Man Mantzur and Chicola have all the time handled collaboration like a dialog between worlds. Their new EP, Neon Bible, launched on Sasha’s label Final Night time on Earth, captures that dialogue completely. It’s deep, hypnotic, and emotionally charged with out dropping its precision. Central to that sound is their use of Raum and Replika XT, two instruments that gave the observe its form and sense of motion.
Each producers have constructed careers on management and environment, and people instincts come by clearly right here. Raum helped carve out a spatial identification for the synths, permitting melodies to float however by no means blur, whereas Replika XT added a rhythmic pulse that stored the reverb alive contained in the groove. As an alternative of layering for measurement, they used area as an instrument, giving each factor room to breathe whereas sustaining the stress that defines their shared sound.
For Mantzur and Chicola, these selections had been about designing emotion. Raum turned a technique to construct dimension and distinction between sections, whereas Replika XT glued these shifts along with motion and texture. The result’s a file that feels alive, balancing readability and environment in a means that displays their years of shared belief within the studio.
Bounce to those sections:
- How Raum formed the depth of the observe
- Utilizing Replika XT creatively
- Conserving issues clear when results are used
- Utilizing motion to reinforce groove
- Conserving readability in advanced preparations
- Energy in restraint
The pair sat down to debate the strategies behind Neon Bible, together with how Raum and Replika XT influenced their strategy to area, and why intention issues greater than quantity in dance music.
Get each plugins as a part of your 360 subscription.
Obtain free Replika XT presets made by the duo right here:
When engaged on Neon Bible, what position did Raum play in shaping the general depth of the mixes?
We’ve been utilizing Raum rather a lot in our initiatives, and it turned particularly necessary whereas engaged on Neon Bible. Each time we’re trying so as to add a spacious dimension to sure parts within the combine, Raum is certainly one of our go-to instruments.
One other aspect we love is the extra experimental facet. The Cosmic mode, for instance, feels nearly limitless. It permits us to sculpt granular textures that may fully rework a sound. Generally we’ll even duplicate a channel simply to course of it closely with Raum, and that creates these distinctive layers that push the observe into new territory.
Chicola additionally used it rather a lot when he created sound design samples.
How do you utilize Replika XT otherwise from Raum if you’re making an attempt to create motion throughout a observe?
Replika XT is certainly one of our favourite delays, and we often run it as a ship impact in Cubase. Raum is usually extra of an insert. That distinction already offers every a novel position in our workflow. However we additionally love utilizing Replika XT creatively. The Twin Mode with panning can open up the stereo area and add a lovely width, particularly on one-shots like percussion or drums.
Generally we’ll even route Replika XT into Guitar Rig Professional 7 and construct customized chains. Combining delays and reverbs with results like Chunk, Dust, or the Driver plugin can fully rework a sound, including grit and energy whereas conserving motion and depth. It’s that flexibility that makes Replika XT and Guitar Rig so inspiring for us.
Your tracks all the time sound atmospheric but outlined. How do you handle area and depth with out issues getting muddy?
Each delay and reverb are glorious instruments, however if you overdo them, you possibly can simply lose the transients and find yourself with a blurry, washy sound. One easy trick is all the time to double-check how the impact sits with the primary factor. For instance, with vocals, a heavy reverb can push them too far again within the combine.
A method we love is sidechaining the reverb to the dry vocal. That means, the vocal stays upfront and clear, whereas the reverb blooms naturally within the areas in between. It retains the environment alive with out drowning the primary efficiency. Ultimately, it comes right down to the concept much less is extra. Generally, simplicity carries essentially the most energy.
How do you determine when a sound is sufficiently big within the combine versus when it wants extra Raum or Replika XT therapy?
It actually is determined by the position the sound is supposed to play within the observe.
Some parts are supposed to sit down upfront and carry the power, whereas others are supposed to reside within the background and create depth. It’s not solely about correct placement, but additionally about deciding which sounds take the lead and which of them assist from beneath. Even a channel with heavy processing might be pushed means again within the combine if that’s the place it belongs.
On the subject of pattern libraries or one-shot sounds, the strategy might be totally different since every sound is designed to face by itself. On the finish of the day, the choice comes right down to trusting your ears and following the sensation. If it already feels sufficiently big, you don’t want to the touch it.
Trying again, would you say Raum and Replika XT have develop into important instruments on your sound, or are they extra situation-dependent?
We really feel that each challenge has its personal scenario, so it’s by no means only one method.
Generally the main target is on outboard {hardware} just like the WesAudio Rhea, the Neve 542, or pedals such because the H9 or Microcosm. We additionally love working with our analog synths, the OB-6, Juno-60, Prophet 6, Prophet 12, Moogs, or the most recent Osmose. As soon as these are within the chain, the processing selections can go in many alternative instructions.
That’s the place instruments like Raum, Replika XT, and Guitar Rig are available in. They offer us the flexibleness to form and refine the sound in response to the observe’s wants.
What do you suppose makes Neon Bible stand out most by way of environment in comparison with your previous releases?
Neon Bible could be very particular to us as a result of it’s our first EP collectively, despite the fact that we’ve identified one another for nearly 20 years. We’ve been touring, taking part in gigs, and spending time with our households aspect by aspect for thus lengthy, so lastly placing out a challenge as a duo appears like a pure and significant step.
That historical past between us is an enormous a part of what offers the file its environment. We’ve been big followers of Sasha for the reason that early days of the Northern Publicity compilations with John Digweed, so to launch this EP on his label appears like an honor.
The truth that Sasha additionally just lately performed with Man at his Moments showcase in Argentina makes the connection much more private and provides one other layer of significance to the discharge.
Wrapping all of it up
Listening to Man Mantzur and Chicola break down Neon Bible reveals simply how a lot element sits behind their minimalist sound. Raum and Replika XT weren’t used to fill area however to outline it, serving to every tone work together naturally whereas conserving emotion entrance and heart. Their course of reveals how precision and restraint can usually create extra impression than complexity.
Because of Man and Chicola for sharing their strategy and perception. Neon Bible stands as a transparent instance of how the appropriate instruments can carry character and perspective into focus, turning small particulars into the heartbeat of a observe.
Don’t neglect to obtain free Replika XT presets made by the duo right here:
The put up How Man Mantzur and Chicola construct depth in trendy melodic techno first appeared on Native Devices Weblog.
