New Track (Mastering is hard .. Djizasse & others)

[MidnightSensi]

Digital Noesis - Like Rain (NSFW) Unmastered

I've been playing with masturing this one. It has a lot more dynamic range and I didn't just slam it on the rails the whole time, but when I mix it in with other tracks I'm always raising the volume and it sounds flat to me. The bass is good, but the drums don't pop like they need too. When I raise the levels up too much, it clips. It's sounding pretty good, but, I feel like every decision I make is a tradeoff.

It would be cool to hear some feedback how this sounds on some home systems. I think I'm getting better, but, not their yet.

 

[Djizasse]

Maybe the drums don't pop due to the reverb. You could also trigger a bit of noise or other more powerfull kick with the start of the original kick.

I like the ear candy and the sound as a whole is pretty comfortable to hear for a long time. But I miss a big luscious pad, like the one you have at 1:24 and 3:23. That could result in a more cohesive and melodic composition.

If you're into D&B you could make a nasty remix with this

What software are you using?

 

[MidnightSensi]

Maybe the drums don't pop due to the reverb. You could also trigger a bit of noise or other more powerfull kick with the start of the original kick.

I like the ear candy and the sound as a whole is pretty comfortable to hear for a long time. But I miss a big luscious pad, like the one you have at 1:24 and 3:23. That could result in a more cohesive and melodic composition.

If you're into D&B you could make a nasty remix with this

What software are you using?

I'll play with the reverb with the drums. Maybe I need to bring up the dry, but that is going to up the levels if I don't lower the wet. I need to play with sounds and sample something that has some kick, almost like an EQ'd table "smack." A lot of the sounds I like are using random items I sample rather than actual instruments.

I'll try synth'ing something like those interludes and see how it sounds. The piano riff, rain and moaning, was supposed to do that, but I agree it needs more atmosphere.

Yeah, a DnB remix is probably down the line. Something like High Contrast's "If We Ever" with those piano riffs.

I'm using FL Studio 7, most the sampling I do in Soundforge.

Thanks man!

 

[Djizasse]

I tried FL a few years ago, the first version, it's a much more capable beast right now. I don't know what tools do you have at your disposal, but FL should have a "gate out" from the kick instrument that you could use to fire a kick sample. Use one with a fast attack and cut the lenght so that you only hear the beginning. You can also use a Low Pass filter to make it gel.
Or you could simply replace that sample, probably faster and better, as you're not after a powerful dance kick.

I'm a Propellerhead's Reason user and it's very easy to do this with it FL should be easy too.

I'm glad to be talking with you about this. It's been years reading a lot of music production articles and not putting it all to practice. I'm very lazy when it comes to music. I love making songs, but get bored when I have to mix them

 

[MidnightSensi]

I tried FL a few years ago, the first version, it's a much more capable beast right now. I don't know what tools do you have at your disposal, but FL should have a "gate out" from the kick instrument that you could use to fire a kick sample. Use one with a fast attack and cut the lenght so that you only hear the beginning. You can also use a Low Pass filter to make it gel.
Or you could simply replace that sample, probably faster and better, as you're not after a powerful dance kick.

There are /tons/ of tools in FL now. I have tons of plugins and such too. I just have to figure out how to use them effectively. I used to want a bunch of hardware, but the software now makes me just want some hardware front ends and that is it.

Any VST works too.... I heard these are pretty good and might give them a good:

http://signaltonoize.com/

The distortion and snap, crackle pop come highly recommended. I'm going to try them tonight probably.

I'm a Propellerhead's Reason user and it's very easy to do this with it FL should be easy too.

I'm glad to be talking with you about this. It's been years reading a lot of music production articles and not putting it all to practice. I'm very lazy when it comes to music. I love making songs, but get bored when I have to mix them

Yeah, it's cool talking with you too. There are lots of production forums, but I haven't found one I really like yet. I need to keep searching, there has to be a good one out there for us!

I've been really enjoying making them also... I have tons of beats and such I have put together and never finished up. I needed a productive hobby so I've been getting back into it again. I guess if I don't finish them it isn't really an issue, its always better than watching TV.

When I'm uninspired I have been going around and sampling stuff. Even if I don't use it, I find sampling kind of relaxing. Good nighttime thing.

Been looking for female vocals. I love detuned female vocal samples... that "Looks like rain today" today I just stumbled upon and went crazy with filters... love that type of stuff. It's eriee.

 

[Djizasse]

I really don't feel the need to participate in a music production forum.
Sometimes I just visit a forum or two (harmony central).

I would like to recommend you some good magazines.Every month I buy Computer Music Magazine (CM), sometimes Music Tech and Sound On Sound (SOS).
These mags offer a lot of information on music production. CM and SOS are the best and they have a somewhat different approach.

As for plug-ins, reason is a closed DAW, you have to work with what is offered, which for me is a real bonus. I think too much tools get me sidetracked and feeling a bit lost. I guess I only use 20-30% of the capacities of Reason.

The unfinished pieces, well, it's so hard to decide when a track is done, I mean, you can always alter it and remix it and take a different approach. But that's the fun of it, there's so many paths to take. I keep telling myself I got to finish my tracks, I have hundreds of tracks but only finished a dozen. I just use them as ringtones lol My girlfriend loves it though

 

[MidnightSensi]

I really don't feel the need to participate in a music production forum.
Sometimes I just visit a forum or two (harmony central).

Yeah, a lot of genre specific too... and also I'm more interested in equipment than how people are making their tunes... I want to start to buy some external stuff that will work with FL Studio, but not go crazy on costs.

I would like to recommend you some good magazines.Every month I buy Computer Music Magazine (CM), sometimes Music Tech and Sound On Sound (SOS).
These mags offer a lot of information on music production. CM and SOS are the best and they have a somewhat different approach.

I will check those out for sure!

As for plug-ins, reason is a closed DAW, you have to work with what is offered, which for me is a real bonus. I think too much tools get me sidetracked and feeling a bit lost. I guess I only use 20-30% of the capacities of Reason.

The unfinished pieces, well, it's so hard to decide when a track is done, I mean, you can always alter it and remix it and take a different approach. But that's the fun of it, there's so many paths to take. I keep telling myself I got to finish my tracks, I have hundreds of tracks but only finished a dozen. I just use them as ringtones lol My girlfriend loves it though

Yeah, I don't think I have one completed tune yet. That Oppenheimer's Dream I'm reworking into more a downtempo ambient type thing .... this tune I'm still layering and mixing.

I feel like some of what I want to do is limited by what I can do technically, I keep learning new things but I still have a lot to go.

 

[Djizasse]

I feel like some of what I want to do is limited by what I can do technically, I keep learning new things but I still have a lot to go.

To some extent I believe in that. But someone could argue that creativity is all that you need.

Today we are surrounded by so much technologies, so many tools, that sometimes we tend to get sidetracked by the joy/need of experimenting/learning all that stuff, instead of keeping focused on making the tune.
Many records were made just with tape recorders and I'm not refering to multitrack . So, if they could make all those records, with just basic stuff, do we really need all those VSTs?

I started with 4 track trackers on the Atari ST (ex: TCB Tracker) and I was able to make music. The relative limits of what the tracker could do, were minimized by the fast implementation of the music ideas. I didn't get sidetracked by adjusting reverbs, delays and other effects. I just poured the notes in. That really helped me focus on the music (creativity), instead of trying to get a good frequency and panning balance (rationality).

This year I going through a stage where I almost stopped registering my basic music ideas in the software. When I get a tune in my head, I get my mp3 recorder and sing to it (it's ugly, believe me). This way I can get the basic idea recorded and later on I can implement it on software, without worrying of loosing it.

I'm not radical to the point of negating the benefits of investing our time in learning our tools inside out and aquiring new skills (I've been reading a lot), but I think there's a fine balance between creativity and rationality. For me, it's helpful to separate both and alocate exclusive time to each. If I'm implementing an idea in my computer I always have to resist the rational tasks that will, without a doubt, make me loose the creative spark.

It helps a lot to reserve time to create some production templates that will help you quickly transfer your ideas. For my house template I created 2 mixers (one instruments/vocals and other for rhythm), some loop players, a drum computer and some percussion instruments, one or two basslines, pads, sine waves, orchestral strings, a grand pianno and an organ. I've got reverbs and delays on sends, a compressor on the drums and a mastering unit (compressor, eq, stereo maximiser) on the end of my audio chain.

But there's much more that I could do, I could organize my sample collection or better yet, throw it all away and learn to quickly implement any sound I make in my head. Unfortunately I've not yet mastered the art of audio synthesis. So much to learn, so little free time

 

[MidnightSensi]

To some extent I believe in that. But someone could argue that creativity is all that you need.

Today we are surrounded by so much technologies, so many tools, that sometimes we tend to get sidetracked by the joy/need of experimenting/learning all that stuff, instead of keeping focused on making the tune.
Many records were made just with tape recorders and I'm not refering to multitrack . So, if they could make all those records, with just basic stuff, do we really need all those VSTs?

I started with 4 track trackers on the Atari ST (ex: TCB Tracker) and I was able to make music. The relative limits of what the tracker could do, were minimized by the fast implementation of the music ideas. I didn't get sidetracked by adjusting reverbs, delays and other effects. I just poured the notes in. That really helped me focus on the music (creativity), instead of trying to get a good frequency and panning balance (rationality).

This year I going through a stage where I almost stopped registering my basic music ideas in the software. When I get a tune in my head, I get my mp3 recorder and sing to it (it's ugly, believe me). This way I can get the basic idea recorded and later on I can implement it on software, without worrying of loosing it.

I'm not radical to the point of negating the benefits of investing our time in learning our tools inside out and aquiring new skills (I've been reading a lot), but I think there's a fine balance between creativity and rationality. For me, it's helpful to separate both and alocate exclusive time to each. If I'm implementing an idea in my computer I always have to resist the rational tasks that will, without a doubt, make me loose the creative spark.

It helps a lot to reserve time to create some production templates that will help you quickly transfer your ideas. For my house template I created 2 mixers (one instruments/vocals and other for rhythm), some loop players, a drum computer and some percussion instruments, one or two basslines, pads, sine waves, orchestral strings, a grand pianno and an organ. I've got reverbs and delays on sends, a compressor on the drums and a mastering unit (compressor, eq, stereo maximiser) on the end of my audio chain.

But there's much more that I could do, I could organize my sample collection or better yet, throw it all away and learn to quickly implement any sound I make in my head. Unfortunately I've not yet mastered the art of audio synthesis. So much to learn, so little free time

Wow! Thanks for the advice.

I really like the idea of just singing the tune so you remember it... I find that, especially since I'm still learning the software, sometimes I'll come up with something I really like and loose it while I try to figure out how to do it.

I have been sampling a lot lately, I like that in itself. It's just fun to see what you can get out of stuff. I really like the "Slicer" in FL, because its amazing the different sounds you can make by cutting and reorganizing samples.

I'm also a DJ long before I ever got interested in making tracks, so I'm pretty concerned about the technical aspects of it... I get pretty caught up in how I think it would sound on a big system, etc. It is helping me and also hurting me.

 

[Djizasse]

Singing for the recorder only takes 10-20 seconds. Most of the time you don't even need to record the variations, cause it will come back to you when you hear the basic idea.

The following method works with me: when you get an idea, you turn on the computer and the mp3 player and start to record the basic idea. Get the idea on track with any sample or instrument, then start recording again while you find for a sound that suits the idea better. I do this because many times a sound makes me get another idea that gets me away from the first one. The trick is record your mumbling while you work.

Experimenting is another way of getting ideas, and if you want another kind of inspiration you really got to try this: Dali's Slumber with a key. I haven't tried it, so tell me if it works lol

Oh man, we could be here for a long long time

 

[Djizasse]

Midnight, you might like the latest CM magazine:
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=computer_music_132_huge_dubstep