There are times when I will lock in on a particular instrument or software and create only from that. I partially did that with Intrepid Soundz. The first four songs I produced from that album were created with sounds from the MSX Audio's Cassettes & Pedals sample pack. Elements of Self and Illustrating with Sounds 2 were both produced using Soundtrap during the 90 day trial.

Well yesterday I opened up Logic with the intention on finishing up my upcoming EP, Still Water, but I got sidetracked. Loopcloud had an update and once it updated I wanted to check out some of the new features. This lead to me producing an entire track using Loopcloud samples and manipulating them in Loopcloud. 

The main samples came from the Freaky Loops Trap Fuel sound pack. I used the TF_Synth_Keys sample, pitched it up 4 semitones, and slowed it down by 24 bpm. The drums came from other samples in the Loopcloud library. After a few hours of tweaking and arranging (and a break to go to an FIU basketball game), I had a completed song which I plan to release in a few weeks. 

Sometimes, musicians get enamored with new gear. We want the latest sound pack, the latest hardware, etc. and we don't use what we already have. I've been using Loopcloud for about three years now and this is the first time I've produced an entire track with it. I've found that it a good creative exercise to limit the amount of tools you can use and force yourself to create with what you have. It pushes you to think about how you can do more with less. 

Most producers will admit that they were the most creative when they were broke and had a limited number of sounds and tools to work with. This is where I grew as a sound designer. Try this practice out and see what you come up with. Find one instrument or one sample pack and produce an entire track or EP using just that. You'll find that it's more creatively freeing than most people think. 

Take a listen to a sneak peek of Unrestricted Chaos on YouTube.