DSF Q&A Sessions 10 : CYRUS (open for questions)

[-dubson-]

easy man, thanks for doing this! your music, old and new is always an inspiration

How much processing and fx do u add to your drums, or is it just damn good samples? (Especially your kicks, where do u like to have them in the mix?)

Do you have a formula for mixdowns?

Where would you like to take your music? Any ambitions, plans, or do you just want to let it roll and see where things take you?

Because you have been in the dubstep forever do you feel attached to the scene or are you/ do you want to take different directions away from dubstep?

[pdomino]

Whats your ...

favourite gadget?
current favourite dubstep track?
favourite other music album?
next gig date?

Favourite gadget at the moment is my blackberry curve...phones sik.

Theres a few but my 1 favourite dubstep track at the moment is Beyond by that guy Distance.

All time favourite album would have to be Bob marley's Legend. It never gets boring and its an album i'll put on when i've had a bad day.

My next gig is on the 2nd october @ dmz leeds. I've just got back from croatia so a few weeks rest.

Same, Blackberry Curve on its way to me right now.
Thanks very much!

[random trio]

Big up Cyrus, loving the new Tectonic Release, the shuffles remind me a bit of Benga.

Anyway, tell us a bit about how you organize your samples. Do you have one folder for each percussive element? Do you reuse a lot of samples or hits or are you constantly hunting for new ones?

Thanks, glad you like it>

I have all my samples/hits in there own folders ( multiple), saves so much time. I'll some times use the same kiks or snares but most of the time i try to use different 1's. Theres probably thousands i aint heard yet so always good to go through em.

[random trio]

Ayup, love the sounds and nice to see you doing so well

You mention being happy with your beats before sending them out, how important is it that the track is mastered? I like to mix as I go along but tend not to bother with final mastering as I fear I may do more harm than good.
Also what would you reccomend sending, C.D's or MP3's?

Thanks

I also mix as i go along. The aim is to get the mix sounding as good as possible level wise ect without having to master. I've always sent my beats out without any mastering. I'll inform who i've sent them to that i've left them this way for cutting purpose. Im also worried about doing more harm then good to be honest so i'd rather leave that to the professional . (Although as i mentioned earlier this is soming i've been tinkering with as more are djing digitaly... have i contradicted myself lol)
Mp3 is easier these days and if some 1 wants to cut it fire em over a wav.

[random trio]

easy man, thanks for doing this! your music, old and new is always an inspiration

How much processing and fx do u add to your drums, or is it just damn good samples? (Especially your kicks, where do u like to have them in the mix?)

Do you have a formula for mixdowns?

Where would you like to take your music? Any ambitions, plans, or do you just want to let it roll and see where things take you?

Because you have been in the dubstep forever do you feel attached to the scene or are you/ do you want to take different directions away from dubstep?

Thanks, i appreciate that.

I just eq my drums really and maybe a bit of distortion. I usally layer 2 kiks, 1 with more bottom and 1 with more top. I'll eq them till they sound right and sit together. Bottom will usually be rolled off at 50hz as majority of my bass sits at 40 but if the sub is creepin in i will dip the kick where needed. Snare will usually be layerd with between 2 & 3..( sometimes more which probably aint good practice). The bottom snare will be left dry or maybe with a bit of distortion and the top will have some reverb sent to it.

I just mix as i go along and to be honest over the last 2 months has become a bit of an o.c.d. I've been so focused on getting soming perfect that all i've done is 8 bar loops and pull my hair out. Im always trying different things with mix downs to see what works best.

My ambition is to just carry on doing what im doing and hopefully help push this sound to new ears.


At the moment im happy writing dubstep. I've never really tried writing another style and this is how i started out. I love all genres of music though so never say never.

[aux]

Hi Cyrus,

it's Wash from Hong Kong here, thanks for doing this Q&A

was wondering what processes you go thru on getting your subs to sound like above everything else and full?
Some of your more minimal stuff seem to have this massive sub surrounding the other elements.
eg. "Rasta From" & "Space Cadet" on Techonic

Do you turn down your drums + other elements for this to that effect? or do you have a process you use to make this work?

loving the new thing on Techonic as well... both sides are just horribly good!

Respect mate!
ps> still gotta drop some tune off to your aim... my computer had a bender and decided it wont let me re-open old projects... but now it's on it's way back to life, so beats to ya sooooooon

[random trio]

Hi Cyrus,

it's Wash from Hong Kong here, thanks for doing this Q&A

was wondering what processes you go thru on getting your subs to sound like above everything else and full?
Some of your more minimal stuff seem to have this massive sub surrounding the other elements.
eg. "Rasta From" & "Space Cadet" on Techonic

Do you turn down your drums + other elements for this to that effect? or do you have a process you use to make this work?

loving the new thing on Techonic as well... both sides are just horribly good!

Respect mate!
ps> still gotta drop some tune off to your aim... my computer had a bender and decided it wont let me re-open old projects... but now it's on it's way back to life, so beats to ya sooooooon

Ez Wash.

Theres a post on a previous page explaining how i do my subs ( sorry, im being lazy). I dont really think im doing anything different from any one else apart from maybe the note i write on (f)?. I try to get the bass as loud and big as i can but at the same time making sure everything else is cutting through. And as mentioned before, i dont always compress.

Big up man, glad you like it.

Fire over whenever your ready.

big up.

[random trio]

Whats your ...

favourite gadget?
current favourite dubstep track?
favourite other music album?
next gig date?

Favourite gadget at the moment is my blackberry curve...phones sik.

Theres a few but my 1 favourite dubstep track at the moment is Beyond by that guy Distance.

All time favourite album would have to be Bob marley's Legend. It never gets boring and its an album i'll put on when i've had a bad day.

My next gig is on the 2nd october @ dmz leeds. I've just got back from croatia so a few weeks rest.

Same, Blackberry Curve on its way to me right now.
Thanks very much!

It come through yet? I find my self on the net for no reason since i got mine.

[pdomino]

It come through yet? I find my self on the net for no reason since i got mine.

HAHA Nah it aint, was that or an iPhone but the apps are a bit gimicky I reckon. A Fruityloops app FTW

[coyote]

Hello cheers for doin the q and a,


Could you breifly describe your work flow, like what order you do things in?

and also do you design sounds and source samples as you go along or do you get them together before starting a tune off?



cheers,

[Disco Nutter]

What romplers do you use mostly? (if any)
As in "real instruments and effects" sample players?

Cheers,
Jason

[random trio]

Hello cheers for doin the q and a,


Could you breifly describe your work flow, like what order you do things in?

and also do you design sounds and source samples as you go along or do you get them together before starting a tune off?



cheers,

I usually start with my drums then move on to a bass or sometimes i'll Build drums the up to the break with edits ect then i''l write a bass line..adding textures and fx later.

I just do it as i go along. I never really have an idea before i start a track so i'll just mess about till i get soming i like then find/make the sounds to work with it.

[random trio]

What romplers do you use mostly? (if any)
As in "real instruments and effects" sample players?

Cheers,
Jason

None..im cheap.

[mumble]

Any chance of a photo of your studio, or a screen capture of a track ?

[random trio]

Any chance of a photo of your studio, or a screen capture of a track ?

Sure. I'll get a snap of the studio and wack it up. How do I up pics on here?

[bandshell]

Any chance of a photo of your studio, or a screen capture of a track ?

Sure. I'll get a snap of the studio and wack it up. How do I up pics on here?

Up them to a site like photobucket etc then copy the image location and click the button that Img in the box where you pst then copy and paste the image code between the two [Img] things.

[cold blow]

safe for doing the q+a cyrus! from the shadows is a dubstep benchmark! unique deep styles.. the latest on tectonic + chestplate killin me too!

q's 1.do you have anymore plans for collaborations like the track with distance?

2. name five of your favourite films? 3. did you like marathon man?
safe!

[random trio]

safe for doing the q+a cyrus! from the shadows is a dubstep benchmark! unique deep styles.. the latest on tectonic + chestplate killin me too!

q's 1.do you have anymore plans for collaborations like the track with distance?

2. name five of your favourite films? 3. did you like marathon man?
safe!

Thanks for the support.

Sure. Me and Distance have just finished a new 1 ( different from the other 2). I been working with Tunnidge a fair bit aswell with loads of unfinished bits to crack on with. There's a few more collabs in the pipline but i'll keep you updated once there underway.

I was thinking of this the other day and i couldn't do it..im adddicted to films and love all genres. I've seen so many, to narrow it down is hard work.
I love films from the 80's ..all about the music..pure cheese.

[__________]

I've asked a few people doing the Q&A's this so far...

can we see a screenshot of your sequencer with a track loaded? (print screen button next to scroll lock, then paste into paint and save)

always interesting!

[random trio]

I've asked a few people doing the Q&A's this so far...

can we see a screenshot of your sequencer with a track loaded? (print screen button next to scroll lock, then paste into paint and save)

always interesting!

Of course. Any track in particular?