Music Production

[Imran]

I've been trying this out with a version of Reason 4, and it's a lot harder than I'd initially anticipated. Trying to create reasonable sounding sounds along with fitting them all technically into the track is pretty damn difficult, and then once that's done you have to write the damn thing! That said, I've managed to produce a couple of bits that I'm pretty pleased with, my favourite being:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwH1sVMtNK0

I was really pleased with the high pad on this track. Pretty appropriate considering the state I was in when I wrote it.

Anyone else got any experience in this, tips or any tracks they want to share? I'd like to know all about it! Most of the stuff I produce is Drum & Bass influenced. I don't know how big the DnB scene is in America, so I'd be interested to hear about that as well.

The other stuff I've done can be found on my Youtube or my Soundcloud.

 

[NOISIA]

The track you posted has a nice relaxing vibe! Before learning any of the technical stuff about music production its a good idea to learn how to create a good structure, which you appear to be in the process of doing. I've been doing music production seriously for coming close to a year now, and it really is my passion in life. I use FL studio and numerous plugins, but once you get past the (huge) learning curve, most of the DAWs can accomplish all the same things, if just in slightly different ways.

Just like you I had a really heavy drum and bass influence (I'm from America), but in my early attempts I found that drum pattern too difficult to work with for the sound I was trying to obtain, and I moved to making more house/electro style beats. After that I progressed to dubstep, which I still think has the most potential and will always be one of my favorite genres though. I do actually have a couple drum and bass tracks in progress though, now that I have a much better idea of what I'm doing! I'm not very good at giving general advice, but if you have any specific questions, I'll try and answer them as best I can.

Here's some work of mine:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fXDxSry4ec

http://soundcloud.com/phoenixrudolph/psycho-glamour-remix

 

[Imran]

The track you posted has a nice relaxing vibe! Before learning any of the technical stuff about music production its a good idea to learn how to create a good structure, which you appear to be in the process of doing. I've been doing music production seriously for coming close to a year now, and it really is my passion in life. I use FL studio and numerous plugins, but once you get past the (huge) learning curve, most of the DAWs can accomplish all the same things, if just in slightly different ways.

Just like you I had a really heavy drum and bass influence (I'm from America), but in my early attempts I found that drum pattern too difficult to work with for the sound I was trying to obtain, and I moved to making more house/electro style beats. After that I progressed to dubstep, which I still think has the most potential and will always be one of my favorite genres though. I do actually have a couple drum and bass tracks in progress though, now that I have a much better idea of what I'm doing! I'm not very good at giving general advice, but if you have any specific questions, I'll try and answer them as best I can.

Here's some work of mine:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fXDxSry4ec

http://soundcloud.com/phoenixrudolph/psycho-glamour-remix

Cheers mate. Yeah, I suppose my interest really is in the production
side :P Realistically, I should find someone who I can collab with whose a little more creatively minded! Yeah, I've hit a sort of block on the learning curve - I've got past the initial being totally crap, but I think now I'm aiming a little higher, and finding I've got problems again! Yet to define a style I'm good at yet, I want to do DnB really, as I think you can do the most with it.

Tbh, the dubstep you're doing looks like it's going in the right sort of direction. I've become very alienated by a lot of modern dubstep - people like Nero, and Skrillex's earlier releases were really solid (though I suppose Skrillex's early stuff was more Electro!) But I go to any gig and hear Bass Cannon, and I die a little inside >_>

Realistically, I'd want to know how you approach writing a song. I sort of mess around with chord structure until I find something nice, but at the end of the day, I'm getting a little bored of that. Do you know what you want a song to sound like in your head and then have to build it up in the studio, or do you write it as you go along?

 

[Arch]

I am mazter of garage band and my muzik iz proufeeshional.


That was a very nice track. I'm no music producer though. ); As far as songwriting goes, it's really all up to you. There's no right or wrong way of approaching a song. I tend to get a little bored with chords sometimes too. Usually when that happens I like to go out of my way to make the most ridiculous sounding structures. It's a nice way to keep things creative.

For me, I sometimes have a whole song in my head or I'll just build around an interesting idea or sound I like. It really just varies on how your brain wants to do things that day. You don't necessarily have to write as you go along. You shouldn't force yourself to finish a song just because you started it. Put it down for a while then come back to it later. Coming back to an unfinished piece later will almost always yield a new perspective on it.

I'm more of a singer/songwriter kind of guy, so tend to pile masses of papers with songs on them before I ever actually record and finish them. It's a very bad habit...but the point is to just keep making stuff. I've hit curves plenty of times, but it's really just about developing your own sound through creating music.

 

[Imran]

I am mazter of garage band and my muzik iz proufeeshional.


That was a very nice track. I'm no music producer though. ); As far as songwriting goes, it's really all up to you. There's no right or wrong way of approaching a song. I tend to get a little bored with chords sometimes too. Usually when that happens I like to go out of my way to make the most ridiculous sounding structures. It's a nice way to keep things creative.

For me, I sometimes have a whole song in my head or I'll just build around an interesting idea or sound I like. It really just varies on how your brain wants to do things that day. You don't necessarily have to write as you go along. You shouldn't force yourself to finish a song just because you started it. Put it down for a while then come back to it later. Coming back to an unfinished piece later will almost always yield a new perspective on it.

I'm more of a singer/songwriter kind of guy, so tend to pile masses of papers with songs on them before I ever actually record and finish them. It's a very bad habit...but the point is to just keep making stuff. I've hit curves plenty of times, but it's really just about developing your own sound through creating music.

Yeah, at the moment I think I've produced a few tracks, but I need to get them sounding at the next level. I'm leaving all my song ideas as little stubs and going to come back the them, when the inspiration strikes me, rather than forcing them!

Cheers mate

 

[ck49]

Both of you guys are really good.

I've been trying to produce music myself, though nothing has come of it. I used garage band at first (which isn't too great since as far as I know you have to play it manually, you cant place beats wherever you want in a measure). However, my computer died and I lost everything on it. For some reason, ILife isn't included on the new macs, and even though I got it, garage band is the only thing which STILL doesn't work. So I gave up on that.
After that I browsed around looking for other software. I saw Reason, but its damn expensive, and i wasn't willing to put in that much money for something I may or may not continue. I didn't find anything, but if anyone knows any quality producing tools which are cheap for the mac I would love to know about it. I can make loops with Doggiebox, but that's hardly satisfying. I'd prefer to add a techno (or rather, pop) sound on to that rather than have to make it myself with an actual instrument, since I only play the violin.

Anyways, enough about my problems. I definitely think the first track in the OP could end up being an instrumental for a slower song, kinda like a Coldplay song. Also, if you can mentally imagine a track in your head, Id imagine you could produce it. Even just the first few notes, and then just do what flows. Get a few measures visualized, and just work from there, though I'm probably not the best person to take advice from.

 

[Bluecaptain]

I have a little bit of stuff, mostly just mess around with virtual DJ mashing things together etc. I have had some success in Fruity loops messing around with the free demo, lol. My friend has it so he's shown me some, which has kind of unrewarding. I do have some old track on sound cloud, this is my favorite (and probably the best): http://soundcloud.com/earth-in-sight/clot .

What I really want to do is have a live set that I can tweak to my liking and learn the hands on way. Unfortunately money is a barrier, it's not like I don't have any, I just cannot spend it on 2000$ of equipment that I may or may not use. Meh, I just need to find a friend who has stuff and hang with him/her, or team up.

 

[Zacchaeus]

Make dubstep remixes of Pokémon like so.

Also, the bit you linked was good, but the volume fluctuated a lot which made keeping a steady volume difficult

 

[Imran]

Both of you guys are really good.

Anyways, enough about my problems. I definitely think the first track in the OP could end up being an instrumental for a slower song, kinda like a Coldplay song. Also, if you can mentally imagine a track in your head, Id imagine you could produce it. Even just the first few notes, and then just do what flows. Get a few measures visualized, and just work from there, though I'm probably not the best person to take advice from.

Naa it's cool mate, appreciate the advice form anyone. In terms of producing reasonable stuff, I'm of the opinion you want to talk to the lay-man about it anyway! Yeah, I managed to get hold of a copy of reason, unfortunately I don't know anything that's that cheap, but in an earlier post someone mentioned a free version of fruity loops?

I have a little bit of stuff, mostly just mess around with virtual DJ mashing things together etc. I have had some success in Fruity loops messing around with the free demo, lol. My friend has it so he's shown me some, which has kind of unrewarding. I do have some old track on sound cloud, this is my favorite (and probably the best): http://soundcloud.com/earth-in-sight/clot .

What I really want to do is have a live set that I can tweak to my liking and learn the hands on way. Unfortunately money is a barrier, it's not like I don't have any, I just cannot spend it on 2000$ of equipment that I may or may not use. Meh, I just need to find a friend who has stuff and hang with him/her, or team up.

Yeah, money is a fairly significant issue. Voice is the worst thing for me. I have to put everything together in audacity, which is a very annoying program. I need a copy of cubase. I also don't have any way of getting good vocals at the moment, which is something I'd like to look into.

 

[Stallion]

Imran, I have a copy of Cubase 5 if you wanted to use it? Anyway I do a bit of producing but my main strength is as a DJ. I've made a sick intro, melody or breakdown but I haven't done all three in the same song. Learning to produce at a high level takes time (which I don't have a lot of) so I'm gonna sit down over summer and actually try and learn how to do it at a high level. I've got a thousand different producing programs at my disposal anyway but I'm thinking I'll stick with Cubase as it matches my work flow best.

 

[Badal]

After listening to all your stuff, I must say you guys are really good. And Imran, your track was beautiful. I can imagine it as a calm soothing song or ripped up by a techno break right in the middle of it ;) whichever one you prefer.
I am far less a producer and more of a musician (guitar, singing, drums and beatboxing). Though, I've always been intrigued and frankly amazed by music production. I want to compose and make some good music, but a severe lack in talent in the post-production/editing aspect of it enables me only to be able to do covers of songs and stuff.

For example, just the other day, I took party rock anthem and decided to make it a ballad or something, I did it via my iPad, so excuse the poor quality:
http://www.mediafire.com/?1q677bgbcu51n05

But yeah, It would be interesting to see a collaboration of sorts, if possible of all of us who are interested, to produce something. I mean Stallion can DJ, Imran and NOISIA can produce and you know, it would be interesting to see if we all could come up with something. Just a thought.

 

[Imran]

Imran, I have a copy of Cubase 5 if you wanted to use it? Anyway I do a bit of producing but my main strength is as a DJ. I've made a sick intro, melody or breakdown but I haven't done all three in the same song. Learning to produce at a high level takes time (which I don't have a lot of) so I'm gonna sit down over summer and actually try and learn how to do it at a high level. I've got a thousand different producing programs at my disposal anyway but I'm thinking I'll stick with Cubase as it matches my work flow best.

Yeah, that's what I did over this summer. Didn't work out as I didn't quite have enough time, and I think some technical aspects you can't necessarily learn. You need a little experience just finding out what works to make a well-produced track.

It's cool, but cheers for the offer, I have a mate who can get a copy for me, so should be all-right.

After listening to all your stuff, I must say you guys are really good. And Imran, your track was beautiful. I can imagine it as a calm soothing song or ripped up by a techno break right in the middle of it ;) whichever one you prefer.
I am far less a producer and more of a musician (guitar, singing, drums and beatboxing). Though, I've always been intrigued and frankly amazed by music production. I want to compose and make some good music, but a severe lack in talent in the post-production/editing aspect of it enables me only to be able to do covers of songs and stuff.

For example, just the other day, I took party rock anthem and decided to make it a ballad or something, I did it via my iPad, so excuse the poor quality:
http://www.mediafire.com/?1q677bgbcu51n05

But yeah, It would be interesting to see a collaboration of sorts, if possible of all of us who are interested, to produce something. I mean Stallion can DJ, Imran and NOISIA can produce and you know, it would be interesting to see if we all could come up with something. Just a thought.

Cheers mate, really appreciate the praise! I'd theoretically be up for something like that, I'm up for doing anything that could help me improve, but I don't really see how it would work logistically. That said, I'd be well up for producing something in which your beatboxing provides the beat and possibly some vocal as well would be ace!

 

[Nix_Hex]

I've been trying to produce music myself, though nothing has come of it. I used garage band at first (which isn't too great since as far as I know you have to play it manually, you cant place beats wherever you want in a measure). However, my computer died and I lost everything on it. For some reason, ILife isn't included on the new macs, and even though I got it, garage band is the only thing which STILL doesn't work. So I gave up on that.

What I suggest for you and anyone who uses garage band who wants to make music like this, you must download some basic midi software. GuitarPro5 (there may be a newer version, I haven't dabbled in music production stuff in a couple years) is primarily used for guitar and drum tabs. Basically, just tab out what you need, in the exact beat you need it, then save as a midi and import it into garage band. You can then utilize one of the many, many drum plug-ins on garage band that work right off of the midi file, so you can have it sound however you'd like. You have absolutely no obligation to ever play anything midi-related into garage band unless you're a sweet ass drummer or keyboard player.

Speaking of plug-ins, to be honest you're better off not using garage band's built in ones; download Toontrack's EZdrummer. It works in pretty much any music production software (garage band, acid, cubase, probably reason and fruity loops). There's a bunch of different drum kits to use but they're rather expensive ($89 USD a piece!), so you're better off torrenting them or something. I work primarily in Logic Pro with EZDrummer and the "Drumkit from Hell", which includes endless sample's from Thomas Haake's (drummer of Meshuggah) drumkit. Of course I do metal and rock, but there are some good electronic kits here.

p.s. Cubase comes free with pretty much any recording interface you buy, but it's the light edition of a program that's not fantastic to begin with. My buddy claims to have used all his copies as drink coasters.