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Lets talk about workflow
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wildlion
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
16
Posted : Nov 5, 2012 20:09:24
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Hey ppl, nice to know you all.
I m looking for some insights about workflow of track production.
I mean, first thing i do before starting a track is seting up kick and bass that is the base of the track for me. I usually just tweak until I hear something nice and leave it there with a simple rolling bassline, that i will modify probably in the future after i have some other elements.
But after kick and bass, what do you do then? Percussion? or do you try to find something to be the main lead of the track, the element tha will give identity to the track? Maybe just tweak a bunch of random fx? And how do you think it help you starting that way?
Please give me your toughts, i feel most of the times i struggle finishing my tracks and i think i need to improve my workflow, sometimes I loose so much time in some element that later i find that i have to modify because it isnt fitting with other stuff and this is so frustating.
PEace |
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supergroover
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
39
Posts :
1505
Posted : Nov 5, 2012 20:25
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I usually start with the kick and the bass. If I am happy with those I ll continue with some percussion (hats and snare). After that I ll continue with a lead sound. While figuring that out I usually come across some other small sounds and fxs which I ll keep and edit until it is good. Then I ll go back to the lead. In the end I usually have loads of stuff which then only needs organizing. Sometimes you ll end up with too many effects and you ll have to delete a few and focus on the last few sounds that the track needs.
 soundcloud.com/supergroover |
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Xetni
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
68
Posted : Nov 5, 2012 21:38
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I try to start with kick and bass but because my room is quite bad I have a hard time knowing if they sound good without reference to other mixing elements... Then often time it happens I will have a "good" kick & bass but when I add in a lead, percussion, etc, it falls apart, so I need to edit it again.
Now my new approach is to fire up a synth that I like, and make some meat... you know? The actual content of the song, the leads, FX, atmospheres, get the "idea" of the track down... to me that is what the track is about, that is the story. The kick & bass come later to that, they are the supportive, rhythm elements.
My problem is that I often get stuck in making an 8 bar loop which I then mix for endless hours. Or I will make a nice lead, or some FX, that will sound good in that section, but when I want to add something to complement it and make another section, I can't make any more sounds to fit what I already made, same as you.
On top of all this I am still searching for my "ideal" synthesizer which I will be happy with, I prefer more to modular stuff as I can get very creative with it.
I seem to have a problem with normal synths I always do same thing, low pass, modulation, pluck crap, or high pass distortion leads, meh. I am trying to find out how to make those nice full-on pads and atmospheres now.
P.S. Percussion is another problem, beyond the basic open hi-hat, 16th chh, snare etc., I have a hard time coming up with anything interesting. |
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psyraal
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
77
Posts :
768
Posted : Nov 5, 2012 21:57
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workflow? get an idea, after such accomplishment, you won't feel like you're doing a routine.
With an idea comes the mental sounds, after that comes the experimentation of processing such mental unclear, imaginary sounds to an actual audible story. Between such process, you develop 'things' (=synthlines) you didn't even planned on creating, and with that comes another, and another and another sound. You'll have a hand full of atmosphere patterns that you won't even know where and how to place them, which intrigues you, and in order it develops a sense of mission in your head. Which in turn, makes you enter some sort of trance state.
It all should come from an idea, atmospheres, pads, leads, effects, arps, percs, kicks, basses, wtvr. Once you have it, you're good to go.
My actual workflow: Intro first, beats later. Leads come naturally.
https://soundcloud.com/neervos |
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e-scape
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
17
Posts :
351
Posted : Nov 6, 2012 00:36
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Nov 6, 2012 00:53
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i m not sure if there is really a superior workflow but the most common i have seen with collabs are
-working on a beat / bassline, getting it to sound 90% like it will be released in term of production.
then making some loops (patterns)
once there is enought material start to arrange
then working on details . |
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Agorit
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
114
Posted : Nov 6, 2012 06:51
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I think the more you practice you develop your own workflow.
while you're producing, try thinking while bars. I mean, think about 1 bar, 2 bar, 4 bar, 8 bar 16... in the same time. Its hard to explain.
I at least have an easier time creating when I already have a formed groove. It's easier to fill the track.
hope this help
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Galaxy Machine
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
15
Posts :
170
Posted : Nov 6, 2012 08:11
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faxinadu
Faxi Nadu / Elmooht
Started Topics :
282
Posts :
3394
Posted : Nov 6, 2012 12:09
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i will provide a different point of view -
start with atmospheres, intro, vibes. change your mindset from a technician to a creator.
the longer you wait to introduce kick/bass/leads, the more amazing story you will have.
try it, i guaranteeing results  no more getting stuck on patterns and loops.
build a 1 minute "ambient" track before you touch anything else, then start layering your beats.
The Way Back
https://faxinadu.bandcamp.com/album/the-way-back |
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aje
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
99
Posts :
1145
Posted : Nov 6, 2012 13:30
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Quote:
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On 2012-11-06 12:09, faxinadu wrote:
i will provide a different point of view -
start with atmospheres, intro, vibes. change your mindset from a technician to a creator.
the longer you wait to introduce kick/bass/leads, the more amazing story you will have.
try it, i guaranteeing results no more getting stuck on patterns and loops.
build a 1 minute "ambient" track before you touch anything else, then start layering your beats.
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Thats what I do.
Check out my album: http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/gay-satanic-hippie-tiefenrausch |
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Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Nov 6, 2012 13:37
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I used to start with an intro, but now I am back to starting with kick and bass, the reason behind it is that I want to find the best, to my abilities, sounding kick and bass and decide which root note I am going to go for. When I decide the root note of the track, then I go back to making an intro. But kick and bass first, then some analog FX, then maybe a lead or two, then intro. By that time the track it self, tells me where it wants to go, I don't need to work on it, it works on me.
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
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Soma_Happiens
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
120
Posted : Nov 6, 2012 13:54
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+1 Faxi
I don't make psy, being more into dubby chill downtempo styles, though i'll throw my five cents too
almost everytime i start from intro, ambiences or textures. after the main mood of the track is set and i know where the track is gonna go i usually used to throw in the kick and some fucked up loops in dr.rex and go making my bass and leave percussion part for the end - this is tricky because i usually end up with same rex loops at the end and am too lazy to program my own percussion.
i work in reason and only on the track i'm currently making i found ideal though quite simple configuration of devices to program my own beats easily and with the flow. i consider this great achievement and now tend to leave dr.rex alone at the start, and make main beat myself.
After the bass is cooked then in goes main leads or background synths such as arpeggios and stuff. it depends on the mood which goes first and i think it doesn't matter as long as you get some steps further with your tune.
And lastly goes fx.
In A Society That Has Abolished All Adventure The Only Adventure That Remains Is To Abolish Society
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http://soundcloud.com/soma_happiens
http://www.facebook.com/SomaHappiens |
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Cardinals Cartel
Black Machine
Started Topics :
191
Posts :
3097
Posted : Nov 6, 2012 21:59
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After many years of produce i have learn that No matter where/How you start/Open your work .
If you know what you do What left is your feeling ..
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Boo
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
41
Posts :
89
Posted : Nov 6, 2012 23:45
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i used to start with bassline, then add intro and develop the track with leads and fx..
im gonna try to make a skeleton of only bassline and some percussion, for the entire duration of the track (maybe leave some room for an intro). add breaks/glitch/effects on the bassline/perc, and only then start adding fx leads and other stuff...
will see how it turns out
also faxi's method is awesome. sometimes i watch a movie or a show, and i think - that's gonna be an intro ; |
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Taisto
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
16
Posts :
252
Posted : Nov 7, 2012 02:12
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To me, best result comes when bassline is not the leader, so nowdays i dont start from bassline that often.. It can be some rhythms (kick, loops, so on..) first or just the melody. 16 to 32 bar long. Then the melody is the leader and bassline and percussion follows that and not ''stealing'' the whole show.
Usually i add staff inside that 16 to 32 bar long loop until i feel satisfied to move on for more arragement.
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