Sorry in advance if you guys don't tolerate newbies at this stuff. I just got fruity loops 2 days ago and i've read a bunch of online tutorials on how to begin making trance, enough for me to know how the program generally works and how to put a few simple songs together.

A couple questions though. First, I'm struggling to produce a solid-sounding beat. I'm not sure what term I should be using to call it (kick?) but its the main downbeat that all trance follows. All of my attempts end up sounding really mushy or too 'bass'ed up. I dont know if that description helps but the sound i'm trying to achieve is exactly like the beats that you can hear at the beginning of Southern Sun (Tiesto Remix) - with that sort of punch. What synths/fx should I be using? Right now i'm fooling around with one called Fruity Drumsynth Live or something. Any help would be appreciated

Secondly, I have an electronic piano/keyboard from a while ago. How exactly would it help if i hooked it up to the computer? More sounds/instruments? or just a simpler interface?

In FL goto HELP>COONTENTS.... and READ THE WHOLE THING.

also...

as for your 4/4 kick. start with the one that you get in the club basic template... FILE>TEMPLATES>CLUB BASIC
that'll give you a few of the most basic precussion in a techno-style track.

A good synth to use for trance music is the 3xOsc and the TS404. Learn to use em, cause they can be powerful. In the left side browser goto CHANNEL PRESETS>3X OSC and drag in any kind of short preset or string preset. Assign some reeverb, flange, 7 band EQ, and delay to the synth in the FX channel it's asigned to (5 is good to use, b/c the default is usually 1..~~~~~......~~ duh). from there u can us the step sequencer buttons or right click the plugin and chose PIANO ROLL to do strings and complex melodies.
Once you have the melodies in their own patterns, arrange them in the playlist on the right to get musical! Also... get a good look at the intro FL track that's made there already when u start it. There's lotsa pre-made tracks in the left side browser under PROJECTS I think.

Read up on the 'net about Delay-Attack-Hold-Descend-Sustain-Release synthesis topics, sound synthesis topics, bass synthesis topics and trance production topics. Learn what filters and effects to to the sounds you make, and have patience in learning this stuff.

and please..... USE THE TRANCEADDICT SEARCH BUTTON!!!!!!!!

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also remember in the browser you can use some of the presets for the different synths and pads

then add some fx and you should have a decent sounding synth in no time

If your old keyboard has a midi out connection, then you can use it as a midi controller to play notes. When you push a key on the keyboard, it will play a note in the soft synth that you are using.

You will need to get a midi interface to connect the keyboard to your computer though. These generally cost around us$80-100

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Thx for the tips. I actually have used the search. Everything says to create a seperate modified sine wave with cut frequences but they don't say how or with what... i'm stumped.

Also, will the keyboard give me any of the different sounds, instruments or preset patterns that are programmed with it?

Last edited by Kortekk on Jul-09-2003 at 22:00

Using SoftSynths is a big part of production. It may sound ridiculously stupid to say that but i spent quite awhile (we're talking months) before i read through this forum and found the benefits of them.

Sure i dabbled in the 3xOsc (briefly) and Ts404 (mainly) but before i read the thread "exploration of sound" here, i was missing a huge amount.

The softsynths nowadays are amazing, and getting better all the time. Go to www.kvr-vst.com (think thats the right address) and read up on all the plugins. Download the demo's and free synths and with a bit of knowledge you're away.

Ofcousre, this will only help in the melody part of your tunes. As for the drum parts, all that can be said is get more drum samples. Generally Fruity's own are a little bland and a new kick is deffinately needed.

There are a few synths out there for drums, i only use waldorf attack, although it's far easier to get some samples. Lets be honest, getting an original sounding kick isn't gonna happen anymore

I think the most overlooked part of the drum beat is the FX (by beginners i mean, it was by me atleast) and it's this aspect that will make the beat stand out and original.

In closing, there are topics everywhere on the net about everything you could need. After 6 months you'll still be reading new and helpfull information.

All i can hope is that i've remotely helped, if i haven't (cos it's hard to judge everyones level) the fuck it. I tried