My Music Process

[odims_sphere]

I've been asked several time how I write music. I do have to say that my way is not in any way the only way...

now that I have you completely confused here is my first step in creating a concept song. this is the culmination of about 4 hours of work. sampling, extracting the timing, programming etc.

this will eventually be the intro to my newest song.

[Jadis]

I've been asked several time how I write music. I do have to say that my way is not in any way the only way...

now that I have you completely confused here is my first step in creating a concept song. this is the culmination of about 4 hours of work. sampling, extracting the timing, programming etc.

this will eventually be the intro to my newest song.

You got it on there!!! That's flippin' awesome! I'm excited that I was there when you decided you wanted to use this!!

hee hee... excited for the end result.

[odims_sphere]

You got it on there!!! That's flippin' awesome! I'm excited that I was there when you decided you wanted to use this!!

hee hee... excited for the end result.

the end result is still very far away

[Jadis]

end result, far away..... got it. I'll be patient.

[Msterbeau]

I studied music once. It was great.

[odims_sphere]

I've completed the full concept. Due to size limitations I've had to upload it to the Siegemachine Myspace page under the name "concept"

There are still timing issues, sounds I'd like to change, a complete ending to write, production and finalizing but this is what I'll take to the studio for an idea to a song.

[odims_sphere]

Oh.. Technology used at this point:

Synths-

K2VXs

Nord lead

Sequential circuits Pro one

Sequencing-

Cakewalk pro studio9

Recording/mixing-

Lexicon Lambda USB interface

Cubase

[crunchy_pickle (5)]

I've been asked several time how I write music. I do have to say that my way is not in any way the only way...

now that I have you completely confused here is my first step in creating a concept song. this is the culmination of about 4 hours of work. sampling, extracting the timing, programming etc.

this will eventually be the intro to my newest song.

I'm confused. You really didn't say anything at all about HOW you wrote it or even tell us what your first step was to creating a concept song. Are these detailed instructions somewhere in the mp3? Maybe I misread this.

Unfortunately, I don't really have the time to start in a more pro sequencer myself. I use FL Studio at first and then export to WAV each individual drum hit in varying degrees of loudness. Then I export segments of the Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Vocals etc by either loops, tracks or any other label I can attach to let me know whether the track itself is finished or needs after FX of some sort.

How I start writing varies. Sometimes it's just something in my head that I try to put on paper. Other times, I"m playing the guitar or piano. Still other times, I'll import someone else's shit, and give it a listen for a while. I'll come up with something new in whatever key they're in to use the song basically as a harmony reference since I'm not really the best at harmonizing my leads. I know how too, but not without throwing theory or my ears into the mix. I just don't have time for that really, since my head only spits out melodies.

I still don't have an awesome recording solution. I do have a Behringer Mixer, and an M-Audio Delta 1010lt (not the greatest but still cost more than I really wanted to spend). Unfortunately, the M-Audio hangs like something fierce when FL Studio is in loop record mode. I wouldn't mind recording in FL Studio and re-recording somewhere else just to keep the initial project in one place.

Strangely enough I think my best asset is my dual monitor setup. Aside from being excessively functional for multi tasking it also works well in stretch mode for sequencers. I don't know why, but I always felt more restricted when I could only see 8 measures at a time without zooming out and straining my skull to see.

[crunchy_pickle (5)]

Wouldn't modular theming and skinning for a music app be sweet? I mean really the Cubase GUI balls and I feel bad for anyone who is just learning on there.

FL Studio is still more of a toy solution but it's interface is more than user friendly. I know I'm not alone in feeling this way since LMMS kinda ripped off the GUI for their app.

Maybe, I'm nitpicking, but my time is pretty valuable. Until someone shows me a way that I can start recording as soon as I open Cubase, clean, but monitored through an FX channel that also supports all the channels on my audio card without some serious headaches and hard work, I kinda refuse to open it again as anything more than a mastering/mixing solution.

While, it'd be nice if I didn't feel obliged to help the people around me in my life and had a bit more free time to jack off on an audio app all day long, maybe I'd actually setup a Template preset of some sort to be my default project.

In the meantime, if anyone would do this for me for some sort of compensation (monetary, trade, work, etc), let me know.

On another note, I'd probably be willing to make a $5,000 website for someone willing to let me have full access to a pro studio for a few hours, during a couple days a week so I can finish my CD.

[odims_sphere]

I meant this more of a demonstration of how the different steps sound, but since you asked..

For me It usually begins with a sound, or clip that sounds interesting to me, in this case it was the Monks chanting. After that start designing a song around the sound in my "concept" studio, which consists of Cakewalk for MIDI control, K2vxs for the main brunt of the sounds. Nord Lead for specialty sounds and the Pro One for Bass sounds. Normally I don't record it, but for this study I recorded it into Cubase, which I don't like at all, but it is what it is.

Once I have enough material, (aprox 6 concept songs), I move to the main studio where we work on samples, timing, arrangements, finalizing sounds, engineering and production.

Technology in that studio is:

Synth & Sample Engines:

2 Kurzweil K2VXS's (keyboard sampling synthesizers)

2 Kurzweil K2000RS's (rack-mounted sampling synthesizers)

Roland jv-2080 (rack-mounted sound module)

Access Virus (rack-mounted simulated analog module)

Roland D-50 (synthesizer/controller)

Clavia Nord Lead (analog modeling synthesizer keyboard)

Sequential Circuits Pro One (analog synthesizer)

Oberheim Matrix 6R (rack-mounted analog sythesizer)

Ensoniq Mirage (the original sampling keyboard)

Iomega Zip & Slipstream CDRom SCSI drives

Computer Hardware & Software:

Micron Pentium IV PC, loaded

Samsung flat-screen monitor

Cakewalk Pro (MIDI arrangement software)

Sonic Foundry Sound Forge (sound management software)

APC Smart-UPS 1000 (rack-mounted uninterruptable power supply)

Music Production Gear:

Mackie 32-8 + 24E (56 channel 8-bus mixing console with meter bridge)

Mackie HDR-2496 (24-track/24-bit hard disk recorder and flat screen monitor)

3 Alesis ADAT-XT's (digital multitrack recorders)

Tascam DA30 Mk-II (DAT Recorder)

HHB CDR850 (CD Recorder)

Tascam MD-301 Mk-II (MiniDisc Recorder)

Mackie HR824's (studio reference monitors)

TC Electronic Finalizer Express (digital mastering processor)

5 DBX 1066's (compressor/limiter/gate)

DBX 2215 (stereo master and side chain EQ/limiter)

BBE 482 (sonic maximizer)

2 Lexicon MPX 1's (multiple effects processors)

Lexicon MPX 500 (effects processor)

Digitech Studio Quad (effects processor)

Boss Pro SE50 (vocoder/effects processor)

Zoom 1204 (vocoder/effects processor)

Focusrite ISA220 (microphone preamplifier)

AKG C414B-TLII (classic condenser microphone)

AKG C4000B (large diaphragm condenser microphone)

Marantz PMD500 (dual record cassette deck)

3 Sony MDR7506's (headphones)

Furman PL-8's (AC line conditioners)

KK Audio studio racks and monitor stands

ProCo & Monster snakes and cables

Finally once we have enough material for an album it's shipped out to be mastered, then mass produced.

[CandyQuackenbush]

It's neat.

I know you just said that you haven't finished it yet, but so far, so good.

[creatureofthenyte]

I think just the fact that you endeavor to create music is cool, in and of itself.

[crunchy_pickle (5)]

Once I have enough material, (aprox 6 concept songs), I move to the main studio where we work on samples, timing, arrangements, finalizing sounds, engineering and production.

Technology in that studio is:

Synth & Sample Engines:

2 Kurzweil K2VXS's (keyboard sampling synthesizers)

2 Kurzweil K2000RS's (rack-mounted sampling synthesizers)

Roland jv-2080 (rack-mounted sound module)

Access Virus (rack-mounted simulated analog module)

Roland D-50 (synthesizer/controller)

Clavia Nord Lead (analog modeling synthesizer keyboard)

Sequential Circuits Pro One (analog synthesizer)

Oberheim Matrix 6R (rack-mounted analog sythesizer)

Ensoniq Mirage (the original sampling keyboard)

Iomega Zip & Slipstream CDRom SCSI drives

Computer Hardware & Software:

Micron Pentium IV PC, loaded

Samsung flat-screen monitor

Cakewalk Pro (MIDI arrangement software)

Sonic Foundry Sound Forge (sound management software)

APC Smart-UPS 1000 (rack-mounted uninterruptable power supply)

Music Production Gear:

Mackie 32-8 + 24E (56 channel 8-bus mixing console with meter bridge)

Mackie HDR-2496 (24-track/24-bit hard disk recorder and flat screen monitor)

3 Alesis ADAT-XT's (digital multitrack recorders)

Tascam DA30 Mk-II (DAT Recorder)

HHB CDR850 (CD Recorder)

Tascam MD-301 Mk-II (MiniDisc Recorder)

Mackie HR824's (studio reference monitors)

TC Electronic Finalizer Express (digital mastering processor)

5 DBX 1066's (compressor/limiter/gate)

DBX 2215 (stereo master and side chain EQ/limiter)

BBE 482 (sonic maximizer)

2 Lexicon MPX 1's (multiple effects processors)

Lexicon MPX 500 (effects processor)

Digitech Studio Quad (effects processor)

Boss Pro SE50 (vocoder/effects processor)

Zoom 1204 (vocoder/effects processor)

Focusrite ISA220 (microphone preamplifier)

AKG C414B-TLII (classic condenser microphone)

AKG C4000B (large diaphragm condenser microphone)

Marantz PMD500 (dual record cassette deck)

3 Sony MDR7506's (headphones)

Furman PL-8's (AC line conditioners)

KK Audio studio racks and monitor stands

ProCo & Monster snakes and cables

Finally once we have enough material for an album it's shipped out to be mastered, then mass produced.

Would you be interested in helping me finish my cd in exchange for a website? I have a 16 measure track I put up for reference (something I started working on when I got home at 9ish. I posted it as my first song on myspace.com/dirtylogicband I have some first drafts up there as well if you'd like to check those out. I have a pretty wide variety of influences as you'll see.