How can I learn to produce trance?

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-- How can I learn to produce trance?

Posted by DJ Dowlz on Oct-16-2002 02:04:

How can I learn to produce trance?

Hi to all the production geniuses out there!

I'm interested in starting out in producing trance music on my computer. As far as programs go, I've got Reason2, so I guess that's a start. Obviously I'll need a keyboard, so can anyone suggest a cheap one to start out with? Does it matter if they don't have many functions, since I'll be doing the production on the computer?

After buying a keyboard, can you suggest what path I should take? Are there tutorials that you can view which are specifically designed for newbies? Are there tutorials available for producing trance music? Are there any books that you can recommend? Obviously I'll have to read the Reason2 manual. Are there samples or addon packs for reason which contain trance (rather than house) samples? Is reason a good production program, or should I be looking at something else? Is there anything else that I should know about? Sorry about the number of questions, there seems to be so much to ask!

Thanx for your help everybody!

Posted by fr0st on Oct-16-2002 05:16:

Here is my advice.....far as keyboards go the midiman oxygen 8 is great to imput data into the comp...also another thing that prolly is good that most people over look is a good college music theroy book to make good music u must be able to understand its elements, melody, rythem and harmony all the greatest producers have strong backgrounds in music, BT for example studied at berkely and began piano at 5, sasha also began very early to play tje piano.....

Posted by DJ Dowlz on Oct-16-2002 07:48:

Thanx for the advice fr0st, although I think I might get a larger keyboard (61 key instead of 25). As far as theory and stuff go, I have a fairly good knowledge, since I've done a number of theory and piano exams (I've done A.Mus.A. equivalent to ATCL and I'm about to sit L.Mus.A. which is equivalent to LTCL). That's why I'm itching to apply my mostly classical training to the trance genre!

Posted by Musicmaker on Oct-16-2002 17:56:

You can try to make music if you understand how Reason works. Just listen a bit to trance to hear what kind of sounds are used and start making it. It will work.

A good site for making music is www.computermusic.co.uk. There are a lot of usefull tutorials on that site.

Posted by barneypal on Oct-16-2002 22:30:

Tips on getting started producing trance

2 tips

1) Learn to listen - Break down all the elements of your favorite song. What are the instruments and where are they placed? Is the synth line 1 octave above the bass, or 2 octaves above the bass. Do they use samples, or synth sounds? Do the synths sound like horns, strings, pianos, or other things? Does the sound mutate from one section to another. What are the sections in the song?

2) Learn to steal - Choose a simple trance song. Rip off the structure completely, but change it to use your own sounds. Do you have Acid? Use the beatmapper and import the whole song. Now break it up piece by piece. Work on the sounds and tweak them until you like how it sounds.

There is no correct way to write a song, but these are the two tips I find most helpful in learning about how to write songs.

Posted by DJ Dowlz on Oct-17-2002 06:27:

Thanx for the advice everybody. The computermusic site looks incredibly helpful.

I went around to my local music store and by the looks of it, the best value for money synthesiser they have is the "EVOLUTION MK249 USB Midi Keyboard". Anybody had any experience using it? It costs US$191. Is that a decent price? Should I be looking at a keyboard that has midi out? (I have a first generation Sound Blaster Live! soundcard) They had one there which was about US$20 cheaper called "MIDITECH MIDICONTROL". Doesn't look as cool though

Thanx everybody!

Posted by hey cheggy on Oct-17-2002 14:17:

Well, if you are going to be using a midi keyboard, it would be nice if it had midi ports so it can actually be used as a midi controller. If it doesn't have midi out, then it probably has usb, which means it can only be used to control soft synths. If you are planning on using it to control soft synths, like FM-7 and the likes, then i suggest you get a controller that has assignable dials so you can tweak the sounds live with proper dials rather than do it with a mouse. Really helpful with rebirth to tweak them acid sounds.

This is why people suggest the oxygen8, cos it has 8 asssignable dials. There are others out there that have more keys and dials. It's something you should look out for.

Posted by DJ Dowlz on Oct-17-2002 17:35:

Thanx for the info about assignable controllers! I had a look, and evolution have a very similiar keyboard to the one I was looking at called that MK-249C. It has 12 assignable rotary controllers, mod wheel and slider. Apparently it has a USB and midi output too?

Posted by Luke Terry on Oct-17-2002 18:04:

if u have reason or fruity u dont need a keyboard as there u can draw the notes although a keyboard is fun

Posted by Mr.Mystery on Oct-18-2002 09:14:

Yep, a keyboard makes producing a whole lot easier but it's not something you HAVE to have...

Posted by DJ Dowlz on Oct-20-2002 23:33:

Well I went and bought my Evolution MK249c keyboard yesterday, and after a little troubling setting it up in Win2k, it now works perfectly. However, I when started out using the default creative sound blaster live drivers, there was a fair bit of lag (approx 72ms I think) which was not really tolerable. I downloaded the kx asio drivers for SBLive and it now works like a dream - only 21ms delay.

Now I guess I've got to read the reason manual! And then I'll try to recreate some of my favourite trance songs and then do my own work. Does anybody know of any trance sample CDs that I should think about buying? Any books/other sites that are worth reading?

Thanx everybody!

Posted by fr0st on Oct-21-2002 04:40:

This place is the best for sample cds imohttp://www.soundsonline.com sampls cds are not cheap....i know i have spent way more than i should on them....good luck to ya far as books go check the college book stores for some theory books music makes soooo much for sense..