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

Onboard audio will normally introduce a lot of noise, yes. A separate soundcard, either PCI or USB, should solve most of the noise. I still get a bit of noise when I'm recording guitar (thanks to the bad power wiring in this room), but it's definitely improved with a dedicated soundcard. What microphone you using? I hope my advice in the thread constitutes enough 'feedback' to post my own music. I'm super excited to be writing and recording again. This is a demo, so it's a little rough but I'm happy with the riffs and structure. The solo was the first take I tried, I'll probably do a few takes for the finished song. One of the guitars is playing a vocal melody because I can't sing and I'm waiting for my vocalist. It's quite stoner rock/metal, I'm big into QOTSA. (Can't embed as it's private) [url]https://soundcloud.com/mkeenan/sicksongbrowav/s-cmMet[/url]

[QUOTE=Zillamatic;48596096]Onboard audio will normally introduce a lot of noise, yes. A separate soundcard, either PCI or USB, should solve most of the noise. I still get a bit of noise when I'm recording guitar (thanks to the bad power wiring in this room), but it's definitely improved with a dedicated soundcard. What microphone you using? I hope my advice in the thread constitutes enough 'feedback' to post my own music. I'm super excited to be writing and recording again. This is a demo, so it's a little rough but I'm happy with the riffs and structure. The solo was the first take I tried, I'll probably do a few takes for the finished song. One of the guitars is playing a vocal melody because I can't sing and I'm waiting for my vocalist. It's quite stoner rock/metal, I'm big into QOTSA. (Can't embed as it's private) [url]https://soundcloud.com/mkeenan/sicksongbrowav/s-cmMet[/url][/QUOTE] really lovin this, cant wait to hear it with the vocalist, would definetly compliment the instrumental super well [media]https://soundcloud.com/colteh-1/colteh-lifeline[/media] made a sort of 80's inspired track

[QUOTE=Zillamatic;48596096] [url]https://soundcloud.com/mkeenan/sicksongbrowav/s-cmMet[/url] [/QUOTE] This is good, dude. I like the progression of the guitar riff, along with the selective panning on them. The bridge (I think it is?) starting around 3:05 is great, I hope to be able to hear the finished version with the vocals and whatnot, because the only thing that could really bring this track together is the vocalist. Good luck with that, it might make or break the track. I made something more atmospheric and just "chill" I guess you could say. Had some fun messing with some vocals samples I found. [media]https://soundcloud.com/thehoyticus/the-kick-in[/media]

[QUOTE=Zillamatic;48596096] What microphone you using?[/QUOTE] A cheap one - Neewer NW-700. I know for a fact it's not the mic itself, as I've had lots of noise with others as well. Do you recommend any budget sound card by the way?

[QUOTE=TheDrunkenOne;48596455] Do you recommend any budget sound card by the way?[/QUOTE] I took the investment earlier this year in a Steinberg UR22, it's the second best purchase I've made this year. It's relatively cheap for an interface, but it's probably more than you want to spend... I can justify it because I sometimes use the MIDI ports, and often use the ASIO drivers and XLR/TRS inputs.

I use the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Most of the USB audio interfaces around this price range seem pretty similar, probably based off the same model.

Both are relatively expensive. I'm just looking for something with one input and output (I have no problem in manually plugging in my speakers every time I mix/master). Probably also need to pick up a phantom power unit for this condenser mic. Would you guys recommend [URL="http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-302USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B005EHILV4"]this[/URL]?

Anyone else here play piano a lot? Just bought some sheet music cuz I need new shit to play. I got Herbert Howell's [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5aajT2oGD4]Gadabout[/url] and messed about with some [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CssEOGuPN4]Bortkiewicz[/url] stuff I got off of IMSLP. No idea how I'll handle Gadabout but the Bortkiewicz was doable.

I've been playing classical piano for 9 years and I just discovered improvisation on the blues scale and the effect key has on the chords you can play. :mindblown:

[QUOTE=Ott;48602469]I've been playing classical piano for 9 years and I just discovered improvisation on the blues scale and the effect key has on the chords you can play. :mindblown:[/QUOTE] Me when I was 13 and started playing basically nothing but blues :v: I don't even consider myself a good pianist, I'm just a blues pianist

Well I don't know how but this thread got dumped to the bottom of my list somehow and I missed 19 new posts from you blokes. Got my new toy! :D [t]http://i.imgur.com/ui3luav.jpg[/t] Working on a couple demo tracks just to start learning the ins and outs of this. Also working on getting the ADSR envelopes broken out to my launchkeys 8 sliders, so I can tweak that stuff easier instead of menu dive to no end. That is my one complaint and sorta why I think I should have waited to pick up the JD-XA (but I probably wouldn't ahve had time for that once I could afford it thx school), since its so much more tactile (but loses the drumkits, which are really quite excellent!)

[QUOTE=Hoyticus;48596439]This is good, dude. I like the progression of the guitar riff, along with the selective panning on them. The bridge (I think it is?) starting around 3:05 is great, I hope to be able to hear the finished version with the vocals and whatnot, because the only thing that could really bring this track together is the vocalist. Good luck with that, it might make or break the track. I made something more atmospheric and just "chill" I guess you could say. Had some fun messing with some vocals samples I found. [media]https://soundcloud.com/thehoyticus/the-kick-in[/media][/QUOTE] I really think you'd benefit from having some kind of evolving pad or ambient soundscape in the background. There's not really anything giving it the atmospheric sound you seem to be looking for, aside from the delay on the hihats and vocals. Alternatively, you could just make the delay effects more complex though. I read on your Soundcloud profile that you use FL, and I'd really recommend getting to know Fruity Delay Bank if you're not already using it - there's a lot it can do with different grain division/shape settings across multiple delay units. - [media]https://soundcloud.com/milk_b/lowlife-wip-1[/media] Still doing the best I can on shit speakers, so I'd appreciate if somebody could let me know whether the mixing aspect of this is horrendously shit or if it seems alright. [editline]a[/editline] ah fuckballs, it's 3:00am and I'm expecting to be called for work soon

[QUOTE=MilkBagz;48604621]I really think you'd benefit from having some kind of evolving pad or ambient soundscape in the background. There's not really anything giving it the atmospheric sound you seem to be looking for, aside from the delay on the hihats and vocals. Alternatively, you could just make the delay effects more complex though. I read on your Soundcloud profile that you use FL, and I'd really recommend getting to know Fruity Delay Bank if you're not already using it - there's a lot it can do with different grain division/shape settings across multiple delay units. - [media]https://soundcloud.com/milk_b/lowlife-wip-1[/media] Still doing the best I can on shit speakers, so I'd appreciate if somebody could let me know whether the mixing aspect of this is horrendously shit or if it seems alright. [editline]a[/editline] ah fuckballs, it's 3:00am and I'm expecting to be called for work soon[/QUOTE] That was cool as shit, man. The mix sounds actually sounds really good aside from your low ends being a bit on the weak side, but I'm listening to it on moniter headphones. The percussion has an awesome grit to it that compliments the feel of the track very well. I only wish that a little more time was spent on the track to make it a full track that wasn't only a minute long. I listened to a couple of your other tracks, and you sir, have earned another follower. Keep it up!

[QUOTE=PelPix123;48605735][vid]http://www.pelpix.info/JardinsNew.mp3[/vid] Been working on this virtual piano for ages to 'compete' with PianoTEQ. Continuous pedaling all pedals, all sorts of awesome stuff. Demonstrates: Halfpedaling, pedal-riding, going down to half-pedal to kill resonance, repetition, arpeggios. Everything virtual pianos despise. [editline]3rd September 2015[/editline] Showing off the resonance engine: [vid]http://www.pelpix.info/ReflectionsNewer-small.mp3[/vid] [editline]3rd September 2015[/editline] I will post comments on other stuff when I've gotten sleep.[/QUOTE] are you charging for this when its released and if so how much - I want

[QUOTE=Hoyticus;48605487]That was cool as shit, man. The mix sounds actually sounds really good aside from your low ends being a bit on the weak side, but I'm listening to it on moniter headphones. The percussion has an awesome grit to it that compliments the feel of the track very well. I only wish that a little more time was spent on the track to make it a full track that wasn't only a minute long. I listened to a couple of your other tracks, and you sir, have earned another follower. Keep it up![/QUOTE] Tight, thank you. I am planning on making a full track out of it, it's just that I usually start with 1 or 2 bars and keep adding onto it until there's enough to stretch out into a whole song, so I often end up posting WIP's that are just some seconds long. Or, in this case, I just stretched it out a little bit from that.

[QUOTE=MilkBagz;48604621]I really think you'd benefit from having some kind of evolving pad or ambient soundscape in the background. There's not really anything giving it the atmospheric sound you seem to be looking for, aside from the delay on the hihats and vocals. Alternatively, you could just make the delay effects more complex though. I read on your Soundcloud profile that you use FL, and I'd really recommend getting to know Fruity Delay Bank if you're not already using it - there's a lot it can do with different grain division/shape settings across multiple delay units. - [media]https://soundcloud.com/milk_b/lowlife-wip-1[/media] Still doing the best I can on shit speakers, so I'd appreciate if somebody could let me know whether the mixing aspect of this is horrendously shit or if it seems alright. [editline]a[/editline] ah fuckballs, it's 3:00am and I'm expecting to be called for work soon[/QUOTE] Mixing is on point, percussion has an excellent bitcrushed quality to it and the kick drum has a nice round low-end. It seems right where it should be to me, I think Hoyticus was off a bit- any stronger and it might be too strong. Nice little backing melody too, flows really well with the percussion. [QUOTE=PelPix123;48605735][vid]http://www.pelpix.info/JardinsNew.mp3[/vid] Been working on this virtual piano for ages to 'compete' with PianoTEQ. Continuous pedaling all pedals, all sorts of awesome stuff. Demonstrates: Halfpedaling, pedal-riding, going down to half-pedal to kill resonance, repetition, arpeggios. Everything virtual pianos despise. [editline]3rd September 2015[/editline] Showing off the resonance engine: [vid]http://www.pelpix.info/ReflectionsNewer-small.mp3[/vid] [editline]3rd September 2015[/editline] I will post comments on other stuff when I've gotten sleep.[/QUOTE] oh my goodness this is just positively lovely in every way i need it pls its glorious [QUOTE=Hoyticus;48605487]That was cool as shit, man. The mix sounds actually sounds really good aside from your low ends being a bit on the weak side, but I'm listening to it on moniter headphones. The percussion has an awesome grit to it that compliments the feel of the track very well. I only wish that a little more time was spent on the track to make it a full track that wasn't only a minute long. I listened to a couple of your other tracks, and you sir, have earned another follower. Keep it up![/QUOTE] On your previous track, I also agree it needs an atmospheric soundscape. A trick (you probably already know this) is to get a nice smooth pad, give it some crazy high reverb in a send track then crop that reverb sound alone and use that in a sampler or as a pad sound. With a bit of LFO work and some light chorus it can create a really rich but unobtrusive atmosphere. A pad with a wind-y or lighter sound would work best I think. And maybe a cathedral type reverb. been a while since I tried this. Been having fun learning the JD-Xi. Live trackbuilding and sequencing is quite fun: [video]https://soundcloud.com/nofuchsgiven/house[/video] Analog voice is lovely and has a neat filter: [video]https://soundcloud.com/nofuchsgiven/not-sure-what-this-is[/video] And the digital section can make some pretty monstrous sounds (with added FX, also <3 square waves): [video]https://soundcloud.com/nofuchsgiven/monster[/video]

Today is the day I finally take the plunge in to the eurorack world! Just got my custom built case yesterday, and the local synth shop actually has most of the modules that I'm interested in in stock :D

[QUOTE=TheDrunkenOne;48596455]A cheap one - Neewer NW-700. I know for a fact it's not the mic itself, as I've had lots of noise with others as well. Do you recommend any budget sound card by the way?[/QUOTE] You don't want a soundcard, you'll want a preamp with an xlr in/out mic. If you have the budget consider getting an MXL 990 which is a great budget mic.

[QUOTE=KmartSqrl;48620398]Today is the day I finally take the plunge in to the eurorack world! Just got my custom built case yesterday, and the local synth shop actually has most of the modules that I'm interested in in stock :D[/QUOTE] Please do share some sounds if you find really neat ones :D

[QUOTE=redBadger;48620670]You don't want a soundcard, you'll want a preamp with an xlr in/out mic. If you have the budget consider getting an MXL 990 which is a great budget mic.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.red5audio.com/[/url] These guys make some really good stuff aswell, I've been using the RV6 for about 6 years now and it's great.

[media]https://soundcloud.com/wauterboi/bitblasted-vol-3[/media] Bet you guys can't guess all the songs I put in this. [editline]5th September 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=MilkBagz;48604621]I really think you'd benefit from having some kind of evolving pad or ambient soundscape in the background. There's not really anything giving it the atmospheric sound you seem to be looking for, aside from the delay on the hihats and vocals. Alternatively, you could just make the delay effects more complex though. I read on your Soundcloud profile that you use FL, and I'd really recommend getting to know Fruity Delay Bank if you're not already using it - there's a lot it can do with different grain division/shape settings across multiple delay units. - [media]https://soundcloud.com/milk_b/lowlife-wip-1[/media] Still doing the best I can on shit speakers, so I'd appreciate if somebody could let me know whether the mixing aspect of this is horrendously shit or if it seems alright. [editline]a[/editline] ah fuckballs, it's 3:00am and I'm expecting to be called for work soon[/QUOTE] I think this sounds pretty great. Super dark, light on the lo-fi. I'm gonna follow ya. Why not pick up a nice pair of Sennheisers or something like that to mix with? They're relatively cheap - the ones I'm wearing are like $90 compared to speakers, which are easily at least double that.

I spent half an hour at friends house sampling his JX-3P (especially the filter sweeps and pads) and exported the audio all to my cloud (where I keep all my music shit) planning on chopping the samples by note and using them tonight. Turns out something broke and I only exported silence :( He did hook me up with his old hardware mixer, first two channels have bad sliders that need to be cleaned out or replaced but hey who cares free stuff! [t]http://i.imgur.com/ecPFzp9.jpg[/t] We also jammed out a few fun concept songs that we want to revisit and fully produce, and he's getting ready to perform live. Just DJ-work, but he does some really neat stuff with it and quite a bit more than just slamming faders left/right. Apparently he used to host a ton of raves around this area and still knows friends with that sort of hookup, so should be able to get a gig no problem. Eventual goal is to start hosting again using local musicians only so yay :D [editline]6th September 2015[/editline] Sometimes I get completely lost just jamming out random improvised melodies/chords on my JD-Xi, especially with pads. I saved this one. Worth making this sort of melody into a song? [url]https://soundcloud.com/nofuchsgiven/pad-shenanigans/s-H8Zzt[/url] [editline]6th September 2015[/editline] [url]https://soundcloud.com/nofuchsgiven/thick-synth-pad-foolin/s-9B4jt[/url] sometimes the cheesy sounds are the best :D

Someone who uses FL studio please help. I'm using Sylenth1 Plugin, and when I try to reopen it from the channel rack it doesn't open up as sylenth1. [video=youtube;bXBVyTJd4Uk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXBVyTJd4Uk[/video]

[QUOTE=MilkBagz;48604621] [media]https://soundcloud.com/milk_b/lowlife-wip-1[/media] Still doing the best I can on shit speakers, so I'd appreciate if somebody could let me know whether the mixing aspect of this is horrendously shit or if it seems alright. [/QUOTE] Really diggin the feel in this, there's something about it that gives it a very powerful sound. The groovy drums are awesome. [QUOTE=paindoc;48624864] [url]https://soundcloud.com/nofuchsgiven/pad-shenanigans/s-H8Zzt[/url] [/QUOTE] Sounds pretty cool, the pad kinda reminds me of the PS1 start-up sound at times, hah. The melody seems a bit random at times, but you said it's impro so that makes it pretty impressive nonetheless. Made this today, I can't claim that it's 100% original since the melody is only slightly modified from what I found in a short piano sample I had but I still think it sounds pretty cool [media]http://soundcloud.com/thedanielholt/stuck[/media]

[QUOTE=Warship;48632939]Really diggin the feel in this, there's something about it that gives it a very powerful sound. The groovy drums are awesome. Sounds pretty cool, the pad kinda reminds me of the PS1 start-up sound at times, hah. The melody seems a bit random at times, but you said it's impro so that makes it pretty impressive nonetheless. Made this today, I can't claim that it's 100% original since the melody is only slightly modified from what I found in a short piano sample I had but I still think it sounds pretty cool [media]http://soundcloud.com/thedanielholt/stuck[/media][/QUOTE] super soothing! i do think theres a part in which the piano sounds very discordant, sort of throws me off throughout the song since it doesnt have any sort of reverb and has an odd timing, but other than its a super nice track, loooove what you did with it heres something i just finished working on just to experiment with more hip hop stuff, pretty simple [media]https://soundcloud.com/colteh-1/colteh-oriental-hip-hop-beat[/media]

[QUOTE=Colteh;48636605] heres something i just finished working on just to experiment with more hip hop stuff, pretty simple [media]https://soundcloud.com/colteh-1/colteh-oriental-hip-hop-beat[/media][/QUOTE] I think the bass drum gets a bit overbearing throughout the piece, takes too much attention away from the chime-y instrumentals. But hey, I'm not too big on hip-hop in general, so maybe this kind of production just isn't my cup of tea. I dig the lead section tho, especially the part at 2:45. So here's something I did a few days ago. Took a break from searching the ever-elusive VST plugin-generated metal tone, and did something that was just pure fun; along the lines of psychedelic rock with a bit of a dance-y vibe to it. Comments and critique are welcome and greatly appreciated! [media]https://soundcloud.com/haharijs/miners-canary[/media]

[QUOTE=paindoc;48621129]Please do share some sounds if you find really neat ones :D[/QUOTE] I'll post some clips up tomorrow. Just waiting on the last couple modules that the local shops didn't have to get here. I am SO in love with this though. I don't have my midi interface or a sequencer yet, and only have one oscillator (but gat damn, it's powerful) so all I can do right now is make noises to resample and it's already insanely fun. I'm never going to leave my basement once the rest of this stuff gets here haha

[QUOTE=KmartSqrl;48640299]I'll post some clips up tomorrow. Just waiting on the last couple modules that the local shops didn't have to get here. I am SO in love with this though. I don't have my midi interface or a sequencer yet, and only have one oscillator (but gat damn, it's powerful) so all I can do right now is make noises to resample and it's already insanely fun. I'm never going to leave my basement once the rest of this stuff gets here haha[/QUOTE] One osc and a good filter is plenty fun, I was worried about the Xi s one osc only in the analog section but it's surprisingly warm as is. What kind of modules are you waiting on? I'm probably heading more towards rackmount synths since I won't be living anywhere with extra space for several years nut a modular might be neat too [editline]8th September 2015[/editline] Also, I'm finding out how powerful the JD Xi's drums section is. Each drum tone has separate effect sends, for one. But each drum tone can be four individual waveforms, and each waveform in that tone has its own pitch envelope, filter envelope/environment, and amplifier envelope/environment. You can also add drums beyond the usual labeled keys, or change the waveforms to some of the synth pcm waves and get a bunch of single note one-shot synth sounds or spread it out for a selected amount of notes. It's ridiculous! The digital synth has 3 oscillators per part with its own separate effect sends as well, with 6 types of filters, an amplifier envelope, an LFO, and an LFO tied to the modulation wheel. Each oscillator has its own independent versions of these as well, including amplifier envelopes. There are also options to send global offsets per part, so while playing a song I offset the filter cutoff or resonance or LFO and shit without changing the original values It's quite disappointing that they haven't released an official software editor for the machine, and that Roland has done such a shitty job advertising the depth of the synth and instead marketed it more as an instant EDM toy.

[QUOTE=paindoc;48640429]One osc and a good filter is plenty fun, I was worried about the Xi s one osc only in the analog section but it's surprisingly warm as is. What kind of modules are you waiting on? I'm probably heading more towards rackmount synths since I won't be living anywhere with extra space for several years nut a modular might be neat too[/QUOTE] Definitely fun! I'm just really hyped to actually get my midi interface so I can get this integrated with my existing workflow a bit better :) I've got a makenoise DPO and an intellijel Korgasmatron 2 (jaw dropping filter) in the case right now with a few utility modules, 4ms VCAM, makenoise wogglebug, intellijel quadra+expander. I'm waiting on a mutable instruments yarns (midi interface), mutable instruments braids and tides, a makenoise maths, and a couple mutable instruments shades (utility modules)

Braids is sick, always wanted one of those, heard good things of the DPO too. Really wish I didn't have to sell my modular system when I fell on hard times... I'll probably get more modules again if I have the money in the future. I'd recommend having a look at the Disting module, it's a ton of usefulness for £100. So many functions and uses, plus it looks nice with the bi-colour LED jacks :v: Here's a thing I made with when I still had my modular... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2q58f1rhkA[/media]