Italian electronic artist Fedele has recently released his highly anticipated album “Depth Of Being” through his label, Obscura. This marks Fedele’s first Album project since departing from the acclaimed group Agents Of Time. Known for his significant contributions to the underground music scene, Fedele has crafted an 11-track album that showcases his evolution as an artist, blending his signature sounds with new experimental approaches, including a notable increase in vocal elements.

“Depth Of Being” is a notable addition to Fedele’s discography, featuring various tracks exploring various facets of electronic music. From the downtempo synths of the opening track “Departure” to the fast-paced rhythms and vocoder vocals in “Your Eyes,” the album demonstrates Fedele’s ability to push boundaries while maintaining his unique style. This release highlights Fedele’s innovative spirit and solidifies his position as a key electronic music community figure.

We chatted with Fedele about his favorite hardware pieces, production tricks, and the mindsets he uses to produce such insanely dope music. So take a listen to his latest album before acclimate your ears to the sauce he’s about to drop, and then let’s dive into what he has to say on the newest iteration of How It Was Made: Fedele – Depth Of Being (Obscura).

DAVE SMITH PROPHET 12

One of the songs I created back in 2019 was “Your Eyes” when I began working on my album. During that period, I was going through a phase in my life. I decided to focus on this album by isolating myself. So I packed up my studio in Bari (Italy), loaded all my equipment into my 500L car, and embarked on a journey to Barcelona for a few months.

The concept behind the song was to craft a dance track infused with rock elements. This led me to record some drum beats combine them with synthesized sounds from the Prophet 12 and incorporate my unique electronic touch to give the track its distinct flavor.

I enjoyed experimenting with the synthesizer, often manipulating and distorting recorded sounds to give them a rock-inspired vibe. Notably there’s a pad in the track that has been distorted to mimic a guitar sound (even though its not a guitar!). The versatility of this synth greatly appealed to me, providing possibilities and making it an absolute joy to work with. The combination of its 4+1 oscillators enabled me to craft tones, while the presence of 4 LFOs added an extra layer of excitement and dynamism to the music.

In this situation, the standout function I employed was the integrated distortion and the sample. Hold on the filter frequency to produce the audible electronic tones in the song.

WALDORF IRIDIUM

The Waldorf Iridium stands out as a synthesizer renowned for its sound design capabilities. Equipped with a structure incorporating five distinct synthesis models it offers a wide range of sonic possibilities, from velvety pads to intricate melodies. Its user friendly touchscreen interface, along with modulation features caters to both studio work and live performances attracting producers in search of sounds.

In my music album I’ve extensively utilized the Waldorf Iridium. Of relying on sounds I often blend multiple layers to create a unique sonic landscape. This approach adds depth and complexity to the music production process. For instance when working on a bassline I experiment with custom patches by modulating positions for effects. Adding effects further refines the sound. Unifies different elements into a cohesive whole.

For music producers those, in electronic genres the Waldorf Iridium can be a game changing tool. One effective technique involves leveraging the modulation matrix to introduce evolving and captivating elements into design.

Try out the synthesis technique to create textures and atmospheric nuances that can bring a fresh perspective to your music. By utilizing the Iridiums included effects and automation features you can elevate a sound into something engaging. Whether you’re working on creating pads, leads or soundscapes the Iridium can really make a difference and bring your musical creations to another level.

UAD TELETRONIX LA2A CLASSIC LEVELER AMPLIFIER

The UAD Teletronix LA 2A Classic Leveler Amplifier is a software tool replicating the LA 2A hardware compressor known for its sound and optical compression. Its user-friendly interface and intuitive controls make it easy to achieve a tone, on vocals, bass, and various instruments. This plugin effectively captures the essence of the hardware unit offering a solution for achieving high-quality leveling and dynamic control in your music mixes.

When I applied the UAD Teletronix LA 2A to my song I noticed an improvement in my vocal recordings. Starting with the “Classic Vocal” preset I fine-tuned the Peak Reduction and Gain settings to suit the dynamics of my performance. To enhance warmth and presence, I incorporated a frequency boost using an EQ before routing the signal through the LA 2A. Additionally, I automated the Gain parameter to maintain consistent levels during dynamic sections resulting in a polished vocal sound across the entire track.

For music producers working within genres, incorporating the UAD Teletronix LA 2A into their workflow can be transformative. It excels at infusing warmth and smoothness into vocals while effectively controlling dynamics on instruments, like bass and guitar. I’ve realized that it’s important to be open and try out the settings on the Peak Reduction feature. It can often surprise you that pushing it further than expected can result in a controlled and compressed sound. Also experimenting with using it alongside another compressor can enhance the control and tonal quality more. This plugin is really versatile. It can give your music a touch, making it an essential tool for any producer.

WAVES SSL E-CHANNEL

The Waves SSL E Channel is a plugin inspired by the SSL 4000 E console, celebrated for its distinctive sound and precise controls. It encompasses an EQ section with compression gating/expansion and a preamp to capture the warmth and clarity of the hardware. This tool is ideal for shaping sounds with its flexible EQ curves and dynamic range adjustments, favored by music producers for its user interface and top-notch audio quality.

I heavily relied on the Waves SSL E Channel for my music project for its all-in-one capabilities. I often start from scratch. Use it as a tool for design trusting my ears to guide me. I apply it to elements like vocals, synths, bass, and drums. Typically I fine tune the EQ settings to enhance each sounds characteristics. Additionally, I automate the compressor or apply cuts to add interest to sections of the tracks; this technique helps ensure that specific sounds cut through the mix effectively. To add depth and dimensionality to my tracks, I combine it with reverb and delay processing.

For producers, integrating the Waves SSL E Channel into their workflow can be transformative.

Using the gate/expander tool, for design has been really helpful in my production work. One neat trick I’ve picked up is using it to eliminate any background noise in my tracks, especially when dealing with mixes. Trying out EQ settings can uncover tonal characteristics that add a special touch to your music. Whether you’re working on vocals, drums, or synthesizers, the SSL E Channel is a pick for tuning your audio with a professional touch.

Quick Fire Tips For Making Techno 

Tip #1: Be Unique: Focus on creating unique sounds. Simple sounds can be transformed into something special. Make the people wonder on how you made that.

Tip #2: Make sure your beat is infectious. If your feet aren’t tapping while you’re producing, you might want to rework your groove 😉

Tip #3: Work a lot on the arrangement and its details, keep things exciting and always moving. 

Tip #4: Getting inspired from somebody else it’s totally fine, but never copy. Use them as examples to create something uniquely yours.

Tip #5: Experiment as much as you can and always try to improve your skills, develop a style more than making one unique genre, and move around with different influences. As long as your track has your unique touch, you’re on the right path.

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