Since starting making music on my computer this summer I've settled on a bunch of VSTs that get used on most tracks.
This might make for boring tracks but seems 'right', or at least normal after coming from a background of playing in bands where the the guitarist has one guitar, the bassist has one bass, there is a single drumkit etc.
Does anybody else tend to do this, i.e. have a core group of sounds (even just basic ones) that appear on most tracks? This is a question that just arises from curiosity and from being new to this stuff.
If you do have a core group of sounds, does that then limit the kind of music that you make?
I'm hoping I've put this in the correct forum too...
VST Reuse
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- Skunk Mod
- 21249 posts since 10 Jun, 2004 from Pony Pasture
Good question. I use several plug-ins over and over, but (except drums) rarely the same sounds. I also have as much focus as a cappucino-fueled ferret, so no two compositions I come up with sound much alike.
Being all over the map musically means I don't get very good at any one thing... but there's a marvelous view from way up here. OTOP, if you focus on certain sounds you can dig into the subtleties of those sounds, tweak them far more surely because you've studied them closely.
Being all over the map musically means I don't get very good at any one thing... but there's a marvelous view from way up here. OTOP, if you focus on certain sounds you can dig into the subtleties of those sounds, tweak them far more surely because you've studied them closely.
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- KVRAF
- 6596 posts since 21 Jun, 2004 from Secret Underground Hideout
boston never changed their sound
with myself, the only thing that stays mostly constant is drums
with myself, the only thing that stays mostly constant is drums
"Most people who experiment with drugs are not lying in the streets, suffocating on their own vomit. If you want to see some of that, go to the Pub on Saturday night at closing time." ozwest
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- KVRAF
- 3158 posts since 2 Jul, 2005 from Stuck in the closet
I tend to jump around too, but I'm looking to settle down with just one synth and a few sounds. Like Meffy said, once you really know your sounds, you can do wonderful things with them. It's also nice to have familiar stuff to work with every time you sit down. Familiarize yourself with your sounds, and you can come up with music in your head using exactly those sounds before putting it down into your sequencer or on paper. I admire that in people... seeing them reuse a bunch of sounds and methods, but getting lots of variety out of them. 
And remember, the only thing limiting your creativity is you. You can get tons and tons of variety with just a handful of sounds if you're creative enough!
And remember, the only thing limiting your creativity is you. You can get tons and tons of variety with just a handful of sounds if you're creative enough!
Mizutaphile.
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- Banned
- 39 posts since 15 Sep, 2005
The more you reuse a VST, the more your tracks will blend together, sound nice on a CD. If you also carefully study the VSTs you reuse you will have greater ability to use these VSTs and so your tracks could also differ greatly. In my case, I feel it is absolutely necessary to have the least amount of VSTs in my arsenal as possible so that I can reuse as much as possible thereby perfecting my use of the VST and possibly having music that blend together. This year I will be acquiring my first VSTs ever (the first being Absynth). I will not use anything free unless I find it absolutely necessary to have nor will take expensive VSTs for free for the same reason. (I won't use pirated VSTs though, I'm just making a point at how strict my selection of VSTs are). This kind of thinking has lead me to dislike programs like Reaktor and similar, but this kind of thinking is the best and most efficient way to create great music in my opinion.
So to sum it up: Reuse VSTs as MUCH as possible. Have as few of VSTs as possible. 1 good one is better than infinate lesser ones.
So to sum it up: Reuse VSTs as MUCH as possible. Have as few of VSTs as possible. 1 good one is better than infinate lesser ones.
Last edited by Argitoth on Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- KVRist
- 68 posts since 19 Sep, 2005 from Bournemouth, UK
I tend to have a central repetoire of sounds - drums, bass, piano, pads - that I use on almost everything and then a slightly wider selection of lead sounds that I switch between depending upon the nature of the music.
I'd like to say that this is an attempt to keep some coherence and consistency between different compositions, but I think it's probably just laziness.
I'd like to say that this is an attempt to keep some coherence and consistency between different compositions, but I think it's probably just laziness.
Fourth Mansions - putting the "ick" into music.
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- Banned
- 4073 posts since 15 Mar, 2004
So, when do we get to hear the "subtleties of" your music Meffy?Meffy wrote:Good question. I use several plug-ins over and over, but (except drums) rarely the same sounds. I also have as much focus as a cappucino-fueled ferret, so no two compositions I come up with sound much alike.
Being all over the map musically means I don't get very good at any one thing... but there's a marvelous view from way up here. OTOP, if you focus on certain sounds you can dig into the subtleties of those sounds, tweak them far more surely because you've studied them closely.
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- KVRian
- 1112 posts since 17 Jul, 2003 from Kauai, HI
Yes, listening to my music's like that too, like preparing for surgery--a 24-hour fast and an enima.
Tom
Tom