Ever wondered how KOAN Sound creates those mind-bending, hyper-detailed tracks that somehow feel both mechanical and alive?
Let’s dive into the minds of Will Weeks and Jim Bastow (aka KOAN Sound) and pull together their most eye-opening production tips - no fluff, just real insights you can actually use.
"Everything is possible... You can’t do something wrong."
— KOAN Sound
🧠 Mindset First: The Philosophy Behind the Sound
Be Playful and Break the Rules
KOAN Sound’s #1 rule? Forget the rules.
Music isn’t about formulas — it’s about fun and experimentation. Don’t get stuck wondering if you're "doing it right." Start throwing sounds around and play with ideas.
Pro Tip: Their best ideas come when they turn off the analytical brain. No second guessing. Just flow.
🧘♂️ Creativity = Meditation
They describe entering a “meditative state” where time disappears and ideas just happen. That’s the sweet spot. No overthinking, no pressure.
Try this: Dim the lights. Turn off your phone. Loop a sound you love and zone in.
🔧 Master Fewer Tools, Not More
"Learn ONE technique and go deep."
KOAN Sound doesn't chase the latest plugin. Instead, they dive deep into a few VSTs, squeezing every drop of creativity from them.
Pro Tip: Focus on what your current tools can really do before buying the next thing.
🛠 Sound Design Secrets You’ll Want to Steal
Organic Sounds = Human Feel
From plastic bottles crunching to footsteps in snow, KOAN Sound layers in foley and live instruments for textures that feel real.
In "The Zulla", they built percussion using creaky floorboards.
In "Drift", they used a Koshi wind chime.
🔁 Resample. Then Resample Again.
They resample their own basses and instruments repeatedly. This adds grime, texture, and unpredictability.
Technique Highlight: Moist Neuro Bass
- Start with a detuned reese.
- Split into low/mid/high bands.
- Automate each band’s movement.
- Layer filters and EQ before distortion.
- Compress, distort subtly, then resample the result.
Tip: Automate volume per band - especially the high end - for motion and character.
🥁 Real Drums + Fake Tricks = Magic Snares
Their snares often blend:
- Transients from real acoustic drums
- Punch from processed hits
- Tails shaped by distortion and vocoding
They’ve even used Ableton’s vocoder to compress snares and add a “slightly synthetic” character.
🌀 Groove Like a Funk Drummer
Each percussive hit is treated like a musical phrase. Ghost notes, swing, and shuffle give their tracks that bounce.
Plugins they love:
- Superior Drummer
- Uhbik G (for volume-based groove automation)
🎛 Mixing Tips That Glue It All Together
EQ Before You Do Anything Else
“The most powerful sound shaping tool” — KOAN Sound
Learn to:
- Boost with purpose
- Cut what’s not needed
- Think in frequency bands (lows, mids, highs)
This applies to every layer, not just the bass.
📦 Effect Racks: Your Secret Weapon
Using effect racks with wet/dry chains lets you:
- Control reverb/delay with volume automation
- Get precise with FX tails
- Avoid mud in your mix
Ableton Hack: Build an FX rack template once, use it everywhere.
📡 Mono Check = Pro-Level Sound
Always listen in mono to make sure your stereo spread doesn’t kill clarity.
“What sounds amazing wide should also sound good dead center.”
Utility audio effect on the master chain makes this a breeze.
🎧 Mix Around the Loudest Element
Usually the drums. Sometimes the vocal. Identify it early, and build the rest of the mix around it.
Hot tip: A punchy kick needs space. Don’t let your sub or synths crowd it.
🧠 Bonus: The Koan Mindset Outside the DAW
Move Your Body to Move Your Sound
“Exercise is sooo important for a sedentary profession.”
Physical and mental health directly fuel their motivation and creativity. Go for a walk. Hit the gym. Stretch between takes.
🎯 Develop Your Own Sound by Just... Doing You
They didn’t try to sound unique — they just made what felt natural.
“If something sounds like you, then no one can take that away from you.”
Consistency + curiosity = originality.
🚀 Wrap-Up: Start Weird, Stay Curious
Want to sound more like KOAN Sound? Don’t try to copy them.
Instead:
- Play like no one’s watching
- Dive deep into your tools
- Record everything - even the weird stuff
- Treat sound design like storytelling
- Build your own rules… then break them
Try this:
Open your DAW and build a track using:
- One foley sound
- One resampled bass
- One drum loop made from scratch
Then flip it upside down.
🎶 What’s Next?
Drop a comment with your favorite KOAN-inspired technique or mention this article in your next weird sound experiment!
Let the chaos flow. 🎛🔥
Your masterpiece is one weird sound away.
