The Musician's Gig Room Chat V1 - Songwriting and Sound Design for all!
4,109 replies, posted
[QUOTE=wauterboi;49757289]Might as well use that annoying bed squeaking sound while you're at it. Everybody does it not because it sounds good but because everyone's using it.[/QUOTE]
My new album is exclusively air horn samples.
How's the collab album coming along? I sent my contribution to Skeeter last week but I haven't heard back from him.
[QUOTE=wauterboi;49757289]Might as well use that annoying bed squeaking sound while you're at it. Everybody does it not because it sounds good but because everyone's using it.[/QUOTE]
Say what you will about other samples (lol wut bed squeak?) But I really love "get-get-get-get-get down"
[QUOTE=PelPix123;49736532]Holy shit, how'd you make that bubbly sound? It's great!
I made a quick remake of a Runescape track:
[media]https://soundcloud.com/kaybeccab/runescape-ambient-jungle[/media]
When I'm bored, I hone my mixing skills by making covers of music from old RPGs and old DOS games. Often times I'll compose additional layers to make the music sound better, but this is one of the more by-the-book ones because I was so focused on the mixing.
This is just a quick job. The mixing's not A+ because I'm trying out a new style fo mixing. I'm experimenting with more spatial mixing. I used IRs of an actual forest to make it sound like this was in a forest.[/QUOTE]
The mixing on this is actually really good, I love the ambiance and atmosphere it has.
Love to hear more of these.
[QUOTE=LieutenantLeo;49737194]Happy valentine's day fp
[media]https://soundcloud.com/jakecrizzle/valentines-day-jacob-critch[/media]
[/QUOTE]
Good track man! Only suggestion is to lower the volume on the vocals, they're just a tad bit to loud. Really good otherwise.
Another track of mine from the EP, not top quality work but I still enjoy it.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/theofficialdownshift/downshift-flare-original-mix[/media]
[QUOTE=crazykyle16;49760843]
Another track of mine from the EP, not top quality work but I still enjoy it.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/theofficialdownshift/downshift-flare-original-mix[/media][/QUOTE]
I've got no real criticism for this piece, as it all sounds really tight and fine tuned. The only thing I can really comment on, and it's just a preference thing, but the drums sounds a tad too small, and don't quite fill out the way I'd like. Still great job, and that synth has a really nice tone to it.
Here's another one fresh off the press. Made sure to "quantize" everything, and tried to use some new techniques I've been learning.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/scarletharvest/nocturnal-ascent[/media]
[QUOTE=elasticity;49710426]So curious little question:
when i'm programming synths I have trouble creating sorta... lighter/more subtle sounds, like I can do these huge sounds with large amounts of depth to them, but if I wanted to do something softer and ambient I just can't seem to get a good feel for it, which makes it harder for me to really create contrasting sections in my tracks.
So for example i've been tryna make really airy pads, but I can't seem to get the 'airy' feel to them, they sound too full and solid even if I put a lot of reverb on them etc etc
I was thinking that a highpass/equalizer cutting out low end and dropping mid end might be helpful but it still didn't seem to get quite the right kinda vibe, still sounded too... 'full' but more tinny as opposed to really airy
how do you get that really 'airy' sound in a pad?[/QUOTE]
late, but if you use hard highpass filters and automate pitch to produce vcr like vibrato, than you can produce warbly boards of canada like melodies
12db bandpass filters with slight drive/FM are your best friend for ambient pads. Also for like real ambient stuff you need really slow LFOs modulating random shit, some of my personal favorites are pitches of one osc, filter resonance/cutoff, and more subtle stuff like FM amounts, ringmod volumes, drive, effect parameters, etc. Ambience requires careful manipulation of reverbs and filtered delays too, so don't expect your raw sound to be perfect at first.
Experiment with weirder forms of synthesis/unusual effects too. Granular synthesis is my personal favorite type, besides west coast additive/buchla stuff. You can do crazy ever evolving soundscapes using really simple sources like the sound of you hitting a glass bottle or whatever.
Everything you're saying is Chinese to me lol
I really need to get on this shit
All I know is record, throw a delay on there, rinse and repeat
[QUOTE=inebriaticxp;49766198]Everything you're saying is Chinese to me lol
I really need to get on this shit
All I know is record, throw a delay on there, rinse and repeat[/QUOTE]
Isn't that basic stuff to know when working with a DAW?
I mean probably, but I never took the basics
Started with audacity, upgraded to lmms, downgraded to beatmaker 2, now upgraded to fl studio
Never once learned what an lfo is, or how to make automation/modulation tracks, or what the hell to really do with all these tools I have
Tbh I'm so DAW illiterate that modulation and automation are interchangeable words to me, also I don't even know what they mean, in terms of DAWs
[QUOTE=splenda;49747950]My take on the whole thing is that people want to sound like someone who came before them. There is a reason why people will do gear shootouts between stuff like a tb-303 and a tt-303, or why a 1959 les paul costs way too much money. While a tb-303 and a 1959 les paul sound good, a tt-303 and a 2016 les paul sound good too, but it is a different kind of good. People have it ingrained in them that if they own the gear of their favorite artists, then they will automatically be as good as them. They cannot see that the gear is just a tool, and if those artists started out today they would be making just as good of music on a laptop. The best artists are the ones who can make anything sound good, from little toy synths to those squier starter pack guitars.
There is some truth in some expensive synths sounding real good. When I got to play a Moog System 55, it was basically a religious experience for me. Those oscillators were more well rounded than anything else I have ever played, even compared to stuff like a Moog Voyager or Sub 37 or whatever. It's the same thing if I get to play my bass through an all tube ampeg amp or something, it just sounds nicer than the budget stuff. The thing is, I know I don't need to spend $35k to sound good, because I can get nice sounds out of my moog mother-32, or even monark for reaktor, both of which cost around 1% of the price of the big Moog Modular.
At the end of the day, no one listening to your song is going to be like "Oh he used a tb-303 clone and not a real tb-303, what a shit song." Make music with the gear you have, and the gear you can afford. Buying expensive things is not going to magically make someone a better musician.[/QUOTE]
9 out of 10 times a more expensive (and usually, much more well-crafted) instrument is going to sound a whole lot better than a cheaper alternative. I don't disagree with being able to make really nice sounds out of cheaper stuff though, it takes a lot more time and effort to make that happen though.
Hey guys. It's been a while.
[QUOTE=4yourmalice;49762478]
Here's another one fresh off the press. Made sure to "quantize" everything, and tried to use some new techniques I've been learning.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/scarletharvest/nocturnal-ascent[/media][/QUOTE]
I really love that overdrive synth organ sound in the beginning. Kinda wish it was more evident in the mix later on in the song. The scale you're playing in is really interesting, and it works well for an action sort of sound. Something like a video game soundtrack thing.
Unfortunately in a song like this, variation with the synths you're using is pretty dang important. When you have the same synth playing up and down a scale without any sort of hook or motif, it loses its flavor quite quickly. Try adding in some dynamics to the song, make it progress and keep the listener actually focused on what's going on. When creating a song, the structure of it should be your first focus past the chord progression. Plus, that bass kick is a bit generic and could definitely use some sidechaining in order to make it more prevalent in the mix.
Again, there really isn't enough going on in the song to leave the listener enthralled or attentive. It's a good start though. Keep working on it!
---
Okay. Like I said, it's been some time since I've posted here. Kinda lost sight of this thread once the sub-forums merged. Anyways, here's some stuff I've been working on:
A small experiment with hip hop stuff.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/weeperscurtain/departing[/media]
A percussion based track focusing on rhythm and primitivism in pattern:
[media]https://soundcloud.com/weeperscurtain/treasures[/media]
Some deep piano ambient tracks on another name:
[media]https://soundcloud.com/another-you/a01[/media]
[media]https://soundcloud.com/another-you/a-02[/media]
[media]https://soundcloud.com/another-you/a-03[/media]
[media]https://soundcloud.com/another-you/a-04[/media]
That's all folks. Some constructive criticism would be immensely appreciated. Some stuff here is more developed than others.
[QUOTE=crazykyle16;49760843]The mixing on this is actually really good, I love the ambiance and atmosphere it has.
Love to hear more of these.
Good track man! Only suggestion is to lower the volume on the vocals, they're just a tad bit to loud. Really good otherwise.
Another track of mine from the EP, not top quality work but I still enjoy it.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/theofficialdownshift/downshift-flare-original-mix[/media][/QUOTE]
It has a really solid intro, I'll give you that! The buildup until 0:24 is really great and I'm not sure why you're taking it a notch back from there, I think skipping and going straight to 0:38ish would work a lot better.
The mix is damn nice, I'm listening through my Yamaha NS-1000 Monitors and I can hear that this shit would be really tight in an actual club.
I really enjoy the ending, I think in terms of composition you could have that one come earlier, maybe somewhere after the drop near 1:48. The build up to the end part after 1:50 could probably fit really, really well with the ending.
2:34 is where I'm thinking as the end.
I reworked an old track, made it more interesting. It's a piano piece, not sure if I should add strings and drums to it or if I should just let it be. What do you guys think?
[media]https://soundcloud.com/skriket/fagelboven[/media]
[QUOTE=Skeeter;49771925]
I reworked an old track, made it more interesting. It's a piano piece, not sure if I should add strings and drums to it or if I should just let it be. What do you guys think?
[media]https://soundcloud.com/skriket/fagelboven[/media][/QUOTE]
I feel like you could probably experiment with it just for the hell of it, but honestly it sounds really epic on its own, really loving the warmth of that piano.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/tropicalgod/tropic-future-radio[/media]
Here's something I finished after having massive music block for the past 3 months, its already almost been a year since I started!
[QUOTE=Colteh;49779639]
[media]https://soundcloud.com/tropicalgod/tropic-future-radio[/media]
Here's something I finished after having massive music block for the past 3 months, its already almost been a year since I started![/QUOTE]
Yo this is fucking sick. I love the vocal samples and the synths. Its soo upbeat and happy <3 Bass is tight too maybe boost it a bit.
[editline]20th February 2016[/editline]
[QUOTE=PelPix123;49778065]
I promised myself I'd make at least one music thing a week, even if it's shit, so here's this week.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/kaybeccab/decompress[/media]
[/QUOTE]
Yoooo this is peaceful as hell. You could do soundwork for like a visual novel. Idk thats just the vibe i got from this haha
[editline]20th February 2016[/editline]
[QUOTE=Eyefunk;49771167]
A percussion based track focusing on rhythm and primitivism in pattern:
[media]https://soundcloud.com/weeperscurtain/treasures[/media][/quote]
I really love the panning that you put on your drums it really makes it feel like there are drummers all around me. also if im hearing a stringed instrument of somekind id reccomend maybe boosting that up.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/corn-mouth/vicious-emulsion-vampire-valentine[/media]
This is the latest track me and my pal made called VAMPIRE VALENTINE!!
It will be released under the Anti Copyright Breakcore Compilation released on the Annoying Beatz Crew Lable ([url]www.annoying.pl[/url] )
Hope u guys dig it. Its also our longest song ever!
I would really really really love to hear what you think
[QUOTE=Ms. Gyroscope;49780349]
[media]https://soundcloud.com/corn-mouth/vicious-emulsion-vampire-valentine[/media]
This is the latest track me and my pal made called VAMPIRE VALENTINE!!
It will be released under the Anti Copyright Breakcore Compilation released on the Annoying Beatz Crew Lable ([url]www.annoying.pl[/url] )
Hope u guys dig it. Its also our longest song ever!
I would really really really love to hear what you think[/QUOTE]
Everything was pretty sporadic sounding, which I assume is what you were going for. Not a bad thing though, it was quite unique. That background melody at around 1:30 was a light, but nice touch to the song. At times it did get a bit too noisy sounding though. Maybe trim back some of the drums or bass just a hair to smooth out the edges. However, that also might have been the sound you want, so it's just a preference thing for me.
Here's a song I posted previously, after doing some more mixing, and redoing the drums completely. I know there's always room for improvement, but I'm going to leave this piece as is for a while.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/scarletharvest/i-have-returned[/media]
Too late for me to remaster vampire valentine. Maybe once the two of us make the extended (ten mins) version we'll fix whatever is wrong with it. but thanks a bunch
[QUOTE=PelPix123;49794543]i already did it. if you upload a flac i can run it through and send it to you[/QUOTE]
I mean its already on the compilation. Thanks but ITs fine.
[QUOTE=PelPix123;49794695]here is the entire thing. Critique my remastering job
[vid]http://www.pelpix.info/expandedfull.mp3[/vid]
128kbps mp3 source :v:
[editline]22nd February 2016[/editline]
the important thing is to designate spots after hits for the diaphragm to come to rest instead of always having sound going on even during trails[/QUOTE]
Idk I cant really hear the drums that well they just sound muffled. But thanks
anybody here play saxophone or trumpet or a similar horn instrument, or know of a way to get a good realistic sound like that?
i want to have saxophone in a song i'm making but buying a saxophone and then taking lessons to learn how to play it would be a bit of a pain
[QUOTE=Hakita;49798219]anybody here play saxophone or trumpet or a similar horn instrument, or know of a way to get a good realistic sound like that?
i want to have saxophone in a song i'm making but buying a saxophone and then taking lessons to learn how to play it would be a bit of a pain[/QUOTE]
Look for a kontakt library
[QUOTE=Hakita;49798219]anybody here play saxophone or trumpet or a similar horn instrument, or know of a way to get a good realistic sound like that?
i want to have saxophone in a song i'm making but buying a saxophone and then taking lessons to learn how to play it would be a bit of a pain[/QUOTE]
[URL=http://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/orchestral-cinematic/session-horns/]Session horns seems perfect for what you need.[/URL] It also helps it's on the cheaper side is kontakt packs, and that it can run on kontakt player, so that is additional savings!
[QUOTE=Ms. Gyroscope;49798306]Look for a kontakt library[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=splenda;49798932][URL=http://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/orchestral-cinematic/session-horns/]Session horns seems perfect for what you need.[/URL] It also helps it's on the cheaper side is kontakt packs, and that it can run on kontakt player, so that is additional savings![/QUOTE]
thanks, i'll try looking into that
[QUOTE=Colteh;49779639]I feel like you could probably experiment with it just for the hell of it, but honestly it sounds really epic on its own, really loving the warmth of that piano.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/tropicalgod/tropic-future-radio[/media]
Here's something I finished after having massive music block for the past 3 months, its already almost been a year since I started![/QUOTE]
If you wouldn't mind, could you elaborate with experiment? :) Thanks! I'm pretty glad with how it turned out, it's an awfully quiet track though and I feel that some work needs to be done with the velocity of some of the chords. Maybe it's not necessary though, you always end up focusing too much on the shit you're aware of and if it wasn't audible to the average listener then maybe it isn't that much of a problem.
It's really great to get out of a long massive music block, especially when it turns out as good as your stuff.
[QUOTE=Hakita;49798219]anybody here play saxophone or trumpet or a similar horn instrument, or know of a way to get a good realistic sound like that?
i want to have saxophone in a song i'm making but buying a saxophone and then taking lessons to learn how to play it would be a bit of a pain[/QUOTE]
Just find a good local player that you know from school or something and record.
Those instruments are very lyrical and vocal-like and as a saxophonist myself I feel like it would be pretty difficult for someone who doesn't play the instrument to synthetically model the sound with aurally pleasing results. You could probably model the general timbre of the horn but the difficult part I'm referring to is the layer of expressiveness and small intricacies for example regarding vibrato or note articulation that a good player will incorporate into their sound.
A horn played without expression will not sound very good, which applies to all music, but especially with horns
[editline]23rd February 2016[/editline]
I guess I'm thinking of this from a more melodic perspective but I guess the above mentioned software is perfectly suitable if you just need a horn section playing chords and what not
[QUOTE=WoodenSpoon;49801831]Just find a good local player that you know from school or something and record.
Those instruments are very lyrical and vocal-like and as a saxophonist myself I feel like it would be pretty difficult for someone who doesn't play the instrument to synthetically model the sound with aurally pleasing results. You could probably model the general timbre of the horn but the difficult part I'm referring to is the layer of expressiveness and small intricacies for example regarding vibrato or note articulation that a good player will incorporate into their sound.
A horn played without expression will not sound very good, which applies to all music, but especially with horns
[editline]23rd February 2016[/editline]
I guess I'm thinking of this from a more melodic perspective but I guess the above mentioned software is perfectly suitable if you just need a horn section playing chords and what not[/QUOTE]
yeah that's why i'm leaning more towards the sax player instead of just using synthesized instruments
the song i'm wanting to make is a very freeform, improv-heavy slow moody noir track with guitar and sax, so i'd need a really good sounding one (or a trumpet, that's fine too)
if i knew a sax player i woulda asked them right away but i live in a small town and the only other person i know who makes music isn't one, sadly
[QUOTE=PelPix123;49797034]i really liked what happened in the last test when i just hit whatever key feels good so i did it half asleep after thinking about old FF games.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/kaybeccab/goodnight[/media]
i guess my brain is just full of lullaby-esque songs. i don't even know where it came from. I didn't hear it until i played back the recording[/QUOTE]
When you do this random two note thing it seems to have no strong direction. In this, it seems like you've got some stuff going, but then it just randomly deviates, leading me the listener to fee lost. Dunno! I think you should [I]start[/I] with it and not let it take over the whole song. At least, that's what it sounds like you aren't doing. When I was walking through the library listening to this I felt like that.
Anyway, time for a bunch of SNES synths to practice for a DOOM mod.
[url]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/965202/WIP%20Music/SNESSY.mp3[/url]
Note to self: turn down the opening square when the lead chords come in.
[QUOTE=wauterboi;49804661]When you do this random two note thing it seems to have no strong direction. In this, it seems like you've got some stuff going, but then it just randomly deviates, leading me the listener to fee lost. Dunno! I think you should [I]start[/I] with it and not let it take over the whole song. At least, that's what it sounds like you aren't doing. When I was walking through the library listening to this I felt like that.
Anyway, time for a bunch of SNES synths to practice for a DOOM mod.
[url]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/965202/WIP%20Music/SNESSY.mp3[/url]
Note to self: turn down the opening square when the lead chords come in.[/QUOTE]
Man that's cool, I like the clarity of the sounds that come in at 0:09.
Also I think the volume of the opening square is fine, it all blends nicely.
My college band director is looking for our show this fall. He came across a show that he likes but needs some edits made. So I transcribed a section of one of the movements and re-arranged the woodwinds to play a different chorale.
It's supposed to remind you of the threat of nuclear war in the 1950's.
I think I did a pretty good job.
[media]https://soundcloud.com/moonchickendograt/temporary[/media]
Original
[url]https://youtu.be/VT9AT5OY24o?t=3m25s[/url]
[QUOTE=Ms. Gyroscope;49780349]
[media]https://soundcloud.com/corn-mouth/vicious-emulsion-vampire-valentine[/media]
This is the latest track me and my pal made called VAMPIRE VALENTINE!!
It will be released under the Anti Copyright Breakcore Compilation released on the Annoying Beatz Crew Lable ([url]www.annoying.pl[/url] )
Hope u guys dig it. Its also our longest song ever!
I would really really really love to hear what you think[/QUOTE]
Honestly this is one of the first times I've actually spent a decent amount of time to listen to this type of music, and I do not regret it. The crazy syncopation and "IN YOUR FACE" sounds kinda pull on my stomach at times, but I find the music very thrilling and it just adds to that feeling. Very well done on this track, I wish I could do this type of stuff. I feel like it takes a lot of time and practice, going more in-depth with music theory. Am I wrong? I'm taking some theory classes now, but I'm kind of a newbie.
If anyone is into acoustic punk/rock, I just wrote a song a few days ago and had a surge of creativity to finish a decent demo. (I own a $100 condenser and an audiobox usb.) The guitar track is pretty wet, but it was kind of intended. I just put the emphasis on the vocals for now until I iron out some lead parts and percussion with my buddy.
[url]https://withcleareyes.bandcamp.com/releases[/url]
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The Musician's Gig Room Chat V1 - Songwriting and Sound Design for all!
