Magdelayna
Elite Member
Ive not really thought about it yet hehe...il see what the file is like.
Production Tips, Tricks and Advice
- Thread starter Bobby Summa
- Start date
Ive not really thought about it yet hehe...il see what the file is like.
LostLegend
Senior Member
Using a M4L device intended to generate acid sequences to create randomised percussion loops
Does anyone know why a PC daw, in my case studio one v4. Might not read all mod wheel messages. When playing a single tack which I’ve recorded mod wheel movements on It reads some then gives up, then restarts reading then gives up etc. Does this on all vsts currently. Very annoying. I’ve tried re calibrating etc on my controller keyboard, Novation Basstation 2, but to no avail. Could it be a midi set up issue? If so I’m crap at understanding midi set ups.
erickUO
Elite Member
- Jul 13, 2020
- 1,106 Posts
- 1,224 Thanked
No idea, but have you checked with other DAW? You could download Reaper and see if the same issue persists.
If there's no issue, then it's probably Studio One's bug or settings.
How you getting on with M4L Sting dude?
Using a M4L device intended to generate acid sequences to create randomised percussion loops
I keep thinking recently about random sequencers lol. One day il get a hardware one.
Altair
Member
I have this device; I should try it out! Thanks for this
Using a M4L device intended to generate acid sequences to create randomised percussion loops
You might have seen it on soundcloud and dismissed it, but this one is actually good
on.soundcloud.com
Sound Advice: Junior Sanchez
In this installment of Sound Advice, prolific DJ/producer Junior Sanchez takes us behind the making of his new album, ‘Songprints Vol. 1,’ which features collaborations with Grammy Award-winning songw
on.soundcloud.com
SleepyBuddah
Member
It's indeed easy to skip by something like this, but I agree it's goodYou might have seen it on soundcloud and dismissed it, but this one is actually good
Sound Advice: Junior Sanchez
In this installment of Sound Advice, prolific DJ/producer Junior Sanchez takes us behind the making of his new album, ‘Songprints Vol. 1,’ which features collaborations with Grammy Award-winning songw
Trance4Ever
Senior Member
- Dec 18, 2021
- 436 Posts
- 227 Thanked
I dnt even understand what 8bar melody/16 bar melody means guessing i need to learn music theory first / piano.
SleepyBuddah
Member
Some basic understanding of music theory comes in handy, but there are lots and lots of people who don't and make pretty awesome music.
LostLegend
Senior Member
Some great info on sound design and examples of different theory/rave chords etc.
Great for you folks looking to make more 'classic' sounding tracks.
Apologies if it’s not that you meant you didn’t understand, but il put this here for anyone interested anyway.. or might be new to production.
Screen shot of my DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) - the main software many producers use to produce music. There are many companies who make DAW’s but around 7 main ones. This is Presonus ‘Studio One’ it’s quite popular but not the most popular. That’s probably ‘Ableton Live’ for a PC (or on a Mac, probably a DAW called ‘Logic’ is most popular)
The following picture shows 2 loops - the first is a melody loop the second a drum (kick) loop from my DAW. Top (light blue) is an 8 bar loop. Bottom (dark blue) is a 16 bar loop. DAW’s recording area starts at number 1 (not 0). So the 8 bar loop is between 1-9 and the 16 bar loop is between 1-17. Il point out the numbers on the next picture.
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Below I enlarged the area where the bar is shown. See that it starts at 1
See that inbetween each bar area 1,2,3,4 etc… there are on this picture 3 little lines, creating 4 gaps between each bar. So on the first bar (from no1 to no2) these gaps correspond to a quarter bar. Often in Trance the Kick drum / ( bass drum) is displayed in line with these gaps because it has an even straight timing. The kick drum (bass drum) in the picture is the bit in dark blue-the second loop. You can see they are level with the four sections within a bar. ( sorry might have been easier to see if I’d put the kick loop at the top
)—-
If you look on both pics, just above the bar number is an area seen as a line ( again blue
) you can see it starts at 1 at bar 1 and ends at 17. Ie 16 bars. This sets is a Loop ‘point’ which can be used to record a 16 bar loop ( melody or other kind) . It can be adjusted to any length and put anywhere in the song to work from.
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Trance4Ever
Senior Member
- Dec 18, 2021
- 436 Posts
- 227 Thanked
I think Paul Miller never studied music theory but he has a really good understanding & ear for chords/pluck based melodies which sounds pro to my ears. He's my main idol as much as I love other artist who are defo better at overall sound design/ execution (in their own right/ sound signature) as much as I love Paul millers stuff i understand how that 1 uberly famous track by Tyas/Kandi/Activa can smoke out his stuff (causing it to underwhel) during a-b for example Activa - Afirmation (Tom colontonio remix aka I think ghosted/engineered by Sean tyas) can smoke out majority of Activa's own solo releases and some Sean's stuff as well.
so i'm guessing mixdown is/was paul millers weak side with some complex tracks/melodies perhaps he mostly left this to the end most of the time? however Dave parkinson says you gotta build and perfect your craft as you go along etc.
Can maybe someone give me example based on what most of Paul's stuff is based on 8bar/16bar I'm guessing he's mainly popular for shorter melody so just for concept would this mean shorter loops/bars was his comfort zone ?
How big is Shipwrecked (Foyle vs Joc avb intro edit) when it comes to this stuff please ? (Sorry I'm really noob at this but just want basic understanding).
Edit I just saw Bobby's answer. Let me absorb and understand this first. Thank you so much
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Recharge
Elite Member
- Sep 26, 2020
- 1,105 Posts
- 625 Thanked
- Age
- 38
Nice to see its not just me and Bobby Summa that struggle with workflow and song structures 
The whole interview is worth a watch btw
The whole interview is worth a watch btw
Fascinating mate. Lovely to know ferry struggles too . I always assumed these guys know arrangement and structure like the back of their hand. And omg I’ve often spent time fixing something nobody will probably notice… which ironically I think takes me away from focusing on structure and arrangement. Best make a time plan of how long to work on areas when starting a new track and stick to it. Being organised basically. I try in my head to no avail but should probably write one down and stick to it.Nice to see its not just me and Bobby Summa that struggle with workflow and song structures
The whole interview is worth a watch btw
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Recharge
Elite Member
- Sep 26, 2020
- 1,105 Posts
- 625 Thanked
- Age
- 38
@Bobby Summa I know the feeling. I've become much more demanding and fussing over very minor details probably no one will notice.
My last 4 songs have been worked for weeks compared to majority of my songs who are a day or weekend worth of time + a few session to finalise the mix. I still suffer with the song mix if I don't give my ears a break.
Apart from 1 of those 4, which was about a week or less with breaks for the final mix session.
My last 4 songs have been worked for weeks compared to majority of my songs who are a day or weekend worth of time + a few session to finalise the mix. I still suffer with the song mix if I don't give my ears a break.
Apart from 1 of those 4, which was about a week or less with breaks for the final mix session.
LostLegend
Senior Member
The thing is, you don't HAVE to learn music theory, but it will help you a LOT if you do.
I honestly don't understand why people try to justify intentionally avoiding learning one of the most important fundamentals like this.
If you are happy to spend time learning other aspects of music production like sound design and arrangement, why not put some time into actually learning how to write better melodies and chord patterns?
There's this old myth that says you can be more creative if you are not sticking to the 'rules' of music theory by not learning - in all honesty, that's utter nonsense.
You don't have to go all out and learn how to read and write music manuscript and understand the terms, but having a a good understanding of chords, scales, modes, chord voicings & how progressions work will help you immeasurably.
Strangely, I’ve just recently been heading to the studio with a new ethos. And making music has been the most fun for ages.
Thinking my main struggle is arrangement and structure, because of obsessing over little detail which then distracts me and looses me inspiration. In the last week I’ve been much more determined to get some solid structure done first. One can always go back and sort a tiny effect change etc.
Today I started and finished a track ‘Machine Love’ posted in music production here. I’m sure it can benefit from eq or limiters etc but there’s a finished or near finished track made. I’ve done the same with another track at the weekend that I simply revisited and feel like I’ve polished off. ‘The spinning Earth’ (consciousness expanded).
So
I think what I’m saying is to let your inspiration flow… stick to what’s fun. Getting melody and sounds more or less sorted pretty fast. ( trust in yourself / ability) and move on.
I’m sure il still get obsessed at times with small detail but you just have to ‘catch yourself’ then stop playing with that fx plug etc. It’s probably fine.
Definately an interesting fact. I agree some music theory or getting familiar with a piano and what keys do can help and will probably elavate ability. I don’t think I’d be able to write tracks in the same way if I hadn’t got to grade 3 in piano as a young teenager. I learned some grade 4 but don’t think I did the exam. What piano lessons did for me was tune my hands and ears. I learned by watching and listening to the teacher. I struggled so much reading music. Sight reading in exams was a joke.
There are some teachers now who will teach people the way they want to learn. A very accomplished musician friend who was ‘that guy’ you bought your songs to when I was in my late teens (the mid 1990’s) … does just that. Teaches you based on whatever you want to do and achieve. Chris Harvey. Legend. Not well known but many will have heard music he’s written or been involved with. Dont know if im allowed to post his music lesson website here on trancefix but if anybody here wanted help i think he’d be fantastic.
I dont see him often but we correspond and he has been most supportive with my music.
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