Producing music

[Mutiny]

After DJing for a while, getting to know the genre etc, i have decided i want to have a serious attempt at creating music

I am very into Reggae influenced Dub/Dubstep, similar to that of the 'war' whitelabel series, and also quite minimal and dark dubstep, such as Kryptic Minds, J:Kenzo, The Widdler, Ruckspin, Mala, Silkie etc, and i would love to have a go at trying to create something similar. After much bargaining i have managed to borrow reason off a friend and after many hours i have a grasp of the most basic controls.

After searching for hours on trying to find sutible tutorials i have only come across a mass of 'create a wobble' help videos, which although i appretiate, are not what i am looking for right now. I am a huge fan of the widdler and have downloaded his 'default rack' on reason which i think will prove helpful, although i am not quite sure where to go next as far as advice goes.

I have bought a pretty basic sample pack with a few useful snare drums and kicks etc, plus a couple of vocal shouts and horns, but would appretiate any recomendations on other packs.

I am lacking however, the basic knowledge of how to create even the most simple beat. I understand from djing the track has to be in sections, intro, drop, breakdown etc. But am unsure of how to construct this, as i gather a track is in 4 sections of 16 bars, am i correct? how do i measure 16 bars on the sequencer?

Are there any pre-made drum tracks that i can put onto the sequencer and then edit to my liking? Is that acceptable? I really dont have any idea how producers go about creating a track. What comes after the basic beat is created? bass? synth? i have so many questions..

What i am asking is for any general advice on how to create a nice sounding halfstep drum pattern, what i need to do to create it and get it onto the sequencer, whether i should i create it as i go along, or create the whole track in one go, and what i should concentrate after this.

I basically need a step by step guide on how to go about everything, from creating the first few beats, to creating a synth, adding vocal samples, everything.

Here is a screenshot of what i see when i open reason, if that might help.



Thankyou in advance DSF, any advice you can give me on my quest into the unknown is hugely appretiated

Peace and Dubwise love, Alex

[LFpHUNK]

ill tell you if you tell me a step by step guide on how to suck my own wee wee

[lowpass]

ill tell you if you tell me a step by step guide on how to suck my own wee wee

This guy seems pretty sincere, And I'd rather this than "how do I make track like bar9 dem?"

@OP - Don't think anyone is going to walk you step by step through the whole learning process, usually you gotta figure these things out for yourself. At the top is the production bible, I'd suggest reading through that and just concentrate on making as many beats as you can atm regardless of quality (you might not want to share these in the early stages!) eventually you'll start to hone in on specific questions that you have about the production process e.g (how to make kick and bass not clash in the mix, how to get cleaner mixdowns, better drum sounds etc)

When you do come back and see if these questions have already been asked, if not then feel free to ask but again it's a journey that's going to take you some time.

good luck

[cigaro5676]

http://www.boyinaband.com/tutorials/dubstep-tutorial/

check out these vids... follow them and within a week you will have a tune.
it doesnt matter if it sounds good or not, its the process. you learn something new everyday

these vids were extremely helpful to me when i was first getting into production
he also has tuts on almost any genre

[Mutiny]

ill tell you if you tell me a step by step guide on how to suck my own wee wee

This guy seems pretty sincere, And I'd rather this than "how do I make track like bar9 dem?"

@OP - Don't think anyone is going to walk you step by step through the whole learning process, usually you gotta figure these things out for yourself. At the top is the production bible, I'd suggest reading through that and just concentrate on making as many beats as you can atm regardless of quality (you might not want to share these in the early stages!) eventually you'll start to hone in on specific questions that you have about the production process e.g (how to make kick and bass not clash in the mix, how to get cleaner mixdowns, better drum sounds etc)

When you do come back and see if these questions have already been asked, if not then feel free to ask but again it's a journey that's going to take you some time.

good luck

Thanks, yeah i tottally overlooked the production bible, just didnt see it. Am having a browse now and it looks likea a lot of help, Cheers.

Also, im really liking the tune in your sig. Nice production

[JBE]

People have also created many reason tutorials that just cover basic sound creation using the synths that come packaged with reason. you should start looking for these as well. You're going to want to have some better knowledge of these programs.

[marshy]

Grab this sample pack that someone posted the other day. No idea how illegal it is, but there's a lot of nice kicks/snares/hats plus a shedload of other samples.

http://www.dubstepforum.com/450mb-of-am ... 41972.html

[gnome]

Took me a good year to get the basics of my DAW (Ableton) and I enjoyed every minute of it. Don't feel rushed to make tunes this aint a race.

[nitz]

After DJing for a while, getting to know the genre etc, i have decided i want to have a serious attempt at creating music
Good


I am very into Reggae influenced Dub/Dubstep, similar to that of the 'war' whitelabel series, and also quite minimal and dark dubstep, such as Kryptic Minds, J:Kenzo, The Widdler, Ruckspin, Mala, Silkie etc, and i would love to have a go at trying to create something similar. After much bargaining i have managed to borrow reason off a friend and after many hours i have a grasp of the most basic controls.

Sounds like similar taste to what i have. Reason petty simple to get use to.

After searching for hours on trying to find sutible tutorials i have only come across a mass of 'create a wobble' help videos, which although i appretiate, are not what i am looking for right now. I am a huge fan of the widdler and have downloaded his 'default rack' on reason which i think will prove helpful, although i am not quite sure where to go next as far as advice goes.

From what influences you said you had, i would not spend hours and hours longing in "wobble bass videos." Rather use a sine wave to start with. Its just a pure sub. If you don't know how to do this follow these steps:
Open up a Malstrom
intitalize the patch (right click on the unit for this option)
On both Osc, on sine waves, and set it on octave 2/3 depending on the key of the baseline.
Then start really bassline's in this form, dont worry to much about wob wob wob... (ATM)



I have bought a pretty basic sample pack with a few useful snare drums and kicks etc, plus a couple of vocal shouts and horns, but would appretiate any recomendations on other packs.

For kicks and snares hits ect i would advice the vengeance packs, get source for samples


I am lacking however, the basic knowledge of how to create even the most simple beat. I understand from djing the track has to be in sections, intro, drop, breakdown etc. But am unsure of how to construct this, as i gather a track is in 4 sections of 16 bars, am i correct? how do i measure 16 bars on the sequencer?

Open up a redrum,
Kick starts in 1
Snare/slap in 9
Then work around that, but dont keep it that simple its gets really boring.

For arrangement you can follow the pop structure for now to get you going. But just because that structure is in writing does not mean to say you have to follow it, it just some grounds to work upon.


Are there any pre-made drum tracks that i can put onto the sequencer and then edit to my liking? Is that acceptable? I really dont have any idea how producers go about creating a track. What comes after the basic beat is created? bass? synth? i have so many questions..

Open up a comb, then go into the search folder and look about half way down it should say performance patch's, go into there and there lots of stuff that will help you.


What i am asking is for any general advice on how to create a nice sounding halfstep drum pattern, what i need to do to create it and get it onto the sequencer, whether i should i create it as i go along, or create the whole track in one go, and what i should concentrate after this.

I basically need a step by step guide on how to go about everything, from creating the first few beats, to creating a synth, adding vocal samples, everything.


Check out the dubstep bible on this forum, search it.

Here is a screenshot of what i see when i open reason, if that might help.


BTW off that limiter, bypass it.


Thankyou in advance DSF, any advice you can give me on my quest into the unknown is hugely appretiated

Peace and Dubwise love, Alex

Hope that helped

[Recessive Trait]

I am lacking however, the basic knowledge of how to create even the most simple beat.

sounds like you're in trouble. how can you be a dj and not have an idea of how the beats are put together. you've got a long uphill battle ahead of you.

seems like a lot of you guys need to LEARN ABOUT MUSIC before actually trying to set out to make some.

[narcissus]

music can't be taught. OP -- if you've been DJ'ing for a while and listening closely to music, you already have all the tools you need to make music. now just dip into your soul and see what comes out. the way every amazing musician learned is just by fucking around and seeing what works.

[deadly_habit]

peep the computer music and future music masterclasses and head on over to doa. peep some 1&a threads, read your manuals, subscribe to tape op and get ready for a real addicting hobby.

[symmetricalsounds]

http://www.boyinaband.com/tutorials/dubstep-tutorial/

check out these vids... follow them and within a week you will have a tune.
it doesnt matter if it sounds good or not, its the process. you learn something new everyday

these vids were extremely helpful to me when i was first getting into production
he also has tuts on almost any genre

probably the best advice, seems step-by-step for reason.

[ninjadog]

I am lacking however, the basic knowledge of how to create even the most simple beat. I understand from djing the track has to be in sections, intro, drop, breakdown etc. But am unsure of how to construct this, as i gather a track is in 4 sections of 16 bars, am i correct? how do i measure 16 bars on the sequencer?

4 beats = 1 measure = 1 bar
Each measure is numbered on the sequencer so 1 bar is 1-5 on reasons sequencer and has ticks to identify each beat. Count 16 of those bars or do the math and that should put you on 65. But most tracks have 4 or 8 bar sections, but nothing is set in stone.

[BioQuark]

I am lacking however, the basic knowledge of how to create even the most simple beat. I understand from djing the track has to be in sections, intro, drop, breakdown etc. But am unsure of how to construct this, as i gather a track is in 4 sections of 16 bars, am i correct? how do i measure 16 bars on the sequencer?

4 beats = 1 measure
4 measures = 1 bar
Each measure is numbered on the sequencer so 1 bar is 1-5 on reasons sequencer and has ticks to identify each measure. Count 16 of those bars or do the math and that should put you on 65. But most tracks have 4 or 8 bar sections, but nothing is set in stone.

What? There's not 4 measures in a bar. A measure and a bar are the same thing.

[Mutiny]

Okay, yeah I understand beat patterning and phasing fine, i should of made that clear. I was just kind of unsure on the actual numbers, as i am used to just counting in my head when mixing, if you understand?

I think my main issue now is actually working Reason and getting it to do what i would like it to do, as i am completely clueless as to what to use within the program to create the correct sounds for what i am looking to achieve. For example what would i use to develop a synth (that isnt a wobble) and match it up to a drum pattern.

I find videos helpful as they give me a rough idea as to what order i should go about things in, but there seems to be NO tutorials whatsoever that are aimed at people wanting to create 140 bpm music other than the 'dirty dubstep wobble' type.

I want to create deep and heavy sounds, with a heavy and dark sub and interesting synth. Where can i find any sort of tutorial on music production similar to this?

I know there are some amazing producers on this forum, if anyone could do any sort of tutorial i would be unbelievably greatful. It would help me no end and im sure there are many others who feel the same way,

Thanks so much for all the help so far everyone, Respect!

[Depone]

Yeah take all the advice you can get from this forum. Once your happy with your musical skills, its time to work on your mixdown, which is an art in itself. make sure you take a look at the production bibe here, its user generated and has some solid sound advice. Enjoy!

[ninjadog]

I am lacking however, the basic knowledge of how to create even the most simple beat. I understand from djing the track has to be in sections, intro, drop, breakdown etc. But am unsure of how to construct this, as i gather a track is in 4 sections of 16 bars, am i correct? how do i measure 16 bars on the sequencer?

4 beats = 1 measure
4 measures = 1 bar
Each measure is numbered on the sequencer so 1 bar is 1-5 on reasons sequencer and has ticks to identify each measure. Count 16 of those bars or do the math and that should put you on 65. But most tracks have 4 or 8 bar sections, but nothing is set in stone.

What? There's not 4 measures in a bar. A measure and a bar are the same thing.

Shit, thats why I souldent smoke trees then try and help people.

[nitz]

Okay, yeah I understand beat patterning and phasing fine, i should of made that clear. I was just kind of unsure on the actual numbers, as i am used to just counting in my head when mixing, if you understand?

I think my main issue now is actually working Reason and getting it to do what i would like it to do, as i am completely clueless as to what to use within the program to create the correct sounds for what i am looking to achieve. For example what would i use to develop a synth (that isnt a wobble) and match it up to a drum pattern.

I find videos helpful as they give me a rough idea as to what order i should go about things in, but there seems to be NO tutorials whatsoever that are aimed at people wanting to create 140 bpm music other than the 'dirty dubstep wobble' type.

I want to create deep and heavy sounds, with a heavy and dark sub and interesting synth. Where can i find any sort of tutorial on music production similar to this?

I know there are some amazing producers on this forum, if anyone could do any sort of tutorial i would be unbelievably greatful. It would help me no end and im sure there are many others who feel the same way,

Thanks so much for all the help so far everyone, Respect!

Like i said Sub baseline will go with any... drum beat you make.

Additionally, learn the basics of a synth in your case. Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyAzMxHo8M4

Plus

http://www.youtube.com/user/PropellerheadSW

For the synth's which sounds similar to Ruckspin, or just most of Ranking Recording crew, you would normally just start with a DnB reese, and change it around, add high pass's detune, maybe unison, to get rid of that dirty type sound, then finally reverb! Which normally is the key. Youtube "Reason 4 DnB Reese... lots of tut's

[Mutiny]

Okay, yeah I understand beat patterning and phasing fine, i should of made that clear. I was just kind of unsure on the actual numbers, as i am used to just counting in my head when mixing, if you understand?

I think my main issue now is actually working Reason and getting it to do what i would like it to do, as i am completely clueless as to what to use within the program to create the correct sounds for what i am looking to achieve. For example what would i use to develop a synth (that isnt a wobble) and match it up to a drum pattern.

I find videos helpful as they give me a rough idea as to what order i should go about things in, but there seems to be NO tutorials whatsoever that are aimed at people wanting to create 140 bpm music other than the 'dirty dubstep wobble' type.

I want to create deep and heavy sounds, with a heavy and dark sub and interesting synth. Where can i find any sort of tutorial on music production similar to this?

I know there are some amazing producers on this forum, if anyone could do any sort of tutorial i would be unbelievably greatful. It would help me no end and im sure there are many others who feel the same way,

Thanks so much for all the help so far everyone, Respect!

Like i said Sub baseline will go with any... drum beat you make.

Additionally, learn the basics of a synth in your case. Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyAzMxHo8M4

Plus

http://www.youtube.com/user/PropellerheadSW

For the synth's which sounds similar to Ruckspin, or just most of Ranking Recording crew, you would normally just start with a DnB reese, and change it around, add high pass's detune, maybe unison, to get rid of that dirty type sound, then finally reverb! Which normally is the key. Youtube "Reason 4 DnB Reese... lots of tut's

Big up, thanks for these. Just about the bass though, im confused as to how to add the sound to the sequencer in a way which lines it up with the beats. for example, sub to drop on the snare etc

Nice one on the synth info though, cheers