KVR Audio

evileye · Post by **evileye** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:03 pm

im very frustrated i have a few software packages that i use i have spent a lot of money on books and software and im still not happy with the tracks ive made. I seem to go from one to the other trying to make a track. i find it hard to stick to one piece of software because i think im missing out on something. when in fact im not
i would really appreciate any advice anybody has on this subject
i have been making music now for 3.5 years and im into tribal house / progressive house

brambos · Post by **brambos** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:12 pm

evileye wrote:i would really appreciate any advice anybody has on this subject

Set limits and goals for yourself. For example, I sometimes force myself to use only certain plugins on a track and see if I can finish it with that. Like, on one of my recent tracks I told myself only to use Vanguard, Wusik, BlockFish and the Kjaerhus EQ. It really helps if you give yourself "assignments" to give you focus.

Hope this helps a bit.

skipkent · Post by **skipkent** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:12 pm

I'd suggest one of 2 things.

1. Research your chosen style more closely. Go back to the 'classics' of that genre and take them apart, just looking maybe at drum beats and the primary bass line. Try to recreate it yourself, and then look at how they arranged it and what they laid on top of it to really make it 'work'. Research, listen, dissect. Lather rinse repeat.

2. Forget tribal/progressive house and keep forging ahead with whatever comes to you naturally. Your subconscious may be trying to lead you to a goldmine of ideas somewhere that are true to you but outside the genre your ego/mind has chosen. Listen to whatever you like for enjoyment/inspiration, and then get out of the way and let your sounds arise as they will. You might be suprised!

2c

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:15 pm

do you post your music to hope to get suggestions? It's one of the benefits of the web imo, sometimes people come up with great answers.

evileye · Post by **evileye** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:36 pm

thanks guys. some good points

evileye · Post by **evileye** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:59 pm

i think its more of a question about what software to use and just sticking with it

aallvor · Post by **aallvor** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:00 pm

Stick to one host and just a handfull of plugins. Your most important tools are your ideas anyway.

skipkent · Post by **skipkent** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:15 pm

After all is said and done, however, I sympathize totally. I can't count how many times I've listened to some techno/dance tracks, said to myself 'I can do that!', tried, and failed miserably, tho' oftimes with interesting results.

Dance tracks have a certain pulse/vibe/flow that is either there or it isn't. So far, I haven't been able to recreate that (to my satisfaction, anyhoo) either!

I have learned to appreciate types of music this way that I used to disparage. "Just a bunch of bleeps, bloops and loops" I used to say. Sure, pal, whatevah!

I would love to see more books on modern songwriting and arrangement, rather than simply how-to's on this host or that, and production techniques.

I'll worry about the production/mastering when I actually have something I think is really worth producing!

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:22 pm

we also tend not to like what are voices sound like when we hear them on tape (as in talking), so keep that factor in mind...

aallvor · Post by **aallvor** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:29 pm

skipkent wrote:After all is said and done, however, I sympathize totally. I can't count how many times I've listened to some techno/dance tracks, said to myself 'I can do that!', tried, and failed miserably, tho' oftimes with interesting results.

Dance tracks have a certain pulse/vibe/flow that is either there or it isn't. So far, I haven't been able to recreate that (to my satisfaction, anyhoo) either!

I have learned to appreciate types of music this way that I used to disparage. "Just a bunch of bleeps, bloops and loops" I used to say. Sure, pal, whatevah!

I would love to see more books on modern songwriting and arrangement, rather than simply how-to's on this host or that, and production techniques.

I'll worry about the production/mastering when I actually have something I think is really worth producing!

Eric Prydz gave some very good advice about making music:

'Just make music'.

Wish I read that 5 years ago..

skipkent · Post by **skipkent** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:45 pm

For the sake of sharing something and comic relief, please check out the track 'whiz kids' on my myspace site:

http://www.myspace.com/skipkent

I know better at this point than to even try and create a 'dance' track of any sort, because this is the sort of thing I inevitably end up with anyways!

I have always had more fun sampling college radio psa's than lp's and songs. Just the way I am I guess! Why fight it?

; )

I've since become a big fan of The Orb, as I have found he does much the same thing, only in much greater detail and to much greater effect.

frustration