• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

NEOGAF's Official Music Production Thread: calling all producers

F

Fusebox

Banned
Sounds pretty sweet, I'd like to hear it dry though, he's got some pretty lush reverb and/or delay all over his demo. Do you know which is meant to be the cheaper one, the Vortex or the Micromac?

The Micromac is priced at 995 pounds here which is way out of my price league, and the Vortex seems to be an even bigger unit.

http://m.matrixsynth.com/2010/09/macbeth-x-series-micromac.html

edit: http://m.matrixsynth.com/2012/01/namm-macbeth-vortex-pics-street-price.html

Yep, looks like US$1800 for the Vortex. Way out of my league but nice kit that's for sure.
 
L

LiveFromKyoto

Member
Fusebox said:
Sounds pretty sweet, I'd like to hear it dry though, he's got some pretty lush reverb and/or delay all over his demo. Do you know which is meant to be the cheaper one, the Vortex or the Micromac?

The Micromac is priced at 995 pounds here which is way out of my price league, and the Vortex seems to be an even bigger unit.

http://m.matrixsynth.com/2010/09/macbeth-x-series-micromac.html

edit: http://m.matrixsynth.com/2012/01/namm-macbeth-vortex-pics-street-price.html

Yep, looks like US$1800 for the Vortex. Way out of my league but nice kit that's for sure.
Click to expand...

Hah, that's his low end stuff too. An M5 would run you about 5 grand. No idea what a Majestic Twelve would go for. The one thing about his stuff is that it increases in value, because they're small runs and he designs it all himself, so when he's done with something that's all she wrote and a lot of people want them. I think he's at the top of the Eurorack world right now, Cwejman & maybe MOS Labs are the only ones who can really compete.
 
T

Teknopathetic

Member
This NAMM seems a little skimpy (The winter one always is, isn't it?), but I don't mind this cheap, knobby analog trend. Waldorf Pulse 2 looks super interesting as well, even though it's not all that knobby. The world needs more synth modules and less keyboards.

The world also needs to more, cheaper hardware sequencers. Currently shopping around to pick up an old E-mu Command Station to partner with my Maschine.
 
F

Fusebox

Banned
Teknopathetic said:
The world also needs to more, cheaper hardware sequencers. Currently shopping around to pick up an old E-mu Command Station to partner with my Maschine.
Click to expand...

How would that work? Maschine is already a sequencer, what kind of workflow would you use an external sequencer for?
 
T

Teknopathetic

Member
"How would that work? Maschine is already a sequencer, what kind of workflow would you use an external sequencer for?"


For *step* sequencing melodic elements. Maschine's sequencer is fine if you just record in lines with a controller, but I've always preferred sketching/composing ideas by dicking around in a step sequencer as I can't seem to get much I like out of playing lines on a keyboard. Maschine's step sequencer is still horribly lacking when it comes to that. I could, of course, just mouse in the events, but the reason I like Maschine as much as I do is the hardware control, if I were going to do that, I might as well just open up Reaper. The idea is having Maschine as master and sending clock to the Command Station, which'll send midi to Maschine driving plug-ins. Bonus benefit: Arpeggiators for all synths I have, not just the ones that have an arpeggiator built in.
 
F

Fusebox

Banned
Interesting. I've never used a dedicated outboard sequencer so it's a little hard picturing the workflow in my head but I'd love to see a vid of that.
 
T

Teknopathetic

Member
"Interesting. I've never used a dedicated outboard sequencer so it's a little hard picturing the workflow in my head but I'd love to see a vid of that."


It's just an idea. It comes with a whole host of potential problems (expense, midi timing problems) so I could always just buy Renoise and run Maschine inside that and save myself money/trouble and not have any of the limitations that you'd get with Hardware. But I like having knobby LED things on my desk.

Edit: In fact, I think it'll be smarter to buy Renoise and see if I get on with that before dropping 250-300$ for a hardware sequencer. The whole idea really stemmed from me realizing I seemed to be more efficient and motivated working with trackers way back yonder than currently in linear sequencing DAWs.
 
T

Type422

Neo Member
Just some little tracks I'm working on at the moment. Genre wise I'd say they're somewhere between Minimal-Electro and Synthpop. Still working, so they are still very rough around the edges.
The third song is basically finished, but one of the first ones I did around 8 years back xD

http://soundcloud.com/user8877434
 
Y

Yasae

Banned
PigSpeakers said:
Dang. Wish I would've seen this post earlier. I actually ended up ordering a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 on Amazon for $200 ($99 after gift card). Oh, and I didn't need a midi I/O, but rather just a stereo in/out for using with my external midi devices. I have a nice 88 key midi controller with USB-MIDI on it. I also have some Hosa USB to midi cable that I was using beforehand, so I think the added MIDI I/O on the Saffire is just a little extra. I found out there was a DSP version of the same interface though, which I didn't find out until after I'd ordered the other ones. Do the Saffires come with the plugins on a separate disc, or is it something installed with drivers or available at the website? I bought mine refurbished and it didn't say whether or not it had the plugins with it.
Click to expand...
You download them off the site, install, then pull them up in your DAW and activate each. It's a little tedious but the plugins are nice to have.
Fusebox said:
Hey thanks heaps whiskers! Yeah I do, but it's getting pretty old and crusty, I haven't updated it in ages:

http://soundcloud.com/kaarma

In fact this is probably the only track on my soundcloud worth listening to:

http://soundcloud.com/kaarma/deep-nick
Click to expand...
Oh I think not. Ear Candy and Do u Know are pretty good. Deep Nick's your strongest track but it does nothing new.

The rest is
noodling
WEEDLY WEEDLY WEEDLY
 
Y

Yasae

Banned
Type422 said:
Just some little tracks I'm working on at the moment. Genre wise I'd say they're somewhere between Minimal-Electro and Synthpop. Still working, so they are still very rough around the edges.
The third song is basically finished, but one of the first ones I did around 8 years back xD

http://soundcloud.com/user8877434
Click to expand...
Look I'm sorry if this sounds racist, but... All I hear is an out of tune 99 Luftballoons.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

keheheheheheee j/k
 
F

Fusebox

Banned
Thanks for the feedback Yasae. I still really need to update my soundcloud page with smoe of my newer tracks though, although my production is kind of on hold for the moment.

Do any of you other guys have this problem where if you order a new bit of kit, it feels like you can't be bothered putting serious effort into making new tunes until the kit arrives?

I've preordered the Arturia Minibrute and the Moog Minitaur and can't wait for them to get here, but I feel unmotivated while waiting for them to arrive.

I was considering the Macbeth Micromac Kyoto posted about but for US$1600 or so it's just out of my price range.

Also someone in my complex threw out an old TV cabinet so I pinched one of the glass doors from it and made a new desk for all my gear - sure beats squeezing it all onto my PC desk where it used to sit.

6963042031_21d2647d57_b.jpg
 
N

neos

Member
Still working on my remix, here's what i've done so far:
http://soundcloud.com/blindzoom/ff7-holding-my-thoughts-in-1
I'm sorry nobody commented on my previous postings, i'm not an attention whore but IRL i know very few people interested enough in electronic music to ask them an opinion that i should care enough.I'm searching for advice from people more expert than me.

I think i have done a good stereo effect from 1'25" to 1'45".Try it on headphones and let me know.
 
N

neos

Member
Sadsic said:
I've been waiting sooooooooooo long to have my music be judge by y'all... I'm so happy!

JUDGE ME:

http://soundcloud.com/sadsic/genie
http://soundcloud.com/sadsic/downstairs-ladder-ft-michael
http://soundcloud.com/sadsic/nakamura
http://soundcloud.com/sadsic/starcaller

I make some sort of lo-fi, slightly hip-hop, melodic downtempo.

TELL ME I SUCK IF I DO
Click to expand...
Sincerely, i don't think you suck.
Not my gender, but i quite enjoyed the listening.
Genie gave me a good "Moby-like" feeling.
 
V

VariantX04

Loser slave of the system :(
Good stuff, neos! You need to work a bit more on your transitions and some better drum sounds and samples but other than that, I really dig it. You working on any original stuff?

And sadsic, I love your use of samples. It adds so much to the atmosphere without being distracting. The subtlety in your work is really impressive. It's not my cup of tea but I still found myself thoroughly enjoying it.
 
N

neos

Member
AgentWhiskers said:
Good stuff, neos! You need to work a bit more on your transitions and some better drum sounds and samples but other than that, I really dig it. You working on any original stuff?
Click to expand...
Thank you whiskers, i have a couple of tracks i've started but they're nothing more than just an idea.and as of now i have to take a break (i've spent a lot of time on this remix) and focus on some gaming backlog:)
 
F

Fusebox

Banned
Yasae said:
Oh, damn, that is pretty good. /preps for mic spam Also need to make a pizza like that. /licks fingers

Anyway GAF, time for me to back up my bullshit: http://soundcloud.com/synonym-music
Click to expand...

Okay, I'm gonna have to check this and the stuff posted above when I get home.

Problem is I do most of my GAF surfing at work and streaming services like soundcloud etc are blocked so I never get a chance to listen to everyones stuff, but tonight for sure!

And if not tonight, tomorrow night...

In hardware related news, I ordered one of these on the weekend in anticipation of running out of inputs when my Minitaur and Minibrute arrive:

http://www.mackie.com/products/onyx1220i/

Should be here by the end of next week, can't wait.
 
V

VariantX04

Loser slave of the system :(
New album is out. This is what I managed to do with Komplete 8. I think the production quality is so much better than my previous albums. Pacing, too.
 
Y

Yasae

Banned
AgentWhiskers said:
New album is out. This is what I managed to do with Komplete 8. I think the production quality is so much better than my previous albums. Pacing, too.
Click to expand...
From the few songs I heard, I agree, Whiskers. You've had some good ideas over the course of these past three albums that really only have been hampered by production, and your voice has grown more complex through those explorations. Very good results; they'd fit nice in a game, too, which is I think what you were aiming for (?)

As for myself, I've been working on mixes for NeoGAF member Borgnine. He posted in the GAF artist/song thread, but here they are again: http://soundcloud.com/julia-my-love If you listen to "Falling Forward", "The Press", and "Very Much the Same", those are the ones I've done so far (with more to be added).

And not to speak too much of the latest project I have, but here's a quiz. If I wanted to compress background vocals together as a group, what routing would I use? Assume each BGV is a separate track, i.e. BGV 1, BGV 2, BGV 3 etc., there is no parallel compression desired, and there is no pre-rendering/summation involved beforehand.

Only one right answer to this unless I've made an error. Winner gets an internet cookie.
 
Y

Yasae

Banned
Come on guys, no need to get lazy.

The answer is:

1) Disable each BGV's route to the master buss.

2) Buss each to a single stereo send and slap a compressor on there.

You don't put a compressor on each because that's not letting all the signals on a single channel interact with a compressor as a group. You also disable their master buss routing because you don't want to send unaffected vocals to the master buss.

You could also render a group of BGV to a stereo stem or whatever, but that's relinquishing quite a bit of control; you can't choose how much of each vocal to send to the compressor send and that would affect their interaction with the compressor. You also couldn't put EQ on each, change panning etc. Far too rigid for my tastes unless I know I'm not going to change anything.
 
V

VariantX04

Loser slave of the system :(
Yasae said:
From the few songs I heard, I agree, Whiskers. You've had some good ideas over the course of these past three albums that really only have been hampered by production, and your voice has grown more complex through those explorations. Very good results; they'd fit nice in a game, too, which is I think what you were aiming for (?)
Click to expand...
Thanks Yasae. :) My influences for Whiskers are primarily drawn from early 16-bit era video game music with a modernized epic-movie twist. Hope I get to play this stuff live one day.
 
G

Greg

Member
Any tips on how to cut yourself off from the creation/tweaking process and be content with releasing something? I have about 80 projects open, and I've shared none of them. I'm constantly learning new things, so it's hard for me to ever accept anything as "finished" when I always think I can improve it somehow.
 
S

Sadsic

Member
Can I get some production critique on a specific song of mine? It's sort of a really personal song, so I'd like to PM it if I can.
 
Y

Yasae

Banned
Greg said:
Any tips on how to cut yourself off from the creation/tweaking process and be content with releasing something? I have about 80 projects open, and I've shared none of them. I'm constantly learning new things, so it's hard for me to ever accept anything as "finished" when I always think I can improve it somehow.
Click to expand...
If it sounds about like it does in your head, stop.

If that fails, stop tweaking after a month and either release it or trash it. Ending up with a lot of unfinished projects means there's something off - lack of focus, lack of time, maybe lack of experience.
 
M

:Motorbass

Member
Yasae said:
Ending up with a lot of unfinished projects means there's something off - lack of focus, lack of time, maybe lack of experience.
Click to expand...
like - 350 unfinished projects over the course of 10 years? :] (I lost about 200 earlier...)
Well, finally, I am in the process of finishing songs that I think are worth releasing. But it is kind of hard to filter the songs/loops that would have potential.

Taking your time isn't always bad. Wolfgang Gartner works up to 300 hours on one song.
 
Y

Yasae

Banned
:Motorbass said:
like - 350 unfinished projects over the course of 10 years? :] (I lost about 200 earlier...)
Well, finally, I am in the process of finishing songs that I think are worth releasing. But it is kind of hard to filter the songs/loops that would have potential.

Taking your time isn't always bad. Wolfgang Gartner works up to 300 hours on one song.
Click to expand...
Are those songs though? Where do they go?

There's ideas and there's compositions.
 
G

Greg

Member
Yasae said:
If it sounds about like it does in your head, stop.

If that fails, stop tweaking after a month and either release it or trash it. Ending up with a lot of unfinished projects means there's something off - lack of focus, lack of time, maybe lack of experience.
Click to expand...
I guess I'd have to chalk it up to that. My biggest issue seems to be knowing that something is lacking polish, but not having the knowledge fix it. It leads to a lot of experimentation which is good in the long run, but it doesn't always bring progress to the project at hand.
 
S

Sadsic

Member
Just for a dick waving contest: How much hits do you guys have on yr soundclouds/last.fm profiles? I just hit 10000 on my soundcloud =D
 
M

:Motorbass

Member
Yasae: That's why I said projects. They are mostly 4 Bar loops with extra stuff that don't go anywhere. There's potential but lots of work to do something with it. Most of the time I just relisten them but can't stand them because I have heard them so often over the years. But sometimes... Magic happens. :] Will post some stuff soon.

Anyways; here's some news for Propellerheads fans from Musikmesse (going on Saturday; YAY!!!)

Figure -
u2h8Z.jpg

A US$1 iOS app that’s designed for music-making on a bus. Multi-touch interface, built around quick access to tonality, rhythm, and pattern – but the Reason engine under the hood. The same as Reason on desktop.

AND:
S4fYN.jpg


After years of resisting plug-ins, something different: Rack Extension is Reason’s own format that opens the Rack to developers, but in the Props’ view solves problems like providing undo, cross-platform compatibility, and easier collaboration than plug-ins provide.

Audition add-ons with a 30-day trial.

Rack Extensions will be available by summer (some time Q2) as a free update. Third parties already announced include Korg, Sugar Bytes, Peff, Softube, GForce, SonicCharge. And they’re inviting other developers. (No word on an SDK.)

A store to buy add-ons, runs Windows and Mac, associates your license with your account. 70/30 profit.

-------

App looks fun for 1$ but nothing too deep. Rack Extensions are great for Reason-only producers. Giving stability and functionality to plugins. (sandboxed and reroutable, crossmodulation!)
 
F

Fusebox

Banned
:Motorbass said:
Taking your time isn't always bad. Wolfgang Gartner works up to 300 hours on one song.
Click to expand...

That's crazy, what does he do for 300 hours??

Yasae said:
If it sounds about like it does in your head, stop.

If that fails, stop tweaking after a month and either release it or trash it. Ending up with a lot of unfinished projects means there's something off - lack of focus, lack of time, maybe lack of experience.
Click to expand...

Trash it. If it isn't done in a month it'll probably never be done unless you take a big break from it.

Here's a fantastic talk about production and track completion by Ill Gates, I highly recommend anyone interested in workflow watches this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVQ8c19unnM&feature=related
 
F

Fusebox

Banned
Got some new kit last night! My first bits of rack gear. Pro Art VLAII tube compressor/limitor and an Electrix Mo-Fx midi sync effects toy:

6858320104_aa16456db2.jpg


Also upgraded my old faithful Truth 2030A's to a set of Yamaha HS80's the other day:

6858320084_291b230182_z.jpg


And then colour-coded all my hook-ups to make life easier:

6858320108_e12ea3ecef_z.jpg


And I made a new house tune:

http://soundcloud.com/kaarma/tekthing

Stabs from Blofeld, bass from Tetra, lead line from Monotribe, drums from Maschine Dark Pressure.

Now I'm just waiting for my Minitaur and Minibrute to ship!
 
N

Nyx

Member
:Motorbass said:
AND:
S4fYN.jpg


After years of resisting plug-ins, something different: Rack Extension is Reason’s own format that opens the Rack to developers, but in the Props’ view solves problems like providing undo, cross-platform compatibility, and easier collaboration than plug-ins provide.
Click to expand...

Wait, does this mean Reason opens up for external plugins/VSTs ?

Wow...
 
M

:Motorbass

Member
holy wow fusebox, that is an impressive lineup you got there!

Nyx said:
Wait, does this mean Reason opens up for external plugins/VSTs ?

Wow...
Click to expand...
I gathered this: Developers make the DSP core functionality, provide vector graphics and send that to Propellerheads who compile it for integration in the new Rack Extension format. That way it will work in future Versions. Then you can buy it or get it for free in the Reason shop. u-he said that they want to provide discount for VST buyers, but the Rack Extensions will be a bit cheaper than the VSTs. There will be 30 day trials for all REs as well and they are cross platform.

It's sandboxed, so it can't crash Reason, has full copy paste / undo functionality and integrate the cables, Audio as well as CV!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Ken Kutaragi is the Greatest 'emperor' Of All Time and remains SIE's only true visionary
Opinion 2 3 4
156
16K
GAF machine replied
  • Locked
The Top 25 Consoles of All Time by The Guardian
Opinion Clickbait 2 3
106
8K
Kenpachii replied
Into The Nicheverse (Of Retro Gaming): Program 1 (Cyber Troopers Virtual-On) PART 1
Analysis Retro
25
4K
Starlight Lotice replied
  • Locked
Soundbreaking: Stories From the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music (Documentary Series)
27
6K
awilliams213 replied
NeoGAF Official SEGA SATURN Community
NSFW Games 27 28 29 30 31
2K
195K
Daniel Thomas MacInnes replied
Top Bottom