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| quote: | Originally posted by Astralist
I understand this in theory, in practice it's a little difficult and I'd be interested in advice on how to be more efficient.
I'm finding it a little too easy to get hung up on individual synth character even if I can't stand the synths workflow.
For example no matter how much I experiment, I find the 303/ABL sequencer, and korg MS-20 patch-panel VST experience to be annoying and counter intuitive. The workflow is overall, a pain. My main synths seem to come down to Diva, Zebra, and Lush101... Yet I find the sound quality of the 303 and MS-20 to be unique and wish I could find a smoother way of incorporating those elements without separate plugins. |
When I switched fully from Reason and over to Ableton, I was throwing strikes in the dark. I didn't watch any tutorials on either of them. what I did do, was spend 3 very frustrating and slow weeks getting my mind wrapped around Ableton. But the entire time, I was using Predator. It was the first experience with a VST I had. I found Ableton and Predator to be so much easier to work with and never looked back.
So anyway, before I get all sentimental, my point is that you have to really stick with it and not give up. Even if you want to start fucking around with other VSTs, force yourself to produce with it. I used only Predator with Ableton until I had them both working for me the way I wanted. I almost regretted installing Jupiter because it just seemed too overwhelming, but after I chose that as the 2nd VST I would "master", and now about 2-3 years using it, it did so much for me. If you look at the layout of the Jupiter, it really doesn't get any simpler in terms of synthesis. The principles are there. I am not an expert on the Jupiter 8V but it does exactly what I want it to do, and sometimes it even surprises me. Eventually I wanted some extra sounds so I learned Roland Bass Station like the back of my hand. Trus t me, with the right processing, the bass station is just amazing.
Now adays, I use about 2 sample packs. They are tech house sample packs, and then a third one that is more techno with lots of 909 loops. I have tons of other samples but now just by looking at the waveform of a loop I know whether or not I want to audition it. I always slice to MIDI because if I need the loop to work for me in a different way I have full control.
Having a ton of VSTs installed will confuse the shit out of you. You have to think about the fact that they ALL basically do the same thing, for the most part. But, you do need to take chances. Download VSTs you never thought you'd need or use. For instance, I have recently added the Moogi filter to my plugins. It is a filter that quite heavily colours the sound, and in the right situation it sounds great. I grabbed it on a whim, and now it's part of the processing I have on one of my favorite bass sounds at the moment.
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