TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- Whatīs the main thing about producing?
Pages (2): « 1 [2]

Man, I'm starting to sound like a broken record (no pun intended) on these forums, but I'll answer this question again. The "main thing about producing" is simple: think about what you're producing. Are you producing a sidechained pad? Are you producing an original synth sound? Are you producing a FLS project file. NO!!!! YOU'RE PRODUCING MUSIC!!!! The sooner you start to comprehend that the primary focus has to be on improving your music composition skills, the sooner you'll start to produce better music.

Unfortunately, that concept is lost on most "producers". But, think about it - nobdody is going to buy your records or dance to your songs because they like the threshold settings you used on your compressor, or the fact that you chose a square wave bass sound over a sawtooth. But looking at this and other EDM production forums, those types of topics dominate the boards. Take a look at this forum's topics for yourself and see how many composition-related threads there are - not many. Is it because we're all such great songwriters that we don't need to discuss it?

The next time you're at the club and the crowd is going wild for some song, stop and ask the hot chick dancing next to you what she likes about the song - I guarantee you that the answer won't be "it's produced in Logic!" or "the pulse width modulation on that lead synth is totally dope!" She's probably going to say "get away from me, creep" and then tazer your ass, unless she's really drunk, in which case she'd simply say that she likes the melody, she can sing along with it, it's got a good beat and I can dance to it, etc.

It's a total cliche, but it can't be stated enough - you can't polish a turd (well, OK, you can try but it's still going to stink). It doesn't matter what synth(s) or DAW you use, how perfectly you can imitate that JP8000 supersaw with your Virus, how you EQ'ed your mid-bass, or which multiband compressor you use to master your tracks - if your melody sucks and your song is 7 minutes of Amin and Fmaj, your song is going to suck and all you'll have is another polished turd that nobody is going to buy or dance to. Yes, your song needs to be technically sound, but more importantly, it needs to have a solid musical foundation (e.g., good melody or hook, dynamics, arrangement, etc.). That's what separates the successful producer from the masses.

OK, enough preaching. I've got music to make.

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik

Very true what you said there. A lot of people here need to start thinking about the big picture, not every single individual sound.

yeahh i guess heīs right im going to focus on that one, but mostly what i do, is just send the demos to people that just go to the clubs, that is the most important opinion for me cause theses are the people that are going to listen to it at the end, so yeah lol but anyway could you imagine asking that to a girl, and suddenly she turns around and say, man i wonder what synths he use to produce that sound??

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik

Some good points in there.

It seems like people focus so much on "sounding professional" these days, even to the point that they pay less attention to the song itself than to whether it "sounds like" what their favorite producers make or what their favorite DJs spin.

I put up a sign in my studio, back when I found myself falling into this trap. It says "Beautiful music first. Then incredible production". The music is the main thing. Without it, there's no point, it just turns into a technical exercise which no lover of music will want to listen to.

The great songs still sound great as blippy MIDI files.

the way im starting to look at it is just focus on what i feel, when im producing is kind off like when im djing but i just have to imagine im in a big club, and feel if this song would be playing will people dance to it? i donīt know i guess is part of all but you have to develop your skills if you feel you are talented enough

quote:

Originally posted by olwenskatha Dude honestly with this attitude you donīt get anywhere really, i just want to know the other people opinion, donīt forget you were a noob to a while ago

honestly...he still is!

loooool well i donīt know but if you tell..... just kidding im glad to know what others people think about it

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Man, I'm starting to sound like a broken record (no pun intended) on these forums, but I'll answer this question again. The "main thing about producing" is simple: think about what you're producing. Are you producing a sidechained pad? Are you producing an original synth sound? Are you producing a FLS project file. NO!!!! YOU'RE PRODUCING MUSIC!!!! The sooner you start to comprehend that the primary focus has to be on improving your music composition skills, the sooner you'll start to produce better music. Unfortunately, that concept is lost on most "producers". But, think about it - nobdody is going to buy your records or dance to your songs because they like the threshold settings you used on your compressor, or the fact that you chose a square wave bass sound over a sawtooth. But looking at this and other EDM production forums, those types of topics dominate the boards. Take a look at this forum's topics for yourself and see how many composition-related threads there are - not many. Is it because we're all such great songwriters that we don't need to discuss it? The next time you're at the club and the crowd is going wild for some song, stop and ask the hot chick dancing next to you what she likes about the song - I guarantee you that the answer won't be "it's produced in Logic!" or "the pulse width modulation on that lead synth is totally dope!" She's probably going to say "get away from me, creep" and then tazer your ass, unless she's really drunk, in which case she'd simply say that she likes the melody, she can sing along with it, it's got a good beat and I can dance to it, etc. It's a total cliche, but it can't be stated enough - you can't polish a turd (well, OK, you can try but it's still going to stink). It doesn't matter what synth(s) or DAW you use, how perfectly you can imitate that JP8000 supersaw with your Virus, how you EQ'ed your mid-bass, or which multiband compressor you use to master your tracks - if your melody sucks and your song is 7 minutes of Amin and Fmaj, your song is going to suck and all you'll have is another polished turd that nobody is going to buy or dance to. Yes, your song needs to be technically sound, but more importantly, it needs to have a solid musical foundation (e.g., good melody or hook, dynamics, arrangement, etc.). That's what separates the successful producer from the masses. OK, enough preaching. I've got music to make.

i'd say you're about 70% right, but the little tweaks / compression techniques / synth choices do matter for the final effectiveness of the track. While the hot chick at the club may not know anything about that and can tell you that it's the melody she likes, that doesn't mean that she'd be dancing the same way to the same melody played on a crap synth in a crap-mastered track. It's the whole concept of the common listener - they can all point out the main things about songs that they like, but there's actually a lot more to the song that they like which they don't even realize. Given that - I still agree that composition / arrangement / and songwriting skills are the #1 priority for anyone making music. But that doesn't mean there isn't a #2 priority for all the technical studio stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by StanVoid i'd say you're about 70% right,...I still agree that composition / arrangement / and songwriting skills are the #1 priority for anyone making music. But that doesn't mean there isn't a #2 priority for all the technical studio stuff.

Yeah, but I acknowledged that, see:

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Yes, your song needs to be technically sound, but more importantly, it needs to have a solid musical foundation...

So, doesn't that make me 100% right?

damn it

well you know, at the end of the day i finally made up my mind i think the main thing about producing is develop both social ( in a dance people liking sense) and technic skills they can not be separate, cause i remember back in the days when i was 14 years old practicing with my crap drummkit, you could have the best dumm kit but if you donīt know how to play it is just worthless, i think the same concept applies with our resources we could have a hole studio like the pros but if you donīt know how to tweak it in a way that people would like then you need to find out what people like.. but not loosing your style..

well you know, at the end of the day i finally made up my mind i think the main thing about producing is develop both social ( in a dance people liking sense) and technic skills they can not be separate, cause i remember back in the days when i was 14 years old practicing with my crap drummkit, you could have the best dumm kit but if you donīt know how to play it is just worthless, i think the same concept applies with our resources we could have a hole studio like the pros but if you donīt know how to tweak it in a way that people would like then you need to find out what people like.. but not loosing your style..

Main thing?

KEEP IT SIMPLE!!

By that I mean stick to the basics. Don't just keep adding sounds and samples thinking the more sounds you have the better a track will sound.

Its always been a problem I've had personally. I find some of my best tracks I ever made were just a select & small few of UNIQUE sounds with a well thoughout arrangment.

And yeh, the whole idea of track arrangment may seem simple, sometimes the slightest changes in arrangment can have a MAJOR improvement on the track as a whole.
So stick to basics, but experiment with them.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox Main thing? KEEP IT SIMPLE!! By that I mean stick to the basics. Don't just keep adding sounds and samples thinking the more sounds you have the better a track will sound.

I've been guilty of this.

If a sound sucks, just leave it out. Don't try to mask how crappy it is by piling other things on top of it.

lol yeah i guess thatīs part of improving your productions make it works with a really fluid vibe

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox Main thing? KEEP IT SIMPLE!! By that I mean stick to the basics. Don't just keep adding sounds and samples thinking the more sounds you have the better a track will sound. Its always been a problem I've had personally. I find some of my best tracks I ever made were just a select & small few of UNIQUE sounds with a well thoughout arrangment. And yeh, the whole idea of track arrangment may seem simple, sometimes the slightest changes in arrangment can have a MAJOR improvement on the track as a whole. So stick to basics, but experiment with them.

Yea this is true, more simple elements will usually make a better track. But you have to put more thought and work on them then. I tend to have a problem just putting tons of sounds together, making it just a big wall of sound and not so pleasant to listen after all. And you were spot on about arrangement as well, usually takes couple or lot's of versions before the track truly is finished.

Work work work, that what it always need. Every individual sound should be worked carefully on the mix. Use filters, try to get more live feeling.. (play with keyboard not just mouse drawing) etc.

But most important, get good idea first before even starting to mix tracks. Good melody works even it's played on some midipiano sound...

quote:

Originally posted by breakaholic But most important, get good idea first before even starting to mix tracks. Good melody works even it's played on some midipiano sound...

EXACTLY.

It seems like waaaaaaaaaaay too many people want to cover up the blandness of their actual music by putting heaps of nifty effects on every part of their tracks.

quote:

It seems like waaaaaaaaaaay too many people want to cover up the blandness of their actual music by putting heaps of nifty effects on every part of their tracks.

unless ofcourse you are into dark psy (the scary stuff they play after midnight). Thats when these guys wake up and start to roam the night

A lot of people who play instruments also fall into this trap. They become technically brilliant, but watching them is like watching a technical exercise. After the first song, there's no reason to listen to any more. You've already heard everything they have to offer.

Same goes for someone who comes up with an amazing new sound/ production style - you'll listen to the first track and think, that's new and interesting. But if there's no beautiful music, no emotion, no soul, all that stuff, coming through, then there's no reason to ever listen to another track by that person.

Yes, it's extremely important to have a beautiful mix, to have the production/ engineering side of things covered. But it's always secondary to the music. Without good music there's no point. As much time as you're putting into lifting your technical skills, make sure you're spending more time lifting your compositional skills.

quote:

Originally posted by derail A lot of people who play instruments also fall into this trap. They become technically brilliant, but watching them is like watching a technical exercise. After the first song, there's no reason to listen to any more. You've already heard everything they have to offer. Same goes for someone who comes up with an amazing new sound/ production style - you'll listen to the first track and think, that's new and interesting. But if there's no beautiful music, no emotion, no soul, all that stuff, coming through, then there's no reason to ever listen to another track by that person. Yes, it's extremely important to have a beautiful mix, to have the production/ engineering side of things covered. But it's always secondary to the music. Without good music there's no point. As much time as you're putting into lifting your technical skills, make sure you're spending more time lifting your compositional skills.

sure mate thanks for the advice, is well appreciate it, and iīve just realizad that, right now iīve deleted everything iīve done and iīm going to start all over trying to discover new sounds. let see what iīll come up with

the main thing is to keep it real. just keep it real dawg.

Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright © 2000-2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.