KVR :: View topic - how to make a "deadmau5" styled song

KVR :: Production Techniques » how to make a "deadmau5" styled song [View Original Topic]
There are 59 posts in this topic.

masterlup - Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:25 am

Hey everybody ...
we had that thread more or less but i could't get my answers of it. so here is the second try

- that was the other thread
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=200965&start=45
- that is what came out by user DJ Inphinity (famous producer from chitown)
http://www3.speedyshare.com/data/411260606/9587759/20459770/deadmau5.mp3

how to create that sounds, and what is more important what is the technique to play such melodies, so that they sound so "progressive"

more samples of what style i mean :

Deadmau5
http://ak-samples.beatport.com/items/volumes/volume6/items/0/500000/10000/6000/900/0/516900.LOFI.mp3
http://ak-samples.beatport.com/items/volumes/volume1/items/0/400000/60000/7000/600/70/467678.LOFI.mp3
Glenn Morrison
http://ak-samples.beatport.com/items/volumes/volume7/items/0/400000/70000/2000/800/0/472808.LOFI.mp3
http://ak-samples.beatport.com/items/volumes/volume4/items/0/300000/80000/2000/700/20/382722.LOFI.mp3
Adam K
http://ak-samples.beatport.com/items/volumes/volume4/items/0/400000/60000/9000/300/40/469340.LOFI.mp3

PS:
i know its lazy to copy someones style ... but i really love that kind of style and im not comercial. Want to transform some older projekt or midi files to that SMOKIN HOT stlye.

pls help Help

dannyqt18 - Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:13 pm

it's all in the compression, use sidechain for the bass plus other few bits and you're there Smile

MacQ - Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:38 pm

The production is really not as hard as you might think. I could knock something off in FL Studio in about 20 minutes. The talent comes from the chord progressions and arrangement. It's about building up a dance floor, and that's not something that there's a simple tutorial for.

What specifically are you having trouble with?

~Stu

masterlup - Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:24 am

thanks very much for the reply

yeah i will try to learn something about chord-progg. but i still can't get the sound. i use fl studio and if i play the compressor in the mixxer nothin special happens ...

1
is someone out there who can give me a step-to-step tutorial in creating that smooth sound?

2
can some one maybe upload an "selfmade" midi file of that genre so i get an idea
of placin notes?

while playing a bit .... that turns out... doest really sound proggy but the sounds not bad (made with synth1)
http://www.speedyshare.com/138496631.html

MacQ - Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:34 am

This afternoon I'll do you a huge favour and whip up a track like that using only FL generators. The peak controller is your friend ...

Stay tuned.

~Stu

masterlup - Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:13 am

that would be the greatest thing ever ...

i've tested the peak controller for the first time ... can't believe i never heard of peak controller/sidechain compressor ...

bosconianarts - Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:59 am

Deadmau5 uses a lot of pluck sounds. His main pluck is primarily made up of saws. Without totally giving it away, you have to really play with the filter/amp envelopes to get the right sound which 'opens' up with cuttoff modulation. Program a 1/64 notes on AND off the beat to create the pattern. Keep in mind it has to be the right chord to sound right. That's something you find on your own.

The bass is either, as mentioned, a sidechained bass, or another deep pluck-type bass. The strings or pads used are also sidechained.

His pad or strings section is easy. You can probably use any strings preset and turn the cuttoff down so it sounds softer. Sidechain.

Also, here's some info that might be interesting.

He uses Fruity Loops. If it's the sound you're looking for, you might find it there. I believe there's also a preset he programmed for FL.
If you go to FLstudio.c0m, you'll find an article interview with him.

bosconianarts - Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:25 pm

Here's an example of what I'm talking about the pluck. It didn't take me too long to program the patch.

http://www.speedyshare.com/931264153.html

What I think though is that you need to find your own staple sound. This is Deadmau5's. Don't get me wrong. This sound has existed for years. He just put it into the limelight. So once again, experiment... it's part of how I got the sound I made in the example above.

masterlup - Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:58 am

bosconianarts wrote:

Program a 1/64 notes on AND off the beat to create the pattern.

thanks bosconianarts. what doest this sentence actually mean ? i dont unterstand it.. when i tryd a bit and played and found out that it sounds good if the kick comes every 1/4 and the PLUG-CORDs come in the MID of 2 kicks also every 1/4.

i really liked your progg sample Very Happy

.. thats where i wanna go

masterlup - Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:46 am

http://www.speedyshare.com/725680314.html

getting better ... but still not happy ;-(

sidechained pluck and sidechained reverb :> (by kick)

searchin for a filter like that one in Synth1 ... couse i now how to use it for plucked sounds ... that knob "amt" does it ...

gettin better with cords n stuff

pls help !!! im out ... peace ... real life is waitin

Jesus C - Thu Mar 20, 2008 10:00 am

in few words

JUST INSPIRE YOURSELF IN THE TRACK OF KYLIE MINOGUE - CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD

That's the secret of sounding like deadmau5 Very Happy

masterlup - Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:31 pm

haha .. nice idea ... i direct loaded the midi file. its like i figured Smile

every 3/4 the PLUCK

the confusing thing is it has a bpm of 126 and doesnt sound that fast Smile

annode - Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:26 pm

http://home.comcast.net/~newdabranck/music/demo.mp3 Shocked

Midi files for pluck keys and three piece drum for your convenience.
http://home.comcast.net/~newdabranck/music/midi.files.zip

PS:BPM is 125

ephrem - Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:49 pm

annode wrote:

http://home.comcast.net/~newdabranck/music/demo.mp3 Shocked

Midi files for pluck keys and three piece drum for your convenience.
http://home.comcast.net/~newdabranck/music/midi.files.zip

PS:BPM is 125

..did you do that demo, annode?

masterlup - Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:19 am

thats fuckin great ... thanks for the midi ... studying it right now

here the newest shit of me Smile

http://www.speedyshare.com/340736357.html

thanks for all your help by now Wink

im happy for every new post

annode - Sat Mar 22, 2008 1:05 pm

ephrem wrote:

annode wrote:

http://home.comcast.net/~newdabranck/music/demo.mp3 Shocked

Midi files for pluck keys and three piece drum for your convenience.
http://home.comcast.net/~newdabranck/music/midi.files.zip

PS:BPM is 125

..did you do that demo, annode?

Yes...I did do the demo. It's the original tune on 1 trk mixed in and low pass EQ'd just to provide the low end,which I didn't get to do.
The keys I used was the DX10 from fruity plying the plucking sounds.
The drms were not used except for maybe snare and hi-hats...forget.

I wanted to re-do the whole tune and show how it was done,but I had some major trouble. I wasn't able to pull up the DX10 in nuendo for some reason...so I used chainer as an instrument host.That hosted the DX10 in nuendo but now chainer can't be channeled through for automation! So That's why I didn't continue. Sorry about that.

I posted the little I had just for the midi I wrote.
Glad to hear it was of some use. Smile

annode - Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:35 pm

masterlup wrote:

thats fuckin great ... thanks for the midi ... studying it right now

here the newest shit of me Smile

http://www.speedyshare.com/340736357.html

thanks for all your help by now Wink

im happy for every new post

Sounds as if you used maybe a side chain compressor on the organ like keys?
An easy and inexpensive compressor specialized for SC and straight threw pumping is "the compadre beat puncher"
http://www.kvraudio.com/get.php?mode=show&id=1262
Here's an A/V of it;
http://home.comcast.net/~newdabranck/images/lalalla.zip

masterlup - Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:51 am

hey ja ...

im still on fire with the deadmau5 style.

http://www.speedyshare.com/707475429.html

check it out mates ...

daph024 - Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:40 am

masterlup, really great sounding, almost there! Smile

btw. here's my try at some kind of deadmau5 stylee... Laughing

http://www.speedyshare.com/924496557.html

Nick Cenik - Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:03 pm

daph024 wrote:

masterlup, really great sounding, almost there! Smile

btw. here's my try at some kind of deadmau5 stylee... Laughing

http://www.speedyshare.com/924496557.html

Nicely done m8

djanthonyw - Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:11 pm

Not sure if anyone already knew this but FL Studio is actually want he uses....

bosconianarts - Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:19 am

I can confirm that FL studio use. Funny thing, when I was talking to him, I sorta made fun of the program before I realized he used it. When I told him I used Cubase, he said he hated Cubase because you couldn't sidechain in it (even after trying to explain that it's not that hard to do within the Cubase environment).

In any case, I just finished my progressive house track. I think it emulated the progressive house style as it sounds in recent times. I constructed this track using many other artists and songs as guidelines (not solely relying on Deadmau5).

Just before I post a link to my track, I think it should be said that Deadmau5 tracks are very simple. A few sessions of listening yielded a piece of paper with a formula that 90% of his tracks follow. 32bar intro, 32bar breakdown, etc... Once you have that, it's easy to construct a Deadmau5 song (arrangement wise).

First track titled REVOLVER on: www.myspace.com/djbosconian

noouch - Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:05 am

bosconianarts wrote:

A few sessions of listening yielded a piece of paper with a formula that 90% of his tracks follow. 32bar intro, 32bar breakdown, etc...

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who did this Very Happy

francescop76 - Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:57 am

masterlup wrote:

masterlup, with f-loops i can reply 2nd try.mp3 ? i use cubase and many vst but i can't reply this sound..

analoguesamples909 - Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:19 am

masterlup wrote:

hey ja ...

im still on fire with the deadmau5 style.

http://www.speedyshare.com/707475429.html

check it out mates ...

good stuff. So apart from thepluck chords what other mix aspectsare you using? I liked the Lalalla sample with the sidechaining...

francescop76 - Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:02 am

my song in deadmau5..
Legend B. Lost in love (deadmau5 style)

i used korg synth..

listen on myspace
www.myspace.com/francescop

..

andy_FX - Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:03 am

www.vellocet.com/andy/deadmau5_ripoff.mp3

Here is my take on it. The main synth will be out soon through FXpansion, the sidechain bus compressor is already out as part of BFD2. The reverb is the built in one in Live.

Andy

AdamAshleigh - Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:47 pm

I made my version of the plucked chords in NI:Pro-53. Heres what I came up with.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/2la7lj

Dar1gaaz - Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:34 pm

How can I get the snare and the kick of deadmau5 style?

I cant find them in the sound library!

Can anyone explain how to create these specific sounds?

that would be great

fceramic - Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:42 pm

WTF is so great about Deadmau5???? Am I taking the crazy pill here?

Make your own damn music instead of copying lame, boring, unoriginal house music that has the same 2 seconds looping for 5 minutes. The world has truly gone nutters.

dirty oscillators - Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:43 pm

can someone just make my track for me in the style of deadmau5 cuz he's famous on beatport and i wanna meet lots of girls. pleeeeeease?

Dar1gaaz - Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:44 pm

I am just trying to improve my skills!

And I am greatful for any advice

dirty oscillators - Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:45 pm

fridtjof wrote:

WTF is so great about Deadmau5???? Am I taking the crazy pill here?

there's 5 of him. that's his secret to putting out 5 records a week.

fceramic - Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:55 pm

Ok I'll tell you how to do Deadmau5.
Spend 90 bucks on his sample library. Choose one of those four to the floor loops into your sequencer. No all you need is some synth noise and a porno voice.

Good stuff! Now go listen to Prodigy! Mad

ATS - Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:55 pm

Quote:

here the newest shit of me

dirty oscillators - Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:57 pm

ATS wrote:

Quote:

here, the newest shit of me

i fixed it for you.

Barf - Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:12 pm

Get a hammer and wait in front of a mousehole

..and be vewy, vewy quiet

tattiemannie - Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:56 pm

Get a cat and bind it with a ballbreaking contract!

BD-RECORDZ - Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:17 am

i tryed something to

with ReFX Nexus in FL Smile

here you go

http://rapidshare.com/files/261340803/DJFiNK_-_Chasing_Finky.mp3

Kemmler - Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:34 am

IMO deadmau5 puts together pretty simple tracks for the most part, structurally, but his melodies/harmonies and synth/drum sounds are SPOT ON. That's the real secret. The guy is a very talented producer and used to do a lot of IDM and other sorts of tracks before he settled on his current style (and got famous). His production has been pretty sparkling clean and fresh-souding for practically a decade.

mateo - Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:36 am

This may help some of you:

http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/tech/how-to-make-a-deadmau5-faxing-berlin-style-synth-sound-214716?cpn=RSS&source=MRTUIT

thecontrolcentre - Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:39 am

masterlup wrote:

tif i play the compressor in the mixxer nothin special happens ...

I read that Deadmau5 uses "The Glue" as his main compressor.

morphex - Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:19 am

I don't have anything further to add but I wanted compliment you guys for going the extra mile in helping him. I think it's great to see how musicians really come together when someone is in need. So props to all of you!!! You guys ROCK!! Very Happy

- M

JordanFerrer - Sat Sep 25, 2010 5:32 pm

http://soundcloud.com/jordan-ferrer/jordan-ferrer-sunlit-original-mix-feedback-please
check that track , is mine im using z3ta+ Smile

Fred e - Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:08 am

Whats up with all this deadMau5 copy-cat'ing? didn't he release a sample CD with a bunch of sounds on it so everybody can copy cat with ease? The sounds aren't really that complicated, rather the opposite, the whole thing is to be as simple and minimalistic as possible and just leave the important stuff in, shouldn't be too hard to figure out how it's done? Perhaps that little scent of classical music theory, pitch/beat perception, pure creative talent and 10 years of experience is what is missing? HiHi

robojam - Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:16 am

Um, why has this ancient thread been dragged up?

penguinfromdeep - Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:16 am

Fred e wrote:

Whats up with all this deadMau5 copy-cat'ing? didn't he release a sample CD with a bunch of sounds on it so everybody can copy cat with ease?

That sample cd is really bad in my opinion, only a few useful things ..

FreqStatus - Thu Oct 14, 2010 1:38 pm

People who hate deadmau5 due to their obvious envy issues are funny...

Laughing

Architeuthis - Thu Oct 14, 2010 2:00 pm

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/szabo_remix.mp3

I created this after hearing Tiny Dancers. Then posted this after seeing this thread. Huh.

robojam - Fri Oct 15, 2010 5:34 am

FreqStatus wrote:

People who hate deadmau5 due to their obvious ability to recognize complete shit when they hear it are funny...

Laughing

FTFY

trimph1 - Fri Oct 15, 2010 5:43 am

robojam wrote:

FreqStatus wrote:

People who hate deadmau5 due to their obvious ability to recognize complete shit when they hear it are funny...

Laughing

FTFY

now now--- Uh Uh Uh

Someone obviously had to drag a Deadmau5 thread up for locking i guess--- Mad

robojam - Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:35 am

Sorry, can't help but be amused by the 'envy' argument. Seriously, envy? Laughing

debra1rlo - Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:44 am

trimph1 wrote:

Someone obviously had to drag a Deadmau5 thread up for locking i guess--- Mad

will this help? Smile

robojam - Fri Oct 15, 2010 7:13 am

debra1rlo wrote:

trimph1 wrote:

Someone obviously had to drag a Deadmau5 thread up for locking i guess--- Mad

IBTL

Sure

trimph1 - Fri Oct 15, 2010 7:16 am

robojam wrote:

debra1rlo wrote:

trimph1 wrote:

Someone obviously had to drag a Deadmau5 thread up for locking i guess--- Mad

IBTL

Sure

Why not.

debra1rlo - Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:48 am

@ ImageShack: just because you won't post my pic doesn't mean horses don't poo!!! Mad

robojam - Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:11 am

debra1rlo wrote:

@ ImageShack: just because you won't post my pic doesn't mean horses don't poo!!! Mad

Horses pooing iz serious bizness

debra1rlo - Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:16 am

"snooki want smoosh smoosh!"

DJ_Schoolcraft - Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:26 am

While we're on the topic of the "Deadmau5 sound".

soul_junkie wrote:

Well there you go kids....credit cards at the ready.

But in all seriousness, i think that confirms my conspiracy theory. That Deadmau5 was a leftfield marketing tool placed in the dance scence by FXPansion in order to promote & create a groundswell of anticipation about there upcoming product release.

It went down like this....

Scene:
It's a dark cold Canadian night, and a skinny internet warrior is meeting with some English software developers.

"So, we here you've got some programming chops & make a bit of music, what are you working on"

"Well I've been helping my mate Adam with some of his tracks, I think he might be onto something"

Suits listen to the tracks

"Yeah this is some good stuff...do you reckon you could make it"

"Yeah, yeah..it's pretty easy, just alot of saws"

"Saws you reckon...well let me tell you, this new product we're developing has the best saws ever, it'll be perfect"

Suits hand over a DVD labelled "SS V1(a)"

"This is only an alpha test, have a play around, make some of that stuff you've got there and get back to us. If we like it, we might have some big plans for you"

As the skinny kid leaves the suits pull him up...

"Hey, this stays between us yeah"

The kid rushes home and installs the new software & gets working with some of his mate Adam's grooves.

Scene:
FXpansion Towers, London - six months later.

The kid sits with the suits, he hands over a flash drive wiht a bunch of tracks, all very similar, but all made with the new super software.

"This is really good. Exactly what we were after...

Ok here's the deal. With these tracks we can make you a star. We've spoken to our fiends in Denver, as well as Pete, and they've organised to give you all the exposure you'll need. With our plan now implemented, you'll make alot of money, tour the world and we pull of the greatest piece of marketing ever. All you have to do is keep making these tracks, just like this so it becomes 'your sound', and then when we tell you, mention in an interview that you made your music with our software. Because of your popularity, everyone we will be eager to get their hands on our software"

The kid sits back in amazement

"Wow thats a great plan guys, you've thought of everything. I just have on question. Won't people just ask on forums like KVR how to make the sound and people will tell them it actually quite easy, it's just alot of saws. Don;t get me wrong, your saws are great i had alot of fun with them but yeah..."

The suits look at each other and laugh manically

"This is the best part kid, because no one can ever really copy someone's sound exactly due to certain factors like EQ and so on, as well as our unique special saws you're using, people can explain perfectly, but no one will ever really get it exactly. They'll go around in circles...It's foolproof"

The suits let out another burst of spine-chilling laughter and slide some papers forward. They look forcefully into the his eyes and toss him a pen. The kid signs and gets up to leave. The suits look at each other knowing that the plan is finally set in stone.

As the kid leaves he stops at the door and turns back

"But what about Adam, I mean it was his..."

"Don't worry about him, he'll be fine. You're on your own now kid.
Look if you don't want him to know it's you...I don't know where a disguise or something".

There are 59 posts in this topic.