Depth is more important than width, esp if the listener is effectively hearing your music in mono; e.g. Bluetooth speaker, from the other room, etc. (BTW iBudz aren't a mix-target).
00:00:00 Intro 00:00:35 Comparisons 00:05:47 Discussion 00:08:47 Depth With Echo 00:16:52 Levels & Outcome 00:18:33 ConclusionMaster Walkthrough - practical steps to master your songBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-07-07 | This video looks at mastering and what is done for practical results. Note how simple the tools are. Mastering (like mixing) is not about tools or technical things anywhere near as much about experience and knowing what you are hearing.
Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:28 A-B & Overview 00:05:28 Mastering 00:06:58 Compression 00:11:21 Tape I 00:16:11 Tape II 00:18:29 EQ 00:30:06 EQ Again 00:34:39 Limiter 00:38:12 Final Levels 00:39:24 Kik Drum 00:43:19 Check 00:43:54 Finding Your Tools 00:48:07 ConclusionThe Eternal Eternity of Mechanism - Album VideoBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-07-04 | "The Eternal Eternity of Mechanism" is a slight departure for me but not entirely without precedent either. I used to make EBM/Industrial. This record pulls in some of those old EBM techniques to sit alongside my usual Space Music approach. It may make for a different experience but I hope you let it in to understand the story being told of our interaction and struggle to find a place in a mechanized world.
If you like the music, please purchase at Bandcamp for $5 as this is the only way I make income.
00:00:00 Intro 00:03:13 Phase I 00:09:24 The Piece 00:11:05 Phase II 00:17:55 Riffing on the Idea 00:30:09 CourageDIY Guitar Amping Make Your Own SoundBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-06-26 | Amp + Speaker for guitars seems like a magical thing but in reality, it is really a few very easy-to-duplicate processes based on common DAW effects. Once you understand the basics you can make your own sounds. Not only for guitars but for synths and even to help solve mix conflicts.
00:00:00 Intro 00:01:44 The Sound 00:02:33 How It Works 00:04:14 Distortion 00:06:13 EQ 00:08:42 Phase 00:13:24 Delay 00:17:43 Interaction 00:21:14 Space 00:25:34 Mix Processing 00:32:57 More Riffs 00:38:31 Infinite Tones 00:38:44 Mix SolutionsHolistic Music Making - getting off The GridBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-06-19 | Music has increasingly moved from being a human expression thing to a "following The Grid" thing. I talk about the importance if Story at every point of the music-making process #getoffthegrid
Hire: benedictroffmarsh.com Chat Group: facebook.com/groups/indiemusicianPreview: The Aged Do Not WearyBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-06-12 | This is a preview of a track just made (meaning it may change) for the next record with the working name "The Eternal Eternity of Mechanism". The concept of the record is the interface between Man-Machine and of course a mechanized society. The name for this came from the fact that the piano used is sampled from a 150-year-old machine that is not wearied.
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.com Group: facebook.com/groups/indiemusicianLoving The Machines - Mix PeekBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-06-06 | This is my new mix for the track shown recently with its first rough mix. This was offered for people to mix in my Indie Musician's Guidebook Group and now with first mix in, I will show where I ended up.
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.com Group: facebook.com/groups/indiemusicianLimiter vs Clipper for MastersBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-06-03 | Limiters or Clippers for Masters? Maybe Both?? Looking quickly at Limiters vs Clipps or using them together. Clippers are not new news or cutting-edge, they have been with us forever BUT offer a lot of advantages for final mix levels.
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.com Chat Group: facebook.com/groups/571642994476768Phase Plant 2 Update - Quick LookBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-05-21 | Kilphearts Phase Plant has hit version 2. As have Snap Heap & Multipass. Quite a few new features in Modulation which is very good. Overall the whole experience is smartened up a bit which is also very welcome. I like it.
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.com Chat Group: facebook.com/groups/571642994476768How to Terrible Mix - Avoiding & Fixing Broken MixesBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-05-14 | I hear a lot of mixes from Indie musicians. Sadly many are very broken - usually from Overmixing & Overmastering out of fear of not seeming good enough. This video looks at the usual Problems & Solutions. Often the best solution is actually to bring in someone who is strong where you are weaker so everyone can focus on strengths.
Mixing is like playing guitar, you can be Loud, Fast & Flashy or you can be Good. You can't be good at loud, fast & flashy until you are actually Good. Being a shoddy guitarist will get you un-hired from every quality gig. Poor mixing will result in the same, even if you get Likes.
Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:29 My Grammy Winnin' Song 00:03:02 Construction 00:06:04 Lyric 00:08:42 Reverb 00:09:58 Overmixed 00:11:14 Overmastered 00:12:11 Construction 00:15:12 Reverb 00:18:32 Name Things 00:20:38 Don't Clone 00:25:03 Mix for Balance & Depth 00:31:54 Compress for Groove 00:35:13 Vocals 00:38:06 Cloning II 00:50:07 Quick Arrange 00:51:34 Master "Easy" 00:59:04 The Final Clipdown 00:58:03 Thou Shalt Not Bot 01:00:32 Thee Result 01:01:10 Play The Hand...ReReasoned CakeBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-05-12 | This is the same MIDI as yesterday's Cakewalk Test video but a new version so they are not meant to be the same as such. Same synths but different patches (seeing both were made on the spot). I must say I really like the lead in this.
There is a Reason update 12.2.6, which we sorely need after the last bug-creation version, but it won't update. Tells me "wrong Windows version" despite recent advice W11 & R12 are aces (which I know). Trying to download from their site earns me a Microsoft warning that the connection is probably unsafe. Yay.
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.comCakewalk reTestBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-05-11 | I had issues with Cakewalk when I owned it as Sonar 2 and it seemed pretty scruffy when I did a review a few months ago. People were upset. People only seem happy when I use "their" DAW. So with some unallocated time, I had another look at the cake today. Admittedly it is a pretty simple project. Interestingly, many of the things that I talked about in my review (which I know that Bandlab saw) seem to have been improved or plain changed. It seems better overall. This is good because there are some really nice things about Cakewalk. :-)
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.comDandelion - teaser: Midsummer Night DancersBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-05-05 | This is a track that will be on my next record: "Midsummer Night Dancers". This track also has the somewhat meaningless accolade of being the first time I have completed the composition of a track entirely in the Reaper DAW. Normally if I happen to have a bit of inspiration whilst in Reaper, I stop and port it back to Reason to do the "real" work. This time I plowed on through and it worked!
Official: benedictroffmarsh.comRare Rubato in ReaperBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-05-03 | I have had cause to look into Reaper more recently and after trying some different Themes have started to be able to understand some more of how it all comes together. This is the "Peace" theme that I must say I find a lot easier to work in than anything else. Again it is often a case of thinking about how you want Reaper to function, then finding the closest Settings to match. Flexible but like shifting sands too. Still, I am getting there.
Does it matter, in some ways no, the DAW I use should be between me and my God/s but not everyone sees it that way.
Hire me: benedictroffmarsh.comMine from Beauty of the DarknessBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-04-26 | This album had to wait a few months to see the light of day. The form is Gothic Rock or Goth as per circa 1985 as seen through my lens as a composer. If you like what you hear, please purchase the album on Bandcamp for $5 as this is the only way I make money.
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.comMix Walkthrough - Ultimate Cool - Self DisztructionBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-04-08 | Classic Rock Mix Walkthrough for "Self Disztruction" from Ultimate Cool, with former member of Electracy, Nigel Nisbet (and his Rickenbackers).
00:00:00 Intro 00:03:16 A-B 00:06:09 New Mix 00:09:29 Set-Up 00:16:59 Reverb 00:22:43 Vox Verse 00:33:13 Vox Chorus 00:40:45 Vox Backing 00:45:33 Drums 00:51:51 Bass 00:53:10 Ry Bus 00:55:36 Guitars 01:03:15 FinishingGlass Wings - early versionBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-03-13 | This is a track just off the treadmill. I have no particular ideas, expectations, or even a clear sense of what this is or where it might belong (incl in the b-sides bin).Red Roofs & Wishes - AlbumBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-03-08 | Red Roofs & Wishes is about the idealized pastoral life on the land, through an Americana point of view whilst not sounding remotely like the expected Americana Country music - even if the technical elements are sometimes there. If you like the music please be sure to purchase it for $5 at Bandcamp as this I the only way that I am rewarded for the enjoyment given.
Tracklist: 00:00 Red Roofs & Wishes I 01:56 Life on the Land 06:30 Summer Gold 10:30 Night of the Big Storm 16:49 Days Pass 19:01 Grain in the Silos 25:45 Countryside 35:48 Fallow Season 40:12 Red Roofs & Wishes IIMacro Multi Model Synth + WBL 4104 SequencerBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-03-06 | Playing with the FREE Presteign Sound Labs Macro Multi-Model Synth + omio WBL 4014 Multitrigger Sequencer. Both are hoping to take advantage of Reason's pretty modular environment. It is more win than lose but also a bit frustrating - for me at least as Macro is a bit too limited in architecture to cope with the potential power of its OSC. Still, both are Free so no complaints that will stick.
Timing: 00:00 Intro 02:22 WBL 4014 Sequencer 05:41 Macro Multi-Model 12:10 Going Deeper 31:47 Round ThreeSummer Gold - instrumental first mixBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-02-17 | This is the first run-off of a new track. The project is centered around ideas of a farming lifestyle (such a common theme in electronic music). Musically it is a bit on the complex side in that there are a lot of notes that are pretty close (all those evil black keys). Because they happen often, they become their own sense of key/scale.Connection - Making Music FlowBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-01-16 | Often people struggle to make the sections of their music flow which is a shame as the basics of making the pieces fit are so much easier than people assume. This video covers the basic ideas/techniques that are used to bring all the parts together in a way that feels well finished - or Professional.
00:00:00 Intro 00:00:24 Flow Across Sections 00:02:24 Theory ≠ Enemy 00:05:32 What is Wrong? 00:06:39 Understanding Transition 00:07:49 Following the Wrong Lead 00:09:49 Drum Riser 00:11:00 Synth Riser 00:13:09 Narrative Cues 00:15:31 Automation 00:16:44 Notes 00:17:21 Bridging 00:20:14 Basic Theory 00:23:31 Leading Note & Resolution 00:25:44 Cadence 00:30:26 Be Unique 00:31:20 Melodic Lines 00:33:15 Saying: Finished 00:34:48 prePercussion 00:36:13 Introducing 00:36:52 Grace Notes 00:38:23 Recap 00:41:42 Whole Piece 00:45:14 Adding Time 00:48:00 Cycles of Energy 00:49:59 ConclusionADSR for Flow - Envelopes help create Clarity & Punch in your MixBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-01-08 | A companion to the video using Velocity & Performance Controls to improve the performance and therefore the Mix. This looks at the deeper powers of the simple ADSR Envelope to create clarity & punch. First Video: youtu.be/8keG8OKpurg
00:00 Intro 01:04 Three Jobs 02:47 Sound/Silence 05:54 Drums 11:10 Bass 14:17 Piano 17:23 Lead 22:39 Strings 28:44 More Mix Than Ever 36:00 ConclusionMaking a Dynamic EQ using kHS + Reason devicesBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-01-04 | I like Dynamic EQ. But I tend to know EQs best that have yet to take up the Dynamic thing. Soooooo, what if I could turn a non-dynamic EQ Dynamic?
Hire Me: benedictroffmarsh.comMake Better Music - Build FlowBenedict Roff-Marsh2022-01-01 | To me, the #1 reason that music comes across as less than professional is that it has poor flow. The notes & singing themselves may be fine, but the sense of how/why they are used is lacking or even missing. This video stares straight into the heart of an interesting but severely lacking performance and makes it come alive - without changing a note.