How You Make Your Stuff

Betterthanyourkids · Post by **Betterthanyourkids** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 2:54 am

Yo. Wondering how you guys produce your music, your creative phases, etc. Just curious. I've been going through a big "complicated & Autechreish preccusion" phase recently. I use way too much Moog than is healthy.

What do you guys do?

machinea · Post by **machinea** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 5:17 am

generally I tend to mash about 4-8 different things together into one big hook and play it on a loop as I figure stuff out. If it continues to work for me I pull it apart and start writing more music and changing up the rhythm section, and then I begin the process of remerging the pieces like a collage. This can take a bit of time days to weeks really. During that time I render it quite a few times and listen to it in the car to hear how the sounds are working together in a different listening environment etc, does it need eq what is too bassy or thumpy etc. and then the mix down is basically a smoother process.

I use this process no matter if I'm doing it all with software, hardware or a mix of the two. I use ableton.

re-phaelam-ed · Post by **re-phaelam-ed** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 3:09 pm

i only ever end up with loops...shitty loops. no idea how to build a full tune.

Cupz · Post by **Cupz** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 3:13 pm

soundfonts!

m1a100 · Post by **m1a100** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 3:43 pm

Mostly improvising stuff. Sometimes, I ended up doing a great melody and I make a track for it; sometimes I make a great drum loop and I make a track through it; sometimes sound designing some LFO-glitch-fuckery noises and saving them for later... well, the possibilities are impossible for me. Since my tracks are a mix of analog and digital stuff, it's so much easier to get my ideas around different stuff, sounds, working and worlds.

In my case, music it's a 50/50 thing. If a idea comes into my mind, I need to be prepared to sit down and work on it because, if I'm working totally unprepared and calm, I can't concentrate myself on the project's idea and I get angry for getting a total different result of it. So, when I get a good idea and I'm not feeling that I'm into some music making that idea, I pick up a piece of paper and write these ideas on. On the next days (or weeks), I came back on this paper and start working on it.

Also, I wrote a post on my personal blog on how workflow on music reflects on how your songs will sound in the end. If you wanna check it out, here's the post: http://cesaralexandre.wordpress.com/201 ... r-bad-way/

2020k · Post by **2020k** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 2:31 pm

My most natural process usually starts out with something flowy-sounding (pad, strings, something ambient) and get some chord structures worked out through them. After that, percussion. Once I get something going, I'll loop it and play around. Then, the melodies, chord progressions start pouring out. Lyrics and vocals are usually last unless I'm using vocals in an odd manipulative fashion.

Lyrics take forever. I travel to hell to write my lyrics.

Other than that, it starts out mostly as improv or synthesis experiments. These projects usually stay in dark, locked closed as they're quite quick, usually comprised of presets because I feel the need to musically masturbate at the time, or something. Oh boy..filter-crazy, sine wave ejaculate with lots of delay!

(Though normally pieces of those improvs get more polished years down the line when I think to revisit them).

Torn n Frayed · Post by **Torn n Frayed** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 2:56 pm

Really only been at it a week or 2 now but I start with something sampled into an Akai, guitar feedback is great reversed and slowed down. They play a 2 note bass-line as a start. Added in real drums then layered 4 or 5 sounds from a Korg MS2000R with an old effects rack added to them. All of this was recorded into Tracktion and the synths were done using a Presonus Tube pre to add warmth and grit. Not done with the idea just yet but that's what I've started with and it took about 8 hours so far.

Betterthanyourkids · Post by **Betterthanyourkids** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 3:45 pm

2020k wrote:My most natural process usually starts out with something flowy-sounding (pad, strings, something ambient) and get some chord structures worked out through them. After that, percussion. Once I get something going, I'll loop it and play around. Then, the melodies, chord progressions start pouring out. Lyrics and vocals are usually last unless I'm using vocals in an odd manipulative fashion.

Lyrics take forever. I travel to hell to write my lyrics.

Other than that, it starts out mostly as improv or synthesis experiments. These projects usually stay in dark, locked closed as they're quite quick, usually comprised of presets because I feel the need to musically masturbate at the time, or something. Oh boy..filter-crazy, sine wave ejaculate with lots of delay!

(Though normally pieces of those improvs get more polished years down the line when I think to revisit them).

LOL. Sans vocals and lots of masturbation references, we're quite alike, though the end result is quite different. Gotta love them sine wave delays!

Lens Larque · Post by **Lens Larque** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 5:30 pm

re-phaelam-ed wrote:i only ever end up with loops...shitty loops. no idea how to build a full tune.

Email some o' dem loops -- i need something to build on

Cupz · Post by **Cupz** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 5:39 pm

re-phaelam-ed wrote:i only ever end up with loops...shitty loops. no idea how to build a full tune.

make loops that fit NEXT to eachother.

Music works horizontally, not vertically, if that makes sense.

Betterthanyourkids · Post by **Betterthanyourkids** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 6:05 pm

Lens Larque wrote:
re-phaelam-ed wrote:i only ever end up with loops...shitty loops. no idea how to build a full tune.
Email some o' dem loops -- i need something to build on

DIBS. You ever need help I'm always one for a collab or whatever.

Morti_Viventear · Post by **Morti_Viventear** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 2:39 am

- Find a break or record some drums. Cut/edit/layer everything to get an interesting drum sequence.
- Find interesting Samples/textures/sounds. Cut/edit/layer everything and add effects to get an interesting ''core loop''
- Layer the loop and the drums
- Use a synth to add some bass
- Record different synth sequences on tune with the core loop and the bass
- Add subtle variations, textures, effects so there's an evolution with every sequence
- Put everything together and start the mix

Cupz · Post by **Cupz** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 2:58 am

Come on people, we're not computers!

Morti_Viventear · Post by **Morti_Viventear** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 11:01 pm

Cupz wrote:Come on people, we're not computers!

What do you mean? I wish I had a more inspiring approach, but most of my production process is based on crate digging and oldschool sampling techniques. I learned to make music on an MPC60 and everything worked with numerical settings back then, so I guess I kinda started to think like a computer. That may not be a bad thing. After all, music is math

machinea · Post by **machinea** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:39 am

yeah I didn't know what you meant either. Sometimes I completely sequence inside the box (right now I have to somewhat since my hardware studio is in storage and I have no midi keyboard) But generally I play all my parts, all the synth, guitar and other random instrument parts by hand except for the drums.

Cupz · Post by **Cupz** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:38 am

You guys describe your music production as if you're preparing food and eat the same meal every day. Like you have a recipe and stick with it. As if it is an exact science .

Morti_Viventear · Post by **Morti_Viventear** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 1:21 pm

Well, to me it is. The creative challenge is to sound completely different using the same setup and process because I prefer to master completely a technique before using it. Trust me, I can tell that someone never played didgeridoo when he tries to integrate it in one of his tracks to sound different.

And I know I'm not the only one to think this way. Here's a post from Blockhead's blog where he describes his production process : http://phatfriend.com/2011/03/22/how-my ... -bullshit/

Cupz · Post by **Cupz** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 2:13 pm

You're never the only one thinking a certain way though I never expected blockhead approaching his music like this.

Anyway, do what you must, though I'd rather hear someone inexperienced trying to make a fresh avant-garde record using a didgeridoo, then listen to the 5.000.000th "perfectly" made slow tape-y triphop that seams to infest soundcloud this side of the internet. Where's the fun?

I'm not saying I manage to do something fresh and new with each song, but I try. I make my music sitting behind a computer as well, but I do my very best to approach it differently every time. No I'm not releasing my didgeridoo songs just yet, but if I have a great urge to do it, one day I might have the sickest brain-expanding didgeridoo-IDM record in the world and then I'll release it.

There is no faulty way of making music, for sure, I just think this is one of the many reasons why music has become quite stale. Soundcloud in particular has just turned into a random sound generator except for some shiny moments here and there. Its like a network of computers is just calculating what harmonies fit where and how and with what beat and how can it slip some samples and field recording in there. I personally think this is a really impractical way figuring out new composition, let alone new genres. Walking the same path will familiar yourself with the path, yet the grass under your feet will turn to sludge and mud.

I thought music was about inventing new experiences daring to experiment, not getting really good recreating existing ones. Also, nowadays, music is probably the easiest art-form to experiment with, so where the hell is all the experimentation?

Morti_Viventear · Post by **Morti_Viventear** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 2:46 pm

Cupz wrote: There is no faulty way of making music, for sure, I just think this is one of the many reasons why music has become quite stale. Soundcloud in particular has just turned into a random sound generator except for some shiny moments here and there. Its like a network of computers is just calculating what harmonies fit where and how and with what beat and how can it slip some samples and field recording in there. I personally think this is a really impractical way figuring out new composition, let alone new genres. Walking the same path will familiar yourself with the path, yet the grass under your feet will turn to sludge and mud.

I totally agree with you on this. This is getting way too easy to reproduce a particular style or sound. Anyone can put together a decent beat with all these easy to use softwares, but what makes the difference between all these Soundcloud clones and the truly talented folks is when someone manage to master the subtleties of production enough to actually experiment and get something fresh out of these programs (or any type of equipment). This is what I meant by ''mastering before experimenting''. Most of the greatest painters, musicians etc. focused on mastering the basic techniques of their art before trying to develop a new genre. I hope this makes sense, my English is not that good as you can see.

Cupz · Post by **Cupz** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:06 pm

Well put, and I totally agree for the most part. I just feel if we approach it like that, I'd rather see "them"/"us" learning "musical theory" before marking a personal way on the map of production. This is limiting. I put musical theory in quotes because I don't really mean taking a class or learning to read notes, I mean just studying music. Like, in your case, reading the blockhead blog or, in my case sitting through that crazy sun ra movie 3 times in a row. I just think its limiting to churn through a set of standard procedures. In a way I guess its normal to do this, though with as many possible fields as you can...yet I also think that mastery comes WITH that experimentation I'm talking about.

I'll take blockhead again as an example as it a very good example you have chosen indeed. He obviously mastered the skills he needs to do what he does, though reading that blog left me feeling uninspired. If his situation is as he says, you could say he would miss the skillset to rewrite classical music into a simple midi-file by ear (though I'm sure he can!!!), which, if you ask me, if quite a vital skill as how can you rewrite what was in your head 3 hours ago when you can't even write something you can hear by pressing play? Of course this fall under practice I guess, and we are talking about actually producing music.

Which brings up a good point: Mastering a practice is called practice, not releasing music....unless you are practicing releasing music). Wait...does practicing mean again?...euhm...ok so halfway writing this I started becoming stoned and editing it so now its starting to lose its focus. Hello. You're english is fine, and mine is not so great either.

I will continue stoned now, editing this post and toying with ideas as the subject interests me.

To tell you the truth, I do it too. Sometimes I capture myself turning on my computer "lets make some music" and just click away. Halfway into this, when musical seriousness arises (aka when the project becomes larger then some loops and fx), I usually get annoyed by myself, the music starts to lose sense and I save it as aerihg803yut0yuha.sc2. I take a deep breath and think about things I have been thinking about lately. I ask myself questions like "Didn't I wake up with a haunting melody in my head today?" Try to recall specific moments in my music listening adventures (both from others as my own) that triggered thoughts. It inspires me and I work on ideas that fulfill me personally and musically, usually giving the songs a deep emotional impact....for me that is.

Most of the time these answers to these questions have to do with the evolution of sound and building from there I guess. If I would continue to "click away" like I described there is a good chance musical evolution on my personal end would stop and eventually the musicmaking will probably too, eventually. Besides, you can get away with allot if its in the name of musical evolution.

So yeah, don't get me wrong, I understand what you do is a perfectly valid way of doing things, its just...take multiple lanes or at the very least remember to switch lanes when the need arises.

It doesn't inspire me personally though.

Also, sorry, this weed became more potent without realizing.