A Cheatcode for Better Arrangements: The Two Loop Rule

MY GEAR:
DAW (Music making software): Logic Pro and Ableton Live
Studio monitors (speakers): Yamaha HS8's
Headphones: Audeze LCD X (open back)
Camera: Canon 80d
Computer: Mac Studio with M2 Ultra chip and 2 TB hardrive
Midi controller (keyboard): Komplete Kontrol 61
Interface: Scarlett Clarett 2 pre
Desk: a cheap one from ikea
Chair: also a cheap one from ikea

My favorite plugins that I use the most:
XFER Serum
Sylenth 1
Nexus 3
Kontakt
RC 20
Valhalla Shimmer
Valhalla Vintage Verb
Shaperbox 3
XFER OTT
Fab Filter Saturn 2
Fab Filter Pro C 2
Arturia Pigments
Baby Audio Comeback Kid
Output Thermal and Portal
LABS Soft Piano

Hardware that I use behind the scenes but not in videos:
Elektron Octatrack (my fav)
Elektron Digitakt
Korg Minilogue XD

[Changeproductions]

blink twice if your headphones are holding you hostage

[olegkalinkin]

The man decided to cover his ears with frying pans.

[Phegan]

My man out here blue balling us with no drop.

[blackpalacemusic]

I love the fact that he's excited about his work and not just going through the motions.

[thrutherockies]

Hi Alex. This is a great method. I have another method I usually use. I open a song I like in Ableton (mp3 from a favorite artist), then I put markers in all the places where things happen. I try to describe the feelings I experience as clearly as possible at every marker. When I have analysed the song in detail, I remove the reference track. I am left with a template that I can then fill in with my own music. Then I never get stuck in a loop and it's very inspiring. It's even better if you leave the project a day or two before you start using the template so you forget how the original sounds. You don't want it to be a bad copy.

[VinceFinemMusic]

I love how he loves his own work and the fact that he isn't trying to constantly GAS up his viewers to buy more gear and software they don't need. He just helps us work with what we already have and make things better.

[BenStoneking]

He’s having fun and enjoying the ride with us! He’s like a millennial Bob Ross with a midi keyboard instead of brushes. ❤

[alexkunce]

Alex: You can only repeat for two bars
Daft Punk: *And I took that personally*

[karmabasedj]

Man everytime he says "isnt it pretty".."isnt it beautiful", I literally get hyped up and I am smiling like him
Also dont keep us hanging without the drop! This needs to be a finished piece :-P

[mkirbymusic]

Dude has been doing this for so long and is STILL providing super valuable videos. Cheers to you Alex 🍻

[JakeAdkinsOfficial]

Came for the concept, stayed for the production. This track is BEAUTIFUL ❤

[ktreier]

This 10 minute video is most useful thing I’ve seen in the last 12 months.

[JeffoftheShout]

Bro! This is so helpful for me! I’ve been having writers block for years now, and I’ve been tired of just making four bar loops etc. so I had stopped even trying to make original music. But this has definitely inspired me to carry on. Thank you!! 🙏

[mikehart]

Those are the biggest studio headphones I've ever seen

[brianclinton]

This is wonderful stuff. Great explanation and very helpful. You did say that there were only two ways to make a change in the next section though, adding/subtracting instruments or adding/subtracting expression, and I’d add three more: 1. Moving to another harmonic area, 2. Changing the melodic content to a responsive or broadening line, 3. Change rhythmic content (particularly melodic or harmonic rhythms).

[Mecha-ddafi]

The part about entry and exit points of transitions is huge. For me, drum fills are really vital for making a smooth transition for the type of music I make. Sometimes 2 guitar parts don't mix back-to-back until you have a nice fill leading into the next riff. Very helpful video!

[Unison_Detune]

This is blunt and upfront. I get lost in subtlety and nuance. This vid spells it out. Your arrangement needs to give cues as to the rise and fall in energy of the track. Thank you Alex, it is rare to be able to make something so simple and obvious. Subscribed.

[simonwarren]

You explain this all in a way most other music producers on YouTube don’t - it’s not music theory, but it’s also not the “idk lol play around and see what sounds good” attitude that a lot of others have.

The way you talk about music production in this video reminds me of the way that my art instructors in college (visual fine arts major) would talk about art, and that clicks with me

[themanfromvolantis]

This is GOLD. Not only solid tips but your blatant adoration of music is verrry infectious.

[MrGenedancingmachine]

Methods like this is why the LOFI hip-hop craze burned brightly but quickly faded into thousands upon thousands of songs starting to sound the same, rigid simple rules...that EVERYONE started to follow