original: I think the most important thing for me is sound design. I like to start off by making some really interesting sounds / rhythmic textures. once you have some nice sounds to play with you can start thinking about programming a groove around it.

remix: I haven't really tried too many of these, however if I was going to do a remix I would listen to the original and try to decide what the most defining feature of the song is. Is it a melody? Is it a bassline? Is it a sound effect? I'd try and maintain the integrity of that defining quality and then build a new interpretation of the rest of the song around it.

Just translate my thoughts into reality.

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I'm trying something different for remixes, and that's intentionally not listening to the original or any other remixes of said track. It only works with things like remix contests and such. I'm doing this for Cryptonik's contest.

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I might be the only one but for both Remix and Originals, the first thing I usually put together is the breakdown. Then I create the rest based on that.

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Der Mystik's Music

quote:

Originally posted by PDM I might be the only one but for both Remix and Originals, the first thing I usually put together is the breakdown. Then I create the rest based on that.

but don't you need things to break in order for a breakdown, like leads and chords?

I know it doesn't make sense, but that is what I do, the leads and chords you mention I have them in my head, but they usually change when I'm finished with the breakdown.

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Der Mystik's Music

quote:

Originally posted by PDM I know it doesn't make sense, but that is what I do, the leads and chords you mention I have them in my head, but they usually change when I'm finished with the breakdown.

No excuses. If you're not going to be bothered making music the correct way, following strict guidelines and protocols, you're sending a bad message when you achieve a desired result. Tomorrow's kids are going to grow up, thinking they can start songs, right in the middle, rather than at the beginning and that's, clearly, wrong.

Get your act together or we'll ban you from the producer's guild. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for the children.

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker No excuses. If you're not going to be bothered making music the correct way, following strict guidelines and protocols, you're sending a bad message when you achieve a desired result. Tomorrow's kids are going to grow up, thinking they can start songs, right in the middle, rather than at the beginning and that's, clearly, wrong. Get your act together or we'll ban you from the producer's guild. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for the children.

yeah you tell em right EddieZilker

quote:

Originally posted by echosystm bassline and leads first

Same to me but sometimes I start with an interesting melody.. With remixes I just start by adding all the midi tracks, then modify them, get some drums going, breakdowns, effects and so on.

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original- it always just depends but i often find myself starting with the chord progression with some pads and work it from there

remix- i always like incorporating at least part of the percussion of a track into a remix so i often start by chopping up the samples and going from there

I tend to write a hook and build it from there. Usually I'll have some generic drums to get the timing right, but I'll replace them as I get closer. Then I flesh it out with atmospheric sounds and pads, dice up some of the tracks so that theres more texture. If I get stuck on a part and can't think of what to do, I have a stash of different elements, say a quarter of a song each, and I just slap them together and throw some worcester sauce on.
Then I get my cat to trample the keyboard for ten minutes, call it minimal and go enjoy a nice line of coke and a scotch.

Not the second bit

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Haha! I guess that makes the rebel, the black sheep, the underdog.. hmm I like that.

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker No excuses. If you're not going to be bothered making music the correct way, following strict guidelines and protocols, you're sending a bad message when you achieve a desired result. Tomorrow's kids are going to grow up, thinking they can start songs, right in the middle, rather than at the beginning and that's, clearly, wrong. Get your act together or we'll ban you from the producer's guild. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for the children.

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Der Mystik's Music