Avinash Meetoo's Music

Forth

Tracks

  1. Bonzour Tou Dimounn
  2. It’s a Rap
  3. Zener
  4. In Rhythm
  5. California
  6. Bouncy
  7. Movements
  8. Being Calm

Listen

Information

In 2021, I released my first single ever: Bouncy. It was my first attempt at piano house and I was very happy with the fact that it has a 90s vibe in some places (because of the Korg M1 piano sample I used) and a much more modern twist elsewhere (the bassline and drums are groovy and the dubstep bridge, well, hits hard).

Then, in 2022, I composed a new track for the launch of the unit I was working at called Bonzour Tou Dimounn. I was inspired by an existing royalty-free song which had been purchased by the office. I created a much extended version of the track with a new bridge, a new chorus, me playing my trusty ravann and short vocals from Christina (from Mauritius), Allen (from Seychelles) and Daniel (from Rodrigues).

In 2023, I launched California as a 3rd single and I realised that I had the skeleton of an album. From June to September 2023, I worked extensively on composing five additional tracks and Forth, my fourth album, which is also about me moving forth (forward), was born.

Technical details

Composed and recorded using Cockos REAPER, UVI Falcon & its sound/sample libraries, Roland Cloud JUNO-60 and KV331 Audio SynthMaster 2 extensively. I also used XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2, Plugin Alliance DS Thorn & bx_oberhausen, Roland Cloud JUNO-106, D-50 & ZENOLOGY and Native Instruments FM8, Guitar Rig 6 & Playbox. Many times, I used Plugin Alliance DS Tantra 2 and Waves Brauer Motion to transform the sounds and make them more interesting. Hardware used include a Focusrite 4i4 Audio Interface, my old Kawai K4, an M-Audio Oxygen 61 MK IV and an AKAI Professional MPK mini mk3 as controllers and a pair of Yamaha HS5 studio monitors and Sony Professional MDR-7506 headphones.

Mixed using Waves SSL Channel Strip, Waves NLS Channel and NLS Buss initially then I moved to a combination of SSL Native Channel Strip 2 and SSL Native X-Saturator v6. I used LetiMix GainMatch extensively for gain staging, Waves H-Comp for side chain compression when needed, Soundtoys EchoBoy for delay and both Waves IR1 and SSL Native FlexVerb for reverb. I also used Plugin Boutique Scaler 2 a few times as a source of inspiration.

For mastering, I spent time looking for a good reference track and then took time to create a great mastering chain based on the Plugin Alliance TBTECH Kirchhoff-EQ, Tokyo Dawn Labs TDR Nova GE, Tokyo Dawn Labs TDR SlickEQ M followed by the Plugin Alliance Shadow Hills Class A Mastering Comp, Plugin Alliance AMEK EQ 200, Soundtheory Gullfoss Master and Waves Magma BB Tubes. For final limiting to -1 dBFS and overall punch, I used the quite phenomenal Softube Weiss MM-1 Mastering Maximizer.

For monitoring, I used Waves Nx Ocean Way Nashville (when listening through my Sony Professional MDR-7506 headphones) and Plugin Alliance TBTECH Kirchhoff-EQ (for EQing my Yamaha HS5 studio monitors as per REW’s recommendations). For metering, I was happy with Youlean Youlean Loudness Meter 2 and Plugin Alliance ADPTR MetricAB.

I am very happy with the sound quality of Forth.

© 2023 by Avinash Meetoo. All Rights Reserved.