Dubstepforum.com

Hey I'm really interested in producing dubstep as well as drum n bass. I have Reason 4 installed on my comuter, but still need to save up for a Midi controller.

Anyways I was just wondering, as I have a shit ton of research to do before really starting anything, should I start looking over music theory and what makes up a dubstep song? Or should I start with learning how to use reason with tutuorials?

Thanks.

bstndbsta72* wrote:Hey I'm really interested in producing dubstep as well as drum n bass. I have Reason 4 installed on my comuter, but still need to save up for a Midi controller.

Anyways I was just wondering, as I have a shit ton of research to do before really starting anything, should I start looking over music theory and what makes up a dubstep song? Or should I start with learning how to use reason with tutuorials?

Thanks.

You should probably get to grips with the reason manual, learn it inside out. At the same time just experiment in reason making random noises and testing what can be done, what different effects can be achieved etc.

Other than that, listen to plenty of different types of music and have fun!

As far as where to start, I would learn everything you can about Reason. In doing that, you will learn a lot of the basics of music production. Once you've got the basics covered and you have a handle on Reason, write as many tunes as you can. They will sound shit at first, but you will then have a base to work off of.

You can't learn anything about music production unless you're actually producing. That's what I've found anyway.

press tab and familiarize with the back of the rack. This will give you a strong intuition about signal routing with other software and hardware for the future.

I think the best approach for somebody unfamiliar with the theory and writing side as well as the production side is to sort of learn it all at once. If there's any big tunes you like search youtube for tutorials on how to make the sounds in reason and try to recreate what you're seeing, then try to understand why it works, ask lots of questions to the people here and maybe learn some theory basics like time signatures and key signatures.

Then just keep building and learning from there.

Thanks for all the responses guys. Got a lot to do. Ill start by taking notes from the user manuel, until I get my MIDI controller.

start with being endlessly interested. take interest in one thing, then take interest in the next, until your interest is now knowledge and experience.

bstndbsta72* wrote:Thanks for all the responses guys. Got a lot to do. Ill start by taking notes from the user manuel, until I get my MIDI controller.

you don't need a midi controller to make music, they're useful but nothing stopping you making music without one. i actually think the mouse is an underrated control device

EDIT: oh shit, wrong thread.

symmetricalsounds wrote:

bstndbsta72* wrote:Thanks for all the responses guys. Got a lot to do. Ill start by taking notes from the user manuel, until I get my MIDI controller.

you don't need a midi controller to make music, they're useful but nothing stopping you making music without one. i actually think the mouse is an underrated control device

+1

I'm working off a laptop, don't even have a mouse.

kaiori breathe wrote:

symmetricalsounds wrote:

bstndbsta72* wrote:Thanks for all the responses guys. Got a lot to do. Ill start by taking notes from the user manuel, until I get my MIDI controller.

you don't need a midi controller to make music, they're useful but nothing stopping you making music without one. i actually think the mouse is an underrated control device

+1

I'm working off a laptop, don't even have a mouse.

I have midi controllers. Some shit ymaha keyboard I racked from my little sis cause it had midi control functions, and my korg nanokontrol for faders n knobs.

Never used either of them for production, occasionally I play keys on the keyboard ... and I use the nano to control my effects when I dj all the time ... but nah, Im way to into perfect automation curves n shit to use it when Im making anything.

Basic A wrote: but nah, Im way to into perfect automation curves n shit to use it when Im making anything.

same here, fuck making it "human" i like how exacting we can be.

kaiori breathe wrote: I'm working off a laptop, don't even have a mouse.

+1 using mouse to cover trackpads and trackballs too.

symmetricalsounds wrote:

bstndbsta72* wrote:Thanks for all the responses guys. Got a lot to do. Ill start by taking notes from the user manuel, until I get my MIDI controller.

you don't need a midi controller to make music, they're useful but nothing stopping you making music without one. i actually think the mouse is an underrated control device

+1

my most intricate shit was all clicked into a piano roll. Good times

However if you're decent at the piano then a keyboard can take you lengths

Well I have NO experience with piano and after getting to know the software a bit it seems you guys are right. Looks like Ill be able to get started right away then.

Thanks for all the help.

kaiori breathe wrote:If there's any big tunes you like search youtube for tutorials on how to make the sounds in reason and try to recreate what you're seeing, then try to understand why it works,

THIS. Can't stress enough. People will tell you no, that you're only copying other people's styles, but fuck 'em. Most people who tell you that have been doing this for so long, we've just forgotten what it's like to first start off. Propellerhead puts out some nice tutorials that'll show you a bunch of reason shit too.
But yeah. Recreate what you can by following step by steps. It's nice because it takes you through a BUNCH of things, then you can play with the parts you don't understand. Hit a few switches, turn a few knobs, re-wire a few things. As you start to see the same thing happening over and over, or in different places, you'll understand it more.
But yeah. Play. With. Everything. For real, no better way to learn. Best advice is to just stay active. There's ALWAYS good reading everywhere on the net to infinitely expand your production knowledge, but chances are it's not gonna be really LEARNED till you start applying it.
Also, good luck

AllNightDayDream wrote: my most intricate shit was all clicked into a piano roll. Good times

Agreed. I kinda think using a midi control puts a small limit on your mind; you start to think in ways and lines that you can create easily at your fingertips. Not consciously, but I really do think a little bit of that goes on.

DJ Crackle wrote: Agreed. I kinda think using a midi control puts a small limit on your mind; you start to think in ways and lines that you can create easily at your fingertips. Not consciously, but I really do think a little bit of that goes on.

swings n roundabouts ain't it.

wouldn't mind one of those hexagonal keyboard things

symmetricalsounds wrote:

DJ Crackle wrote: Agreed. I kinda think using a midi control puts a small limit on your mind; you start to think in ways and lines that you can create easily at your fingertips. Not consciously, but I really do think a little bit of that goes on.

swings n roundabouts ain't it.

wouldn't mind one of those hexagonal keyboard things

that seems impossibly harder than just playing a keyboard to me

Dun' bother, you're American.

watch as many 'step by step' video tutorials on vimeo and youtube as you possibly can. seriously good way to start, especially if you're like me (not the reading type).

ideally look for stuff that you have already...i.e "how to make a bassline in reason". however, having said all that, don't rule out learning from another video that's using software that you don't use. chances are it's still relevant to something else in your setup...

...just don't get obsessed by what gear producer x is using in the video and automatically think you are fucked unless you get that piece of kit. during my late teens i always used to think like "omg if i don't get that plugin i can never make tunes the way i want", when in reality i was totally wrong. these days i use such simple stuff that i could easy use the freeware equivalents and get the same results.