Hey guys, i hope you all are doing well. I just received feedback from someone and they stated that my track is not up to standard and I'm using default presets but the track is good overall but I have to be original and to take a break and build my own sounds from scratch and not use presets. I do use presets and samples but I modify them in a way that's to my liking, is that not being original?. I know a producer that does exactly this and is on a few labels. I think being original is either making a sound from scratch or modifying a preset to make the sound that I want regardless of it being a standard for the labels or not so I wanted to get either facts or opinions or even tips or tricks on this.

Thanks

In my opinion there is nothing wrong with using presets. Does it add to the uniqueness of the song to have good sound design? Of course but until you know what you are wanting, how would you know how to design it.
I'd be curious however to know what this person listened to. Were they stating that your track isnt good because it contained presets or was it due to the production. Something tells me that it was the latter.
If your production is not good, the song will sound like crap. Not because of how you arranged (well,sometimes arrangement can be) or composed it but purely based on the gelling of your mix.

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Phil

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Hey SystematicX1,

Thanks for replying back to me on this, I actually sent them the latest track that I did recently. I'll post the private link here.

https://soundcloud.com/paul-azizeh/...nal-mix/s-vw0pY

They stated that it was a little bit of both, they started with stating that I had default presets and then they changed it up with it's just not up to standards, just everything is just not up to standards from the leads to the rolling baselines, to the fills and sounds fx. This is what I sent to them recently.

I have mixed feelings about this subject.

a) I mean its all about having fun, and doing what you love to do however you want to.

b) But, whats the point of making something thats already been made 100000x over to the fucking TEE and probably better. I see it happen all the time in WIP thread, one may say even myself takes part in this.

Taking a look at your example I mean Im sure you can find a label willing to release that track, it does need mastering but whatever. Is the label going to do anything else for you other than release it, if not then... its not an important thing in the grand scheme of things one may say. If they're offering gigs or something more I would cater to whatever the fuck they want if thats where you want to be. My 2 cents.

I think this is a purely an opinionated personal subject matter.
I mean, if the person listening could detect that it was pure presets (is it?) then I am impressed.
And true, how can you be considered "unique" or "original" if you are not designing your own sound.
On the other hand, it is also true that there are not that many "unique" designers out there,majority of electronic is regurgitated and even then big sound design producers (noisia,ktn,joel etc) are kind of at a standstill with original sounding designs.
So, I mean it essentially sounds like these guys just didn't care for your music,which is ok. As MSZ said, there are labels that probably would take that track.

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Phil

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The idea that not using presets is going to take your music to the next level is ridiculous.

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Soundcloud

first make good music with presets. if you accomplish that, sound design would be a natural evolution. i wouldn't waste your time tackling that first.

there are essentially an unlimited number of presets out there... even with a slight tweak of just one of the hundred knobs on your synth, the preset then becomes "original". never mind the multitude ways you can actually use a preset, it will probably be unrecognisable as one anyway.

The idea that people can tell the difference between a preset and a sound made from scratch is ridiculous.

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quote:

Originally posted by tehlord The idea that people can tell the difference between a preset and a sound made from scratch is ridiculous.

indeed

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Analogue Mastering
Esoteric sound for the discerning ear

quote:

Originally posted by tehlord The idea that people can tell the difference between a preset and a sound made from scratch is ridiculous.

+1

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Phil

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everyone has recognised the exact same sound in two separate tracks from two unrelated producers. that's where the real problem is.

Hes just playing into some sort of "im in a position of superiority" meta of "I have a lot of knowledge/experience in this area and this is my easiest way to make you see that". Taking it figuratively, you get the same end game. "The sounds are not exciting, sounds like you didnt put much effort into that area" that and or the processing/mastering didnt float his boat. Its easy to see through the semantics...