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A Quick run-down of what happened last week.
Last Monday was my first week of class's down at Saddleback College. My arrival there was a little
sudden and I had to register for class's literally last second. Managed to get a Math class on
Saturdays in the morning for an hour or two, and 3 music-related class's to back it up during the
week: Audio Production, Music Composition, and Radio Broadcasting. Thursday night I even
managed to take some time and do a quick Google_Maps search for nightclubs around my area. I
found about 10 different ones, and went ahead and E-Mailed out some Promo Infoz to each, I'm still
waiting for some replies though (I'm going to have to check up on them, I don't expect them to take
time during the weekend to look my way.)
Saturday night was what I had been waiting for though - the monthly Prancing
Skiltaire party that had been pushed from last week to this week. I picked up two of
my good friends, Jenichu & Jasu (who had never been to the party yet) and we took
off to the party. I was surprised to see so many people there, Most of my other DJ
Clane (who's been getting paid for spinning Psytrance & Electro House long (plus a
light to see what we were doing!) along with Josh (an Electro House & Dubstep DJ).
We all took turns ripping it up, had a whole crowd in the back dancing for quite a
while up until we all had to leave. I had so much fun, got to see all my friends and got
some pointers on improving my mixing, which I always love.
So last week I said I'd talk a bit about PRODUCTION of actual trax as opposed to
mixing it up on the turntables. For those of you that don't know, I started off back in
late Elementray School or Jr. Highschool making MIDI files. I didn't actually start
using FLStudio (which I use to this day) until just a few years ago.
First of all, there's a lot to consider when we're talking about making music, This is
usually the process I run through before I start.
1) What genre of music do I want to produce?
2) Do I have the resources to produce it?
3) Do I have an idea for a melody or bassline, or some key "hook" for the song?
Skiltaire party that had been pushed from last week to this week. I picked up two of
my good friends, Jenichu & Jasu (who had never been to the party yet) and we took
off to the party. I was surprised to see so many people there, Most of my other DJ
Clane (who's been getting paid for spinning Psytrance & Electro House long (plus a
light to see what we were doing!) along with Josh (an Electro House & Dubstep DJ).
We all took turns ripping it up, had a whole crowd in the back dancing for quite a
while up until we all had to leave. I had so much fun, got to see all my friends and got
some pointers on improving my mixing, which I always love.
So last week I said I'd talk a bit about PRODUCTION of actual trax as opposed to
mixing it up on the turntables. For those of you that don't know, I started off back in
late Elementray School or Jr. Highschool making MIDI files. I didn't actually start
using FLStudio (which I use to this day) until just a few years ago.
First of all, there's a lot to consider when we're talking about making music, This is
usually the process I run through before I start.
1) What genre of music do I want to produce?
2) Do I have the resources to produce it?
3) Do I have an idea for a melody or bassline, or some key "hook" for the song?
| Saturday night at the party.... Here I am with DJ Clane |
Typically, I produce a number of Electronic Dance
genres (Techno / Trance / Happy Hardcore) and each
one has its own "feel", that certin something that makes
you say its genre A, not genre B. Techno is typically
short and to the point, around 140BPM (beats per
minuet), and depending on the sub-genre can take a
few different forms. Trance can range anywhere
segments & very "trancy" with lot's euphoric effects and
watery noises (again dependent on sub-genre).
UK/Happy Hardcore tunes tend to range well into the
170-180BPM range and, I've found tends to have an
A-B-C-B-D-A-B-C kind of structure with lots of loud kicks
Next, I've got an entire ARCHIVE of different sounds,
samples, and virtual synth's I've acquired over time that I
use to find just the right sounds I need for my trak.
There's actually plenty you can get for free online, just
use Google and you'll come across some great demo's
and free sounds. After that, if I've already got an idea
for a melody or bassline, or hook I want to use, I go
ahead and jot that down into FLStudio so I don't forget it.
Many times, I start something with really no ideas at all.
For those situations, I tend to start off with the drums
and percussion and as I'm working I come up with ideas
for cool breaks, a bassline and the different melodies I
want to use. (Even then, I still tinker around with things
as I'm working to get it to sound just right.)
genres (Techno / Trance / Happy Hardcore) and each
one has its own "feel", that certin something that makes
you say its genre A, not genre B. Techno is typically
short and to the point, around 140BPM (beats per
minuet), and depending on the sub-genre can take a
few different forms. Trance can range anywhere
segments & very "trancy" with lot's euphoric effects and
watery noises (again dependent on sub-genre).
UK/Happy Hardcore tunes tend to range well into the
170-180BPM range and, I've found tends to have an
A-B-C-B-D-A-B-C kind of structure with lots of loud kicks
Next, I've got an entire ARCHIVE of different sounds,
samples, and virtual synth's I've acquired over time that I
use to find just the right sounds I need for my trak.
There's actually plenty you can get for free online, just
use Google and you'll come across some great demo's
and free sounds. After that, if I've already got an idea
for a melody or bassline, or hook I want to use, I go
ahead and jot that down into FLStudio so I don't forget it.
Many times, I start something with really no ideas at all.
For those situations, I tend to start off with the drums
and percussion and as I'm working I come up with ideas
for cool breaks, a bassline and the different melodies I
want to use. (Even then, I still tinker around with things
as I'm working to get it to sound just right.)
Those are just the basics - and there's more to composition than an archive of sounds and effects. One trick
I feel really helps is to "actively listen" to music of that genre. Pick up on common uses of instruments,
synths, the construction of songs and melodies, the use of effects or samples. Every little detail helps you
build a mental "blueprint" for what a song in that particular genre tends to sound like and include.
I actually grew up on lots of Trance, and moved into Eurobeat, Hard Dance, and that's how I arrived in Happy
Hardcore - I love going back and making tunes in those forgotten genres of my past, and I think the more I do
it the better I get.
All in all, things are looking up for me I think. Need to find a part-time job down here to make some cash,
promote myself a bit more, and I even have some plans with a few friends to DJ at their new upcoming
convention, so where we go from here I can only guess.
Next week, I'll try to touch on some tips and tricks with producing trax in FLStudio!
| "A Rabbits Tale" Archives Jan11 2010 |
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