Intro + Outro Help

[Icepick]

Hey Guys :icon_mrgreen: !
I come to you with desperation...Issue is my style ranges between Progressive and Uplifting, and i have been at producing for quite a while and gained a lot of knowledge, but the thing that is stopping me from completing a track is the intro and outro..I've tried over and over again and nothing is working, boring and monotonous intros and outros...Ive been working with Ableton Live 7 and FL...trying to produce some tracks...
Please can anybody help? and what do you suggest as VSTs for producing...
Any help/tutorial would be appreciated thanks a lot!

[sceyefeye]

I am no expert. Have a bit of DJ experience behind me and a few years of dabbling in trance production using reason.

Without wanting to suggest following a formula or anything like that, from what I have heard in listening to 10 years or more of trance the intro (or outtro ) isn't an element that is different from the rest of the track, it is just that, an introduction to the elements that are coming later in the tune probably something like using one of your main riffs/themes with possibly a sublte pad underneath that.

So I don't think a specific VST would help as such.

Rather think as the intro as the start of layering up your track, simple melody with a pad that will be re-used later in the track, then start bringing in a simple bass say at 32 beats and possibly some percussion too? Then at the end of the track start removing layers finally winding down to the elements that you would like the listener to remember after the track has finished. Just remember of you hope your track will get mixed by a DJ think about taking the kick and bass out of the mix before the melodies pads and such

Perhaps you can post a track or two for people to comment on, it is always easier to say, 'bring in an element at 1:30 or change key before this or that blah blah blah' rather than talking in general terms

Just some thoughts, hope they help a bit

[Icepick]

Thanks man! it cleared a bit of things up...i guess layering the track with elements in a intro should be good, but thing is i cant find right sounds..
Anyone else up for suggestion?

[djdaviddeere]

mannn im really good at melodies/intros/outros... for building a intro, you want to start with a decent lead..i usually do some kinda bell or something like that..and i have the loop repeating..after that i just draw another note or duplicate it, and move it up and down till it sounds right, then i repeat it till i have a whole loop of cool sounding stuff

[sceyefeye]

Just found this on the net - might be a bit of interest here? Got some tips on the intro

http://www.tranceproduction.com/gettingstarted/trancestructure.html

[Futuremotion]

I might be missing something here but as far as I know when it comes to dance / club music, your intro should be just a simple beat with no melodic elements so that the DJ can properly mix in your track. Unless you are talking about a radio mix.