The Musician's Gig Room Chat V1 - Songwriting and Sound Design for all! - Creationism Corner

[QUOTE=jaooe;53029016]This is RAD. Are you using an actual MIDI keyboard or qwerty keyb with FL? I had the same problem, try fucking with the ASIO settings especially buffer settings. Have you tried Ableton btw? [/QUOTE] I've got a midi keyboard. I've never tried Ableton, does it allow for deep clip editing? Is the workflow intuitive? The one thing I like about FL studio is that anything I could imagine I could do. I got the MS down to 2 so latency wasn't a problem, during the recording the monitoring would sound fine. But then I'd listen back and it would sound all off. I think my Audiobox and FL studio just don't mix well. I feel like I'm learning a lot more about producing from learning another DAW.

[QUOTE=Speedhax;53029332]I've got a midi keyboard. I've never tried Ableton, does it allow for deep clip editing? Is the workflow intuitive? The one thing I like about FL studio is that anything I could imagine I could do. I got the MS down to 2 so latency wasn't a problem, during the recording the monitoring would sound fine. But then I'd listen back and it would sound all off. I think my Audiobox and FL studio just don't mix well. I feel like I'm learning a lot more about producing from learning another DAW.[/QUOTE] I used to have issues recording on FL, there was a LOT of latency between what I was playing and what was being recorded... I would highly recommend Ableton... If by deep clip editing you mean precisely editing clips then you can pretty much warp past the sample rate (if that makes sense (interpolation or some shit i guess)). I find the workflow in Ableton highly intuitive and a lot easier than FL. You'll want to stock up on some good instruments and samples as the vanilla library isn't that diverse, but hey, it's not what you have, it's what you do with what you got they say. I found Reaper okay, but not really that intuitive. If you need any samples just give me a PM and I'll send you some links, or if you decide to go try Ableton you can hit me up on steam and I can give you some tips 😋

I hear Ableton is great especially for midi work. FL is a really good beginner daw and while you can make really good tracks with it, it just isn't as intuitive as the major daws out there. For serious work I recommend Cubase, Ableton, or Pro Tools (the daw I use). If you have a student email chances are you can get some serious discounts. I've graduated for a few months now and just got renewed for another year of Pro Tools for $10 a month. Like jaooe said you could easily get away with stock plugins. Though major plugin companies usually have incredible sales around the holidays. I recommend this [URL="https://www.waves.com/bundles/gold"]Waves Gold[/URL] bundle which will set you up with really great EQs, compressors, delay, reverb, amps, etc. for $179 (normally $799). Waves also sells a decent piano virtual instrument if you're looking for one of those. I also recommend getting a Wavetable synth like [URL="https://www.xferrecords.com/products/serum"]Serum[/URL]. You can do a lot by just making your own synths or playing around with different presents and adjusting them to your liking. You can literally use just this for your lead, bass, harmonies, pads, etc. For drums I recommend Superior Drummer or Addictive Drums. This shit gets expensive, so practice with what you got and slowly build up. I'm adding to my collection every few months or so with new stuff. You would be surprised with how much you can do with very few tools.

So I think I'm finally going to get back into music. I've posted this once before, but it faltered due to workflow. I'm feeling like I need another hobby for my weekends besides programming (since that's what I do for a job), and my negative cloud over music due to the film score debacle has faded too. I'm digging up my old leather bound notebook with my music notes in it, because this totally-not-impulsive motherfucker just bought a Push 2 for heckin cheap :D The workflow problems I had previously were because 1. My room is too small to have room for my synth, rackmount, and MIDI keyboard and 2. I felt like I got bogged down in arrangement view, when loop mode stuff that the Push encourages is a much more enjoyable and natural way to make music It's arriving Tuesday at the earliest and I'm super excited to get back into this stuff, so hopefully I'll start posting here regularly again! [editline]6th January 2018[/editline] [QUOTE=Speedhax;53029332]I've got a midi keyboard. I've never tried Ableton, does it allow for deep clip editing? Is the workflow intuitive? The one thing I like about FL studio is that anything I could imagine I could do. I got the MS down to 2 so latency wasn't a problem, during the recording the monitoring would sound fine. But then I'd listen back and it would sound all off. I think my Audiobox and FL studio just don't mix well. I feel like I'm learning a lot more about producing from learning another DAW.[/QUOTE] Ableton has a neat dual workflow going on, since it has arrangement mode and loop mode. It's not the prettiest DAW, but it's very functional UI-wise and is easy to start getting into. That and the way it handles automation and sends is nice, and some of the stock plugins like the EQ8, saturator, glue compressor, and the multiband comp are really pretty solid. The stock synth plugins are pretty capable too, especially the FM synth. I'd say give it a shot, as you noted learning a new DAW is a healthy experience

After facing the same MIDI issue in FL for awhile some tips I can offer is this: - You NEED to use an ASIO plugin like ASIO4ALL. This is where you'll experience the least latency when recording MIDI. One common thing that tripped me up after I used it was that I couldn't hear anything, but that's because you need to set the output device on the master mixer track. (should be at the bottom of the panel where your effect plugins are) [IMG]https://i.imgur.com/Nw0bZLA.png[/IMG] - If accuracy becomes an issue, then what I usually do is turn the metronome on, hit record, and play a note on each tick of the metronome to determine if it's recording too early or too late. Figure that out, then some places where you can change the offset is with an option in the audio settings called offset [IMG]https://i.imgur.com/CiWIwXL.png[/IMG] Another way is with this slider that comes with ASIO4ALL's option panel: [IMG]https://i.imgur.com/oOc49qs.png[/IMG] - As a last resort, I just record first, then shift the notes and stretch the notes until it fits into the timeline. Ctrl+Right-clicking the piano roll zooms in to where all the notes in your pattern are visible in the window so it makes that easier for me. Make sure you turn off note snapping first. [IMG]https://i.imgur.com/rUQZ59c.png[/IMG]

So I'm just now starting to get serious about recording my music, but I know next to nothing about mixing and mastering. Does anyone have any recommendations on books, or websites outlining some things?

[QUOTE=jaooe;53029016] [media]https://soundcloud.com/jaooe/skill[/media] [/QUOTE] The kick is so clean, sounds amazing on my headphones. Only critique is that its a little bland, maybe add in some more synths and FX. Atmosphere. Other than that, fantastic my friend. Oh shit! First album of 2018. Dropped my first truly experimental album, I feel I ventured really far with these tracks from my root sound I feel, anyway, let me know what you guys feel. [media]https://soundcloud.com/lewislancastermusic/sets/the-power-of-now[/media]

[QUOTE=Garry #2;53030907]So I'm just now starting to get serious about recording my music, but I know next to nothing about mixing and mastering. Does anyone have any recommendations on books, or websites outlining some things?[/QUOTE] iZotope has two good guides for mixing and mastering, respectively. I'll link them here, but FYI they'll probably just download when you click them. They're small PDFs though: [URL="http://downloads.izotope.com/guides/iZotope-Mixing-Guide-Principles-Tips-Techniques.pdf"][Mixing][/URL], [URL="downloads.izotope.com/guides/iZotopeMasteringGuide_MasteringWithOzone.pdf"][Mastering][/URL]. They have a few more guides on their site, too. [URL="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0240815807"]This book[/URL] is one I got for christmas that I recently just dredged back up, and it's really quite good as well. Few personal tips I've found help me: - Keep your headroom nice and high by keeping those tracks low until you get to the final mix. Watch out for makeup gain in your compressors too, since it can be a sneaky thing that bumps your gain up on channels - Be cautious and aggressive (if possible) about cleaning up frequency mud: make sure to listen when using an EQ to cut ranges so that it doesn't take out a hidden aspect of your mix, but don't be afraid to cut stuff to let particularly strong elements of your mix to come forward (snare, some particular range your bass excels in, etc) - Reverb likes to add tons of mud and stuff you don't need, even if you feed in something that has like <200Hz cut out and >4000Hz cut out if you check in an EQ I can almost guarantee there will be stuff in those ranges again] - If you use Ableton, I think their stock limiter is kinda awful tbh. You should avoid leaving a limiter on except for quick previews of course, but a great limiter for really slamming things up and making them heckin' loud is [URL="https://loudmax.blogspot.com/"]LoudMax[/URL]. Pop it on to see how things sit and if anything really stands out as bad/good and then turn it off again. - [URL="https://www.landr.com/en/"]landr[/URL] is good for quickly uploading tracks to, so you can do the same thing LoudMax is for: see if anything is really not working or is really working in a simulated quick mastering pass. it's no substitute for getting someone to mix/master for you, but it can still be insightful

Something about reverb that people tend not to know - you should NEVER put your reverb onto a track insert. Always create it as an aux track, put the reverb on the insert of the aux, send a bus from your audio channel to your aux and control the reverb with the bus fader. Never have your bus fader be 0db as it'll be too overwhelming. Set it low first then control how much reverb you want in. Main benefit is that it saves resources - you can use only one reverb plug-in for all or some of your tracks rather than a reverb on everything. But also it's much better to control the reverb this way and eliminates a ton of that muddy effect that paindoc describes. A lot of people put their reverb straight onto their track which isn't a good idea. You can do this with many other plugins as well like Delays and compression.

[QUOTE=OmTheory;53030927]The kick is so clean, sounds amazing on my headphones. Only critique is that its a little bland, maybe add in some more synths and FX. Atmosphere. Other than that, fantastic my friend. Oh shit! First album of 2018. Dropped my first truly experimental album, I feel I ventured really far with these tracks from my root sound I feel, anyway, let me know what you guys feel. [media]https://soundcloud.com/lewislancastermusic/sets/the-power-of-now[/media][/QUOTE] Sea Monster feels like it needs to drop into some sick-ass synthwave with that arpeggio, but it never does. It kinda feels like it should be an interlude between tracks. On the second track, the drums feel like they're lower quality than everything else. I really dig the acidic synth. The steel drum (lol) kinda sticks out, like it's not playing in time. Actually, it feels like you're crossfading between two different tracks in a DJ mix because they conflict so much. I really liked the rhythm part at the end. Eek Rainbow Launcher sounds like it could be a sick Rob Dougan track, but then it goes into major key. Very C418. I love the binaural(?) percussion in Audiotrack 2, it sounds like it's in the room with you. 1:06 is fuckin' sick with that violin in the right channel, I wish there was more of it. With Love is just an all around great track, It sticks to its guns and delivers a focused experience. The harmony is always there, leading you through the track. I feel like you should swap Chi with With Love so you leave the album with a good feeling, though. Chi is just too dissonant. If you want ambient soundscapes for your album closer, make sure it's pleasant to listen to, ya know? [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivBQHsSkeic]Like this one[/url]. I feel like there's some hidden gems in this album, but you're too busy experimenting with other things to explore and develop them further. I'm getting a lot of C418 vibes from this, which I like. Favorite track: With Love. Hey I got back in the groove of being groovy! [video]https://soundcloud.com/ottworks/the-way-we-want-it-to-be[/video]

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[QUOTE=redBadger;53030976]Something about reverb that people tend not to know - you should NEVER put your reverb onto a track insert. Always create it as an aux track, put the reverb on the insert of the aux, send a bus from your audio channel to your aux and control the reverb with the bus fader. Never have your bus fader be 0db as it'll be too overwhelming. Set it low first then control how much reverb you want in. Main benefit is that it saves resources - you can use only one reverb plug-in for all or some of your tracks rather than a reverb on everything. But also it's much better to control the reverb this way and eliminates a ton of that muddy effect that paindoc describes. A lot of people put their reverb straight onto their track which isn't a good idea. You can do this with many other plugins as well like Delays and compression.[/QUOTE] just gonna second this, I especially like doing it on a separate insert 'cause it lets you do some cool ass shit like sidechain just the reverb to stuff or eq just the reverb for better control over it when mixing I also like to give percussion some really echo-y reverb and stick a high pass filter & some wide-sounding chorus on it, gives it a nice textured, spacey sound ([URL="https://soundcloud.com/milk_b/miscommunications-wip-1"]this[/URL] is probably my best example of what I mean)

I feel like this thread could benefit a LOT from an active discord where everyone can get quick responses/discussions about production, and it'd be easier to post very WIP projects without worrying about a full fledged forum post. I think quick and casual discussion is pretty important for a thread like this.

[QUOTE=Hilton;53031991]I feel like this thread could benefit a LOT from an active discord where everyone can get quick responses/discussions about production, and it'd be easier to post very WIP projects without worrying about a full fledged forum post. I think quick and casual discussion is pretty important for a thread like this.[/QUOTE] The thing is, the discord would either die from lack of new users, or become its own thing from so many new members. We did this once before: someone started a creationsim corner discord and began inviting so many non-facepunch memebers that they ended up renaming it to critique clique because creationism was controversial.

I wouldn't mind a discord either but if anything I'd rather it be run through the official Facepunch discord rather than making our own thing.

[QUOTE=redBadger;53030976]Something about reverb that people tend not to know - you should NEVER put your reverb onto a track insert. Always create it as an aux track, put the reverb on the insert of the aux, send a bus from your audio channel to your aux and control the reverb with the bus fader. Never have your bus fader be 0db as it'll be too overwhelming. Set it low first then control how much reverb you want in. Main benefit is that it saves resources - you can use only one reverb plug-in for all or some of your tracks rather than a reverb on everything. But also it's much better to control the reverb this way and eliminates a ton of that muddy effect that paindoc describes. A lot of people put their reverb straight onto their track which isn't a good idea. You can do this with many other plugins as well like Delays and compression.[/QUOTE] For the longest time I didn't use reverb correctly cause FL studio doesn't really help much. I also wondered my my reverb sounded so overbearing sometimes. I realized the answer was just to turn it down.

I think making a discord would be better than not making one... So I made one :) [URL="https://discord.gg/hFAfk5H"]The Musician's Gig Room Chat[/URL] Unofficial of course but if anyone wants to join feel free, we can chat and discuss music production tips, tricks, techniques

[QUOTE=jaooe;53033613]I think making a discord would be better than not making one... So I made one :) [URL="https://discord.gg/hFAfk5H"]Music Makers[/URL] Unofficial of course but if anyone wants to join feel free, we can chat and discuss music production tips, tricks, techniques[/QUOTE] i joined. almost nothing is run through the official facepunch discord so its kinda daft to say that doing that is a better option I'll see if I can get someone to put it in the #other-fp-discords channel though

[QUOTE=butre;53034546]i joined. almost nothing is run through the official facepunch discord so its kinda daft to say that doing that is a better option I'll see if I can get someone to put it in the #other-fp-discords channel though[/QUOTE] I just don't think anyone has even asked if a forum can have its own channel

[QUOTE=paindoc;53029679] Ableton has a neat dual workflow going on, since it has arrangement mode and loop mode. It's not the prettiest DAW, but it's very functional UI-wise and is easy to start getting into. That and the way it handles automation and sends is nice, and some of the stock plugins like the EQ8, saturator, glue compressor, and the multiband comp are really pretty solid. The stock synth plugins are pretty capable too, especially the FM synth. I'd say give it a shot, as you noted learning a new DAW is a healthy experience[/QUOTE] I tried ableton, I don't think it's for me. Not only do you have to store all your VST's in the same folder, there's no compatibility between 32 bit vst's and the 64 bit version of Ableton. I think I'm too used to workflows like Studio One, Reaper, and FL studio for ableton.

[QUOTE=Speedhax;53038524]I tried ableton, I don't think it's for me. Not only do you have to store all your VST's in the same folder, there's no compatibility between 32 bit vst's and the 64 bit version of Ableton. I think I'm too used to workflows like Studio One, Reaper, and FL studio for ableton.[/QUOTE] You might want to try Bitwig. It's got the same base workflow as Ableton, but more fleshed out. Plus, it's got multiple plugin/sample locations and the ability to sandbox every one of your 32bit and 64bit VSTs so if one crashes, it doesn't take everything else down with it.

where can i buy a khim or a thai fiddle (Saw duang/Saw sam sai/Saw u) for a reasonable price? dont be a smartass and say thailand i just got off a plane from there

[QUOTE=waylander;53043801]where can i buy a khim or a thai fiddle (Saw duang/Saw sam sai/Saw u) for a reasonable price? dont be a smartass and say thailand i just got off a plane from there[/QUOTE] [sp]Thailand.[/sp] I suggest looking on Ebay. Other than that, no clue.

Does anyone have some good Ableton tutorials?

Hey it's me the wet blanket, if you contributed to the facepunch collab album and haven't written a review yet, please remember to do so ok thanks so who's up for a new one? I'm thinking of having people send in their track at a set date as well this time so it'll go smoother and every track is added etc too, how's that sound?

[QUOTE=Skeeter;53047102]Hey it's me the wet blanket, if you contributed to the facepunch collab album and haven't written a review yet, please remember to do so ok thanks so who's up for a new one? I'm thinking of having people send in their track at a set date as well this time so it'll go smoother and every track is added etc too, how's that sound?[/QUOTE] Sounds good. (Who hasn't done a review yet?) Just gonna repost this: [QUOTE=Ott;53031143][video]https://soundcloud.com/ottworks/the-way-we-want-it-to-be[/video][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Ott;53047319]Sounds good. (Who hasn't done a review yet?) Just gonna repost this:[/QUOTE] Hakita, me and chonks have written our reviews :) For those who needs a refresher on their memories (and read what other people thought of their track) head on over here ; [url]https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1587558[/url]

[QUOTE=Skeeter;53047628]Hakita, me and chonks have written our reviews :) For those who needs a refresher on their memories (and read what other people thought of their track) head on over here ; [url]https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1587558[/url][/QUOTE] Oh, I posted my review in this thread.

[QUOTE=Ott;53047789]Oh, I posted my review in this thread.[/QUOTE] Oh my bad then! Others maybe did the same, I'll have to check!

[QUOTE=Killuah;53046552]Does anyone have some good Ableton tutorials?[/QUOTE] Ableton tutorials with what specifically in mind, like an introduction to the DAW?