I Guess I'm...Out of the Loop?

[TFHT2013]

I would first like to say that I'm not even sure sure what I am asking - so here goes nothing.

Basically I haven't seriously produced any music with DAWs and VSTs since I was about 16. There have been some phases of interest, but now I am 24, and have tons of ammo I need to unload. I've never had this level of inspiration before, and I've been laying down ideas like crazy in the ways I know how. I am also a bit undereducated about todays audio software.

The program I am most familiar with in FL Studio. So lets start there. Basically what I have always done was load the samples I wanted, like CoolKick7000 and HiHat20 or some arbitrarily titled sample, loaded the VSTs I wanted to use, say Albino 2, messed around until I had all the effects I wanted, perhaps LFX1310, or dblue Glitch. I made the melodies and harmonies and what not in the piano roll, usually by MIDI from my Microkorg (sold), straightened it out, arranged all the patterns in the sequencer, and had my way with recording and automating dial movements, maybe the cutoff, the tempo, pitch, etc. Then I mastered and equalized, possibly crapilly.

I guess my question is, what else can I do? Surely this isn't the only way? For instance, I keep hearing about SFZ format samples. Have I been using lesser samples, and these SFZs are indeed the holy grail? I just looked at Native Instruments Battery 4 and FL FPC, and got to thinking that maybe a drum synth would be better than just random samples, in terms of ubiquitous sounds?

Or, does music production essentially just come down to what works for you? I mean, I've always been a manual guy. No loops, no downloaded sounds that were not drum samples.

Is my method a good method? Are there better ways? What can I do to increase the quality of my music? What options do I now have?

P.S. I will eventually tinker with Ableton, Cubase, Reason etc, but for now, please keep this in terms of the quaint FL Studio.

[Tricky-Loops]

If you want to make loops, it should be tricky loops...

Seriously, I don't know what you're asking. There are so many different techniques to make music, and that's what the fun is all about. If there would be a master method for everyone, it would be boring.

So you can use WAV (or AIFF) drum samples or REX drum samples or Soundfont drum samples or SFZ drum samples. Or you can use drum machines or drum synthesizers or an analog drum kit or whatever...

If it sounds good, it is good!

[arkmabat]

Soundfonts (sfz) are a bit old now, not to say that poeple don't use them. What you described is how much music is still made today, afaik. Samples, vsts, midi recording... But, we do have way better computer specs now, as opposed to nearly a decade ago.

Naturally Decaying Bass was a popular soundfont: http://www.hammersound.com/cgi-bin/soun ... tLength=15

And here's a free player: http://www.cakewalk.com/Download/sfz.aspx

[pheeleep]

Something huge that happened in the last few years (for me) is celemony DNA:

http://www.celemony.com/cms/index.php?id=dna

I have Melodyne Editor and it's a sample manglers dream...

I am on version 10 of Fl Studio. Haven't installed 11 yet. Been using FL Studio for 12 years. No reason to switch over to anything else. I do use Presonus Studio One Professional as well now, whereas I used FLStudio exclusively for many years.
I use Studio one for recording audio, mostly, or to quickly sketch ideas (which I export so that I can use the stuff in FL Studio). Also a great mastering tool. FL Studio on the other hand for composing, arranging, sequencing, mixing.

[pheeleep]

And of course great new synths are available. There are also professional sounding reverbs for $50 (Valhalla). Waves sales for plugins that used to cost hundreds of dollars when you used to make music (I just bought the C1 compressor for $26 yesterday). The difference between now and then is that now you get better quality instruments/tools for cheaper.

[dsan@mail.com]

From what I understand from your post you are asking that age old question, "Is this all there is?" (To life, to music, to love, etc.)

AND, it sounds like you have been bitten by that "Gotta have more" bug.

My humble opinion is: Music is what you make it. It is not necessary to have many many vst's or loops, instruments or what not. It helps to have a full aresenal but it is just not necessary. It sounds like you are creating what you like from what you have.

Or, does music production essentially just come down to what works for you?

Short answer, YES.

It's funny how we all keep searching for the holy grail when it comes to making music. (or anything else in our lives for that matter).

You already have your answer; you gave it to yourself.

Do what you like and what works for you.

The only thing I might do in your case is update your DAW. As the others have said it sounds like you are using an old version and a lot has happened since you have been out of the scene.

But I don't think I would go investing a lot of money at this time in new stuff until you are sure you are committed to making music. Then, as budget permits, you can build that arsenal.

Good luck in your quest!

Happy Musiking!
dsan

[Sendy]

Some folks put their music together with nothing but a wave editor and the ability to record. Burial being the most famous example, and that method works very well for ambient music with loose rhythms, but I also knew someone who made edit-heavy, grid-based IDM using the same technique.

I used to make music by composing 16 bars or so in the sequencer, then recording it into a wave editor either track by track or as a whole, tweaking effects and wotnot. Then I'd paste the whole thing back together in the wave editor. That workflow worked because I wanted lots of edits and changing parameters and my computer wasn't up to doing it all at once. It also brought certain idiosyncracies which taught me new things and informed my style.

I'm still amazed and draw massive inspiration from what the early "IDM" pioneers did by using and abusing basic tech in new ways.

Of course, if you want to make music that panders to a genre and if you want to be a big famous producer and turn into a brand, you should forget all this notion of creativity and trying new ideas and just stock up on Vengence samples and endless mixing tutorials

[dsan@mail.com]

.......just stock up on Vengence samples and endless mixing tutorials

Is that what they mean by a "Plug" - in?

Happy Musiking!
dsan

[chuck death]

Soundfonts (sfz) are a bit old now, not to say that poeple don't use them.

I think you're confusing Soundfonts (SF2) and SFZ which is a later "enhanced" format.

Most decent samplers these days handle SFZ and both the main UK and German Music mags (Computer Music and Beat) feature new SFZ files on every cover disc and include an SFZ player (Alchemy CM and Beat Zampler respectively).

[Davias]

I'm still amazed and draw massive inspiration from what the early "IDM" pioneers did by using and abusing basic tech in new ways.

I agree totally !

[vurt]

do what thou will...

[psychoxkps]

i think i can help you.. first decide your kick, snare & hi-hat sounds..(in maschine are drum kits what is for this very helpful) and make your bass sound like your kick, your lead(and decay samples) sound like your snare and pads(and your sustain samples) sound like your hat.. and create song from beggining..

[Tricky-Loops]

i think i can help you.. first decide your kick, snare & hi-hat sounds..(in maschine are drum kits what is for this very helpful) and make your bass sound like your kick, your lead(and decay samples) sound like your snare and pads(and your sustain samples) sound like your hat.. and create song from beggining..

And call it "Swedish Vodka Dance"...

[psychoxkps]

tricky, when u delete everything i said instead create song from beggining, dont u think its best way?

[psychoxkps]

bonus what i can say dont listen to tricky-loops just listen to your drums and decide envelope of your synths and samples(u can adjust attacks with solid dynamics by ni easly) by feeling.. it should be nice....