Funtcase - Computer Music Masterclass

[Pedro Sánchez]

[sixth sense]

big up pedro!

[JBE]

If you are watching these masterclass videos expecting these producers to sit and down and tell you exactly how they make all their music, then you myswell just stop, cause the frustration of disappointment could potentially make you suicidal. Take them for what they are. A peek into the personal workspace of a music producer. Like them or hate them, you have the choice to watch it or not.

I don't agree with this. I've watched a lot of the masterclass videos now, and to be honest i'm getting diminishing returns as far as learning new stuff goes. A lot of the videos cover the same things over and over.

Nobody expects the producer to show us 'exactly how they make all of their music', but it would be nice for them to show how one track is made in full. Even an older track would be interesting, as long as they go into detail.

What dont you agree with, seems he made the same point as you, just worded differently.

He seems to be saying not to expect much from them and take them or leave them. I'm saying that as a paying computer music customer i don't expect to see just the same old stuff rehashed everytime, and that it would be good if the producer showed us a few really useful insights into their sound design. As far as the 'masterclass' series go, i believe the name to be misleading. Its more of a tips and tricks series at the moment.

Sub Focus has done a few tutorials, and gone into detail on a few synth patches and its not like his career has suddenly gone down the pan. His tutorials have been the most helpful i've seen so far!

As far as competition goes its not like i'm now in the position to produce stuff thats up to his standard. It just helped me understand massive better.

Honestly, as a paying customer of CM I really don't think that entitles you to producer specific information. If you're paying for the magazine just to see the Masterclass videos then just stop paying for it and wait for them to be uploaded to the internet. There is a lot more information in these magazines than the producer specific interviews and videos. If you ask me the dvd you get with the issue more than makes up for the cost of the magazine issue itself.

Now I understand people want more out of these "Masterclass" videos, but really, when you think about it, you do in fact get quite a bit....the problem is that most of the stuff you see is something that all producers do, and generally end up doing on every single track they make. That's kind of how this whole thing works. Every track you make will require you to do the same thing you did with the previous track, and the track before that, and probably the track before that....and guess what, it will be done in the next one to. Chances are the sound patches you create will look pretty similar to other sound patches you've made before, the difference is the amount of one effect you use on this one compared to others you've done. I think that's a big reason why you don't see a lot of producers showing you some of their bigger sounds because chances are, that patch is something they've gone to several times, and then just simply changed the types of effects and amounts of those effects used on the patch.

The Sub Focus videos really don't show you anything amazing. He shows you general patches that you hear in many songs. He gives you a rundown on how to create a reese sound he uses in massive, which you can guarantee, is only a complimenting sound to what he really uses. I think when you reach a level where you can actually make a living on this, you have to be extremely greedy with what you can do. The way it is now is so ridiculously competitive you have to get everything you can out of it while you can cause chances are a month or 2 later you won't be nearly as popular. I definitely don't blame producers for not giving away their sound patches or talk about how exactly they were made. It's one thing to talk about it on a forum somewhere, but it's an entirely different game when it comes to a magazine that has hundreds of thousands of readers at any given time....possibly millions.

[VirtualMark]

From an online dictionary:

master class
n.
An advanced music class taught by an eminent musician.

If its not advanced, then what are we going to learn from it. Theres plenty of info available here on the basics, i think its the more advanced stuff that people struggle with. Anyone can knock up a basic tune, but only a few people can refine it into something special.

And as someone pointed out earlier, a few synth patches don't equal good songwriting capability. Its just another part of the puzzle, but one they always seem to gloss over. You're right, i could just wait for it to be posted on the internet, and if the series doesn't get much better i might just do that. I don't think synth programming is something that should be missed out!

[JBE]

From an online dictionary:

master class
n.
An advanced music class taught by an eminent musician.

If its not advanced, then what are we going to learn from it. Theres plenty of info available here on the basics, i think its the more advanced stuff that people struggle with. Anyone can knock up a basic tune, but only a few people can refine it into something special.

And as someone pointed out earlier, a few synth patches don't equal good songwriting capability. Its just another part of the puzzle, but one they always seem to gloss over. You're right, i could just wait for it to be posted on the internet, and if the series doesn't get much better i might just do that. I don't think synth programming is something that should be missed out!

I agree. Synth Programming really shouldn't be something that is overlooked, and in a lot of them they sort of give you an idea of how they programmed the sound, but most never go into enough specific detail to make it an easy re-creation. I doubt it would even be possible to really go into detail on a lot of the synth creation in the amount of time they are given. Personally I don't even consider them Masterclasses at all, sure it's in the name but I know for a fact if I sat and watched every single one of them I'm probably not going to come out of it with a substantial increase in knowledge. There are some really good little things that you can learn from them though so I do like to watch them even for that 1 little hidden gem that might be in there. Sometimes those little thing are what really bring a track together.

[qwaycee_]

yo aren't some of them not master class?

[bRRRz]

Thx for the upload, mate!

[deadly_habit]

honestly when it comes to the masterclasses the dubstep and dnb ones seem to be lacking in comparison to say how in depth some of the other genre guys go

[dubmatters]

honestly when it comes to the masterclasses the dubstep and dnb ones seem to be lacking in comparison to say how in depth some of the other genre guys go

Maybe because the techniques are relatively simple and they don't want others to cash in on da filth?

[deadly_habit]

honestly when it comes to the masterclasses the dubstep and dnb ones seem to be lacking in comparison to say how in depth some of the other genre guys go

Maybe because the techniques are relatively simple and they don't want others to cash in on da filth?

probably because the people they pick are known for a specific niche sound and not a wide variety
give that away and they have nothing new to fall back on
imo

[qwaycee_]

bonobo's was the most interesting one i seen so far.

and sabre, his was good too.

[Neff]

dunno about any other newby guys out there but i learnt quite abit, the whole layering thing and drums in general, was interesting to see what envoroment it was made into

big love for funt

[mmmsure]

thx pedro !

[Perfecture]

Funtcase OWNES..............CASE closed

[DJ Crackle]

Awesome, appreciate it!
The magazine's been in the mail for well over the week. Glad I don't have to wait any longer (for this part at least).

Also, that wasn't as helpful as I thoguht it'd be. But it was pretty awesome looking at another Reason user's setup. Can't really see myself referring back to it, but it was an interesting watch regardless.

[DJ Crackle]

honestly when it comes to the masterclasses the dubstep and dnb ones seem to be lacking in comparison to say how in depth some of the other genre guys go

Maybe because the techniques are relatively simple and they don't want others to cash in on da filth?

probably because the people they pick are known for a specific niche sound and not a wide variety
give that away and they have nothing new to fall back on
imo

fuck, if i was making any sort of profit at all off my production, i wouldn't say shit to anyone.
i'm a tnuc though. so. idk.

[palo56]

thanks! always a pleasure to grab some tricks !

[therook]

My question is... If he thinks reason sounds like total shit to where he has to boost eq everything.... why doesn't he just switch to something else?

[sixth sense]

My question is... If he thinks reason sounds like total shit to where he has to boost eq everything.... why doesn't he just switch to something else?

I read a post on twitter funtcase made and it said when they came to him to make the masterclass they said the theme of it was something along the lines of "It's now what you use it's how you use it" so why switch to something else if he can make due with what he's got?

[symmetricalsounds]

My question is... If he thinks reason sounds like total shit to where he has to boost eq everything.... why doesn't he just switch to something else?

apparently he already has.