Yes – that maybe a cryptic title. Let me explain. My good friends at Spitfire Audio have a penchant for throwing out the odd competition and curious challenge every now and then. This particular challenge comes as part of Make Music Day 2020 (hence MMD2020).
The challenge itself. To record a sound from somewhere around your home, turn it into a virtual instrument and create something new. Never to be one to turn down an honest challenge, I woke up with one goal this “Make Music Day 2020” and that was to take Spitfire Audio up on their lofty goal.
After a while of blowing across things, running my fingers around the rims of crockery and glassware and bashing the crap out of pots and pans I turned to my trusty aluminium drinks bottle. And therein, after a little tinging and knocking, I found the perfect sound.
It took a surprisingly short time to take the sound and turn it into an instrument. The SFZ library is a very handy tool and, after a little fettling and tuning, I had my instrument.
Now the hard part – what to do with the new sound. Its got a percussive, muted bell quality, but also something else that I hadn’t heard. There is a very pleasing plucking sound to. Not the “plucking a guitar sound” kind of resonating note, but more the puck of a comb. Finding such a range or sounds, along with a lovely low ringing tone, gave me the inspiration to start creating the track for this challenge.
From flicking the bottom of drinks bottle with my fingernail, I have created, I think, a really interesting percussion and layered some smooth strings, some of that 90’s dance style piano, and some very soft sax, along with some synthy fun. I had such a great time playing the piano and sax for this, as well as playing in all the virtual instruments.
So after a handful of hours, a little inspiration, and the weird but wonderful sound I discovered earlier today, I am happy to have published “Tin Can” (even though it’s actually an aluminium bottle, but that just didn’t read right).