Random Production Tips Thread™

shonky · Post by **shonky** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:03 pm

CRYPTIC wrote:your lucky u can have it on @ the same time lol

my pc could never handle that

2 pc's. Kiss of death really

Jubz · Post by **Jubz** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:49 pm

Don't worry too much if you just have shit loads of small loops on your computer, I have learned that you can come back to these loops months later and be inspired to develop them.

misk · Post by **misk** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:28 pm

take your latest mixdown of a tune and play it in your car. You'll notice new things every time.

try to do your own thing, and dont worry about comparing yourself to others. You'll get where you want to get to eventually if you keep at it and have an enthusiastic attitude (more advice for myself than others i think)

good thread!

thump rat · Post by **thump rat** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:12 pm

Always have your sub in mono.

Panning sounds can give you alot more space in the mix.

Listen to your mixes on as many different systems as possible.

When making a sound, always save if you like it, rather than tweak it to try and make it better, fucking it up and never creating what you made originally.

Sharmaji · Post by **Sharmaji** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:11 am

get a group of friends that will blatantly tell you if a tune you're working on is crap

when eq-ing, cut rather than boost

32 bar intros will make your tune that much more playable for the dj's

your song needs more than a wobble

mix to low levels, -6 peaks-- let the mastering guy make it 'loud'

be fearless-- write changes that seem to come out of nowhere

don't be afraid to change your original idea, or abandon something if it's not working

in dub space is just as important as notes

filter and distort. repeat.

osk · Post by **osk** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 2:30 pm

Don't be afraid to try new things - both writing and engineering.

My writing tends to get dull and forumlaic at times. When it does, it often helps to just try something totally different.

GET A GOOD SUB.
GET A GOOD SUB.
GET A GOOD SUB.
GET A GOOD SUB.
GET A GOOD SUB.
GET A GOOD SUB.
GET A GOOD SUB.
GET A GOOD SUB.

forensix (mcr) · Post by **forensix (mcr)** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:52 pm

if your tune sounds a bit dull

AUTOMATE STUFF

(although its probably best if you save a copy in case you go too far)

miketm · Post by **miketm** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:58 pm

Well, have anyone here tried recreating a good track? Just for practice, it really helps a lot.

__________ · Post by **__________** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:05 pm

-Don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks about your sounds.
-Unplug the lead to your monitors and check the mixdown on your shitty laptop speakers.
-Listen to other tunes of the same genre to put everything in perspective
-Keep it rough, rugged and raw

crytek · Post by **crytek** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:16 pm

Ask questions.

tempest · Post by **tempest** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:51 pm

live your life for music everyday

metalboxproducts · Post by **metalboxproducts** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:47 am

1,When working on a track write down what you think you need to do to it on a peace of paper. This could be a long list or just a few things. Then work on the things you've writen down. This is a great way of avoiding just aimlessly messing with the same 4/8/16 bar loop for 8 hours or more without acheaving anything.

2, Set aside a few hours just for messing/experimentation.

3 Leave tracks you are working on for a few day or even weeks. When you come back to them it'll be really obvious what you need to do with them.

crytek · Post by **crytek** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:45 pm

metalboxproducts wrote:1,When working on a track write down what you think you need to do to it on a peace of paper. This could be a long list or just a few things. Then work on the things you've writen down. This is a great way of avoiding just aimlessly messing with the same 4/8/16 bar loop for 8 hours or more without acheaving anything.

2, Set aside a few hours just for messing/experimentation.

3 Leave tracks you are working on for a few day or even weeks. When you come back to them it'll be really obvious what you need to do with them.

Along with this... work on your weak areas. Meaning, if you are great at drums, but weak in the bass department, then spend the majority of your studio sessions working on your bass lines. Vice-versa also. Even if you are strong at your drums, bass, but weak in the arrangement, then work on arranging your tunes.

No need to focus on your strong points, just get the rest of it up to speed. Then when you feel conftorable improve on all the elements regarding your production.

oh, and just because it's hard sometimes to produce, or if everything sounds like crap.. just keep at it. NEVER GIVE UP!! Just keep doing your thing.

metalboxproducts · Post by **metalboxproducts** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:01 pm

4,
I've also found that after about 4 hour i tend to loose focus and just tread water in terms of creating. I've spoken to many musicians/artist and they same the same. You have a breaf spert of creative energy and then your just meandering. You may as well keep you mind fresh. And come back the the creative part at another time.

5,
Don't try to make tunes with a hangover. It's futile. You'll get 4 times as much work done interms of quantaty as well as quality, when not hungover.

konehed · Post by **konehed** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:05 pm

you cant polish a turd

theonelikepaul · Post by **theonelikepaul** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:35 pm

If you have a vast sample archive like me, finding the sound you want can be a nightmare.

Heres a good tip for searching within your archive. (This is pc related)

Load up Winamp, and bring up the media library. Configure it so that it can see your samples drive.
You should end up with a huge listing.

At the top you can enter a search term, i.e. kick, or snare, whatever.
It will then play every kick, snare or whatever you have in your collection. Once you hear a good one, stop it and press CTRL+F, it will open the exact folder where the sound is.
You can then drag it over to kontakt, or fruity or whatever sampler you use!

Its funny to do this with 'amen' as the search term, winamp starts rattling off hundreds of bits of amen samples, and can sound quite funky at times!

forensix (mcr) · Post by **forensix (mcr)** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:39 pm

i like that tip

related tip

if you get stuck organise your samples - boring as hell but worthwile in the end

metalboxproducts · Post by **metalboxproducts** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:12 am

This is a good one.

FOLLOW YOUR OWN ADVICE.

twatty hangover today.

forensix (mcr) · Post by **forensix (mcr)** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:27 am

metalboxproducts wrote:This is a good one.

FOLLOW YOUR OWN ADVICE.

twatty hangover today.

I would never follow any of your advice. Ever.

metalboxproducts · Post by **metalboxproducts** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:45 am

forensix (mcr) wrote:
metalboxproducts wrote:This is a good one.

FOLLOW YOUR OWN ADVICE.

twatty hangover today.
I would never follow any of your advice. Ever.

haha. Good idea really. Never follow my advice. People have ended up in prison after following my advice.

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