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 Now online (1)DADONCK ...and 169 guests Last 5 registered Oplandisks nothingstar N_loop yipe foxtrotromeo Browse members... |
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? seriously, i can't seem to make anything "gel" right :( can anyone advise? maybe some different approach to the music? DrinkSlipMats, as much as i know you hate my musical output, i would really appreciate your constructive input here also from other xlt music-ers (i just specifically mentioned SlipDrinkMats because i have some gay love for him) |
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both tracks sound like freshened up john carpenter's music. i don't think there's something in particualr wrong with your music and i can't see why people into electronic music wouldn't like this.. im not a good reference when it comes to electronic music so you shouldn't pay attention to what im about to say : ) im generally interested in 'original' music that sounds different to any other stuff i know (with some exceptions) and therefore i don't pay much attention to all this new electronica production..but there are people who only listen to this sort of electronic music and dunno why they wouldn't listen to it : ) |
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i think it sounds alright, maybe try tuning your drum kits, not many people think to do that, but it makes it sound so much tighter. i dont know what equipment your using apart from logic, if youv got a modeling synth, or something like reaktor you can get some nice sounds. i suppose what your trying to do is get a signiture sound. not easy, but it will come in time. good luck (sorry i cant help much) |
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Because you use sounds that sound like the default sounds in fruityloops? |
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funny, didn't know you could get fruityloops for the Macintosh :p |
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thanks tolstoyed, and larn yeah, i have a propensity to make drums too prominent in the mix :-s i can't do compression to save my fucking life :( |
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Talking to people that (unlike me) actually know something about sound engineering and music production, there's no one "magic bullet" to make a tune sound good. It's dozens of little things you have to get to work together, mixing, comperession, eq, effects, "space", etc, etc...and how all those elements correlate. If you adjust certain eq levels, you might have to tweak the compression to compensate and so on. Decent speakers help a lot though. |
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The best thing you can do is get a favourite electronic track and try to copy it, note for note. Make sure it's from a decent artist like FSOL, Vibert, old Moby even or maybe a simple Aphex ambient track. Choose a track which is bright, easy to replicate with plenty of dynamic range (highs and lows). You will learn an incredible amount from doing this. Don't stop after 5 minutes, finish the track to completion. The track you have uploaded is really dreadful. Everything is low end, dull, boring - the lead synth sound is awful - the track doesn't communicate anything and doesn't go anywhere. It has no momentum and your sound levels are all wrong. Practice make perfect though. Some people simple haven't got what it takes, but if you're determined and genuinely love making music you will get better and better. If you're rushing your music and doing it to look cool you might as well give up. It can take years to hone your sound until it's really professional, so stop sending crappy embarrassing tracks to people when you don't know what you're doing. Send them when YOU KNOW they're good and 100% confident about them. When, at least technically, they're on a par with what most modern electronic artists are releasing right across the board, you can be bold enough to make a CD or put tracks online. Otherwise you're one of just 1 of 1 million home producers on MySpace. |
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Very sound advice there. I wish i could listen to the clips in question but i have no sound here at the minute. |
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Jesus Christ, it sounds like the soundtrack to clinical depression. Go listen to some Abba, James Brown, John Philip Sousa, Perrey and Kingsley, the Benny Hill theme, anything with a bit of fun and a bounce to it. And get some SUNLIGHT ON YOUR FACE. PLAY WITH KITTENS AND PUPPIES. |
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the first one is promising, the second one sound a bit flat to be honest. maybe your samples are not good enough, or at least not processed enough... try playing around with different frequencies and filters, and don't let crude blocks of sound material hit the listener in the face! |
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these gel just fine, sir |
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dont let anyone tell you that you don't have it. People can do anything they want to. it's all about if they really want to. You might just need something else right now. I'm sure in Aphex's years between age 14 and blah blah when he was making stuff on SAW and shit, he took his time and let life kind of happen, he wasnt trying to rush things, i'm sure he probably made that stuff after a long period of feeling wierd or bad about things, and he just kind of started making music that fi tthat atmosphere he felt he was in. Like if you feel that you have something to give back to the world that you are in right now, then you should do just that. the truth is, like what if someone totally Genius or whatever has this awesome music right now, but never released it or showed anybody, and just did it for himself, it wouldnt get anywhere and it would have no purpose except for him. it makes sense to want to be heard and be good at what you do, or even be the best, but you have to be ready for and actually feel it. i usually end up feeling like im one of those 1 out of 1 million people on myspace, but then remember that i dont give a fuck about myspace, and i dont give a fuckifpeople likemy music or not, but its music and ill just make it cause its cool to do when im bored or feeling some feeling i want to get out. |
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i didn't listen since i don't have sound at the moment, but this waffle guy knows what he's talking about. btw, try making your waffles with some unsalted, melted butter mixed into the batter. also, some coarse corn meal. the joy is in the feeling, not the technique. you can find the feeling... i wholeheartedly recommend clearing your mind and taking some james brown. whatever you do, don't underestimate the waffle. |
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sounds pretty good to me...... |
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Hahaha, is that an inside mac-owner joke of some kind? Well, what I meant was that, usually, when I can't get stuff to "gel," I just exchange those sounds that can be exchanged. Maybe you just need to use different drumsamples? I've often noticed that if you think stuff feels flat, you can (a1) Record percussion using a mic. Just bang on stuff and record it. The reverb in any room and the "real" sound of it will help massively. (a2) Record the melodies (and/or the percussion) by playing it back on while recording it, if you can set your soundcard to do this in such a way that you still avoid feedback. With regards to this, recording it to tape or reel-to-reel also has a good effect. (b) Overdub: Record the melody line several times if the instrument is one such that each time you play it, it will have some sort of phase or pitch difference (usually both). (c) Play the melody line again with a different instrument, and possibly on a different octave. "Secondary melodies" (I don't know the English term) also help. I don't know shit about mastering and stuff like that, though, but usually it works out for me anyway because.. well, I don't know why, but I like the way my music turns out when I like the way it turns out. Try adding compression. Some people think compression is some kind of magic, other people, those who know something about it, tell people to be wary of seeing compression as some kind of magic that can cure all ailments including AIDS. Usually, however, they don't seem to be able to actually give any concrete form of advice except for boring things like "listen to music and copy it yo!" However, other experts say that "most things have boring elements" and that "you'll just have to live with it." Now, because everyone's afraid of "paternalism," I can't tell you who you should listen to, and it can't even be obvious, but I know who I listen to: w M w. |
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"I like the way my music turns out when I like the way it turns out" thinking like this makes the world go around |
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So does drinking too much. |
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He's not ready to do "compression". He doesn't even know how to structure a track seamlessly or get the sound levels right. Have you heard his MP3s or just trying to fuck him up for fun? He's at 12-year-old level. He is a beginner and needs to keep it simple, not start farting around with compression and overdubs. Yeah, copying others music is boring - but most people spend a little time doing that if they have any sense. Those that just jump into it and think they know everything before they start are always hopeless, boring everyone to death with their crappy, unlistenable demos. I've seen it, and unfortunately heard it, a thousand times before. |
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here's the first step- stop caring about what other people think. if a track you made doesn't get you off then there's no fucking point. you have to feel it before anyone else can. compression, eqing, mastering, tuning...they are all important to a certain extent. but when it comes down to it, they are meaningless. a lot of the best, and most moving songs out there, were recorded using nothing more that a four track. it's about picking up on a feeling, a vibe, an energy. over think it, and you'll fuck it all up. it has to move you. as far as the "gel" of these tracks...uh, i would say they "gel" fine, you might be over analyzing them. they actually sound way too safe. some people are just uppity twats, don't let them bring you down. |
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I think the problem with 99% of music is that people like the IDEA of being a musician, the glamour of it. So you have a bunch of fellas that want to be in a band for the sake of being in a band, or people making electronic music for the sake of being some kind of IDM boffin or whatever... And they cobble together some shit music to reach that goal, almost as an afterthought. A musician has to be really good at what they do and maybe bring something new to the table. Then you present it to people and the success is the result of coming up with this great music, not the other way around. |
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Wise words. The biggest factor amongst "bedroom producers" is people thinking they're better than they are - the ego has no bounds. Face it, any imbecile can slap a load of samples together and make a track - any imbecile can even make it sound good with today's technology. If you think that artists like U-Ziq and Vibert can probably only sell about 3,000 albums nowadays, what chance have you got? I think the IDM genre is the worst for people actually thinking they can make music when they haven't got a clue what they're doing. The technology is so affordable that any fool can have a crack at it - but the ratio of people who are actually any good at it is the same as it ever was, absolutely tiny. 10 years ago these people would never get heard and their demos would be binned by record labels in 5 seconds - and rightly so - but with the rise of computer technology they can upload their crap instantaneously and everyone has to suffer. |
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theres always another chance to do the right thing. you are never just an imbecile. or just egotstical, those are just results from your intentions. if you have the right intentions about something, you will reach any goal. who cares if people want to still call their music IDM. theyre obviously into it for the clique aspect of it. be positive. |
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"if you have the right intentions about something, you will reach any goal" But sadly, this just isn't true. There are people who despite their best intentions, can't even get a regular job or support a family, nevermind become a successful musician. |
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I disagree, I believe that anyone can achieve practically anything they want. Maybe not in a physical capacity, like top sportsman, because genetically you may be at a disadvantage to others, although there is still plenty of scope for success in many areas - for example there are thousands of professional footballers who earn thousands a week through hard work and determination who have negligible natural talent. But mentally you can achieve practically anything, become successful and make money. It's all to do with drive and ambition - both are rather ugly characteristics, but if you have them you'll succeed. There is almost a template for being successful. You can learn and regurgitate anything through books, master anything through repetition, manipulate anyone through willpower and strength of character. All are achievable to practically anyone, no matter what your background - as long as you live in a democracy and have average levels of intelligence. The difference between those who succeed and those who don't, is that those who fail don't have the staying power or drive to work like an absolute dog, take every knock back and just keep going and going and going - ie. the vast majority of people. |
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This music is okay because it is not like the crap pop music everybody is playing out of their rooms (it is so ANNOYING!) |
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but i think that success is not all that matters. Certainly not in art. Of course, music can be a business, too, and a means for living. But the chances for that are slim. Especially if you still care about art for art's sake. Most of my favourite musicians don't make tons of money. Most of them probably will have other means of income on the side. I personally have few ambitions of making lots of money of my music, but that's just because I believe in copyleft principles and am mostly concerned about spreading music around - and if they, in addition, want to pay for it, that's all good. But that's not my driving force. Creation and sharing is. Now, I agree with the premise that almost anything is possible, by definition, since we have free choices - it's just that we are preconditioned to make certain kinds of choices and engage in certain well-worn patterns of behaviour. Art is one of the best means of ridding oneself of preconditioned responses. That's why it's not helpful to think about music in terms of "what will people think" or "what is the purpose of this"... Free your mind and the rest will follow. There are NO techniques of composition that are a must-learn or a do-first. Most of them are useful and helpful for specific purposes, but creativity itself must come first. |
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Is it possible to be creative at all? Everything you know has been put in there by others and you can therefore only reference second hand information. You may be unique physically, but nothing in your head is unique. From an intellectual perspective, you, like everybody else, are a second-hand human. Nothing new can come from that. Furthermore, everyone has access to the same information and by and large the same instruments - especially within electronic music, so even originality, a step-down from creativity, is somewhat muted. |
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that's a very reductive, behaviourist attitude, although it is much in line with what you said earlier... But if nothing new can come from something that is influenced by something else, than nothing new can appear at all, ever. Hence, change ought to be impossible. We're doomed to self-repetition. But facts speak of evolution and mutability. |
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Apart from the dodgy drum programming those were actually pretty cool sounding. |
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it sounds good |
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Reductionism is an intellectual theory, I see "no creativity" as a fact not an ideology. Evolution takes place over millions of years and lies within the physical domain, whereas making music is based on thought processes - whether thought has ever evolved is questionable. Thought may hone itself, become more sophisticated, but evolve? Doesn't seem to be any evidence does there? So, no, as far as I can see nothing truly creative can come out of thought, maybe ever - just a constant regurgitation or refinement of what has gone before. Music obviously falls into that domain. |
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youre a smarty :) |
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I like the track, i have a gay weakness for anything Carpenter-esque, but it's an good track nonetheless, I wouldn't worry. God I'm fucked, |
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i can't hear anything carpenteresque on those tunes... |
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on those tunes yes very much thank you hello? speak & spell. |
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oh i see, it's a 'fact' not 'ideology' ... hmm I can't even begin to fathom where you get your fishy 'facts' from. These ideas are clearly not as obvious or self-evident as you make them out to be, otherwise we'd all be saying the same thing :) |
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I've been listening to these tracks again trying to remember who made them. I really like them. |
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please post a larger version of your avatar.......... also, happy new year and stuff..... bla bla bla |
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it's 1941hrs and 39 degrees C. i want to go for a run |
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you crazy ogre it's 1858hrs and -3 degrees C. now go for that fucking run |
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i have changed the second one a little if you'd be interested in having an ear-gander? |
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helps if i give the link to the new incarnation of the track |
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It sounds nice, but it's forgettable. I don't know, it just lacks something. But none the less, it's very nice. |
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yeah, it's the problem i've been having lately :( |
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go and replicate an aphex track, it will make you feel good about yourself, just draw inspiration from things. |
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recent events have been bad (to the point where i've done the whole "shave my head purification thing again), so i'm hoping i can draw some kind of inspiration from that. thanks for your reply |
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yeah man give yourself a chance, |
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There is a reason people spend thousands of dollars on equipment. It sounds better. Maybe get an old synth that is really good but used. Learn it inside out. Make some tracks on just that synth. Get a juno and a 606. The computer can be confusing and also can sound very flat. |
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Equipment doesn't mean shit when you don't have the right inspiration and understanding of what do you want from the track. My suggestion to the op music maker: make something you find beautiful, but don't release it publicly. Just keep it around and keep revising it until you realize what's missing in it. Either a melody, some effects, some bass or whatever or a whole make-over. I've known this "artist block" and it can be really frustrating. For me, I was stuck in such phase for about a year. My most important suggestion? Do new things in life. Do things you never dared to do, listen to music you would never listen to, travel around, meet new people etc. Life experiences can really change your perspective on music making and on the way your brain analyzes how to spill your ideas into constructive music production. |
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