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

lots of programs nowadays use keyboard shortcuts (and even mouse-based guis) so youll need those itll have to have a screen too

I know I'm kind of late to the topic but a while ago I made a max patch that allows you to "sidechain" whatever you want, basically it converts the amplitude and envelope of a selected track to midi CC that is assignable to whatever parameter you want. I never really used it on a track, mostly because my primary music projects recently have been very ambient/noise based, but when testing it I got some super interesting effects going on that is a nice change to the usual over pumping modern music has. If anyone is interested in the patch let me know and I'll refine it a bit more. Right now it's a bit ugly and the envelope follower is unintuitive. Currently it's just for max/m4l but I can turn it into a vst too which might be neat. I got some super out there sounds when I had it have a long release and mapped to a tape delay time, but it can also do more nonexperimental stuff too. [editline]13th December 2015[/editline] [video]https://soundcloud.com/user101912311/max-side-chain-example/s-ogjIM[/video] Here is a little example of a kick sidechaining the key's delay time, don't expect much I literally made this in like 10 minutes and spent about 4 seconds mastering it. :v:

[QUOTE=splenda;49309811]I know I'm kind of late to the topic but a while ago I made a max patch that allows you to "sidechain" whatever you want, basically it converts the amplitude and envelope of a selected track to midi CC that is assignable to whatever parameter you want. I never really used it on a track, mostly because my primary music projects recently have been very ambient/noise based, but when testing it I got some super interesting effects going on that is a nice change to the usual over pumping modern music has. If anyone is interested in the patch let me know and I'll refine it a bit more. Right now it's a bit ugly and the envelope follower is unintuitive. Currently it's just for max/m4l but I can turn it into a vst too which might be neat. I got some super out there sounds when I had it have a long release and mapped to a tape delay time, but it can also do more nonexperimental stuff too. [editline]13th December 2015[/editline] [video]https://soundcloud.com/user101912311/max-side-chain-example/s-ogjIM[/video] Here is a little example of a kick sidechaining the key's delay time, don't expect much I literally made this in like 10 minutes and spent about 4 seconds mastering it. :v:[/QUOTE] Oh damn, it'd be stellar if you could share this. I'd be interested to see how you created this as I've been trying to do something similar in Reaktor, as there are not any true compressor blocks atm. And if you had mentioned it sooner I could have promoted it in my article ya goof- that was entirely about sidechaining

[QUOTE=Mech Bgum;49298993]Don't really know what to say. I like it! Would like to hear it with vocals, if that's what you're going for. I'd make kick in the intro more subtle and something about the snare, it sounds too hissy/flanged for my taste. Nice piano, especially in the middle! [video]https://soundcloud.com/mechbgun/mb-lampa[/video] My latest Flying Lotus spoof.[/QUOTE] Really good use of panning. I don't see many people harnessing the pan effect. The overall piece was interesting though. I really liked the melody at 50 sec ish. ____________________________________ Haven't posted anything in months. Started a new job, so its been hard for me to sit down and write. This is something I started this weekend. I'm curious myself to see where I end up going with it. [media]http://soundcloud.com/russiangodfather/acubens[/media]

[QUOTE=paindoc;49310272]Oh damn, it'd be stellar if you could share this. I'd be interested to see how you created this as I've been trying to do something similar in Reaktor, as there are not any true compressor blocks atm. And if you had mentioned it sooner I could have promoted it in my article ya goof- that was entirely about sidechaining[/QUOTE] It's not really at the point that I want to release it, I'll work on it over the next few days but I've been busy with deadlines for things, so it's probably for the best that it is not talked about. For example right now once you map the sidechain to something you cannot unmap it, and even though it is supposed to have full midi range, 0-127, it doesn't. :v: Once it's more complete I'll definitely share it. I think the biggest hurdle is that Ableton, so therefore Max for Live, does not support VST3, so it's kind of tricky to get audio values from other tracks. The way I currently do it is you have to put a "slave" effect on the source audio for it to be sent to the sidechain patch. I know with reaktor compressors, I have a few but never made one myself in reaktor, you have to create a "ghost" track and have it's audio output be sent to the track you want sidechained, at least if you are using non-VST3 plugins. [sp]I think AU supports it too but I haven't really tested it much using them since I do not own an apple computer.[/sp] One of my biggest gripes with Ableton is their lack of VST3 support, but I have literally been using the program since their first or second rendition of it, my dad bought it when I was little and so I basically grew up learning the program, so I work by far the fastest while using Live. Both my dad and my own new big project in Reaktor is trying to get the blocks to synch up with his modular rig, which apparently my soundcard can make happen but not his. Reaktor was the first virtual instrument I ever used and was also my introduction to programming, even though I forgot most of the stuff I know about it. It can get insanely deep if you put the time in to learn it, and what I made can definitely be made in Reaktor.

[QUOTE=Rich209;49310300]Really good use of panning. I don't see many people harnessing the pan effect. The overall piece was interesting though. I really liked the melody at 50 sec ish. ____________________________________ Haven't posted anything in months. Started a new job, so its been hard for me to sit down and write. This is something I started this weekend. I'm curious myself to see where I end up going with it. [media]http://soundcloud.com/russiangodfather/acubens[/media][/QUOTE] I can see this going eerie - I don't think big percussion would work with it at all, but i reckon if you led into a loud section where your violin backing goes really discordant, maybe using tritones, where its really staccato and jumpy, not rhythmic at all, it'd take on a real scott walker vibe, which I personally love. I'm thinking something like the orchestration in this: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5hvHEBLNpI[/media] Anyway, I'm in the same boat as you. No time to do stuff, and the majority of music I write I put aside for me and my bandmate, as we write a lot of stuff together. Here's a post rock thing I did recently though: [media]http://soundcloud.com/teacarp/the-pessimistic-collective[/media]

[QUOTE=killerteacup;49311020]I can see this going eerie - I don't think big percussion would work with it at all, but i reckon if you led into a loud section where your violin backing goes really discordant, maybe using tritones, where its really staccato and jumpy, not rhythmic at all, it'd take on a real scott walker vibe, which I personally love. I'm thinking something like the orchestration in this: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5hvHEBLNpI[/media] Anyway, I'm in the same boat as you. No time to do stuff, and the majority of music I write I put aside for me and my bandmate, as we write a lot of stuff together. Here's a post rock thing I did recently though: [media]http://soundcloud.com/teacarp/the-pessimistic-collective[/media][/QUOTE] Really like the guitar section of that song, did you record a speaker or put it through a audio interface?

[QUOTE=Llamalord;49313068]Really like the guitar section of that song, did you record a speaker or put it through a audio interface?[/QUOTE] just through my usb interface, with processing

[QUOTE=Mech Bgum;49298993][video]https://soundcloud.com/mechbgun/mb-lampa[/video][/QUOTE] i don't know who flying lotus are, so i can't comment on that, but the song's alright the way it's constantly fading in and out makes it pretty disorienting for me, though maybe that's what you were going for [QUOTE=Rich209;49310300][media]http://soundcloud.com/russiangodfather/acubens[/media][/QUOTE] nice intro, reminds me of a song i did a couple months back interested in where you'll go with this, i'm hoping some atmospheric minimalist stuff [QUOTE=killerteacup;49311020][media]http://soundcloud.com/teacarp/the-pessimistic-collective[/media][/QUOTE] very chill, getting heavy Ogre You Asshole vibe (don't let that name fool you), though i feel like i've said the same thing about another song you made the reversed guitar gives me some KC vibes, i love that kinda stuff the use of organ is great too, and i love your guitar doodlings would be a perfect beat for a rap song to be honest made this IDM-y thing using a Bull of Heaven sample, though i don't know much about this kind of music [media]https://soundcloud.com/hakita/supertaskn[/media]

[QUOTE=Hakita;49314241] made this IDM-y thing using a Bull of Heaven sample, though i don't know much about this kind of music [media]https://soundcloud.com/hakita/supertaskn[/media][/QUOTE] every single utilisation of the amen break here was beautiful. god bless you. [QUOTE=Mech Bgum;49321476] another electronic beat: [video]https://soundcloud.com/mechbgun/mb-stumbler[/video][/QUOTE] this is pretty cool. human leage vibes abound but the bass synth sounds a little gutless to my ears, like it's all bass and no mids or something maybe? also as far as i can tell your melodys are based completely around one pentatonic scale. that's not a bad thing or a good thing, just an observation. -- i've been adding to my series of pisstake-y tracks utilising samples i gathered from teamspeak recordings. i feel like the longer i work on these the more my desire to make interesting and funny beats out of human voices gets overridden by the urge to make something that degenerates into a huge noisy mess. a part of me wants to make one of these that goes for ages and actually builds on an idea but the dude on my other shoulder keeps telling me that teamspeak beats are supposed to be short. idk maybe i'm taking this joke project to seriously. [media]https://soundcloud.com/inervate-ts-beat-workshop/gaywormscum[/media]

[QUOTE=killerteacup;49311020] [media]http://soundcloud.com/teacarp/the-pessimistic-collective[/media][/QUOTE] I love this. It's really calming - It helps that I'm a huge sucker for reversed piano chords. The bass & bells really completes the soft feel. [QUOTE=Hakita;49314241] made this IDM-y thing using a Bull of Heaven sample, though i don't know much about this kind of music [media]https://soundcloud.com/hakita/supertaskn[/media][/QUOTE] Gives off a really frantic feel, like it belongs in a high-speed timed sequence in a game. The bit at 2:58 sounds a little jarring with the absolute 0-100 panning, but it works well once the other instruments are introduced. [QUOTE=Little Donny;49321637] -- i've been adding to my series of pisstake-y tracks utilising samples i gathered from teamspeak recordings. i feel like the longer i work on these the more my desire to make interesting and funny beats out of human voices gets overridden by the urge to make something that degenerates into a huge noisy mess. a part of me wants to make one of these that goes for ages and actually builds on an idea but the dude on my other shoulder keeps telling me that teamspeak beats are supposed to be short. idk maybe i'm taking this joke project to seriously. [media]https://soundcloud.com/inervate-ts-beat-workshop/gaywormscum[/media][/QUOTE] Personally I think doing stuff like this is fun. It's casual and allows for a bit of extra creativity as you try to turn noise into something that can be listened it, sort of like those gun orchestras like the Ballad of Black Mesa. ___ [media]https://soundcloud.com/riftskan/dark-theme[/media] I made this about a month ago but never got around to posting it; I wanted to try for something that sounds a little darker than what I usually make.

Probably going to need to buy the Moog Sub 37 Tribute for myself for Christmas because it is so fucking beautiful and I need it. [thumb]http://vintageking.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/m/o/moog_sub_37_tribute_angle.jpg[/thumb]

[QUOTE=Llamalord;49330822]Probably going to need to buy the Moog Sub 37 Tribute for myself for Christmas because it is so fucking beautiful and I need it. [thumb]http://vintageking.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/m/o/moog_sub_37_tribute_angle.jpg[/thumb][/QUOTE] Highly recommended.

I feel I'm not determined enough to make music. Or too lazy to learn music maker programs.

What's there to learn? I've just played around with the programs I use and after a while you'll understand pretty much everything you need to make some music.

I mean, I have no clue where to start. What to do. I struggle to insert anything on the channel lineup thing.

[QUOTE=Llamalord;49330822]Probably going to need to buy the Moog Sub 37 Tribute for myself for Christmas because it is so fucking beautiful and I need it. [thumb]http://vintageking.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/m/o/moog_sub_37_tribute_angle.jpg[/thumb][/QUOTE] The modern [sp]modern meaning that they are back in style not that moog synths are somehow newer than the tb-303[/sp] equivalent of "Everybody needs a 303" is "Everybody needs a moog" IMO. All their synths are super versatile and all have that classic tone that is instantly recognizable. The only really accurate Moog emulation I've heard is from Monark, which I highly recommend, but it's still not as creatively liberating as owning their actual synths. They are all built like tanks, individually tested, and hand made by pretty chill people too. Also you get to be smug as shit with a moog sticker on your laptop. [t]http://puu.sh/lY9cd/9c5f191b53.jpg[/t] Like I probably sound like a moog spokesman at this point but they are basically like one of those staple sounds you need in your studio, so it's best to get the real thing.

[QUOTE=Nitro836;49331491]I mean, I have no clue where to start. What to do. I struggle to insert anything on the channel lineup thing.[/QUOTE] Not sure if it's the same for other daws but in fl studio if you start it up the first time a demo file opens, showing almost everything it can do out of the box.

I just realized in that big post of book recommendations on the last page I forgot to mention the book that I'm about to buy. [url=https://makingmusic.ableton.com/]Making Music. 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers[/URL] is basically a god send for the creative process. Don't be scared that it is published by Ableton either, it apparently mentions Ableton Live like three times in the entire book, and acts more as a guide of "how to get inspired" rather than a "this is how you produce" thing, so it's applicable to every DAW, even computerless set ups. Also the Cycling 74 reference in the title makes my artsy nerd self happy.

[QUOTE=splenda;49331633]I just realized in that big post of book recommendations on the last page I forgot to mention the book that I'm about to buy. [url=https://makingmusic.ableton.com/]Making Music. 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers[/URL] is basically a god send for the creative process. Don't be scared that it is published by Ableton either, it apparently mentions Ableton Live like three times in the entire book, and acts more as a guide of "how to get inspired" rather than a "this is how you produce" thing, so it's applicable to every DAW, even computerless set ups. Also the Cycling 74 reference in the title makes my artsy nerd self happy.[/QUOTE] It's an excellent book and Ableton only comes up a few times, and the screen shots are from Ableton but kept really genre. I got the ebook, but wish I had the physical copy for its immediacy. My article was published and Oh god it's dreadful, I'm noticing tons of grammar mistakes and my links didn't transfer. All the audio works though. It's on Sidechain compression in Ableton Live, but it should be able to help in general. Also some of the formatting came out weird, so I need to work on that too. I'll post it if anyone's interested, but I'm embarrassed and feeling a lot of regret or imposter effect type stuff right now :v:

I don't understand why people would want to fiddle with hardware synths over software synths, but hey. Is it because of a specific analog sound? I don't get why it can't be done on a computer, or why people would prefer it outside of a computer.

[QUOTE=wauterboi;49334344]I don't understand why people would want to fiddle with hardware synths over software synths, but hey. Is it because of a specific analog sound? I don't get why it can't be done on a computer, or why people would prefer it outside of a computer.[/QUOTE] I'm not big on the whole "analogue always sounds better!!!" thing, but I definitely think all my hardware sounds better than any plugins I've used (some of my hardware is digital). I don't think that's BECAUSE it's hardware though. The main thing is that when you have a knob for almost everything, it's WAY faster to use a hardware synth and that immediacy is way more inspiring. Grabbing and turning a knob on a screen with your mouse and tweaking it while something is playing will never be the same as doing it with a physical knob. Hardware really shines when you're adjusting two things that have interesting interplay between them (like distortion gain and filter frequency) because you can actually adjust them both at the same time instead of clicking back and forth. It makes finding sweet spots way easier. I had nothing against softsynths, but I have pretty much completely stopped using them at this point. [editline]16th December 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Adius Shadow;49294497]I have this problem making things sound "loud and full" like I will have the track "mastered" on my end and then I think it sounds pretty good. I'll go listen to another professionally mastered track and everything just feels so much louder...[/QUOTE] You need to focus on your mixing, not your mastering. If your mix is good, mastering will just bring the levels up a touch. If your mix is good it can sound pretty loud without any mastering at all.

Perhaps what I'm imagining is already doable, but it would be cool to have a MIDI controller that interfaces with your DAW to automatically map colored knobs to whatever context you're in. Make it so that you can use the knobs to control whatever you want and have it save within that context, i.e. editing in Massive, or mixing, etc.

[QUOTE=wauterboi;49335547]Perhaps what I'm imagining is already doable, but it would be cool to have a MIDI controller that interfaces with your DAW to automatically map colored knobs to whatever context you're in. Make it so that you can use the knobs to control whatever you want and have it save within that context, i.e. editing in Massive, or mixing, etc.[/QUOTE] most midi controllers have that to some extent or at least, non budget ones

Akai Advance, Komplete Kontrol, SL MK2 all do it off the top of my head. Komplete Kontrol looks super neat, and I love my SL MK2. I hate the action on the Akai Advance though

[QUOTE=wauterboi;49335547]Perhaps what I'm imagining is already doable, but it would be cool to have a MIDI controller that interfaces with your DAW to automatically map colored knobs to whatever context you're in. Make it so that you can use the knobs to control whatever you want and have it save within that context, i.e. editing in Massive, or mixing, etc.[/QUOTE] I have the 9 sliders on my Studiologic VMK mapped to drawbars on Logic's B3 emulator. I also have them mapped to various parameters along with the 8 knobs on impOSCar2. Makes playing these instruments a lot more fun tbh. But it doesn't do it automatically though. I have to map them manually, but I keep a saved project file with mapping templates for various softsynths around so I can just use that.

[QUOTE=wauterboi;49335547]Perhaps what I'm imagining is already doable, but it would be cool to have a MIDI controller that interfaces with your DAW to automatically map colored knobs to whatever context you're in. Make it so that you can use the knobs to control whatever you want and have it save within that context, i.e. editing in Massive, or mixing, etc.[/QUOTE] I've yet to see this work as well as dedicated control surfaces. Most synths that are designed to be used on a computer screen that I've used have something that doesn't map to a knob very well or they have some things that you just straight up can't control via midi or automation. [editline]17th December 2015[/editline] Another benefit to hardware: frees CPU power up for other things.

[QUOTE=KmartSqrl;49337687]I've yet to see this work as well as dedicated control surfaces. Most synths that are designed to be used on a computer screen that I've used have something that doesn't map to a knob very well or they have some things that you just straight up can't control via midi or automation. [editline]17th December 2015[/editline] Another benefit to hardware: frees CPU power up for other things.[/QUOTE] Yeah, the system isn't perfect. I still enjoy my hardware synths, but the JD Xi isnt the best HW synth since the adsr envelope is consolidated to one knob, among other questionable decisions. I'm conflicted, I've considered selling the JD Xi so I can get a push 2 and a usable DJ mixer for the sake of fun. JD Xi is fun too but I'd rather get a desktop modular with more knobs ad control it from my Push 2/midi KB now that I understand my personal work flow better. Jv 1080 is sticking around though, the thing is so damn adaptable I can't imagine selling it even if it has zero tweakability And despite what was said earlier Roland > Moog 4life

I don't see why it would be so hard from a programming standpoint to automatically remap your MIDI controller's knobs based on whatever window you have open, save and share those presets on the net, and then create an API that allows plugin developers to have defaults.

[QUOTE=Minelayer;49325720] [media]https://soundcloud.com/riftskan/dark-theme[/media] I made this about a month ago but never got around to posting it; I wanted to try for something that sounds a little darker than what I usually make.[/QUOTE] When you're making "dark" music, obviously you're gonna put emphasis on the lower end of the spectrum, which you've done brilliantly. Still, you will need some sort of background element to fill out the top end too to make the track sound "fuller". Some strings or something would do the trick. Interesting rhythm, but you're gonna need more than just a kick and a snare :downs: (I know it's WIP and you're probably already working on it/planning it if you haven't abandoned this project already) Really good work on the bass synth. Turn it down a little bit though. The piano-like sound could do with some dynamics. --------------------------------------------------------- [URL="https://clyp.it/o1y511or"]https://clyp.it/o1y511or[/URL] This funky track is coming along. I wish media tags worked for clyp.it, I don't want to put WIP stuff on Soundcloud.