Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

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subfect
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Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by subfect » Mon Dec 17, 2012 12:39 am

I don't want to make this topic about the track I've created, but more about the question as to whether people are interested or not in some of the production techniques used. I am by no means an expert, but one thing that shits me a lot - is how people go looking for VSTs/plugins thinking it'll help them develop their sound. This couldn't be further from the truth. RESTRICTING yourself, is what helps boost creativity and allow you to find ways of creating sounds - even if you're trying to mimic others, it's a great way to find your own path.

The tune below is made only from stock ableton sounds and plugins:

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If there are some people here whom are interested, I'll happily put a video together as to how I made some sounds (as simple as they may be).

Thoughts?
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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by Rappone » Mon Dec 17, 2012 12:45 am

well, as much as people are able to produce on ableton's operator and with live's built in instruments, I personally found it actually hindering my creativity because my hands stay tied. The standard of most of the sounds on ableton pretty much sucks, they give off static, and are somewhat 'empty'. Your track is good, but the sounds are pretty bland, and seem to let loose some static on the high end.

Overkilling and gettin hundreds of VSTs is definitely worse though. But a few effect VSTs and a couple of synthesizers (FM and sbtractive) are actually an excellent addition to any producer's collection.

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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by subfect » Mon Dec 17, 2012 12:46 am

Rappone wrote:well, as much as people are able to produce on ableton's operator and with live's built in instruments, I personally found it actually hindering my creativity because my hands stay tied. The standard of most the sounds on ableton pretty much sucks, they gives off static, and are somewhat 'empty'. Your track is good, but the sounds are pretty bland, and seem to let loose some static on the high end.

Overkilling and gettin hundreds of VSTs is definitely worse though. But a few effect VSTs and a couple of synthesizers (FM and sbtractive) are actually an excellent addition to any producer's collection.
Agreed. Also that high-end, yeah I think I've filtered it down a little too much. Not a problem of Ableton's, just my own mistake. hehe
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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by ehbes » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:01 am

Rappone wrote: The standard of most of the sounds on ableton pretty much sucks, they give off static, and are somewhat 'empty'. Your track is good, but the sounds are pretty bland, and seem to let loose some static on the high end.
you really have no idea what you say do you...
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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by Aufnahmewindwuschel » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:04 am

it depends what you are after a tune that works just as midis or like amon tobin 4000 dollar or what sound design computer music that fair enough works just as midi notes too
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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by Triphosphate » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:17 am

ehbrums1 wrote:
Rappone wrote: The standard of most of the sounds on ableton pretty much sucks, they give off static, and are somewhat 'empty'. Your track is good, but the sounds are pretty bland, and seem to let loose some static on the high end.
you really have no idea what you say do you...
LOL I was biting my tongue... Glad someone said it.

Your sound design for the bass and pads are pretty good for the vibe your trying to accomplish. It's totally very possible to use stock plugs to make something that outperforms the big name VSTs, it's just a matter of really getting to know your weapons. The drums are a little off-putting though, the kick sounds like a click, and the hat pretending to be a snare on the 3rd of every beat is abrasively loud comparatively. Just my opinion.

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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by subfect » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:21 am

Triphosphate wrote:
ehbrums1 wrote:
Rappone wrote: The standard of most of the sounds on ableton pretty much sucks, they give off static, and are somewhat 'empty'. Your track is good, but the sounds are pretty bland, and seem to let loose some static on the high end.
you really have no idea what you say do you...
LOL I was biting my tongue... Glad someone said it.

Your sound design for the bass and pads are pretty good for the vibe your trying to accomplish. It's totally very possible to use stock plugs to make something that outperforms the big name VSTs, it's just a matter of really getting to know your weapons. The drums are a little off-putting though, the kick sounds like a click, and the hat pretending to be a snare on the 3rd of every beat is abrasively loud comparatively. Just my opinion.
haha, cheers man - and you're right, but at fear of turning this thread into a feedback thread (which was not my aim) - would you be interested in videos/tuts on exactly this kind of idea? Aka, focusing on the stock plugins and sounds and going from there?

Kick is the 808 kick, was the meatiest one I could find in the library :P So yeah, has a little click at the start.
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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by 3za » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:22 am

This guy made a dubstep tune with out using Massive, quick somebody get him a medal!!!
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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by 3za » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:23 am

Dw I got it;

Image
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Sure_Fire wrote:By the way does anyone have the stems to make it bun dem? Missed the beatport comp and would very much like the ego booster of saying I remixed Skrillex.

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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by Rappone » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:27 am

ehbrums1 wrote:
Rappone wrote: The standard of most of the sounds on ableton pretty much sucks, they give off static, and are somewhat 'empty'. Your track is good, but the sounds are pretty bland, and seem to let loose some static on the high end.
you really have no idea what you say do you...

Of course I do. Ableton built in sounds pretty much suck. :roll:
I like how you stalk almost every post I make. Hahaha. Brums has a crush on me :oops: .

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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by 3za » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:28 am

Hey, Brums, back off I saw him first :twisted:
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Sure_Fire wrote:By the way does anyone have the stems to make it bun dem? Missed the beatport comp and would very much like the ego booster of saying I remixed Skrillex.

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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by subfect » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:30 am

Guys... cmon now. This is my thread, mmmkay? I get first dibs.
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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by Rappone » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:31 am

3za wrote:Hey, Brums, back off I saw him first :twisted:
Im all yours. You're funny. He's just a sad case

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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by Rappone » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:52 am

Triphosphate wrote:
ehbrums1 wrote:
Rappone wrote: The standard of most of the sounds on ableton pretty much sucks, they give off static, and are somewhat 'empty'. Your track is good, but the sounds are pretty bland, and seem to let loose some static on the high end.
you really have no idea what you say do you...
LOL I was biting my tongue... Glad someone said it.

Your sound design for the bass and pads are pretty good for the vibe your trying to accomplish. It's totally very possible to use stock plugs to make something that outperforms the big name VSTs, it's just a matter of really getting to know your weapons. The drums are a little off-putting though, the kick sounds like a click, and the hat pretending to be a snare on the 3rd of every beat is abrasively loud comparatively. Just my opinion.

Using the operator as a design tool, yes, you can outperform big names, but not if you master the big names instead. the built in sounds in ableton, most of them, need harsh layering/filtering/EQing and what have you so they sound like 'industry' standard. They just don't cut it for me. IMO. To each their own though.
That being said I really like the track in ur sig. the piano sample is amazing. You've been on it for more than a year right (production)? Oh, n let me guess, you used synth plugins not ableton native.

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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by ehbes » Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:55 am

Rappone wrote:
ehbrums1 wrote:
Rappone wrote: The standard of most of the sounds on ableton pretty much sucks, they give off static, and are somewhat 'empty'. Your track is good, but the sounds are pretty bland, and seem to let loose some static on the high end.
you really have no idea what you say do you...

Of course I do. Ableton built in sounds pretty much suck. :roll:
I like how you stalk almost every post I make. Hahaha. Brums has a crush on me :oops: .
I guess I have a bullshit GPS built in
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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by Rappone » Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:02 am

Funny, because every thread you comment on morphs into a bullshit thread. Coz you never have any input except opinionated remarks that you lay out as facts.

And heres an opinion for you. I think your IQ is too low for college. Ditch, IMO.

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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by subfect » Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:07 am

Rappone wrote:Using the operator as a design tool, yes, you can outperform big names, but not if you master the big names instead. the built in sounds in ableton, most of them, need harsh layering/filtering/EQing and what have you so they sound like 'industry' standard. They just don't cut it for me. IMO. To each their own though.
That being said I really like the track in ur sig. the piano sample is amazing. You've been on it for more than a year right (production)? Oh, n let me guess, you used synth plugins not ableton native.
Can't say I agree with that. I have most good plugins available to me, and depending on the required result, I think they all do just fine. I have never used a plugin and NOT used any form of post-processing FX. In all honesty, I find operator to be one of the best FM-synthesis plugins available, right beside FM8. And analog, is a beast for when it comes to warm sounds.
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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by Rappone » Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:14 am

What bugs me most in ableton is not being able to process their built in sounds through operator. But yes, obviously operator being a great synth, a lot can come out of it. I prefer FM8 though.
Also, I googled Ableton sounds and guess what? the first three suggested searches were "Ableton sounds flat"
"Ableton sounds thin"
and "Ableton sounds bad"

Kinda supports the point im trying to make. Anyway, like I said, to each their own. I was simply offering my input to the thread.

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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by Triphosphate » Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:21 am

Rappone wrote:
Triphosphate wrote:
ehbrums1 wrote:
Rappone wrote: The standard of most of the sounds on ableton pretty much sucks, they give off static, and are somewhat 'empty'. Your track is good, but the sounds are pretty bland, and seem to let loose some static on the high end.
you really have no idea what you say do you...
LOL I was biting my tongue... Glad someone said it.

Your sound design for the bass and pads are pretty good for the vibe your trying to accomplish. It's totally very possible to use stock plugs to make something that outperforms the big name VSTs, it's just a matter of really getting to know your weapons. The drums are a little off-putting though, the kick sounds like a click, and the hat pretending to be a snare on the 3rd of every beat is abrasively loud comparatively. Just my opinion.

Using the operator as a design tool, yes, you can outperform big names, but not if you master the big names instead. the built in sounds in ableton, most of them, need harsh layering/filtering/EQing and what have you so they sound like 'industry' standard. They just don't cut it for me. IMO. To each their own though.
That being said I really like the track in ur sig. the piano sample is amazing. You've been on it for more than a year right (production)? Oh, n let me guess, you used synth plugins not ableton native.
Thanks! Hmmm... I think the piano is actually the only native plug I used, FL keys... Admitedly, it takes a lot of work to get it to sound right. Oh, and 3xosc for my sub bass always. I've been at it longer than I'd like to admit. I started and have been on and off since about 13 years ago, but really only hunkered down and got serious in the last 2. I just don't think it matters really which plugins you use, but how well versed you are in synthesis and sound design in general, and how much time you're willing to devote to a sound. I think some of the basses I've made in wasp (another FL native) sound better than some of my massive ones, but just took me a good bit longer to get sounding right. The only thing that I think is 'empty' about ableton is its hollow looking interface though, emptyness in sound is just a lack of filling out the frequency spectrum, which can really easily be fixed with layering. :)

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Re: Stock sounds - who needs plugins?

Post by subfect » Mon Dec 17, 2012 2:22 am

Rappone wrote:What bugs me most in ableton is not being able to process their built in sounds through operator. But yes, obviously operator being a great synth, a lot can come out of it. I prefer FM8 though.
Also, I googled Ableton sounds and guess what? the first three suggested searches were "Ableton sounds flat"
"Ableton sounds thin"
and "Ableton sounds bad"

Kinda supports the point im trying to make. Anyway, like I said, to each their own. I was simply offering my input to the thread.
o rly?

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