Random production tip. Hey guys, here I leave you a random tip that has really helped me with my productions.
LIMIT YOUR OPTIONS
What I mean by this is the following. By having almost infinite options in terms of synths, sounds, effects etc sometimes your creativity diverges from the music to trying to find that ultra heavy bass, perfect pad or whatever.
Take the time to select 10 sounds that you like how they sound, and save them in a custom template, so each time you need youll have them right at your fingertips.
So, start working melodies, beats, etc with this 10 sounds you selected and only when you feel you got something you like, if you want start adding more sounds.
Hope this works for you, it really helped for me.
And for all of you ableton geeks, go to arrengement view.
Cheers |
Tera Baragan
30.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by Mimeticz
Nice thread, I like the idea of keeping/limiting your choices simple. I sometimes get carried away with other sounds. I keep them but never really do anything with them.
The 2 hours thing...silliness.
Not at all. Its not about creating your sounds or anything.. Its just the arrangement and layout.
Any song I have that is decent has been made in a short time frame like that. |
Leida Byre
27.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by 16b441khz
Freezing a track still has it using up CPU. Hide and Make Inactive In Pro Tools voids the tracks of using CPU power. This can be applied to any number of tracks and just keeps the session looking clean. Very handy when doing mixdowns.
Yes.
Again, this still chews at CPU in ableton. I hide and make inactive probably 20-30 tracks in pro tools on some sessions. clients always change their mind on things and so do i when writing. A slight difference and more of a personal preference. i like both of the features. i just want them in one DAW.
~
I don't believe I have ever used the freeze option I tend to resample the MIDI to and audio waveform after adding some EQ and compression or whatever other effects I'm looking to create and by doing so I end up deleting the original to save CPU power, of course I keep two copies in case I need to adjust or change anything maybe I just have a backward way of doing this, is there anyother way of saving CPU power besides the ones mentioned in this thread? |
Sylvia Greener
31.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by seitz
when he said 2 hours i believe he ment the writing/aranging
tbh some of my best tracks to date have come out in about 2 hours
please note though that im not talking about building sounds such as the kick or sound design...i tend to do those things at other times when im not writing/aranging
to me personally those times are completly seperate
i have times for sound design
and times for writing/designing
also the writing aranging is usually very rough :P it takes me about 20 hours total to finish a track to standard but the idea is on paper within 2 usually
That sounds reasonable and very similar to my style of working (separate times for sound design and songwriting...).
It's also important to notice there is a lot of work to do in the beginning of music production in terms of forming your signature sound but the longer you're into this the more of your favourite sounds will be ready-to-go. And you will also be much faster in finding the sound you're looking for, of course. |
Sylvia Greener
31.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by liam1895
This is the biggest load of rubbish i've heard in a long time. Especially in the genre I usually work in it can sometimes take just 2 hours alone to make a kick, yes just a kick.
Do you believe all the major artists including those underground kick ass artists get away making a track in 2 hours? I believe not haha!!
You got it, bro! |
Arline Receveur
31.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by seitz
Keep it simple
This, All This!!!
When I first started producing I thought that making all these cool sounds was the best thing in the world, I spent hours designing them but really in practise most of them couldn't be used because of the complexity of them. In saying this I don't mean sit there and just throw a stock kick and snare and do nothing to it I say this in a practical meaning.
Originally Posted by ksandvik
... and Komplete 8 upgrade just arrived to my studio... Anyway,
Do a song in two hours. If not ready, delete the project. EDM is not complicated.
This is the biggest load of rubbish i've heard in a long time. Especially in the genre I usually work in it can sometimes take just 2 hours alone to make a kick, yes just a kick.
Do you believe all the major artists including those underground kick ass artists get away making a track in 2 hours? I believe not haha!! |
Gina Promes
31.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by marouf88
so in terms of organizing your sounds into templates do you have any advice, do you do it by genre?
I have them grouped into similar style sounds, lets says, one group is kick and snares, anothers cymbals, sustained bass, short bass, pads, quick synths, keys etc
in the end its what best work for you |
Sylvia Greener
30.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by marouf88
so in terms of organizing your sounds into templates do you have any advice, do you do it by genre?
Probably he does so if he's into producing music of different genres. But normally, you probably won't be into too much different genres. In terms of getting your signature sound and becoming really good at producing one kind of music it's recommendable to focus mainly on this genre and not to produce every kind of music at the same time. Concentrate on maximally let's say 3 genres.
When talking about templates here's how I do it: When producing with Ableton Live you can save a template project containing the basics you always want to tart with. In my case this is a fixed drums-bass-melody1-melody2-FX1-FX2-vocals scheme without loaded plugins but with some effect return tracks ready to go. If you like you can already insert your go-to-plugins in the bass or melody tracks.
Btw: I labelled it "melody 1" and not "synth 1" as I don't always use synths. Sometimes you will have a piano or something like that and therefore its name is meant to reflect it's containing the melodic stuff.
As I don't load in to much I don't have to differenciate between different genres. But if you're into several genres productionwise and always have your plugins and so on loaded in you might want to create multiple template projects. |
Nu Kabba
31.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by polybius
Hey guys, here I leave you a random tip that has really helped me with my productions.
LIMIT YOUR OPTIONS
What I mean by this is the following. By having almost infinite options in terms of synths, sounds, effects etc sometimes your creativity diverges from the music to trying to find that ultra heavy bass, perfect pad or whatever.
Take the time to select 10 sounds that you like how they sound, and save them in a custom template, so each time you need youll have them right at your fingertips.
So, start working melodies, beats, etc with this 10 sounds you selected and only when you feel you got something you like, if you want start adding more sounds.
Hope this works for you, it really helped for me.
And for all of you ableton geeks, go to arrengement view.
Cheers
so in terms of organizing your sounds into templates do you have any advice, do you do it by genre? |
Tera Baragan
30.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by Mimeticz
Nice thread, I like the idea of keeping/limiting your choices simple. I sometimes get carried away with other sounds. I keep them but never really do anything with them.
The 2 hours thing...silliness.
Not at all. Its not about creating your sounds or anything.. Its just the arrangement and layout.
Any song I have that is decent has been made in a short time frame like that. |
Sylvia Greener
28.08.2012 | Investing some time into music even if it looks stupid at first sight will somehow pay in the end
And your experience will constantly grow! |
Clifton Khani
27.08.2012 | Nice thread, I like the idea of keeping/limiting your choices simple. I sometimes get carried away with other sounds. I keep them but never really do anything with them.
The 2 hours thing...silliness. |
Celine Surico
28.08.2012 | If you don't have inspiration, make AppleLoops or loops in general for the rainy day. |
Leida Byre
27.08.2012 |
Originally Posted by 16b441khz
Freezing a track still has it using up CPU. Hide and Make Inactive In Pro Tools voids the tracks of using CPU power. This can be applied to any number of tracks and just keeps the session looking clean. Very handy when doing mixdowns.
Yes.
Again, this still chews at CPU in ableton. I hide and make inactive probably 20-30 tracks in pro tools on some sessions. clients always change their mind on things and so do i when writing. A slight difference and more of a personal preference. i like both of the features. i just want them in one DAW.
~
I don't believe I have ever used the freeze option I tend to resample the MIDI to and audio waveform after adding some EQ and compression or whatever other effects I'm looking to create and by doing so I end up deleting the original to save CPU power, of course I keep two copies in case I need to adjust or change anything maybe I just have a backward way of doing this, is there anyother way of saving CPU power besides the ones mentioned in this thread? |
Yukiko Beauvil
31.07.2012 | That is true, Most of the time I try to come up with a melody where the peak part of the track happens and then build the track around it, which I find is the hardest to come up with a solid 5-7 minute track. Arrangement is the hardest. |
Sylvia Greener
31.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by seitz
when he said 2 hours i believe he ment the writing/aranging
tbh some of my best tracks to date have come out in about 2 hours
please note though that im not talking about building sounds such as the kick or sound design...i tend to do those things at other times when im not writing/aranging
to me personally those times are completly seperate
i have times for sound design
and times for writing/designing
also the writing aranging is usually very rough :P it takes me about 20 hours total to finish a track to standard but the idea is on paper within 2 usually
That sounds reasonable and very similar to my style of working (separate times for sound design and songwriting...).
It's also important to notice there is a lot of work to do in the beginning of music production in terms of forming your signature sound but the longer you're into this the more of your favourite sounds will be ready-to-go. And you will also be much faster in finding the sound you're looking for, of course. |
Maricruz Mouw
31.07.2012 | when he said 2 hours i believe he ment the writing/aranging
tbh some of my best tracks to date have come out in about 2 hours
please note though that im not talking about building sounds such as the kick or sound design...i tend to do those things at other times when im not writing/aranging
to me personally those times are completly seperate
i have times for sound design
and times for writing/designing
also the writing aranging is usually very rough :P it takes me about 20 hours total to finish a track to standard but the idea is on paper within 2 usually |
Yukiko Beauvil
31.07.2012 | Maybe not in 2 hours but in 4-5 hours you can finish the arrangement of a track pretty much. I do not know about how people produce but I have every single thing in my mind ready before I start. I have melodies running through my mind before I open my DAW. I know how the arrangement is going to be, it is just matter of picking the right sounds for it. |
Sylvia Greener
31.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by liam1895
This is the biggest load of rubbish i've heard in a long time. Especially in the genre I usually work in it can sometimes take just 2 hours alone to make a kick, yes just a kick.
Do you believe all the major artists including those underground kick ass artists get away making a track in 2 hours? I believe not haha!!
You got it, bro! |
Arline Receveur
31.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by seitz
Keep it simple
This, All This!!!
When I first started producing I thought that making all these cool sounds was the best thing in the world, I spent hours designing them but really in practise most of them couldn't be used because of the complexity of them. In saying this I don't mean sit there and just throw a stock kick and snare and do nothing to it I say this in a practical meaning.
Originally Posted by ksandvik
... and Komplete 8 upgrade just arrived to my studio... Anyway,
Do a song in two hours. If not ready, delete the project. EDM is not complicated.
This is the biggest load of rubbish i've heard in a long time. Especially in the genre I usually work in it can sometimes take just 2 hours alone to make a kick, yes just a kick.
Do you believe all the major artists including those underground kick ass artists get away making a track in 2 hours? I believe not haha!! |
Gina Promes
31.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by marouf88
so in terms of organizing your sounds into templates do you have any advice, do you do it by genre?
I have them grouped into similar style sounds, lets says, one group is kick and snares, anothers cymbals, sustained bass, short bass, pads, quick synths, keys etc
in the end its what best work for you |
Sylvia Greener
30.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by marouf88
so in terms of organizing your sounds into templates do you have any advice, do you do it by genre?
Probably he does so if he's into producing music of different genres. But normally, you probably won't be into too much different genres. In terms of getting your signature sound and becoming really good at producing one kind of music it's recommendable to focus mainly on this genre and not to produce every kind of music at the same time. Concentrate on maximally let's say 3 genres.
When talking about templates here's how I do it: When producing with Ableton Live you can save a template project containing the basics you always want to tart with. In my case this is a fixed drums-bass-melody1-melody2-FX1-FX2-vocals scheme without loaded plugins but with some effect return tracks ready to go. If you like you can already insert your go-to-plugins in the bass or melody tracks.
Btw: I labelled it "melody 1" and not "synth 1" as I don't always use synths. Sometimes you will have a piano or something like that and therefore its name is meant to reflect it's containing the melodic stuff.
As I don't load in to much I don't have to differenciate between different genres. But if you're into several genres productionwise and always have your plugins and so on loaded in you might want to create multiple template projects. |
Nu Kabba
31.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by polybius
Hey guys, here I leave you a random tip that has really helped me with my productions.
LIMIT YOUR OPTIONS
What I mean by this is the following. By having almost infinite options in terms of synths, sounds, effects etc sometimes your creativity diverges from the music to trying to find that ultra heavy bass, perfect pad or whatever.
Take the time to select 10 sounds that you like how they sound, and save them in a custom template, so each time you need youll have them right at your fingertips.
So, start working melodies, beats, etc with this 10 sounds you selected and only when you feel you got something you like, if you want start adding more sounds.
Hope this works for you, it really helped for me.
And for all of you ableton geeks, go to arrengement view.
Cheers
so in terms of organizing your sounds into templates do you have any advice, do you do it by genre? |
Linda Chavda
30.07.2012 | That counts. If there's a lack of inspiration listening to music with your DAW open can also count. |
Yukiko Beauvil
30.07.2012 | I am studying, songwriting and music theory...does it count? lol. |
Linda Chavda
30.07.2012 | My favourite production tip:
If you're currently not producing, you're doing something wrong. |
Yukiko Beauvil
30.07.2012 | keep it simple, do not throw more things to improve the mix, improve your current sounds and make them sound big and phat. |
Sylvia Greener
30.07.2012 | Ah, OK, didn't know that there is no CPU usage in Protools when the track is hidden and inactive. Well, then it sounds like a nice feature. Nevertheless, it's arguable if this and some more special features will justify the (depending on which version of Protools you choose: much) higher price of Protools. For some people it will, for others it won't.
Having clarified this, let's hear some more production tips!
Another one definitely is dragging one's own productions (even if they're unfinished) to an IPod and giving it a listen on different headphones and different speakers (e.g. at a friend's house) whenever possible.
This may reveal sharp highs and problems with the low-end. |
Alyse Plantenga
30.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by RockingClub
Well, in many Protools many functions are celebrated as a breakthrough that other programmes already had for years. The same with the function you mentionned: Right-click on a track and select "Freeze". Then the midi-clip will be bounced to audio and the VST will be inactivated (saving you CPU power) but you can go back and unfreeze at every time!
Freezing a track still has it using up CPU. Hide and Make Inactive In Pro Tools voids the tracks of using CPU power. This can be applied to any number of tracks and just keeps the session looking clean. Very handy when doing mixdowns.
Originally Posted by seitz
he means hiding the track not freezing it
Yes.
Originally Posted by RockingClub
Well, but what's so special about hiding it? You could easily drag your freezed clip at the bottom of your list of tracks in Ableton Live as well and mute it. Then it's close to being hidden.
And if there is more than one track like this you can create a folder track containing all the "hidden" material.
Again, this still chews at CPU in ableton. I hide and make inactive probably 20-30 tracks in pro tools on some sessions. clients always change their mind on things and so do i when writing. A slight difference and more of a personal preference. i like both of the features. i just want them in one DAW. |
Sylvia Greener
25.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by seitz
he means hiding the track not freezing it
Well, but what's so special about hiding it? You could easily drag your freezed clip at the bottom of your list of tracks in Ableton Live as well and mute it. Then it's close to being hidden.
And if there is more than one track like this you can create a folder track containing all the "hidden" material. |
Maricruz Mouw
25.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by RockingClub
Well, in many Protools many functions are celebrated as a breakthrough that other programmes already had for years. The same with the function you mentionned: Right-click on a track and select "Freeze". Then the midi-clip will be bounced to audio and the VST will be inactivated (saving you CPU power) but you can go back and unfreeze at every time!
he means hiding the track not freezing it |
Sylvia Greener
25.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by 16b441khz
+1 on this. I still wish Ableton had a "Hide and Make Inactive" function like in pro tools so if you change the melody you could go back and change it if needed.
Well, in many Protools many functions are celebrated as a breakthrough that other programmes already had for years. The same with the function you mentionned: Right-click on a track and select "Freeze". Then the midi-clip will be bounced to audio and the VST will be inactivated (saving you CPU power) but you can go back and unfreeze at every time! |
Alyse Plantenga
24.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by seitz
bounce midi to audio
#commitment
+1 on this. I still wish Ableton had a "Hide and Make Inactive" function like in pro tools so if you change the melody you could go back and change it if needed. |
Celine Surico
24.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by seitz
what the fuck?
I guess that's a comment of some kind. |
Maricruz Mouw
24.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by ksandvik
I wish one could make more intelligent-pop centric EDM
what the fuck? |
Celine Surico
24.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by RockingClub
Well, to be honest it depends on you how you want to structure your EDM track. There is no rule against anything. To a variable extent EDM tracks can of course include the elements you mentionned.
I wish one could make more intelligent-pop centric EDM and actually Indie Dance is going into that direction which is good. As for Electro and similar things, there's really little you could operate outside the normal patterns just now. Electro had a good run but it's cliche stuff today.
Anyway, going back to the hint, if an EDM producer is sweating days for just composing a track, something is wrong and just hit the delete and start over -- not worth wasting time on turds. |
Sylvia Greener
25.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by ksandvik
PS: I would agree if EDM would have the same kind of structure like pop songs with bridges, intros, chorus modulations, transpositions, tempo changes, cluster chords....
Well, to be honest it depends on you how you want to structure your EDM track. There is no rule against anything. To a variable extent EDM tracks can of course include the elements you mentionned. |
Celine Surico
25.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by Tommi Bass
Mate you are taliking out your arse.
Never heard such a stupid statement in all my years of producing.....
I work for labels ........... Professional Mastering Engineer. Also I'm on VIP promo lists cus I'm a Pro DJ..... and been producing since 1992!
Every week I listen to and review the cream of underground Deep House, Minimal Techno.......... these all where all not created in two hours ..... otherwise they would sound shit and whack and would not be released!
EDM.......... thats a label for shit music. Not Art!
I have a hard time understanding why composing EDM music takes more than two hours. It's not exactly Zappa music. Production/mixing/mastering is another story. Anyway, a drum pattern with some variations, a strong bass, do you need hours to write that? Hmm.... I have to remember the last time I spent hours writing an EDM track in my studio... Hmm, no don't remember such a case.
PS: I would agree if EDM would have the same kind of structure like pop songs with bridges, intros, chorus modulations, transpositions, tempo changes, cluster chords.... |
Sylvia Greener
24.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by 3heads
Oh, the irony, the irony....
Irony? Maybe it wasn't clear enough what I mean. Well, in lots of genres like e.g. electro/ house-electro or minimal house music the song is strongly pattern based and you often have parts where the same 8bar pattern is repeated over 64 or maybe even 128bars with maximally slightly variation. The type of progressive-house music I am aiming at (more the mainstream type of progressive-house music, let's take Axwell's "In my mind" or Dirty South & Thomas Gold's "Eyes wide open") is pattern based as well but there is lot more variation giving you the feeling of a continous journey you're taking part in while listening the track. If you're listening carefully you probably won't find two identical 32bars-parts in the song (excluding mix-in and -out, for sure) |
Celestine Porebski
24.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by RockingClub
I'm mostly in progressive-house where you don't want to here every element over and over again
Oh, the irony, the irony.... |
Sylvia Greener
23.07.2012 |
Originally Posted by Tommi Bass
Mate you are taliking out your arse.
Never heard such a stupid statement in all my years of producing.....
Every week I listen to and review the cream of underground Deep House, Minimal Techno.......... these all where all not created in two hours ..... otherwise they would sound shit and whack and would not be released!
Thank you! I've heard this "a song has to be produced in 2 hours" too often. |
