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

[Hoyticus]

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;48367661]Personally I haven't used the sytrus much, cause when i bothered to learn how a synth works i had already started using albino 3 and massive, and figured i could make just about anything and more with those. Not sure if that helps, but unless u wanna go from presets or something then I dunno, maybe learn the basics of a synth first?[/QUOTE]

nah i already know the basics of a synth. I've mastered poizone v2 and harmless, which are just additive and subtractive synths, but I've been meaning to get better with FM synths. Did you buy massive or did you pirate it? cuz I want it but I don't really wanna pay 50 bucks right now

[SentientToilet]

[QUOTE=Hoyticus;48368000]nah i already know the basics of a synth. I've mastered poizone v2 and harmless, which are just additive and subtractive synths, but I've been meaning to get better with FM synths. Did you buy massive or did you pirate it? cuz I want it but I don't really wanna pay 50 bucks right now[/QUOTE]

Just use Sytrus then, since it's free. Plus, if you combine it with other stuff in Patcher you can p much get a makeshift Massive at no cost.

[MrJazzy]

[QUOTE=Hoyticus;48368000]nah i already know the basics of a synth. I've mastered poizone v2 and harmless, which are just additive and subtractive synths, but I've been meaning to get better with FM synths. Did you buy massive or did you pirate it? cuz I want it but I don't really wanna pay 50 bucks right now[/QUOTE]

I wish I could afford 50 bucks. But if you still wanna use sytrus which is absolutely fine, then maybe you just need to play more with it if you know how it works, best use a midi keyboard to play around melodies and chords with while you're tweaking the synth until you get a creative flow that you can build from.

[editline]4th August 2015[/editline]

[url]https://soundcloud.com/messier-51/gal70/s-j5lFi[/url] speaking of which here im just playing around some more looking for a sound i guess

[Ms. Gyroscope]

[url]https://soundcloud.com/corn-mouth/sick-as-fuck-kicks-2-secret-collab-wip/s-oVJZJ[/url]

Me and another breakcore artist are collaborating on a track and I wwanted to share with you guys cus its really fun so far!

If u have any ideas as to what would sound super good feel free to throw them my way!!

[editline]3rd August 2015[/editline]

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;48368087]

[url]https://soundcloud.com/messier-51/gal70/s-j5lFi[/url] speaking of which here im just playing around some more looking for a sound i guess[/QUOTE]

I like how chill the synth arps are. Might wanna lower the volume of the snare its kinda loud.

[Number-41]

[QUOTE=paindoc;48367209]

I've got shit to think about, but for now I'm just playing music and fiddling around with writing more chord progressions with and without inversions. Creative avoidance, yay!

[editline]3rd August 2015[/editline]

I feel weird, like I shouldn't be doing this. What kind of Engineer writes and composes music and is as into creativity as I am? (I used to write short stories when bored in english classes).

But at the same time, what kind of true, good, musician has this kind of mind? I'm really mechanically minded and want to know how everything works. And its only recently that I've even been able to do music stuff, whereas my whole life I've been the kid taking things apart and barely putting them back together.

[editline]3rd August 2015[/editline]

Sorta sounds like I'm bragging there, not my intention. I'm still obviously not a very good musician, and considering I barely passed my prereq math/physics courses either I'm not the best engineer either. So what the fuck am I, its sorta hard to be a sophomore in college and have the entire vision of my life as an engineer all fucked up and tossed around[/QUOTE]

My story is a bit similar. I started out with jazz saxophone in a conservatory and switched to physics after a year (I'll get my master in physics next year, might go back to conservatory afterwards).

I wasn't comfortable with the prospects while studying music. I knew there was little money in jazz (hell, I was taught by the top musicians in the country and they barely made minimum wage, the cultural sector always gets shat on by the government when it comes to funding, and the audience is small compared to other genres), so I figured I'd rather go do something that would teach me a "useful" skill (not my preferred choice of words, but you get what I mean) so I could find a reasonably paying job[B]*[/B] and in the meantime play and study music. The other way around seems much more difficult. There's tons of good musicians who didn't quit their day job. Philip Glass was [URL="http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32583443"]a taxi driver & plumber[/URL] until he was 41. [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher_Henderson#Biography"]Fletcher Henderson[/URL] is also neat, getting a master's in chemistry and then going into music. Getting an education while living off music seems much less common, probably because being a musician is quite time consuming (correct me if I'm wrong, this is only a gut feeling).

So in my opinion it's better[B]**[/B] to get a formal education in a cold "uncreative" but "useful" subject and study music freely instead of the other way round (nothing stops you from taking just a few music classes). In the end you might actually have more freedom because financially you'll be safer. They'll always need bridges to build, so to speak, but culture is the first thing that goes to the chopping block in times of austerity. I don't know how this transfers to the US or to your case in particular, it's just what I experienced and I don't regret my decision.

Also, the year of conservatory was not wasted at all: it taught me a good methodology to study music, it got my theory up to speed. I don't think I'll ever run out of things to practice. Now I'm in a band and I make shit in Ableton and it's great fun, there's also no pressure or guilt if I don't play music for a day. It was somewhat depressing that I had my passion as a "job". I admire people who give zero fucks about all of the above and just play music, I couldn't do that.

[B]*[/B][I]and well it turns out I actually enjoyed physics :v:[/I]
[B]**[/B]I actually don't know yet, we'll see how it turns out...

[editline]4th August 2015[/editline]

Also I'm sure there's tons of science'y musicians out there, or people who have capacities in both. E.g. [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphex_Twin#Early_years"]Aphex Twin[/URL]. There's just the misconception that you can't be both. How often do you hear people go "I'm not a math person", or "I'm not a creative type" or "I'm really tonedeaf". Of course you are, both fields require lots of practice! But people only see the result of practice and attribute it to some innate talent so they don't even bother. It's a terribly counter-productive mentality.

[MrJazzy]

I'd love to study physics, especially astrophysics but I don't really have the opportunities to study atm cause I have no gymnasie examen/(high school exam thing) so music is p much the only thing I do.

And yeah talent isn't really a thing, it's all about practice and interest.

[Skeeter]

In Sweden you can always do högskoleprovet, it is a separate entity you can search programs with so all hope isn't lost. You also get högskolebehörighet if you've worked for five years (combined, not in a row).

[MrJazzy]

[QUOTE=Skeeter;48371057]In Sweden you can always do högskoleprovet, it is a separate entity you can search programs with so all hope isn't lost. You also get högskolebehörighet if you've worked for five years (combined, not in a row).[/QUOTE]

Yeah this is true, I don't think I could handle studying in either case, but maybe in the future. I generally suck at life :v:

[Number-41]

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;48371032]I'd love to study physics, especially astrophysics but I don't really have the opportunities to study atm cause I have no gymnasie examen/(high school exam thing) so music is p much the only thing I do.

And yeah talent isn't really a thing, it's all about practice and interest.[/QUOTE]

Well it can give a head start or it can accelerate your learning but either you have it or you don't so there's no point taking it into account or worrying about it.

[Skeeter]

[url]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1479492[/url]

It is finished

[editline]4th August 2015[/editline]

Here's a direct link to the album
[url]https://facepunchcollaborative.bandcamp.com/album/facepunch-collaborative-album-vii[/url]

[Hoyticus]

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;48368087]I wish I could afford 50 bucks. But if you still wanna use sytrus which is absolutely fine, then maybe you just need to play more with it if you know how it works, best use a midi keyboard to play around melodies and chords with while you're tweaking the synth until you get a creative flow that you can build from.

[editline]4th August 2015[/editline]

[url]https://soundcloud.com/messier-51/gal70/s-j5lFi[/url] speaking of which here im just playing around some more looking for a sound i guess[/QUOTE]

It's a pretty good track, the percussion could just use some compression, and the toms are super cheesy sounding. But the progression is really good, and I like the break beat towards the end. I hope this track isn't finished, it's got a lot of potential

[editline]4th August 2015[/editline]

Recently posted a track in which I am incredibly satisfied with and proud of, which really doesn't happen often with my music. Went for the progressive house style, which I am so fond of. Check it out and let me know what you guys think

[url]https://soundcloud.com/thehoyticus/underwhelmed[/url]

[Unkle Dada]

[QUOTE=Hoyticus;48372577]It's a pretty good track, the percussion could just use some compression, and the toms are super cheesy sounding. But the progression is really good, and I like the break beat towards the end. I hope this track isn't finished, it's got a lot of potential

[editline]4th August 2015[/editline]

Recently posted a track in which I am incredibly satisfied with and proud of, which really doesn't happen often with my music. Went for the progressive house style, which I am so fond of. Check it out and let me know what you guys think

[url]https://soundcloud.com/thehoyticus/underwhelmed[/url][/QUOTE]

The mix is a bit too loud/overcompressed for my taste. The melody you're using is basic, but it works and it's good. I like the pentatonic synth riff.
All in all it could use something to give it a bit of substance, something to differentiate it or something. And yeah, turn that compressor gain down.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was hoping to get this done for the collab album, I've literally been working on and off this thing for like 1.5 years. The second half in particular took ages to get right.

It's a cliche'd jazz ballad thing, and it will be the last one for a little while. I'm working on 2 different funky techno tracks until my Studiologic VMK161 Organ+ arrives in the autumn, so I can finally play hammond organ, electric piano, clavinet and software synth sounds on something that isn't a plastic arranger keyboard piece of shit.

Without further ado:
[media]http://soundcloud.com/brotherworks/theme-for-great-hearts[/media]

[ExEcute]

[QUOTE=UnknownDude;48373284]
I was hoping to get this done for the collab album, I've literally been working on and off this thing for like 1.5 years. The second half in particular took ages to get right.

It's a cliche'd jazz ballad thing, and it will be the last one for a little while. I'm working on 2 different funky techno tracks until my Studiologic VMK161 Organ+ arrives in the autumn, so I can finally play hammond organ, electric piano, clavinet and software synth sounds on something that isn't a plastic arranger keyboard piece of shit.

Without further ado:
[media]http://soundcloud.com/brotherworks/theme-for-great-hearts[/media][/QUOTE]

Really great track you got going there, Love how peaceful it is and the transition into the more uptempo piece is quite surprising (in a good way)

Only thing that I didn't like was how the strings just cut off straight away at 2:11, they get so loud and the removal off them seems really out of place to me maybe some kind of sustained note that fades would work better IMO.

I think I'll give it a download.

[Ms. Gyroscope]

any tips on writing a cool riff that I can add too and expand upon for a whole track?

Im super awful

[MrJazzy]

[QUOTE=Ms. Gyroscope;48377442]any tips on writing a cool riff that I can add too and expand upon for a whole track?

Im super awful[/QUOTE]

just take a melody from a song, funk up the rhythm and imagine it played with a sound you got on ur mind

[Ms. Gyroscope]

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;48377454]just take a melody from a song, funk up the rhythm and imagine it played with a sound you got on ur mind[/QUOTE]

sounds so cheaty

[MrJazzy]

[QUOTE=Ms. Gyroscope;48377847]sounds so cheaty[/QUOTE]

then just play around and come up with something in your head and use that
honestly both works, its not a single riff that makes the song its what you build around it, so if it sounds good it sounds good and then it doesnt matter where you got your original idea its still your unique creation

you could try to think through a bunch of theory and like figure out whats original and theoretically cool but i con't think thats a good way of doing it cause in the end its all about what sounds good to you, and by making music and listening to music you train yourself to distinguish between what sounds less good and what is cool.

[editline]5th August 2015[/editline]

get a midi keyboard and just like jam and find something that sounds cool thats how i do it

[editline]5th August 2015[/editline]

note however that im terrible at variation i try really hard to make sections in a song but i need to be more melodically and rhythmically more unique

[editline]5th August 2015[/editline]

because i come up with a few chord progressions and a beat and then kinda overdo it while not doing enough

[paindoc]

[QUOTE=UnknownDude;48373284]The mix is a bit too loud/overcompressed for my taste. The melody you're using is basic, but it works and it's good. I like the pentatonic synth riff.
All in all it could use something to give it a bit of substance, something to differentiate it or something. And yeah, turn that compressor gain down.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was hoping to get this done for the collab album, I've literally been working on and off this thing for like 1.5 years. The second half in particular took ages to get right.

It's a cliche'd jazz ballad thing, and it will be the last one for a little while. I'm working on 2 different funky techno tracks until my Studiologic VMK161 Organ+ arrives in the autumn, so I can finally play hammond organ, electric piano, clavinet and software synth sounds on something that isn't a plastic arranger keyboard piece of shit.

Without further ado:
[media]http://soundcloud.com/brotherworks/theme-for-great-hearts[/media][/QUOTE]

What workstation do you have? I'm in the market right now and while I'd love to get a Jupiter 50 with how soon I need it and how little cash I'm making right now I might have to go for something lesser and just save for the even nicer Jupiter 80 down the road (or whatever solid workstation Roland has out when I have real monies).

Conflicting though, might see if I can trade in Launchkey for like $75 credit towards nicer workstation and sell my 3ds+ps3 since I don't really play vidya anymore. but at that point I'm JUST short of most Jupiter 50's on Ebay and I could just hope to poach a deal on a used one. I would lament the loss of these knobs and sliders though, so I'd only trade Launchkey for something like a used MOXF6 that has similar capabilities

[editline]5th August 2015[/editline]

[QUOTE=Ms. Gyroscope;48377847]sounds so cheaty[/QUOTE]

Learning music theory doesn't hurt. At least get to the point you can find scales and write chords in that scale, learning chord inversions and better voicing is better too. And then just try to write a few chord progressions every day, or a melody every day. Consistent small amounts of practice.

And MrJazzy you seem to have a great ability to work with the Timbre of sounds, and its not uncommon for timbre-focus and arrangement-focus to be the two big types of Electronic artist. You can always work to improve one or the other, but a few musicians are successful with just the Timbre focus by really pushing it far.

[editline]5th August 2015[/editline]

Since I have a problem with Timbre I'm going to try to create a really ambient piece, focusing intensely on sound design (not the mixing part that I always go full autist on, just general instruments)

Made up a fancy sampler for a string ensemble and am playing with that, and then I found a positively beautiful pad preset instrument that I just can't help but use and modify and twist and distort. Never done ambient before and normally I play way too much with arrangement, especially for drums

[editline]5th August 2015[/editline]

this is what I have so far after about 3 hours of fiddling, but its just the intro of a song. Thinking ambient future bass style stuff or melodic dubstep? Not sure which direction I'm heading in. No need for criticism, just sharing :)

[video]https://soundcloud.com/nofuchsgiven/transmissions[/video]

[AuntJimmy]

oh my god

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL_N3A5gVhQ[/media]

this is physically painful to watch

[killerteacup]

[QUOTE=UnknownDude;48373284]The mix is a bit too loud/overcompressed for my taste. The melody you're using is basic, but it works and it's good. I like the pentatonic synth riff.
All in all it could use something to give it a bit of substance, something to differentiate it or something. And yeah, turn that compressor gain down.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was hoping to get this done for the collab album, I've literally been working on and off this thing for like 1.5 years. The second half in particular took ages to get right.

It's a cliche'd jazz ballad thing, and it will be the last one for a little while. I'm working on 2 different funky techno tracks until my Studiologic VMK161 Organ+ arrives in the autumn, so I can finally play hammond organ, electric piano, clavinet and software synth sounds on something that isn't a plastic arranger keyboard piece of shit.

Without further ado:
[media]http://soundcloud.com/brotherworks/theme-for-great-hearts[/media][/QUOTE]

Oh man this is sooooooo good I love it, that last bit is spot on

[paindoc]

Okay I see why FL Studio does its thing now. Also the dragging automation clips can be really useful for when I need to mass adjust or set a new floor or ceiling. Or move FX sweeps around and stuff.

[t]http://i.imgur.com/tyxjynl.png[/t]

[Unkle Dada]

[QUOTE=paindoc;48378280]What workstation do you have? I'm in the market right now and while I'd love to get a Jupiter 50 with how soon I need it and how little cash I'm making right now I might have to go for something lesser and just save for the even nicer Jupiter 80 down the road (or whatever solid workstation Roland has out when I have real monies).

Conflicting though, might see if I can trade in Launchkey for like $75 credit towards nicer workstation and sell my 3ds+ps3 since I don't really play vidya anymore. but at that point I'm JUST short of most Jupiter 50's on Ebay and I could just hope to poach a deal on a used one. I would lament the loss of these knobs and sliders though, so I'd only trade Launchkey for something like a used MOXF6 that has similar capabilities
[/QUOTE]

Roland GW8, but I didn't use its sounds in that track, I only used it as a MIDI controller. I used my SH-201 for the synth sounds and Logic Pro software instruments/samples for everything else.

The GW8 is a decent workstation if you're not too picky about the quality. Some of its sounds can actually sound really nice if you give them enough reverb and embrace the cheesiness. It has some unique synth sounds too with some options for modulation. But most of its sounds are just bad and keyboard on it is just a bog-standard plastic synth-action.

The master keyboard I'm getting will have B3-style waterfall keys which is a bit better suited for my playing style.

[iTeen]

I'm really diggin this thread, such a variety of style.

[QUOTE=MrJazzy;48368087][url]https://soundcloud.com/messier-51/gal70/s-j5lFi[/url] speaking of which here im just playing around some more looking for a sound i guess[/QUOTE]

I really like that soft synth that oscillates left and right. What plugin did you use for it (and perhaps can upload the sound)? However I didn't really care for the bass synth nor the snare drum, they both sound too thin for my ears.

Here's something I came up with recently:
[video]https://soundcloud.com/i-am-tino/zugzwang-instrumental[/video]

[phytocide]

working on mixing a new project

[img]http://i.imgur.com/TIyZ9Fu.png[/img]

[brooklynlord]

[QUOTE=phytocide;48382455]working on mixing a new project

[img]http://i.imgur.com/TIyZ9Fu.png[/img][/QUOTE]

let me guess what it sounds like
white noise?

[phytocide]

[QUOTE=brooklynlord;48382686]let me guess what it sounds like
white noise?[/QUOTE]

nah, just awful oscillating filters

[url]http://cl.ly/3I1Z2p1o2t1H/final_master.mp3[/url]

[Hoyticus]

Does anybody know where to get those really good and punchy snares that dubstep and drum and bass artists use?

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MITA4FhVjDc[/url]

[MilkBagz]

[QUOTE=Hoyticus;48383321]Does anybody know where to get those really good and punchy snares that dubstep and drum and bass artists use?

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MITA4FhVjDc[/url][/QUOTE]

boost the 200hz area by about 17 quadrillion db and compress the shit out of it

[paindoc]

[QUOTE=Hoyticus;48383321]Does anybody know where to get those really good and punchy snares that dubstep and drum and bass artists use?

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MITA4FhVjDc[/url][/QUOTE]

Compressor needs fast attack long tail, and EQ range mentioned above. Also check sample packs and work with and layer different kicks to make what you need.

[Skeeter]

Something that also works really well is adding a sinus tone of, say 200hz and gate it.

That way, you'll get some punch from it :)