I just want to say thank you to everyone who's posted here and spoken from their "what I know now" vantage point. And a big thanks goes to Toka, who, out of his own apparent desire to help others, for whatever reason even thought to and then proceeded to start this thread! Thanks Toka!!

I'm a noob..... even though I've been at this for a solid year and several months. And any support I can get is of great value to me. Of course, the technical "how to" and "how come" type of stuff. But it's also good to hear stuff like a little of Floorfiller's personal history making music, and the like. When you're sitting in your studio, frustrated that you've spent all weekend, feeling like you didn't get squat accomplished!..... and on top of that you have to go back to work tomorrow!..... it's good to hear other people have had their struggles too. So far, it's been the hope of getting somewhere good that keeps me plugging along. I don't feel like I'm getting absolutely nowhere..... there IS progress..... but it's SOOOOOO slow. But the pace of improvement is different for everyone, and hopefully they have adequate patience to tolerate (as it feels to me) whatever that pace happens to be.

I would be interested to hear about "breakthrough" moments from anyone who feels they've had something like that. Or just times when you felt like you really WERE getting somewhere with your music. DO you get to points like that? Was there some decision you made or change in your mode of working that you think brought about the "breakthrough" or reaching a new level of ability? Thanks in advance for whatever you feel like sharing. And sorry if I went on too much.

J2J

quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Mystery I don't know how not finishing a single tune since is a good thing? All of my best tracks are the ones that were completed in just a day or two - tweaking your tunes endlessly makes one get bored and the track usually ends to the twilight zone. The other points are more or less spot on, though.

+1.


Another thing I learned. Don't over analyze and overwork a track.

Haven't read the thread but maybe these'll help:

- A large amount of the good synth sounds you hear in your favourite productions are the result of layers of external processing away from the synth and not purely the output of a synthesiser alone. Try treating the synth as a start point, try making an audio loop with your original synth output and put it into your sampler, try putting it in your audio editor. Try layering patches. Modulate like it's going out of fashion in the synth and using fx out of the synth.

- Trust your own ears, trust your own judgements. If you think something sounds good go with it. Find your own way to produce, what works for someone else may not work for you - what works for your favourite producer may not work for you - go with what you're comfortable with.

I agree with the threadstarters points but I also think that you could offer equally valid tips by expressing their opposites:

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1. Definately make it complex.

Layer everything at least twice. Have all sorts of effects on each sound. Build a complex chord progression. Synths have their own character therefore the more you have, the wider tonal pallette you have at your disposal.

2. Get Hardware.

When I listen to the software soundsets made by vengeance they sound nowhere near as good as the ones for the Virus, JP, Nord and Waldorf Pulse. So get hardware, get cool presets and tweak them a bit.

3. Search for that 'ultimate sound'

Once you get hardware it's easy to create nice sounds. How to use the sound is the hardest part. There are lot's of 'ultimate' sounds e.g. Faithless Insomnia, Mauro Picotto - Lizard etc.


4. Step up the pace.

Stop messing around and get the job done! Analyse your workflow and see where you can cut corners, make tunes 'in the moment' when your buzzing from the melody you just wrote.

5. Copy your favourite artists.

What kinda trance do you like?... Make it then!


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Nearly every phrase/quote/saying has at least one flip-side.

Last edited by Synchronicity on Nov-07-2006 at 19:09

quote:

Originally posted by Synchronicity 5. Copy your favourite artists. What kinda trance do you like?... Make it then!

...and end up losing every bit of originality.

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Latest releases:
Endless Cycles [Capital Heaven]
The Charlatan [Morphosis]

Trying to copy a sound you like can have good learning value. Beyond that it's just silly. Why the heck would you want your tracks to sound exactly like someone else's?

EXCELLENT INFO...

Thanks to everyone who posted. I've taken it all to heart! Hopefully you guys have helped make me a better musician

You bumped a 5 year old thread.

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no sex in the champagne room

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old stuff from days gone by (2001-2004)
Mad For Brad's gay little contest

Coffee.

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A wise prophet hath once foretold:

quote:

Originally posted by stealthman Vernon Wanderer will rediscover his roots back unto wandering vast endless plains miserably....

Tips for beginners:

There's no 'a' in the word 'definitely'.

Hahaha just breaking your balls.