Dreampop Ambient Guitar Tone (the XX, Rhye etc.)

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to capture this tone in GR using a Fender Strat and Focusrite Saffire interface in Ableton 9. Here are a couple examples:

 

Here's my standard Dream-Pop patch and the chain they're in. This should get you going.
It's all about the flanger and chorus
Electric Lady: Rate: 50%, Depth: 75%, Color: 25%
Quad Delay: 50% across all of them
Ensemble: Chorus Mode, default INIT settings, adjust to flavour
AC Box: The init is fairly good, use mainly the Brilliant channel.
Little Reflektor (in between AC Box Head/Cab): Long A, Mix: 50/100
AC Cabinet: Adjust to get the flavour right.

The AC Box can be swapped out for the Reverb as well - for a slightly different effect.

Try moving the EL, Quad, and Ensemble around to get slightly different sounds.

Hope this helps.

 

So helpful! Thanks!

 

Hi Aydee

Try playing with both EQs in your rack. I agree it is about flanger/chorus but trebles need softening- to get the ‘feel ‘ of a haunting sound.

Also- Not sure what switching your Strat has. Old ones only have 3 positions - But suggest you try middle pickup alone or combination of bridge- middle or middle and neck. With tone rolled back about a third to melllow things out.

Hope this helps

Chris

 

Also super helpful. Found I was getting some feedback and harsher tones in the upper register when I added flange/chorus to the reverb. This definitely darkened the sound and made it a lot smoother.