KVR Audio

Ogg Vorbis · Post by **Ogg Vorbis** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:05 am

I have been trying to contact various moderators for a while now about starting a composing forum on KVR. Since the KVR community focuses on producing and recording music and using technology, it isn't a stretch to imagine most people engaged in songwriting and composing.

Topics I think a lot of people here would be really interested in:

- Techniques for developing melodic ideas
- Song structure (binary, ternary, ABACA, etc)
- Remix techniques
- Arranging for orch, bands, guitar, piano, organ, chorus, etc.
- Characteristics and common elements of various musical styles (electronic, swing, R&B, gospel, baroque, etc.)
- What to do when you're "stuck" musically
- Tips for getting inspired for music creation under a deadline
- Merits of various composing styles and philosophies
- Analysis
- Film and media composing
- Groove building and rhythm track foundations
- What composer's musical footsteps do you like to follow?
- etc.

To a degree, these topics are covered here, at least somewhat. But they are scattered around in topics about scales, harmonies and other "nuts and bolts" musical language topics.

Theory is theory. Composing is APPLIED theory. Thus the need for a different forum.

I have sent no less than six or seven e-mails, PMs, etc. to various mods but have not yet even received a response.

Question 1)
Who is the best person to talk to about putting such a forum together on KVR and how do you get a hold of them?

Question 2)
Would YOU like to see such a forum? Would you support it?

Musicologo · Post by **Musicologo** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:47 am

When I first came here I came with the intention of seeking more information on composition and song writing and film music.

I mainly explore only the subtopics of theory and music caffe. Usually few times enter the others.

So, yes, I'd say, I'd love to have a place more specific to discuss and learn composition techniques and applied theory.

Moreover, a place to have feedback on our own compositions.

Furthermore, a place to make virtual colaborations. I manytimes write music and have noone to sing it or play it.

Ogg Vorbis · Post by **Ogg Vorbis** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:43 am

Musicologo wrote:When I first came here I came with the intention of seeking more information on composition and song writing and film music.

I mainly explore only the subtopics of theory and music caffe. Usually few times enter the others.

So, yes, I'd say, I'd love to have a place more specific to discuss and learn composition techniques and applied theory.

Moreover, a place to have feedback on our own compositions.

Furthermore, a place to make virtual colaborations. I manytimes write music and have noone to sing it or play it.

Those are good topics and ideas that I hadn't thought of, thanks!

Colonel Flashback · Post by **Colonel Flashback** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:54 am

This part of the forum isn't all that busy, so i don't think another one is needed.
Maybe just rename it to "music theory and composing" or something...

Sascha Franck · Post by **Sascha Franck** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:14 am

Colonel Flashback wrote:This part of the forum isn't all that busy, so i don't think another one is needed.
Maybe just rename it to "music theory and composing" or something...

While one has to agree that this is not exactly the busiest forum part of KVR, I still second everything Ogg Vorbis said. Composition is quite something else but music theory, sometimes they're not even exactly connected with each other. So, yes, I'd like to see some dedicated composition forum. I think it should be named "Composition and Arrangement", though (or would that be too long for the forum side bar?).

As far as the mods to ask goes, no idea. Have you tried to get ahold of bluedad?

And regarding any possible contributions, well, I'm not a great composer by any means, but having played a lot of styles during the last two decades (that's what I'm making my living from), I think I'm at least rather familiar with certain techniques. I'll happily add this knowledge whenever required.

Cheers
Sascha

Lunatique · Post by **Lunatique** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:18 am

While I think the idea is great, within the context of what KVR is, it may not generate enough traffic. Usually, the serious composers know to go to forums like V.I. Control or Northern Sound Source to discuss matters regarding composition, orchestration, arrangement...etc. The majority of members here KVR are the type of musician that stick their noses up at any kind of traditional theory, and the pride themselves in being mavericks and experimentalists, and gets offended if anyone were to suggest they should also learn traditional theory in order to be more well-rounded (just the same as how some orchestral composers gets offended if you told them they need to also learn how to compose electronica, hip-hop, industrial/goth...etc to be more well-rounded). I for one have accepted the fact that this apparently hard to close chasm exists between the traditional musicians and the cutting-edge self-taught musicians. I visit both types of forums because I belong to a third group of a very small minority--guys that feel we should embrace all knowledge and ideas and styles in order to be truly well-rounded, and that our musical journey would be that much more fulfilling if we opened ourselves up to everything.

saxer · Post by **saxer** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 7:12 am

i agree with lunatique - i like to get "well-rounded"... at least i like to imagine to feel that i'm on the way to get well-rounded some day. so a composer forum would be nice.

(schöne grüße an sascha frank, lost member of logic forum

)

Signal chain · Post by **Signal chain** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:08 am

I'm happy when the

yellow lights in the theory forum are lit, and avid to reed and learn ...

A songwriting dedicated forum is of course very welcome

because as already said between theory and production tecnique, there is a

compositional and arrangement fondamental aspect ...why not having it here,

would be surely different then switching to another site, it would be the

way kvr people compose and arrange, might be interesting

marco.

Sascha Franck · Post by **Sascha Franck** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 2:02 pm

saxer wrote: (schöne grüße an sascha frank, lost member of logic forum )

Ach! Hi auch! Wie du siehst, ist man hier nicht so kleingeistig wie bei Logicuser.de - und es lesen dennoch deutlich mehr Entwickler mit als dort. Naja, so kleingeistig wie bei LU.de ist man eigentlich ja sowieso nirgendwo.

Sorry for the german. And btw, as far as your mouseless stepsequencer goes (I know, it's the other thread...), I think a tracker might be the closest thing to look for. No idea how many there are for Macs (especially compatible with Leopard...). Plugin-wise, I wouldn't happen to know of any.

- Sascha

JohnDX · Post by **JohnDX** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:35 pm

Ogg Vorbis wrote: Would YOU like to see such a forum? Would you support it?

Yes and yes.

Barf · Post by **Barf** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:13 pm

Lunatique wrote: Usually, the serious composers know to go to forums like V.I. Control or Northern Sound Source to discuss matters regarding composition, orchestration, arrangement...etc.

Thanx for that,never heard of those sites before

chrised · Post by **chrised** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:21 am

...why not having it here, would be surely different then switching to another site, it would be theway kvr people compose and arrange, might be interesting

marco

.

I agree. There are quite a few threads about composing - what makes a good House melody, what chords go with this - in some of the other forums on the site. It'd make more sense to try to encourage people to go to a Composition forum to make searching easier. And the focus at KVR would be different to NorthernSounds, where most of the threads are on common-practice orchestral. There's nothing wrong with that but you'd get a good spread of dance, experimental and soundtrack here, I think.

I think the Music Theory title puts a lot of people off even stepping inside - rename it Composition and you get to take 'em by surprise once they're in.

Chris

Lunatique · Post by **Lunatique** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:35 am

That's very true. VI Control and NSS cater mainly to orchestral music, and that's not generally helpful to people who want to learn about composing less conventional styles. I think how popular this thread becomes will determine whether something happens here. IMO, I think the music theory forum already encompasses composition.

Ogg Vorbis · Post by **Ogg Vorbis** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 2:58 pm

Lunatique wrote:That's very true. VI Control and NSS cater mainly to orchestral music, and that's not generally helpful to people who want to learn about composing less conventional styles. I think how popular this thread becomes will determine whether something happens here. IMO, I think the music theory forum already encompasses composition.

I suppose that you're right about this forum having a lot of songwriting and theory threads in it, but I was kind of hoping for a place for people to learn about non-theory issues when it comes to creating music.

Maybe the voices of the moderators would stand on Mount Olympus and collectively say, "Creative issues are beyond the mission of KVR. Go ye elsewhere. We have spoken."

forw · Post by **forw** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:07 pm

as soon as a composing forum exists it will generate more traffic than expected now, I'm sure.

Composing Forum