Producing!!!

[n-root]

Are you interested in producing EDM?

[Kuro]

yes.

[n-root]

Have you taken any classes for it? Or would you?

[shyann266]

yes

[Unfeign]

producting is really the natural progressing after DJing. as Danny Tenaglia put it when asked what advice he would give to up and comers "get into producing as soon as possible." look at Satoshi Tomeii, guy was barely anything until he started putting out quality tracks on his own lable, now he's top notch.

the only problem? $. equipment costs, and it takes time to learn. with fruity loops and reason and those programs, laptop producing is much more feasible these days, but it is the commitment factor.

but i think the more producers, the better quality sounds that will come out of this genre. the bar gets raised every time and it really makes people put out the best they can.

[evey]

Originally posted by n-root
Are you interested in producing EDM?

Carlo and I will be producing a track soon, Roman.

[Tails]

It's hard, but yeah, I'm producing a little bit. I agree that it seems like the natural progression after DJing... and let's face it, it's another way to get tunes that are uniquely "yours" -- not only because they're distinctly your sound, but because no one else has them..

[Tails]

Oh, and I'd consider taking classes for producing if the classes were focused on composition rather than learning particular software... manuals are pretty good, but I still have trouble laying down good drum patterns, for instance. Haven't found any good resource for that except for the advice most producers get: "experiment!"

[n-root]

Originally posted by evey
Carlo and I will be producing a track soon, Roman.

I can't wait man. I bet it's gonna rip.

[n-root]

Originally posted by Tails
Oh, and I'd consider taking classes for producing if the classes were focused on composition rather than learning particular software... manuals are pretty good, but I still have trouble laying down good drum patterns, for instance. Haven't found any good resource for that except for the advice most producers get: "experiment!"

When I think of a class so to speak I am not meaning for particular products as much as fundamental concepts. Whether your sequencer is reason, cubase, or Performer the fundamentals of using a GUI tracker for instance is going to be the same. The same (basically) will hold true for synthesizers they all consist of a few basic parts (osc, EG's, LFO's, etc) that when used correctly in unison give us the "patches" that we've grown to love. so understanding these fundamentals one could theoretically use almost any synthesiser. Then theres sampling, roll programing, and the list goes on. In other words I think we all have a shitload we can talk about while not focusing on a particualr product for any other reason than example. No pun intended!

"Experimentation" ok experimentation is good. When it's guided, and the expirementer has an idea of whats going on. If you let a n00b into a chem lab and they leave the top off the ether and blow the place up there is no more "expirementing". The reason I say thin is because I've seen countless newbies attempt to use a Moog and fail. They're testy pieces of equip. and the kid got discouraged etc etc. Nobody likes that feeling. ..
Would you guys be interested in a MIDI FAQ? Maybe little mini-faq's on sample editing and things of the like. I'm really just attempting a massing of the heads here. DC has the potential to blow the f*&^% up musicwise!!! I'd personally like to be right up front when it happens

[Tails]

Originally posted by n-root
"Experimentation" ok experimentation is good. When it's guided, and the expirementer has an idea of whats going on. If you let a n00b into a chem lab and they leave the top off the ether and blow the place up there is no more "expirementing". The reason I say thin is because I've seen countless newbies attempt to use a Moog and fail. They're testy pieces of equip. and the kid got discouraged etc etc. Nobody likes that feeling. ..
Would you guys be interested in a MIDI FAQ? Maybe little mini-faq's on sample editing and things of the like. I'm really just attempting a massing of the heads here. DC has the potential to blow the f*&^% up musicwise!!! I'd personally like to be right up front when it happens

Def. agree with this -- any kind of a guide is good as a starting point. There are a number of good places to learn about synth patch programming (the manual is a good place to start, and the Access Virus Analogue Synth Programming Guide is good -- can be downloaded for free in PDF from their site), but nobody talks about drums. :shrugs: Learning general principles means you can apply 'em in any situation... :thumbsup:

A production site sounds like a good idea. I've been thinkin' about writing up something on the basics of spinning (with input from other people on the forums, if possible)... it'd be hot to see something like that for production, too, since it might be even harder to come to grips with than spinning.

:smurf:

--t2

[n-root]

Drums.. ok .... heres my take on drums.... In my opinion programming drums can be one of the most fun and most frustrating things. I personally like to program drums in a few ways depending on what I am looking for. I prefer to start with a K2500 sampler with the orchestral patch expansion. I think quality drum samples rock. Then to actually begin programming them I step sequence in all the beats that I want to use as the tempo locks (ie there maybe various _slight_ variations in quantization however the snare WILL hit on 2). Mind you every channel in the sequencer is dedicated snare kick etc for versatility later in the mixdown (there is no pattern on redrum 1" the way I like to do things however there may be 5 redrums :) anyway then I begin to sequence in overdub mode actually playing the beats on the controler into the sequenser (using the clicktrack as a guide) now I do this because it adds human timing into things, which human ears actually enjoy! then I take that measure (I do this one measure at a time working my wqay into bars, working with bars helps you phrase naturally within the track.) and quantize things _slightly_ getting things right where I need them. I wanna keep this short so Im just gonna say "Lather, Rinse Repeat"

[Tails]

Word... I used to always sequence my drums in by hand, and as soon as I started playing them on the keyboard -- especially congas/bongos -- things got a lot more real and funky. I think triplets are understated too, and make great fills, either with a kick, tom, or hand percussion... something throaty with a mid-range attack. =.) trip-a-let-THOOM.

I think hats are my biggest problem... I either go overboard or they sound thin and like the stereotypical 4/4 house beat (UNFsshUNFsshUNFsshUNFssh...). Usually when I'm listening to tunes I like I can pick out all the instruments/melodies/etc., but can't hear the individual drum patterns. Gotta train my ear, I guess.

Ever find that you have a kickin' drum pattern and nothing actually fits with it? That's real frustrating... all my productions are overblown anyway so I guess that's a lesson to me.

[n-root]

triplets arent underestimated... were just openly discussing a subject usually guarded by studio walls and engineers with tricks they don't want to share.... anyway triplets are ESSENTIAL to roll programming!

[Tails]

*laughs* Oh, true... I mean "understated" as they're not mentioned very often, but I think they're essential. =.)