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Have you guys ever noticed...
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| azndragon0613 |
Have you guys ever noticed how so many people take for granted how the music they enjoy is made. I bet when some of us started, we thought it was just percussion, some lead instrument and bass. Heck, I didn't even know what the hell a kick was before I started making my own songs. It's funny because normally people wouldn't understand the fine details that go into making even just a simple, clean song. They can't even explain why they like a song. They overlook the sound synthesis, musical theory, creativity, EQ, compression, filters and the little things that make songs grand. It kind of makes me feel bad for the composer too when the singer gets all the credit when the instruments and other essential elements were put together by the composer.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you guys should appreciate how lucky you guys are to understand sound design and engineering, to recognize the fine nuances of sound when you listen to music. Most people don't. Just food for thought and discussion. If you guys think this is gay, then I'll delete this post. :-P |
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| *InVeRs3* |
| I agree. I knew that EDM wasn't just twisting buttons around as the critics of EDM say, but it's totally different when you're actually doing the producing. Also, producers who I didn't really like because they made typical sounding stuff earned my respect. The challenge of thinking outside the box, but not way outside the box is a challenge indeed. After producing I never looked at "McProg" or "McTrance" the same way again and I started liking it. In the end I realized I'm an ass. |
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| DJ Shibby |
I agree.
We have a different, more in-depth appreciation for music, and we listen on higher quality systems that most... I think all aspects of one's life is improved by both.
But make no mistake -- it is not "luck". We practice and trial-and-error and read and read and read. We need to be engineers and artists. It isn't luck, it's reaping the rewards of hard work. |
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| Synchronicity |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ Shibby
I agree.
We have a different, more in-depth appreciation for music, and we listen on higher quality systems that most... I think all aspects of one's life is improved by both.
But make no mistake -- it is not "luck". We practice and trial-and-error and read and read and read. We need to be engineers and artists. It isn't luck, it's reaping the rewards of hard work. |
Well, some luck is involved but reaping the rewards of hard work is very true. For me, this is the harsh reality I'm having to face at the moment - I'm avoiding writing tracks because my ear is more critically focused than creatively focused and I'm finding it hard to change. |
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| LENG |
| quote: | Originally posted by Synchronicity
I'm avoiding writing tracks because my ear is more critically focused than creatively focused and I'm finding it hard to change. |
same as me at the moment... |
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| substorm |
| quote: | Originally posted by Synchronicity
I'm avoiding writing tracks because my ear is more critically focused than creatively focused and I'm finding it hard to change. |
Well, thats how it is for me now, i cant listen to a track without seeing a sequencer before my eyes. :P
But im in a phase that makes me not want to stop producing, i just love it. But i miss listening to a track like i use to do. :( |
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| Lunar Phase 7 |
| We also learn that producing can be a bloody anti-social hobby. |
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| Storyteller |
| not if you have msn on, you can socialise and make music :P However too much chatting is a problem too :P |
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| Synchronicity |
| I wouldn't say it's anti-social, I just never meet anyone who's into trance production. I used to team up with a guy, but he moved off to Canada. We wrote one track with a decent melody but crap mixdown. There was definately potential there esp. coz his girlfriend was stunning and had a great voice. |
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| Derivative |
Weird. The more I study production, sound engineering and music the more I realise, in essense how simple it really is. It is all completely logical. I can now sit down and explain to some the basics of aliasing, what it is, how to avoid it or minimise it and the differential equation that determines foldback.
It looks horrendous in a physics text book with pages upon pages of calculus but thats only because it hasnt been explained in a very good way.
The more I study production, the more I realise how simple it is at the heart of it. Get the recording right and the sound mixes itself. Get the mixdown right and the song masters itself.
Its a question of knowing how to make life easier for yourself. It really isnt rocket science. Although I suspect rocket science really isnt that difficult to understand if it has been explained to you properly and appropriately. Its the same with alot of things.
I we met up, I could teach any old newbie how to program a semi modular subtractive analogue synthesizer. I can teach them how to record the results and how to recognise when it aliases (only applicable for VAs of course). I can then go on to explain the mechanics of synthesis, oscillators and filter/envelope design. How it all fits together in the signal chain and how to build your own signal chains. Its simple. The hard part is getting to the stage where you realise its actually not that complicated and the whole thing is beautifully simple.
The only requisite I have from a pupil is:
1) You know how to speak english. Because if you cant speak english theres one helluva communication barrier to overcome.
2) You are actually interested enough in what is being taught that you will go home afterwards and actually practice it.
The best music to my ears is so simple on every level - musically, structurally, mechanically. In terms of production, in terms of the ideas being communicated. No faffing around. My favourite songs are all genius works that make me think 'why didnt I think of that? Its so simple!' - Songs like Belfast and Love Stimulation etc etc.
Making things horrendously complicated just makes them more unmanageable. Thats never a good idea and it doesnt have to be that way. |
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| bluebird |
| quote: | Originally posted by azndragon0613
Have you guys ever noticed how so many people take for granted how the music they enjoy is made. I bet when some of us started, we thought it was just percussion, some lead instrument and bass. Heck, I didn't even know what the hell a kick was before I started making my own songs. It's funny because normally people wouldn't understand the fine details that go into making even just a simple, clean song. They can't even explain why they like a song. They overlook the sound synthesis, musical theory, creativity, EQ, compression, filters and the little things that make songs grand. It kind of makes me feel bad for the composer too when the singer gets all the credit when the instruments and other essential elements were put together by the composer.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you guys should appreciate how lucky you guys are to understand sound design and engineering, to recognize the fine nuances of sound when you listen to music. Most people don't. Just food for thought and discussion. If you guys think this is gay, then I'll delete this post. :-P |
"[Music] is like a frog: you can dissect the thing, but it somehow dies in the process."
Your frog's dead, and you realize that so many people have dead frogs these days... look what my dead frog can do, yippeeee, and if i smack it to the ground.. it makes a good attack sound for a kickdrum |
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