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FLStudio, music studio programs, advice(?)
Posts
Bolded part: I think this is one of the things I do wrong when trying to put stuff together, perhaps you could go into a bit more detail on this?
The most common progression in a song is ABA (basically verse/chorus, bridge, verse/chorus). A good example is any early Beatles song.
I think of songs I write (rock songs) as AABABCB. In other words, two verses (A), a chorus (B), one verse (A), chorus (B), bridge/solo (C), and chorus (B). It's not always that but in my case it's common.
This kind of structuring easily applies even in instrumental music.
Your basic goal is this:
Create an "intro" that is suggestive of elements in the song. From there within a few measures you should build to the "verse" section, where you introduce your main melodies. After a few measures of that you should hit the "chorus" which is a crescendo of elements and is the part that people will latch on to. Then you calm it back down to the "verse". From there you have two options, you can either create a "bridge" which is just a change up of elements, or you can go straight to the "chorus" and then have a "bridge" after. Either way you go your "bridge" should, by the end of it, be ready to explode into the "chorus". The final "chorus" should bring in a whole lot of elements in a big explosion of sound all at once that causes people to really be taken off. It would generally extend at least twice the length of a normal "chorus". And then you would have an "outro", which would bring everything back down to the ground.
Obviously you don't have to follow that exact setup, but it's a basic one that's used a lot and a good framework to start from.
Here's a good example (with a slightly altered structure):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqjpoZ2C3HM
Finale handles all of the music that I cannot record live, since I don't play every instrument I write for, and I don't feel like hiring musicians to come in for quick demos I'm throwing out. Also Finale once I do have a demo and I need sheet music, I can have it really quickly, and send it off in a PDF, or print it out, whatever. The quality is not perfect, but with GPO it's a hell of a lot better than MIDI.
Protools obviously is the best damn recording software there is. I have it hooked up to a nice preamp/"audio interface device" with a Perception-200 Condenser mic. I can record vocals or instrumentals through the mic, but I can also plug some instruments directly into the pre and record straight from it. I can then mix to my hearts desire with the best damn software there is, plus the ability to mix on the fly a bit, and I can do it all just through my normal computer.
With the two of them combined I can pretty much pump out incredibly clean demos with whatever instrumentation I need. It's not as good as having them all in the room, but it's about as close as possible with current programs. This is great for when I want to send off concept demos to a company or someone I'm working with, because I can actually have recordings of the songs or pieces with the lyrics and instrumentation in, instead of having to try to represent them all on a piano or having some MIDI voice doing things.
The problem? We're talking about a $1,500 setup with all the upgrades I've gotten through the years and the equipment.
Khavall's Beginner's Guide to Music Everything(Theory Blog)
Truth. There's a lot that GarageBand can't do, but what it can do it does completely effortlessly. I use ProTools LE and Logic Express on a regular basis, but unless I'm doing something particularly complex I just try to use GarageBand because the interface is just lightyears ahead of anything else out there in terms if intuitiveness and ease of use.
What's your price range? Are you looking for just a midi controller keyboard, or one with on-board voices? I things like assignable knobs, levers, buttons, pedals important? How many keys (full size, mini?). Do you want an actual synthesizer?
Steam: Ashengor
I've been playing around with different filters as well to see how they affect sounds and what I can do with synths to create stuff that sounds even better, and it's been a blast. Really appreciate the advice you guys have given me.
I still think Pro tools is the best for sound editing and mixing, but is not quite there in terms of midi sequencing and creative workflow.
For brainstorming I think Ableton live is excellent. The workspace allows you to quickly create and evolve different musical ideas and blend them together. Reason is also alot of fun, especially for someone who is used to using a more traditional hardware setup. Though I'm not really fond of the sound of reason, especially the sampler instruments. I haven't heard 4 though, so I'm basing my opinion on Reason 3.
When it comes to software instruments, I use mostly Reaktor and FM8. Reaktor is a large collection of good quality synths, effects, sequencers, and samplers. You can also build your own software instruments which is a lot of fun. The Grainular synths are my favorites.
Overall, the best advice I can give is to do the tutorials, learn the hotkeys, and just keep practicing. Work on your songwriting, or your keyboard technique, and listen to a large variety of music. I find that really helps my creativity. Just keep working at it, don't get discouraged if it doesn't sound like what you hear in your head. Eventually you'll play a melody, or come up with a drum loop that makes you nod your head. Then you take it from there.
I don't think I'll ever stop learning about music and audio, there is always new software or equipment, or a new jazz chord that catches your ear, so don't give up if what you make initially sound like poo.
Also, when it comes to controllers and keyboards, there are many cheap, small, usb keyboards. These will often have a good selection of knobs to twiddle and sliders to slide. Personally I like the Novation products, though they are priced a little higher than average. http://www.novationmusic.com/
A couple of my ideas are on myspace if anyone cares to listen. http://myspace.com/justindesnoyers
Anyway, sorry for the long read and poor grammar.
How's the audio loss going to be? This is just a temporary solution until I can afford an actual line in for the guitar that's lossless.
Origin is the exact same as my Steam, in case you're needing a Support or Assault in BF3.
I've been playing around with a bandmate's Line6 Toneport, and it's absolutely excellent. It's functionally the same as a Pod, except it does all its processing on your computer, which makes it $150 cheaper for the same sounds.
FL would be the only program I use for composition if only it could record audio in a not-completely-stupid way. As it is, making loops in FL and then exporting them and loading them in Reaper is working really well for me.
Shameless plug!
YOU KNOWWWWW
DEM BILLS, DEY WAS GREAS'D
AND SO LOW, ON DOWN
LOW, I DID FELL
I've started using Hydrogen Drum Machine to make beats. It's very simple and similar to FLStudio in interface. It allows you to load entire kits which are usually already mixed in stereo and then you can further tweak them via a mixer, and add humanizing. There's a windows version but I hear using different kits is buggy. Never tried it so I don't know.
Then for a DAW I've been using Ardour, which is similar to things like Cubase and Protools and has a lot of nice features.
These aren't necessarily my usual "style", but they are what I've recorded so far:
http://mb.mirage.org/Juxtaposed.mp3
http://mb.mirage.org/Dust_In_The_Bag.mp3
YOU KNOWWWWW
DEM BILLS, DEY WAS GREAS'D
AND SO LOW, ON DOWN
LOW, I DID FELL
I had some problems at first interfacing it with my Projectmix I/O (http://www.guitarcenter.com/M-Audio-ProjectMix-I-O-103516597-i1166592.gc) but Ive used it for about 2 years now with little to no problems. I dont go really in depth with it compared to some people however.
My price range would be sub-500$. I was preferably looking for a full sized keyboard but for the most part I just want something to play around in Garage band with.
The remote LE is great keyboard that comes with a few assignable knobs, but nothing overboard. Semi-weighted keys are great.
http://www.novationmusic.com/products/midi_control/remote_sl/
The Remote SL is the same thing, but beefed up with an auto-configuring set of midi-controls (also manually assignable) that you can use you interface with your VSTs or Sequencing software. I already had a keyboard, so I bought the Zero SL which is this thing, except without a keyboard. I love it to death.
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=USBkeyboardcontrollers
M-Audio makes great keyboards, and they have a pretty good selection. I'd recommend looking through here and seeing if any catch your eye. I have This and it's great. Perfect size, and the keys feel awesome. There's an 88 key version, and a smaller one as well. This one has virtually no controls on it, though. This may not seem like a problem at first, but down the road you may find yourself wanting more. But then you can always purchase a midi-controller later on if you find that to be the case. Also, it's simply a midi-keyboard, so there are no on-board voices. It must be hooked up to a synth or external source of some kind to make noise (PC etc.)
Or for $500 you can get this.
Steam: Ashengor
Learn theory.
This isn't vital if all you're interested in is making drum beats (although it'll make your beats more interesting), but for anything with a melody you're really going to need to learn how basic chords are built, how chord progression works, how key changes work. 12-bar blues rotations are easy as hell to learn, and you can shoehorn most anything into one starting out and have it sound good.
Now, there are two ways to learn this. You can either go out and buy a book, which will at least serve as a very good reference. Or you can sit down at a keyboard and hit random conglomerations of keys until you figure out what works. Some combination of the two is generally recommended; I dicked around on a piano, found out what worked, then ran upstairs and read why, then back down to the piano to try something else. It was good exercise, if nothing else.
Soundblaster Audigy, I think it's a 24 bit card as well.
I tested it out earlier, and the loss isn't so bad, with a little tinkering around in Guitar Rig it comes out sounding amazing.
I don't care what Image Line and ReFX try to say, a guitar synth will never be a match for a real guitar.
Origin is the exact same as my Steam, in case you're needing a Support or Assault in BF3.
I have a Line6 POD XT and it's great for lead, yet for some reason none of the sounds seem to come up particularly for rhythm or anything too bassy or heavy.
This is being recorded into a M-Audio Delta 1010LT, which is a pretty good card.
I also have a cheap "ZOOM GM-200" Modeler. And this is superb for rhythm. So shop around. Lots of cash doesn't necessarily mean it's the best for what you may want it for - very much like real life amps in that regard.
XBL/PSN/Steam: APZonerunner
I'll shop around for a decent pod unit. As ideal as a Line6 POD would be, I'm more a rhythm player than I am lead. I'll just hit up Harmony Central later on and see what I can find. I wouldn't mind getting the Kontrol pedal for Guitar Rig. That seems the most ideal solution. But for the same price I can get the Jaguar I'm eyeing at the moment.
Origin is the exact same as my Steam, in case you're needing a Support or Assault in BF3.
Digital effects can be great, but you are right, the low end is lacking. If you want that thick heavy sound, I really think you need to run the signal through an amp. Large and with tubes. They just haven't been able to digitally simulate that warmth you get from analog circuits.
Origin is the exact same as my Steam, in case you're needing a Support or Assault in BF3.
That's true, but if you finagle with a modeler enough and EQ it correctly, it gets really hard to tell the difference. A simulation is never gonna be 100% as good as the real thing, but in my eyes, amp modelers make up for it with versatility. I use a V-Amp 2 for guitar and general DI use, and it doesn't really do anything particularly well, but it can do a lot. Also you can get them for south of a hundred bucks these days.
YOU KNOWWWWW
DEM BILLS, DEY WAS GREAS'D
AND SO LOW, ON DOWN
LOW, I DID FELL
I have to say, my little second generation MG15DFX amp gets close to the sound of a tube amp, while being fairly cheap (and solid state so you can toss it around a bit). It's also loud and small. It and the newer 30's (although not necessarily all of the newer 15s) sound very good due to the FDD circuits. Strangely nice for recording (and of course you can use PAs and other things for an even bigger sound).
For guitar, I guess I've really found miking up amps to be preferable than direct, due to the difference in response you get through the amp circuits, gain, etc. I have gotten some great results plugging acoustic/electrics in directly though, although I generally mic those now as well.
How's this been going for you, Trevor?
Anyway, here's my newest creation: http://rapidshare.com/files/130527974/nitoffspin.mp3.html
I'm actually a bit happy with it, despite it not being all that good. What do you think of it?
What I would like to request from you more talented folk, is if one or many of you could create something in FL using the basic samples (or something you can share), and then upload the FL file itself for us to pick apart to learn from. Whatever you can share is more than welcome with me, as learning just about anything in this is very fun to me.
As always mods, feel free to move this thread if you feel it shouldn't be here.
edit: for the linkage of http://www.scribd.com/doc/2100236/Ravenspiraleguidetomusictheory
further edit: I have often found that it helps to have someone to collaborate with, as misery as they say does love company, plus there is the fact that you can bounce ideas off each other and teach each other what you know.
This is a good idea.
Also, thanks for the theory link, but that sort of stuff just goes straight over my head, and about the only bits of it I can understand is at the near end when it's put simple with things like "thud thud thud thud" :oops:
this link has some stuff that might be useful. Youtube is also a decent resource if you wanna watch someone work.
I'd written some tutorials years ago, I wonder if they're still sitting around here somewhere...
Steam: Ashengor
yeah dont worry about it it took me ages to get theory too, I think its cause I have taught myself and I dont really play anything. The thing I linked you to is specifically for people like us, its a very basic introduction.
Very slow. I haven't really messed with it in a while, but I'm pretty sure I'm still just making noise.
BAM!:
http://www.ableton.com/live
It does everything FL does and better. And it's so much easier to take beyond generic house. This program is creativity in a box. It'll have you building your own synths and all sorts of crazy stuff in no time.
+1 ableton live is the shit, but honorary mention for reason as well for a complete package that doesn't cost quite as much.
Plus, I think Live SOUNDS phenomenal. You can splurge and get the instrument collection for some really superb sounding samples. The program does a great job of keeping things in tempo, and giving you the control to get things on the beat.
I am a music teacher and use Live with my young students - the interface is very intuitive to them, and we are able to get to the music making in no time. I have a Korg padKontrol to trigger sample, and of course, a digital piano.
Anyway, still looking for people to create some basic stuff in FL to share the file so that I may pick it apart. Something I would love to learn is how to make the basic psytrance sound, and possibly hardstyle/jumpstyle too.
Quick example of psytrance bass/kick that I want to create:
Hardstyle examples:
A lot of it is probably some more advanced stuff that I don't quite have the grasp of yet, but I love would to at least get the basic sound down, and how to create them just eludes me.