The Track in 60 series invites viewers to witness the intense challenge of creating a complete music track in just one hour, all live streamed. These videos offer a condensed look at music creation, highlighting rapid idea generation and an efficient workflow.
Viewers can watch the entire process unfold as Matt utilizes Ableton, his OP-1, and a variety of pedals and plugins, often completing these creative sprints live.

Track In 60: Themes

Creating an entire song with just a cardboard BOX, in under an hour

Can I make a FULL track using ONLY arpeggiators in just 60 minutes?

Join me as I dive into how arpeggiators can transform notes into exciting sequences, and watch me construct an entire track from scratch. I'll share my process for setting the vibe, crafting synth melodies with Ableton and my OP-1, experimenting with unique drum sounds, and layering basslines and other melodic parts, all while sticking to my arpeggiator-only rule.

You'll see my creative automation techniques, how I design sounds, and the fun challenges of working within a strict musical limitation.

Creating an entire song with only WATER, in under an hour

I challenged myself to write a song in under 60 minutes, completely live. The theme for this one was "Water," a fantastic suggestion from RadekG in the comments – so big thanks for that!

My initial thought was ambient, but then I decided to get a bit crazy and actually use water in the music. Join me as I dive into sampling real water sounds – from pouring water to trying to get percussive hits with a spoon. You'll see my entire process in Ableton, as I take these raw, aquatic sounds and twist them into drum parts and unique melodies, and even try create a heavy bassline using plugins like Waves Submarine and iZotope Trash. This track took an unexpected turn, morphing from an ambient idea into something surprisingly different.

This was a truly ridiculous and fun challenge, and the results are... well, you'll have to hear for yourself!

Creating an entire song with just a cardboard BOX, in under an hour

Can I make a FULL track with ONLY a cardboard box in just 60 minutes?

In this episode of "Track in 60," I take on the ultimate sound design challenge: using only the humble cardboard box as my sound source! Every kick, snare, hi-hat, bassline, and lead in this track comes purely from the percussive and sometimes surprisingly melodic sounds of this box.

Watch as I experiment with different ways to hit, tap, and manipulate the box to create a full drum kit, then try to coax basslines and even melodies out of it using pedals and Ableton plugins like pitch shifting, EQ, and saturation. You won't believe the weird and wonderful sounds that come out of this ordinary object!

This was a truly ridiculous and fun challenge, and the results are... well, you'll have to hear for yourself!

Creating in inder an hour! The theme... Mysterious

This is Track In 60, where I compose an entirely new track in under 60 minutes, all based on the intriguing theme of "mysterious"!

Watch my creative process unfold in real-time, from the initial spark of an idea to the final touches of mastering.

In this video, you'll see my selection of sounds and instruments (with a heavy reliance on the versatile Spitfire Audio Labs), and my workflow within Ableton Live. I'll walk you through my thought process as I layer atmospheric pads, eerie brass, delicate piano melodies, and intricate percussion, all while striving to capture that elusive mysterious vibe.

Creating in under an hour! The theme... Melancholy Reflection

In this "Track in 60" live stream, I challenged myself to write a complete song with a "melancholy reflection" theme in under 60 minutes!

Join me as I explore the concept of musical reflection by reversing parts of the song to create a mirrored effect. You'll see my creative process unfold live, starting with drums and layering synths, bass, and lead parts.

I'll be using tools like Addictive Drums, OP-1, Old Blood Endeavors Dark Light pedal, Baby Audio BA-1, Waves BB Tubes, Baby Audio Spaced Out, and Ozone 11 to shape the sound and bring the "melancholy reflection" vibe to life.

Watch as I work under pressure, making quick decisions and improvising to build the track layer by layer. Despite the time limit, I aimed to create a complete song with distinct sections and a cohesive mood.

Creating an entire song with just a Ukulele, in Under an Hour

Join me in this "Track in 60" challenge where I attempt to create an entire song using only a ukulele within a one-hour time limit!

See how I use Ableton and the Source Audio C4 synth pedal to transform the humble ukulele into a full band. Watch the process unfold as I layer percussion, rhythm, kick, and snare sounds – all generated from the uke!

I experiment with effects to get guitar-like tones and use the C4 pedal to lay down a solid bass line. Despite the challenges of making a ukulele sound like a full drum kit, I build the track piece by piece, adding high hats and refining the structure with intro, midsection, and chorus sections.

Follow along as I add reverb, adjust levels, and fine-tune the arrangement with percussive elements and lead parts. In the final minutes, I put on the finishing touches, including using Ozone 11 on the master channel.

Even under pressure, I was really happy with how the track turned out, especially the lead ukulele sound!

Creating a Psychedelic Track in Under an Hour

Join me as I challenge myself to create a psychedelic track in under an hour using Ableton, the OP-1, and a Ukulele!

In this video, you'll see my full process from initial setup to quick mastering. I'll start by building a drum beat in Ableton and automating the tempo to add a dynamic feel. Then, I'll bring in the Ukulele and OP-1, experimenting with various effects pedals like Dark Light and Waves BB Tubes to shape that signature psychedelic sound.

Watch as I layer different instrument parts, warp and quantize audio for glitchy textures, and use effects like Baby Audio VHS and Spaced Out to create depth. I'll also work on the arrangement, using EQ to build transitions and energy. You'll see me incorporate bass with the Baby Audio BA1 and develop more complex drum patterns.

Finally, with minutes to spare, I'll add some last OP-1 layers, manipulate pitch with Waves SoundShifter, refine the drums, and quickly master the track using Ozone 11.

See if I can pull it off and create something truly psychedelic in 60 minutes!

Creating a Vangelis-Inspired Track (Blade Runner Style)

Join me as I attempt to create a song in the iconic style of Vangelis, the legendary composer behind the Blade Runner soundtrack, in one hour!

In this video, I'll take you through my process of emulating Vangelis's signature synthetic sound using various synths and plugins, including the OP-1 and Baby Audio BA1. See how I lay down chords with the OP-1, experiment with different synth presets from the Baby Audio BA1, and incorporate those low, percussive sounds reminiscent of the Blade Runner theme.

Watch as I build the track by layering different parts and textures, aiming for a linear progression that captures the atmospheric mood of Vangelis's work. I'll also try to emulate his use of saxophone-like sounds and include a classic arpeggio part.

Creating a Nostalgic Track in Under an Hour

Join me as I take on the challenge of creating a nostalgic track in under an hour using Ableton, the OP-1, and a collection of plugins!

In this time-lapse journey, I'll guide you through my process of building a track with a synth-wave vibe, starting with a 606 drum machine and adding spaced-out delay. See how I use the versatile OP-1 for synth melodies and arpeggios, and incorporate various plugins like Waves Q1 Stereo, Baby Audio's Spaced Out and BA1, and more to shape the sound and create dynamic effects.

Watch as I layer parts, automate parameters extensively in Ableton, add a driving four-on-the-floor section, and experiment with pitch shifting and distortion to achieve that nostalgic feel. I'll even use Baby Audio's Transit 2 for a cool underwater effect and refine the track with transitions and symbols.

Finally, with the clock ticking, I'll apply a mastering plugin (Ozone 11) to get the demo ready.

Creating a Track in one hour (no theme number 2)

Join me for another one-hour song writing challenge! In this live stream, I attempt to create a song from scratch, embracing the limitations and seeing what comes out.

Watch as I start with a nasty sound from the OP-1 and build a track around it in Ableton. I'll establish a tempo, create a drum part, and develop the initial sound into a bassline with some distortion and sidechain compression.

See how I add layers and elements using Addictive Drums 2 and distort them with Trash 2. I'll experiment with transition effects from Baby Audio's Transit 2 and even try a glitchy drop. You'll witness the song evolve, including an attempt at a heavier bassline with Baby Audio's BA1 and Waves Submarine, and the decision to return to the original section.

I'll add percussion like 808 hi-hats and symbols, continue to manipulate sounds with Transit 2, and refine the bassline. With the clock winding down, I'll add bongo percussion and layered drums before doing some quick mastering with Ozone 11.

Creating a Track in one hour (no theme number 1)

Join me for a one-hour music-making challenge in this live stream! I'll be attempting to write a complete song from scratch within 60 minutes, improvising and experimenting as I go.

Watch as I build the track using my gear, including the OP-1, NUX Amp Academy, Old Blood Dark Light, and Source Audio C4 Synth pedal, all within Ableton. I'll start with a drum beat using an 808 kick and hi-hat, then add a synth part with the OP-1 processed through the Dark Light pedal.

I'll lay down a bassline using Baby Audio's BA-1 and structure the song with different sections like an intro, chorus, and breakdown. You'll see me experiment with various Ableton plugins for effects like reverb, EQ, and sidechain compression, as well as explore plugins from Waves such as Berserk and Submarine.

Finally, with the clock ticking down, I'll do a quick master using Izotope Ozone.

Tune in to see the creative process unfold in real-time and find out what I can come up with in just one hour!

Creating a Track of Sadness in Under an Hour

Join me as I channel feelings of sadness into a creative endeavor, attempting to write an ambient song in under an hour.

In this video, I'll take you through my process of building a track inspired by emotion, aiming for an ambient soundscape. I'll be incorporating various synths like the Moog Minitaur, Korg Monologue, and OP-1, alongside guitar and bass. See how I experiment with different sounds and plugins, including Baby Audio's Spaced Out" and the Moog Minotaur editor, to find the right textures and tones.

Watch as I layer instruments, shape the song's structure, and introduce distorted drums using Spitfire's Labs and Isotope's Trash plugin. With the clock winding down, I'll add a bassline and take a moment to reflect on the therapeutic power of creating music.

Creating a Track inspired by Coffee in Under an Hour

Can I write a complete song in under an hour, fueled by coffee inspiration? Join me in this video to find out!

Watch as I take you through my spontaneous music creation process, starting with programming drums in Ableton using Addictive Drums 2. I'll then lay down bass and guitar tracks, experimenting with different sounds and effects like reverb using Guitar Rig 6.

See how I build the song by recording and looping various guitar parts, including harmonies, and structuring the arrangement. I'll also incorporate a synth part using the OP-1 and the EarthQuaker Devices Avalanche Run pedal to add some unique textures.

Despite going slightly over the one-hour mark while tweaking the final touches, I end up with a completed track. The video wraps up with a full playback of the song born from this coffee-fueled challenge.

Other Series:

Learn With Me

A series of videos where I try to write a sub genre of music that I’ve not attempted to write before.


Jam and Chats

A series of videos where I talk to fellow musicians about the connection between Spirituality and Music, followed by a lovely jam of improvised music.

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