Writing Berlin School Music Within a DAW

[ghostwhistler]

Specifically Reaper though that's not entirely relevant.

I do enjoy some Berlin School now and again, but it's a style I haven't really dabbled in. Most of what I've seen is music composed 'live'. The artist will have a bunch of hardware including sequencers and perform along to programmed triggered or composed sequences.

I don't have hardware, only softsynths and my DAW. So are there any tips on how to maximise my Berlin school composing experience in this context. Especially working solo. Impressive listening to compositions such as Ricchochet by Tangerine Dream, but that was three guys working together. Not some schmuck with a DAW and too many softsynths

[chk071]

There's nothing stopping you from using the same workflow, and recording the live output of your VSTi's.

Only issue I see is having all the GUI's open when you want to tweak the synths.

[chk071]

BTW, if you enjoy Berlin School, this guy is great: http://www.hollanholmesmusic.com/

[vurt]

step sequencers. pre program then trigger different patterns as you play.

use different step lengths say 16 on one track 15 on another.

automate volume to push things forward now and then and drop them out.

lots of delays and reverb.

[El°HYM]

[ghostwhistler]

Only issue I see is having all the GUI's open when you want to tweak the synths.

well that's the point. Besides which switching between them and using mouse and keys to alter parameters woiuld be, to say the leasat, fiddly!

[ghostwhistler]

step sequencers. pre program then trigger different patterns as you play.

use different step lengths say 16 on one track 15 on another.

automate volume to push things forward now and then and drop them out.

lots of delays and reverb.

I read somewhere that Klaus Schulze did a similar thing: have prepared parts/passages and would then link them together as he sawy fit.

[ghostwhistler]

That's great.

I'm sure.

Unfortuantely it's not in English

[El°HYM]

The whole DVD has english subtitles; you can try the youtube translation, which isnt too bad actually. Kind of makes sense together with the Audio & Pictures again.

I believe a lot of the TD - Magic actually is not writing but performing sound, as a few others already described above.

[Frantz]

Unfortuantely it's not in English

The first step is to enroll in a Berlin school and learn German.

[seismic1]

You'll need a decent 'tron emulation, too.

[jamcat]

OG Viennese School is where it's at.

[vurt]

Viennese School is where it's at.

i like their whirls.

[vurt]

Only issue I see is having all the GUI's open when you want to tweak the synths.

well that's the point. Besides which switching between them and using mouse and keys to alter parameters woiuld be, to say the leasat, fiddly!

could do with multiple controllers, transmitting on different channels
mouse is gonna make it sound stilted as you can only do one control at a time

you could get away with one controller and program the bass for example using piano roll, then play along to that for each new element, then redo the bass in the same manner.

don't be afraid of mistakes, just keep playing, cut the audio up later, remove them, td used backing track tapes too.

[chk071]

Yeah, there are ways. With "real instruments", you won't be able to operate everything at the same time either.

I have a feeling this thread is about something else than rational decisions on in the box workflow.