I'm interested i making a trance track but where do I start as far as the "rules" go as they apply to Trance?

I know it consists of a four to the floor beats and an off beat bassline which is no proble to come up with. But as far as rules goes (Yeah I know there's no rules to music you do what feels right) with choice/programming of analog synth patches and application of FXs, what goes where? As far as I know you use a lot of reverb but what plug-in does the best job? Especially since reverb is processor hog. Also is there a Software that does a good job? Be it Fruity, Cubase, Tuareg, Reason etc. or is it a VSTi/DXi. Also how would chord and arpeggios work into this equation?

I'm dopey as far as figuring this stuff out but I want guidelines because if I can make something out of rigid rules I can make something spectacular when I break the rules or apply a technique to another genre.

P. S. - Also if anyone knows the lead synth from Milk Inc.'s Land of the Living how to program it or what sample CD it maybe on or even if you got a similar patch for a program can you help me out.


TY
Havok!

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Let the beat hit 'em. Hurt me, Hurt me!

there are no rules! there is no method! EXPERIMENT!

be original!

do what you think sounds good and hopefully others will like it too!

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This was a place of fun and madness that is sadly long gone now

All the best to all the UKTAs

08/01/16

Big Dave/little Dave

If you're trying to write music in any particular genre always listen to many examples in that area by professional producers. Take notes on what they do, what they don't and what sounds are used. Then copy away, injecting your own ideas into the mix...

A few notes on what you said though:

• Busy and bouncy bass patterns are more fashionable than off-beat bass just now
  
• There's other threads about what software to use. Read them
  
• When you've selected your software, fire up any analog style synth and flick through the presets. Some will sound like what you've heard in the professional productions, giving you ideas on how to use the different types of sound
  
• Enjoy
  

Trance in NYC is a bitch to find! And the only decent CD that I know of is Webster Hall's Tranzworld Series. As far as radio goes it stinks! There's one rhythm station and the they mainly spin 70's. A new song will come on rarely. When I'm online I listen to internet radio it's more entertaining. "Heaven" was played to death here 2x an hour. I'm looking mostly for techniques and where to place FXs.
TY

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Let the beat hit 'em. Hurt me, Hurt me!

Technique is difficult to define, because people always work in different ways. Be more specific and I may be able to answer ;-)

Placing FX is (as already said) an area for experimentation. Some guidelines though:

• Avoid using reverb on anything with deep(ish) bass in
  
• Try using reverb on backing sounds (e.g. pads)
  
• Try adding delays to all sorts of sounds (especially leads, percussion, sometimes even bass)
  
• Try adding reverb to leads, vocals etc
  
• Always use a compressor on live recorded sounds (e.g. vocals)

Yeah that's the ticket! You gave me the back bone of the trance. What is essential trance. From what I was getting from everywhere else was reverb everythin and that didn't make sense. Especially since reverb all over the place makes a mix muddy. OK to go into more specifics the drums & percussions should each instrument be treated to different amounts of reverb or one setting to the whole set. also should this be a different reverb than what is used on the backing(Pads) and lead synth?
It also seems that distortion, flange, reverb, and eq are used in order to enhance and bring out the lead above all other instruments. Are there more? What about arps? How does a bassline get treated in respect to the rest of the track?
So in theory the lead synth gets most of FXs?

___________________
Let the beat hit 'em. Hurt me, Hurt me!

C'mon, I can't write the track for you ;D

I think you've got enough to go on. Get started and see what happens!

OK, seeing as I'm in a nice mood I'll explain a little more. Reverb is NOT used to bring a sound out of the mix, the nature of the effect is to push sounds back in the mix. Distortion on the other hand, can make sounds really stand out when used carefully - always try it on things that aren't in your face enough

To write good arps start by using an arpeggiator built into a synth. Switch it on, hold down a chord and see how it sounds. Short sounds with a bit of delay can sound superb when arpeggiated.