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NEOGAF's Official Music Production Thread: calling all producers

L

lazygecko

Member
Falk said:
wtf
Click to expand...

Yeah, it was a musicless version of the 1 minute long The Incredible Hulk TV intro, done in the same vein as Mario Wienerroither's musicless videos (this one is apparently blocked in the US but can be viewed anywhere else). The video was not monetized, was not even publicly listed, and was just meant as parody and a sound design demo, but apparently this is a heinous crime and the copyright overlords were not pleased. What a lovely world it is we live in.
 
F

Fusebox

Banned
Falk said:
That was a fast purchase lol

Literally just under 24 hours
Click to expand...

Omg it's soooo good though. Just destroys any other DAW I've tried in terms of linear arranging and the new GUI is just sex:

studio-one-gui-full.png
Click to expand...
 
F

Falk

that puzzling face
Nah, I meant biased in the best buds with the Cakewalk guys way.

Although honestly speaking, using Cakewalk software and MOTU hardware for so long, then moving to Boston and discovering both companies had their HQs within walking distance was a hilariously nice surprise/coincidence half a decade ago.
 
D

Diddy Kong

Banned
Any recommendations for a cheap keyboard to learn on? Trying to learn how to use Garageband. Any tutorial sites would also be great! Thanks fellas :)
 
F

Fusebox

Banned
Falk said:
Nah, I meant biased in the best buds with the Cakewalk guys way.

Although honestly speaking, using Cakewalk software and MOTU hardware for so long, then moving to Boston and discovering both companies had their HQs within walking distance was a hilariously nice surprise/coincidence half a decade ago.
Click to expand...

Awesome article man, very surprising to read that you do your work on headphones instead of monitors.

Never had a Motu audio interface, I did have a Motu Express 128 at one stage though which was handling MIDI for all my outboard synths and it was a rock solid bit of kit.
 
F

Falk

that puzzling face
My MOTU adventure started more than 10 years ago - mentor basically took me shopping for an audio interface because I was 'getting serious' and outgrowing the SB Audigy (lol) I was using. Picked up an Ultralite. When I went to Boston, after 8 years the unit was finally starting to get cranky (one of the knobs was a little loose, no biggie but annoying) so I bought an Ultralike Mk3. Then when Video Game Orchestra needed some weight on the back-end to run concerts and such, I ended up getting an 828 and put it in a portable rackmount.

Cool thing about all the MOTU gear is they're pretty much swappable and run off the exact same drivers with minimal fuss.
 
A

Accoun

Member
So... anyone heard about the Ploytec Pi L 2 synth? Looks pretty cool. I mean, it's not very versatile, but still can't shake out the feeling of coolness. It's a $100 synth that's around the size of a matchbox. Hell, it even has crude (and cool) speech synthesis.
One downside is that there's one version with MIDI out and no USB functionality except for power and the other that has MIDI (not sure about audio) via USB and MIDI in port, so they want us to buy both.
Apparently it has been a thing for well over a year, but I only heard about it today when browsing a mag in a press store.
 
M

:Motorbass

Member
Hey guys. Just an update to my goings. I still live the gadget music dream :D
I started an Youtube Channel and do 2-3 videos a month about different stuff. Pocket Operators, Electroplankton, Korg stuff etc.

I also made an hour long Electribe 2 live set. Some rough edges and it was made before the newest update which would have made it a bit more fluid...
So maybe you can enjoy that. You can also download it. Everything was composed and played on the new Electribe.
https://soundcloud.com/aa-battery/aa-battery-electribe-2-live-set-2015-06
 
D

DesertEater

Member
:Motorbass said:
Hey guys. Just an update to my goings. I still live the gadget music dream :D
I started an Youtube Channel and do 2-3 videos a month about different stuff. Pocket Operators, Electroplankton, Korg stuff etc.

I also made an hour long Electribe 2 live set. Some rough edges and it was made before the newest update which would have made it a bit more fluid...
So maybe you can enjoy that. You can also download it. Everything was composed and played on the new Electribe.
https://soundcloud.com/aa-battery/aa-battery-electribe-2-live-set-2015-06
Click to expand...

Oh, man! I really love that sort of stuff. I just started getting into synths and those kind of things.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sopzOGjLgo
 
Hip Hop

Hip Hop

Member
Would it be recommended to buy a Mac Mini for music production?

I would really love to learn and use Logic Pro for music. I'm currently using Reason Propellerhead right now but would like to make the switch.

Looking at the prices of Macs though, it's crazy. Not looking to spend over 1k for one. But maybe it looks like it will be the only way.
 
Y

Yasawas

Member
What's the consensus on upgrading from Logic 9 to X, worth it? More importantly, is there much of a noticeable increase in resource consumption?

I'm happy with 9 but X looks way nicer and some of the features seem really useful, almost £150 useful, but it's not quite swayed me so far. And I know I should ignore App Store reviews but it does sound fairly buggy.
 
T

Toy Soldier

Member
I added a Waldorf Blofeld to my setup after having borrowed one for a while, it is mean. Waldorf doesn't kid around.

I'm working on my first 'real' non-dicking-around project and needed one more tool to truly flesh out my ideas. Blofeld has so much variety, power, easy tweaking, at a crazy good price. Lawdy.

I know it's a few years old, but...recommended.
 
T

tanuki

Member
Yasawas said:
What's the consensus on upgrading from Logic 9 to X, worth it? More importantly, is there much of a noticeable increase in resource consumption?

I'm happy with 9 but X looks way nicer and some of the features seem really useful, almost £150 useful, but it's not quite swayed me so far. And I know I should ignore App Store reviews but it does sound fairly buggy.
Click to expand...

It was ridiculously buggy when it was first released but
i haven't had any problems with the current release. I don't think I could go back to Logic 9, there are so many little improvements that makes my workflow faster.
Just bear in mind all your 32bit plugins will no longer work and you need to be running Mavericks (or higher).
 
C

Chris Metal

Member
Haven't used Logic X for a bit now after ver. 10.1. Went back to 9 when Apple stopped supporting Mountain Lion and moved to Mavericks. I haven't upgraded to Yosemite yet. I'm still using PT10 and 11 (until all my plugins move over to 64bit AAX) so want to stay compatible there really.
 
F

Falk

that puzzling face
Anvils come in different sizes ;p

But considering it's sampled, wouldn't be surprising in the least.
 
F

Fusebox

Banned
Toy Soldier said:
I added a Waldorf Blofeld to my setup after having borrowed one for a while, it is mean. Waldorf doesn't kid around.

I'm working on my first 'real' non-dicking-around project and needed one more tool to truly flesh out my ideas. Blofeld has so much variety, power, easy tweaking, at a crazy good price. Lawdy.

I know it's a few years old, but...recommended.
Click to expand...

Nice one man, I used to love my Blofeld Desktop - fantastic VA for the price and the user interface is surprisingly good for a 4 knob job. It beat the pants off the UI on my Tetra which was also a 4 knob job. Badass filters on the Blo too, the comb is always a nice change.
 
L

lazygecko

Member
I am prepping for that video tutorial on subtractive synthesis I talked about earlier. This is the current plan for the format:

-Use Synth1, talk briefly about how great Synth1 is and where you can download it.

-Brief explanation on the idea and principle behind subtractive synthesis (sort of like stone carving).

-Show how to "reset" Synth1 into a basic sine wave (the factory initial preset is not a sine wave for some reason... this is the one thing that makes me doubt using Synth1 for tutorial purposes since it kind of messes with the flow)

-Go over each parameter in order of relevance (Oscillators > Amplitude envelopes > Filter envelopes > LFOs > Etc)

-Split part 2 into a separate video where I show how to create some of the most common types of synth sounds like brass, pads, bass, etc. Hopefully this can teach people how to intuitively analyze and deconstruct cool sounds they hear in music.

Anything else that could be added/changed to make things better?
 
C

cjsnapp

Neo Member
lazygecko said:
I am prepping for that video tutorial on subtractive synthesis I talked about earlier. This is the current plan for the format:

-Use Synth1, talk briefly about how great Synth1 is and where you can download it.

-Brief explanation on the idea and principle behind subtractive synthesis (sort of like stone carving).

-Show how to "reset" Synth1 into a basic sine wave (the factory initial preset is not a sine wave for some reason... this is the one thing that makes me doubt using Synth1 for tutorial purposes since it kind of messes with the flow)

-Go over each parameter in order of relevance (Oscillators > Amplitude envelopes > Filter envelopes > LFOs > Etc)

-Split part 2 into a separate video where I show how to create some of the most common types of synth sounds like brass, pads, bass, etc. Hopefully this can teach people how to intuitively analyze and deconstruct cool sounds they hear in music.

Anything else that could be added/changed to make things better?
Click to expand...

Good idea considering Synth1 is free, right? Would be good for beginners who don't want to drop the money on one of the more costly synths to start learning how they work (instead of just downloading patches or copying tutorials without understanding what is actually going on).

Speaking of synths, any idea if Serum might go on sale in the near future? I've tried the demo and would really like to grab it. It was apparently $129 at one point.
 
F

Fusebox

Banned
cjsnapp said:
Speaking of synths, any idea if Serum might go on sale in the near future? I've tried the demo and would really like to grab it. It was apparently $129 at one point.
Click to expand...

Xfer stuff rarely goes on sale, the $129 was a pre-release price. Having said that it's definitely worth the $189 or whatever it goes for, it's an absolute monster and easily my fave soft synth.
 
B

BowieZ

Banned
I know this is a crazy request, and i would do this myself if my laptop weren't completely fucking up for the past few weeks, but is anyone bored enough to have a go at...

... mixing together some Survivor Intro themes to create a new mix that would suit the upcoming season, Survivor: Cambodia? Previous themes that could be mixed in are China (Season 15) and Thailand (Season 5) and perhaps some of Fiji (Season 14). Also, because it's a season of returning players battling it out, using the militaristic vibes of Palau (Season 10) would be cool.

Most of the themes are locatable on the net (or iTunes if need be)...

You could somehow filter out some instruments from one or the other and lay them over the top of each other, or I guess just splice in different sections. Be interested to see what you guys might come up with.

PS I'm super hyped for Survivor: Cambodia so a pretend new theme would make these next 3 weeks so much hypier.
 
B

BowieZ

Banned
Falk said:
...what
Click to expand...
I'm a fellow producer (see post #4!) but yeah, my computer is out of commission and I'm waiting slowly for it to be fixed and I'll need new ProTools etc, but yeah, thought I'd see if someone would rise to the challenge of my unusual request. Sorry if it was a bit out of left field :p
 
F

Falk

that puzzling face
No, I mean, what is this for? Intro for YouTube enthusiast reuploads? Commentary? Actual use with the official season?

I'm confused.
 
B

BowieZ

Banned
Falk said:
No, I mean, what is this for? Intro for YouTube enthusiast reuploads? Commentary? Actual use with the official season?

I'm confused.
Click to expand...
My (and probably thousands of Survivor fans') music playlist for the next 3 weeks! I would show it off to the Survivor subreddit with perhaps a link to the creator's Soundcloud with the creator's permission of course.
 
T

thezerofire

Banned
Fusebox said:
Post them all up man, we're experts in here at ignoring single and multiple tracks equally!
Click to expand...
sweet, and apologies for the delay, was at this thing in the desert with no signal for a bit

I've made a couple things in the last few months, here they are

house, most recent, was playing around making a cheesy kind of organ-y sound:
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/boredwalk

techno, girlfriend challenged me to make something with only one sample, this used a spanish guitar pluck:
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/challenge

tech house maybe? mainly an experiment with ableton's auto clip launching/randomizing, I like the shaker and sidestick I used though
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/go-by/s-zSYPj

techno, I like the kick from this one more than any other part, the hihats are kinda annoying
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/telescope

tech house, really only like the first half of this, but happy with the kick
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/ff-1/s-gIDVH

just a beat sort of thing, I like the atmosphere on it, not sure how I got the rumbling in there anymore but I like it
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/autumn/s-O36ba

another beat thing, did weird processing to get the sound but didn't have time to take it anywhere, it's basically the same from the first 15 seconds
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/chant/s-cwcFL

kinda feels like wandering around in a videogame to me
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/meditation/s-4MmPQ

tech house, probably what I'm most proud of so far
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/walking-anyway
 
F

Fusebox

Banned
BowieZ said:
I know this is a crazy request, and i would do this myself if my laptop weren't completely fucking up for the past few weeks, but is anyone bored enough to have a go at...

... mixing together some Survivor Intro themes to create a new mix that would suit the upcoming season, Survivor: Cambodia? Previous themes that could be mixed in are China (Season 15) and Thailand (Season 5) and perhaps some of Fiji (Season 14). Also, because it's a season of returning players battling it out, using the militaristic vibes of Palau (Season 10) would be cool.

Most of the themes are locatable on the net (or iTunes if need be)...

You could somehow filter out some instruments from one or the other and lay them over the top of each other, or I guess just splice in different sections. Be interested to see what you guys might come up with.

PS I'm super hyped for Survivor: Cambodia so a pretend new theme would make these next 3 weeks so much hypier.
Click to expand...

Yesssss, the Survivor intro-theme megamix mashup by DJ Survivor, now with extra pan-pipe filter cuts!
 
N

neos

Member
https://soundcloud.com/blindzoom/blindzoom-monselice-stazione-di-monselice-2015/s-hxREB

My first track in Live after years of Reason,nothing serious,this is really meant to be a joke track but i'll really like to have some feedback before sharing this with friends on Facebook.

Just ignore the vocals, i've done them with a vocal synthesizer (Balabolka) which was the only one i've found that has italian spoke and permits to save the ouput as a .wav file.
Sadly a .wav of horrible quality, i've tried my best but it was dirty and lo-fi, with frequencies everywhere.....
 
O

ozfunghi

Member
Interesting topic...

I started making electronic music, as a hobby, some 15 years ago along (yet mostly seperate) with a buddy of mine. Anyway, both of us are rather antisocial guys. Most of our family members don't even know we 've been doing this stuff. There was always this "dream" to maybe someday do something with it, but because i'm now 36 and he's turning 41, well... you get the drift. Some 4 years ago i opened a Soundcloud page, and i can proudly say that we already have
eleven
followers. Yup, you read that right.

We have tons of unfinished shit. Most of it was done in Reason a long time ago, but i've started working on new tracks a while ago (slowly). I'm trying to go analog now, as much as possible. Own a CV-out modded Moog Little Phatty, Slim Phatty, Moogerfooger CP251, MFB Tanzbär, Arturia Beatstep (for sequencing the moogs) and i'm looking for two more Slim Phatties for poly-chaining. I also made myself a talkbox. Stuff like that. Both old and new are poorly "mastered".

Anyway, since we've never gotten any real feedback from others, i'd be interested to know what others think of our stuff. Keep in mind, some of these tracks date back to 2003, others are from the past two years. It's mostly "housy" stuff btw... funky electronic... Some of the things are quite far apart in terms of genre as well (also due being made over a long timeframe). If you like one thing but dislike another, feel free to explain what and why. Here goes:

Our immensely popular Soundcloud page.
Our widely liked Facebook page.
Our insanely followed Twitter account.

Tracks i'd be interested to hear some feedback on:
Destination Sunset | Personal favorite.
Pink City Jazz | What other people seem to like most.
Hypnosis | Like it?
Mellow Fellow & Face | Two complete different tracks first/second half.
Katrina | Not finished, not really clear quality... About Hurricane Katrina, based around a long "found footage" radio interview.
Forget About Me | Still needs some work, especially the bassline i'm not happy with.
Apero and What's Up

lazygecko said:
Trying to tap into some of that Frank Klepacki magic

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/66640537/soil.mp3
Click to expand...

Reminds my a bit of Apollo 440 tracks from way back. I like it, though in the beginning if felt like the beat was resisting the flow (don't know if you know what i mean).

neos said:
https://soundcloud.com/blindzoom/blindzoom-monselice-stazione-di-monselice-2015/s-hxREB

My first track in Live after years of Reason,nothing serious,this is really meant to be a joke track but i'll really like to have some feedback before sharing this with friends on Facebook...
Click to expand...

It's offline? Your other tracks "sound" good, but it's not my cup of tea.
 
O

ozfunghi

Member
thezerofire said:
sweet, and apologies for the delay, was at this thing in the desert with no signal for a bit

I've made a couple things in the last few months, here they are

house, most recent, was playing around making a cheesy kind of organ-y sound:
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/boredwalk

techno, girlfriend challenged me to make something with only one sample, this used a spanish guitar pluck:
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/challenge

tech house maybe? mainly an experiment with ableton's auto clip launching/randomizing, I like the shaker and sidestick I used though
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/go-by/s-zSYPj

techno, I like the kick from this one more than any other part, the hihats are kinda annoying
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/telescope

tech house, really only like the first half of this, but happy with the kick
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/ff-1/s-gIDVH

just a beat sort of thing, I like the atmosphere on it, not sure how I got the rumbling in there anymore but I like it
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/autumn/s-O36ba

another beat thing, did weird processing to get the sound but didn't have time to take it anywhere, it's basically the same from the first 15 seconds
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/chant/s-cwcFL

kinda feels like wandering around in a videogame to me
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/meditation/s-4MmPQ

tech house, probably what I'm most proud of so far
https://soundcloud.com/alcoves-2/walking-anyway
Click to expand...

Ok, my two cents... the last thing you did (Boredwalk), i think it's hmmm, not good. Really don't like it.

That being said, a lot of your other tracks have a certain "enigma" about them. They seem to lack a certain focus and structure, but you usually select pleasing sounds that work together well. You could say the soundscape is good, but that it lacks structure perhaps. I'm not an expert in this type of tech/house genre, but take it for what it's worth.
 
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