Creative Sound Design—Made Stupidly Simple
A simple, effective, and free technique for crafting endless sounds without complex sound design.
Hey—It’s Matthew from BeatsbyVanityTV.
Estimated read time: 1 minute, 36 seconds.
In last week’s newsletter we explored the idea that complexity isn’t a proxy for quality.
Some of the greatest records in history were made on 8-track tape. And yet today, despite having access to surgically precise digital systems, we’re constantly chasing the imperfections of analog.
What was seen as a limitation of analog is now viewed as a strength. And the strengths of digital are starting to feel like limitations.
This line of thought led me to consider how intimidating sound design can feel. The term itself is often confined to synthesis. And when you open something like Serum 2, it’s easy to see why. So many knobs and options. It can feel like too much.
It’s no wonder many producers stick to presets. And that’s fine. But there’s a quiet joy in shaping a sound from scratch. Not because it’s better. But because it’s yours.
So how can we unlock endless sonic possibilities in a way that’s simple, creative, and free?
I think I’ve found the answer. Or rather, producer and YouTube creator Sidebrain has. I picked up this technique from Sidebrain’s Botanica masterclass (a series filled with gold for Ableton users).
Here’s how it works:
1. Load up Live’s Sampler.
2. Download this free Reddit sample library, packed with one-shots.
3. Pick a handful at random. In my example, I’m using five bells.
4. Open the Zone page in Sampler and drag the samples in.
5. Select RR (Round Robin), then ‘Other’, then ‘Key’ in the far-right column.
6. Add Hybrid Reverb, OTT, and the Echo device (all part of Ableton Suite).
If that setup sounds a little confusing, don’t worry. I’ve turned it into a free Instrument Rack you can drop straight into your session. It’s a remake of Sidebrain’s rack, which only works in Live 12.2 and up. I’m still running an earlier version, so I built a compatible version and added macro controls for the parameters you’ll likely want to tweak (reverse always sounds great).
What’s happening here is that each note triggers a different sample using round robin. This means the results vary every time you play a MIDI progression. You might want to resample the output to audio and choose your favorite variation. The 'Other' option cycles through the samples randomly, while ensuring the same sample never plays twice in a row.
And because that free library contains thousands of one-shots, you’re sitting on tens of thousands of sound possibilities.
The only catch is pitch. The one-shots aren’t key-labeled, so you’ll need to use a pitch detection plugin (like Live’s Tuner) and set the correct root note in Sampler for each sample.
When you find something you like, save it as an Instrument Rack and in just a few minutes, you’ll have a custom bank of unique sounds ready to go.
No presets. No complexity. Just creativity.
See you next Thursday,
—Matthew
P.S. Here’s an EDM mix I’m enjoying.