i see EDM differently. The only thing in music changing is production. No new melodies, no new chords .... So the actual sound is really the only thing new you are brining and as such , it really should be the main focus. As far as song writing, this should be something you already know how to do as it has been done to perfection before. So for me, the sound design and say he kick and the bass and how they interact in terms of EDM are foundation of the track. I'm not downplaying songwriting, I just think that it is a pre requisite. But the way it sounds and how it is produced is really what makes your track not someone elses track.

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I have a background heavy in percussion as my only formal musical training. As a result everything comes out super rhymic which is not very useful.

I've been trying to teach myself some keyboard basics so I can try to play something more expressively outside of the sequencer.

Inspiration really isn't my issue. I feel like I've got plenty of ideas, but I need to really work on composition.

So far, just doing everything I can to punch through this damn paper bag and try to hit a bit of a stride. I have no intention of quitting, ever, I love learning this. I spend hours and hours daily on this, it's consuming all my free time, and I love the learning so far, it's using my mind in exciting new ways. I just hope I can cultivate something substantial that I feel really expresses myself.

I threw this pile of cheese together recently (whoopee):
http://soundcloud.com/psymbolist/proj-001/s-ObNBL

To me it's no better than what I posted months ago, maybe worse:
http://snd.sc/zRos7N

I'm honest enough with myself to know it's garbage, it is indeed frustrating throwing up such misses though.

Last edited by on Mar-04-2012 at 00:01

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quote:

Originally posted by meriter Your primary focus should be making good music. That's all. No one gives a shit how you do it. And the people that do are fags.

quote:

Originally posted by jsrobinson I have a background heavy in percussion as my only formal musical training. As a result everything comes out super rhymic which is not very useful..

http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...s=#.T1K6sZhmurA

you are a heavily trained as a percussionist ? I try not to be a dick but goddamn, if you can't pick out rhythms a 5 year old in 2nd grade suzuki can, i woudn't say trained let alone heavy.

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"This is why Superman works alone." GC
old stuff from days gone by (2001-2004)
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Eh, fair enough, earlier in life I guess. I guess I don't mean "heavily trained". I sold my drum kit when we lived in a place I couldn't play it... regret doing that. But it was what I was taught first as opposed to a melodic instrument. Spent 5 years on it so I feel I have an intuition for drive and meter, but I was pretty undirected back then.

As for where I'm at now when I put my head to something I usually stick to it obsessively. But, I'm a big fan of workflow and efficiency and just like to not feel like I'm spending weeks wasting time doing stupid shit.

Last edited by on Mar-04-2012 at 02:08

Most of the stuff you mention comes with time. All the little "tricks" in my workflow are mostly kinks in my own process that aren't necessarily compatible with anyone else's. It's stuff you learn by making mistakes; doing something you're not really supposed to be doing that translates into something that actually sounds cool.

quote:

Originally posted by jsrobinson I pretty much get hung up when I try to take it further without it sounding cheesy. Whenever it gets sounding cheese, I get pretty frustrated and start deleting.

If you're talking about the same thing that just happened to me, on a song I'm working on, I don't think you're too far off the mark. I basically had this idea that I was going to repeat an introductory hook at a climax. Everything was in key. Technically, there was nothing wrong with it. I even lengthened it and added some variations I thought were novel.

Listening to it again, though, it just felt wrong. Not just wrong, but really wrong. I hated the way it sounded. It completely killed the mood I was going for. It pretty much fucked the energy. I'm going to take another crack at adding the part that "should" be there, tomorrow, but what I did (and subsequently deleted) just wasn't it. The important thing, for me anyway, is that I'm not stacking shit on top of more shit to try and fix something that will not ever work the way I want it to. That just kills it and I've killed a lot of good ideas trying to mask the smell of stale cheese.

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quote:

Originally posted by jsrobinson I have a background heavy in percussion as my only formal musical training. As a result everything comes out super rhymic which is not very useful. I've been trying to teach myself some keyboard basics so I can try to play something more expressively outside of the sequencer. Inspiration really isn't my issue. I feel like I've got plenty of ideas, but I need to really work on composition. So far, just doing everything I can to punch through this damn paper bag and try to hit a bit of a stride. I have no intention of quitting, ever, I love learning this. I spend hours and hours daily on this, it's consuming all my free time, and I love the learning so far, it's using my mind in exciting new ways. I just hope I can cultivate something substantial that I feel really expresses myself. I threw this pile of cheese together recently (whoopee): http://soundcloud.com/psymbolist/proj-001/s-ObNBL To me it's no better than what I posted months ago, maybe worse: http://snd.sc/zRos7N I'm honest enough with myself to know it's garbage, it is indeed frustrating throwing up such misses though.

not really a fan of that sound but despite that i think the mix doesnt sound good as that main lead is far too dominant, its drowning out your kick and percs

So i think you need to work on your mix/arrangement

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