i like analog hardware because its fun to experiment in a physical audio environment with objects.

i like hardware digital synthesizers because i like having the tactile feedback that a panel with knobs and buttons can provide + dedicated processing as not to use my CPU.

i like software because its versatile / easily programmable and in most cases completely re callable and archive friendly.

believe it or not, all of the above play well together.


the points are as follows:

there are good musicians, and there are bad musicians.

there are right ways to do things to make something sound good.

there are wrong ways to do things and still make something sound good.

but at the end of the day, there is a bit of science and a somewhat conformed methodology applied to the above points to making your tracks sound "full"... and that is applicable to ANYTHING you decide to lay down on a track... whether its soft / hard / sampled or otherwise. That is more or less the musicians focus when it comes to engineering a piece of electronic music that stands on its own 2 feet in a club. The music part should just come naturally for most musicians. if anything im sure i have spent over 80% of my music making experience learning that engineering / mixing and mastering is key.

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Due to the overcrowding on my TranceAddict avatar, I am immediately ceasing any involvement in the music industry to prevent further disruption of the lives of people with... issues. I will now work at my dream job as a miniputt obstacle. Mention this press release and get a 10% discount at any participating Super Putt!

quote:

[i][b]if anything im sure i have spent over 80% of my music making experience learning that engineering / mixing and mastering is key.

And that's what I like most about your music. Your tunes themselves are often quite simple in construction, don't get me wrong, they're not bad but also not SO special. It's more that superb sound quality that makes the difference.

What is it that you do to give your sound such a tight yet open feel... I mean, what do you suggest to people that are still learning. I'm sure you have one or two rules that help to get your sound so good. Will you let us know?

Discussing SW vs HW is a great waste of time you could've actually spent producing music.

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quote:

Originally posted by Airbase Discussing SW vs HW is a great waste of time you could've actually spent producing music.

+1

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quote:

Originally posted by Airbase Discussing SW vs HW is a great waste of time you could've actually spent producing music.

Yes but so is making tutorials

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quote:

If less is more think about how much more more would be. -Frasier

quote:

Originally posted by Storyteller Yes but so is making tutorials

They are way quicker

This discussion has been going on since forever.

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Besides, tutorials can actually help people.

quote:

Originally posted by deadmau5 The music part should just come naturally for most musicians. if anything im sure i have spent over 80% of my music making experience learning that engineering / mixing and mastering is key.

Good point, but I would stress that the music portion won't come naturally for most musicians until they've spent a great deal of time developing their musical skills. It gets back to that old "are you born with it?" debate, which I think is a crock. Becoming an accomplished musician takes time and experience - some people excel at it, others need to really work at it. Unfortunately, I think there's a good possibility that a lot of amateur producers with poorly developed musical skills will read your quote and misinterpret it to mean that the production is more important than the music. In other words, they'll see it as, "oh, you CAN polish a turd - I don't need to waste my time improving my musical skills because sidechaining and mastering is more important. Deadmau5 said so!"

Back on topic - I don't agree with the OP's assertion that software is viewed as tools for "amateurs." Everybody knows that there are benefits to each, so why would a "pro" limit him/herself to a tool that doesn't fit the job for them (assuming cost is not a precluding factor)? I'll just reiterate for the record that, while I've been using hardware synths for about 30 years and currently have 9 HW synths, I still use software for at least 50% of my work. Also, I don't see the hardware snobbery that people talk about here, because as far as I can see, most hardware users today also use software, even though they may prefer the sound of some hardware.

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Last edited by cryophonik on Mar-10-2009 at 16:14

quote:

Originally posted by Storyteller Yes but so is making tutorials

But what he is doing is helping out the community and showing you tips and tricks....

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik "oh, you CAN polish a turd - I don't need to waste my time improving my musical skills because sidechaining and mastering is more important. Deadmau5 said so!"

From my fun experiences so far, certainly a great example of "not what i meant"

lol.

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Due to the overcrowding on my TranceAddict avatar, I am immediately ceasing any involvement in the music industry to prevent further disruption of the lives of people with... issues. I will now work at my dream job as a miniputt obstacle. Mention this press release and get a 10% discount at any participating Super Putt!

quote:

Originally posted by raku I'm sure you have one or two rules that help to get your sound so good. Will you let us know?

You'll find there are hundreds, or thousands, of "rules". All developed through a dedicated learning process, through spending time in the studio working on sounds, putting sounds together.

The rules you're after you can find on this forum, in books, and most importantly through direct experience. Reading can teach you a bit, but in the end you need to experience how it relates to your personal way of putting sounds together. The "rules" you end up using will be your rules. They may work for someone else, they may not.