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Using "template" sounds

Does anyone here find it particularly useful to use template sounds temporarily in your projects? I had a buddy give me some advice on arrangement and writing out the song, and he said that rather than getting hung up on the exact sound, I should instead focus on arranging it out and getting a feel for the transitions and go back later to replace the "template" sounds with ones that I'd use in the final mixdown.

He said a template sound will often be a simple saw in place of the bass or a piano in place of the lead. I'm just curious if anyone here gets traction this way instead of getting stuck in the endless sound-tweaking trap? A lot of times, I'm initially inspired to make progress on a track because of a particular sound preset I come across and manage to tweak to my liking. But after a while I find I get hung up on something I'm not so good at (like finding a good, clean bassline).

In so many words: compose/arrange first, audition/sound design later. Does this work for anybody? I want to give it a shot on a whim because it sounds good in theory, but I'd like to hear some experiences if any.

My approach is similar, in that I typically start my song ideas at the piano until I work out the melodies, harmonies, and basic arrangement, then I move it into my DAW and start building the song. I don't really use "template sounds" per se, but I do spend a little time getting the sounds generally where I want them, often by tweaking presets, but sometimes building rough sounds from scratch. At this point, I typically just grab a drum loop, or separate kick and top loops. Once the vocals are done and the song and arrangement nears completion, I go back and redo the drums and instruments.

i like the approach of post production with my song writting ect so i can focus on key elements and not have to worry of it sounding to shit.

ie a good loop made in one daw and one good string piece and maybe a good arp and export over to reaper. and take it all from there.

So after a few days of just having a go at songwriting and nothing else, I'm definitely finding this to be a useful way to make progress quickly. I almost have a full arrangement laid out!

Using a template sound not only lets me forget about parameter tweaking for a while, but it forces me to do something I normally don't do when I open up the DAW and sit down at my Axiom. It forces me to think about what I'm about to do. Like, really think about what the melody/composition is trying to achieve. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to cough up some unique, original sound that we forget to stop and develop the vision for the melody, the mood, and the general motif of the track.

Not only am I developing foresight for the next phrase of the song, but in my mind, I am actually imagining sounds that could possibly replace the template in the final mix. And as you all know, when you have the imagination going when it comes to sound, then finding the right one becomes wayyy easier than just spending hours cycling through presets hoping to stumble on something that sonically "fits."

For those who are stuck in a similar rut with producing, I recommend giving this a shot... Start a new project, forget about genre for now, and just write something from start to finish - no matter how simple or complex. You'll surprise yourself!

I'm not saying that this is a 100% proven method, but rather it can be a jolt to your music making approach. A new perspective. I'm sure it will be especially useful to those compulsive knob tweakers out there.

EDM = production so soundsource is part of the composition. To use template sounds is to be a shitty composer. That is the only part of EDM, in fact all music that is really changing so to put that on the back burner while you work on things that have already been done a million times before makes you a shit artist.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney EDM = production so soundsource is part of the composition. To use template sounds is to be a shitty composer. That is the only part of EDM, in fact all music that is really changing so to put that on the back burner while you work on things that have already been done a million times before makes you a shit artist.

it depends on what stage of music production they are at ie a learner or simply burnout until new ideas work ect ect.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney EDM = production so soundsource is part of the composition. To use template sounds is to be a shitty composer. That is the only part of EDM, in fact all music that is really changing so to put that on the back burner while you work on things that have already been done a million times before makes you a shit artist.

Granted, this is an EDM-geared forum, so your response is duly warranted. However, my insights were moreso intended for beginners (like I am), as well as for producers of any genre since I know many people here have other ventures besides EDM.

But, you know? Maybe you're right? Maybe to become a better artist, I should instead buy a few Macs...maybe 5 iPads or so to go with them (don't forget the one for the crapper), and set them all up in a dazzling array of Steve Jobsian brilliance. Then, surely, my music will become world-renowned.

EDM producers are indeed composers. Whether they like it or not. In fact I can say without any reservation that EDM producers are the most relevant composers of our times so you don't have to frame EDM as some sort of , well i'm not a real music writer. You are. I suppose if you are beginning, and you are working on one area say form , then sure. But if you are past that and releasing in effect sort of releasing your professional work and you use stock sounds, you are a shit artist that should be doing something else.

electronic music is the where all new music comes from. Harmony and melody has been explored to its fullest, The only thing changing is production.

Me and my band used to use this method, I'd sit at the piano and play until we found an idea worth expanding on and it went from there. However, this doesn't really work with EDM. It's hard to write a complextro house song when all you hear is one saw wave for a minute representing the drop.

so don't do that then.

it is quite easy. Listen to as much music as you can, ingrain what you like , what you don't like, do what you like that hasn't been before.

definitely not, but stuff still gets changed out sometimes for sure. also, i mix as i go as well, its a good idea to keep some headroom.

I generally like the idea of a template sound. The sound design and all that inspired me too, but when I'm writing I find I can get way too lost in the knob twiddling aspect (and this is one of my favorite things to do). Especially being a beginner myself, I'm still going through my own explorations of the fundamentals so its important for me, at least, to lay these things down first.

After I've got some basics, then I find i really like to go back and start twiddling the knobs.

There's so much to learn and so many places to hone skills, just banging something out on a piano first helps me stay focused on what i'm trying to learn/practice. Which, at least right now, is composition. Other days though, then I just like to knob twiddle as opposed to write, I find I don't go back and forth so easily (a tip I got from a dramirez video actually, sorta helped me). The focus one a specific point of a piece definitely helps me work a bit faster too.

I talk like i'm experienced tho, i've written maybe, 5 songs so.. you know, take it with a grain of salt.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney electronic music is the where all new music comes from. Harmony and melody has been explored to its fullest, The only thing changing is production.

As someone who listens to all kinds of music, EDM and otherwise, I would have to agree that harmony and melody is well handled in professional productions. And yes, the sound is definitely what's changing - not the music itself. I also agree that someone with a good musical understanding

I, however, am not a professional. My point amounts to noting the importance of personally exploring melody and composition even if the results sound like something already done a million times before. You could learn everything about synthesis, filtering, eq'ing, compression, automation, etc., and it wouldn't mean a thing if you don't have a handle on the musical side of things.

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