A general music production and theory thread for those with questions on: How to get started Learning music theory What makes up a song How to use synthesizers Almost anything music production, composition, or theory related! Never, EVER ask: Which DAW is the best to use. Steinburg Cubase, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Reason, Sony ACID, Avid Pro Tools, and loads more all have their ups and downs, but the ever-long debate will never be solved in this thread. Please do your own research and try out demos. DAW demo list Spoiler: DAW List Cubase: http://www.steinberg.net/en/products/cubase/trial.html FL-Studio: http://www.image-line.com/downloads/flstudiodownload.html Logic: Mac only. http://www.apple.com/logic-pro/ Reason: http://www.propellerheads.se/download/reason/ Ableton: https://www.ableton.com/en/trial/ Sonar: http://www.cakewalk.com/products/sonar/web-trial.aspx Reaper: Relatively cheap. http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ Sony ACID: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/trials/acidpro LMMS: Free GNU-licensed DAW. I've tried it, but don't really like it. http://lmms.sourceforge.net/download.php To-do list: Possible list of good links to look up. List of DAW links and demos. May make a general music production guide here.
Which DAW is the best to use? I guess I'll start by saying I know near nothing about music theory, so I might just be talking outta my ass here lol. I've liked to make and/or fail at making music since I was maybe eight years old and had this little toy piano, but I never got any real training. Most of what I do know falls under the basics of things like meter and chord progression, 'cause they're two of the main things I look for when I listen to music. I like stuff that's, in a nutshell, confusing. Stuff that you have to listen to two or three times to piece together what's going on. So I've been told by some friends and coworkers that the music I listen to "just sounds messy" or doesn't "make sense", but I consider it a good thing because complex music gives my mind something to do. It's like solving puzzles with sound. This tends to come through in some of the songs and pieces of songs I've written too, I always find myself doing weird new meters and stuff even when I don't intend to. My brain just naturally gravitates towards fives and sevens and mixed meter I guess. 'Course, the more complex the meter is, the tougher it gets to figure out chords to go with it. It's something I wrestle with all the time. Oh the joys of not knowing music.
I like complex meters too! Here's some of my favorites. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmDDOFXSgAs Oh boy, math rock, which is rock with complex meters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eZ4H0e1C_s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-QYnyubrYo Most complex meters tend to have a feel of adding simpler meters together, like 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4. Take "Take Five," for example. This 5/4 song tends to have a feel of switching between 3/4 and 2/4. Another intricate effect is playing triplets on top of duplets (eighth notes), as shown in Debussy's First Arabesque. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6s49OKp6aE This is known as polyrhythm. It sounds very free form, especially with rubato (freely changing) time in the piece.
Haww, math rock... everyone who knows me knows my music is not for the rock-disinclined. Most of what I listen to is much heavier though, it gets called mathcore because it's considered fused with hardcore punk. I think of it as a more extreme progressive metal. lol Protest the Hero - Bloodmeat Periphery - MAKE TOTAL DESTROY I know a thing or two about polyrhythms too, though I can't actually play them without a good amount of practice. When I play something like duplets on top of triplets, I sort of chant in my head "cold cup of tea, cold cup of tea..." to help me get the independent rhythms right. And when I do a 4-3 polyrhythm (don't know the proper term for it, lol) I chant "pass the goddamn butter". One of my older songs was in 5/8 time, and I think it had a 5-6 polyrhythm or something. I used "lions and tigers and bears, oh my" to help me keep time.
I think he means stuff like how to test what you know and what to study next. I dunno though, I guess it depends on what instrument you're doing. I would suggest learning to read sheet music, and test yourself by playing familiar songs like Ode to Joy or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, or Bach's Toccata and Fugue in Dm.
Sorry I should've elaborated more. I can play instruments (Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Marimba, and teaching myself Piano). I'm interested in making music in FL Studio and was wandering what would be a good foot to start on. I have watched some videos as well.
Really, just start using the program. Getting used to it takes practice and time. Install it, if you haven't already. Look through the sample list, drag and drop them on the step sequencer. Open up the Piano Roll and start editing the notes. Right click a channel and click "Open Piano Roll" to start editing. Perhaps mess around with the synthesizers and see what random sounds you can make. For starts, try the "3xOC" and the "Wasp DX" synths out, and start getting used to them. Put the loops on the playlist, and see if you can make a short (~1-2 minute) song. And, definitely, learn about what you are seeing. Image Line has an extremely detailed documentation. Just try stuff out.
Ok I made something and I accidentally saved it as a .flp file. Is there anyway I can listen to it. I know I wont be able to change it, but is there a way to still listen to it? If so how?
I'm working on a music production guide. I'll post it in the original post sometime! Find a way to upload it to the internet (dropbox, or something), and PM me the link. I'll export it as an audio file for you.
Don't worry, every song has something to learn from it. I'm still learning too! First, there is a dynamics (volume) problem. http://s13.postimg.org/4nfwgofav/001_loudness.png Your music is so loud it has to be limited, so there isn't any clipping distortion, but this makes everything else quieter. Rule of thumb, DON'T max out the limiter! This can be fixed by reducing the volume on each track, and reducing the Gain (amplifier) on the limiter. You can open the limiter and track your volume here. http://s12.postimg.org/6pdcjkwxp/002_mixerandlimiter.png Please leave the volume bar at 100%, and only change the Gain on the limiter instead. http://s13.postimg.org/ccqixmjxz/003_volumebar.png Second, you need to get into the idea of multiple playlist tracks, and reusability. (Side note: If you haven't realized yet, percussion doesn't change pitch. Going into the piano roll to make "percussion chords was unnecessary.) http://s13.postimg.org/i1altqsfr/004_playlistreusability.png The "Main Extended" loop is completely unnecessary. It is much simpler to reuse your original loop and to simply add another note for the next bar. http://s16.postimg.org/c7pr0gnfp/005_playlistreusability.png Note that added an empty loop on the next track. I can add loops onto the next track, so I don't have to add the percussion into the next loop. Before: http://s15.postimg.org/gd1mi82d7/006_playlistreusability.png After! http://s24.postimg.org/em0g1gvhx/007_playlistreusability.png (Percussion removed from "Punching Zap") This will save you time, be much easier to edit, and, overall, be much neater. Third, please pick a different lead synthesizer. Try using the Harmless synthesizer's presets (also called patches). http://s2.postimg.org/pllierx7t/008_synth.png Seeing that you have already figured out how to pick drum patches, just do the same on Harmless. Also, try using the presets on the Sytrus synth. Lastly, if you want to make a more melodious and consonant sound, as opposed to dissonant, try using the Pentatonic Scale for starters. This limits you to 5 notes, C-D-E-G-A. http://s2.postimg.org/9yu91ejft/009_pianoroll.png For practice with this, try making a song like this: Instruments: A baseline using only the notes C and G. Look for a bass preset to use, and find one that sounds good. A lead using the pentatonic scale. Look for a lead preset to use, and find one that sounds good. A pad playing the note C for a whole measure. Look for a pad preset, and find one that sounds good. Percussion: A kick on each quarter note. It will give that familiar "untz, untz, untz, untz" sound. A snare on every other quarter note. "(rest), hit, (rest), hit" A hat on every eighth note. That's all for now, and have fun!
