When the Preset Becomes the Song

An alternative approach to electronic music production using complex synth presets as the primary tool for shaping a song.

In electronic music production, the typical workflow often starts with a beat, a chord progression, or a melodic hook. These are familiar building blocks that help give structure and momentum to a track. But there’s an alternative approach that can lead to more surprising and expressive results: beginning with a complex synth preset and letting that sound guide the creative process.

Rather than treating presets as placeholders or tools to fill out an arrangement, this method treats the preset itself as the foundation of the song. Many modern VST synths—like Pigments, Vital, or Phase Plant—come loaded with presets that already contain rich modulation, evolving textures, and a sense of movement. These elements can suggest emotion or mood even before any melody or rhythm is introduced.

By focusing on the preset from the start, you begin to listen differently. Instead of asking what melody or drum pattern should come next, you start to notice what the sound is already doing—how it shifts, pulses, filters, or distorts over time. These movements can function like a narrative. Subtle automation of parameters like filter cutoff, oscillator blend, or effect levels becomes a way to shape that narrative and create emotional progression within the track.

This approach changes how structure is handled too. Rather than thinking in terms of intro, drop, breakdown, and outro from the beginning, the process becomes more fluid. You might spend time looping just a few bars, carefully modulating the sound so it evolves organically. Over time, that evolution becomes the form. Tension and release are handled through sonic movement rather than abrupt structural changes.

For producers who want to move beyond predictable formulas, this method can be a powerful way to unlock new ideas. It’s especially useful in ambient, cinematic, or textural electronic genres, but it can also add depth and originality to more rhythmic styles. The key is listening with intention—hearing what the sound is already trying to say, and responding through thoughtful modulation rather than forcing it into a predefined shape.

Starting with a preset and letting it lead isn’t about giving up control; it’s about shifting the focus from structure to sound. Instead of writing music onto a track, you’re letting the track emerge from the sound. This not only opens up creative possibilities—it also deepens your relationship with synthesis as a storytelling tool.