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I've found that I can get a pretty good beat going, but when it comes to putting some actual music to it, or for that matter a bassline. I get completely grinded to a halt because I have no sounds that I like. I don't want to use presets really, not that I'm totally against them, I would just prefer to have my own sounds. Do you guys synthesize stuff as you need it for a track or do you spend the day just making basses, etc? What are your productions schedules like?

I don't really set any rule for myself for this. Sometimes I make new sounds on the spot and sometimes I take presets that I made and mangle them up...if all else fails, make a reese.

I think you`re missing the fun element to your work.
Music should always be fun to produce.
First and foremost.

When you`re having fun, things fall into place faster.

I generally produce sounds as I need them.
Generally always in the context of something I`m working on.

One thing that has helped me is to focus on percussion first, then build bass around that, using your kicks or whatever to guide the bass as needed. Maybe you already do that but idk it helped me a lot.

As for getting the "perfect sound," it usually never happens, I get a sound I like and the rest is automation to fit the beat I have going

Electric_Head wrote:I generally produce sounds as I need them.
Generally always in the context of something I`m working on.

this.

I usually don't think 'oh gonna sit at my computer and make a song like *idea*'

I won't push myself to make music either.
when i feel like i wanna make music, i'll get on and do it.

i think a plus to having a computer not hooked up to the net means your not always on it and it's not there to just jam on.


just realised this has no relevance to OP

I usually start with the drums, then build on that

Production schedule? LOL! I am no where near as organised as having a 'schedule'. I just make stupid noises and have fun, thats what its all about.
And yeah defo, I have spent whole days making synth presets and patches, boucning some out to wav, etc etc. It's all about getting really deep into your synths and knowing them like the back of your hand. Also having a bank of patches you made has its uses, sometimes I will flick through sounds i've made when im looking for something to fill in a gap, like something as the basis for a lead or whatever

Just do whatever your mind feels, try not to be so structured and rigid would be my advice

Usually only when I need them. Sometimes I'll take a session where I just make sounds that I know will be applicable in a lot of songs, like a rise, various drums, etc. Usually with basses I'll just get a simple bass and then drop effects on it and modulate it a ton, just experiment with it in context.

Then again, I'm never averse to using presets if they're good enough.

I synthesize patches ad-hoc when i need them for a tune, i save preset from every tune i make and will sometimes ues previous patches starting points for newer projects.

Most times I sit down to make a beat, occasionally I'll sit down to do some sound design but as soon as I've made something I think is pretty cool I end up sticking it into a beat!

I normally make 1/2 tracks the same style with mostly the same bass patches then sit down and make some more and repeat it keeps my style changing constantly but not from each song so you're still growing your own signature sound.

I like to devote a whole day to sound design. open up an empty daw with my vst of choice, put it on a two bar loop, and just start experimenting with new sounds and ways to make stuff sound dope. I end up coming up with lots of new presets and saved effects chains i can manipulate in later tracks.

Thanks guys, lots of interesting methods. I think I just go into it with the approach that I'm always going to work on a "song" when in reality I think being less rigid would definitely be helpful. I do tend to make a beat and go from there, but at this point nothing is ever as banging as I hear it in my head when I'm making sounds for a track "ad-hoc", as someone put it. I think just really sitting down and seeing how deep the rabbit hole can go is something I need to do more often.

I ddon't really have a particular forumula, and I think that's important. The song in my signature astarted with me and my friend throwin out ideas and I came up with a guitar melody. My latest song though, I was playing around with fm8 just making a patch and came up with a really cool chord progression. Sometimes I just sample lots of records too. If you have an idea of the mood you're trying to make, find a record/cd/tape that has a picture that rpresents it, or go on freesound or something and just browse the samples.

So try not doing the drum beat first, having a formula is really limiting.

Some times i cant be arsed to start writing a tune and fancy a bit of sampling or synthesis. Usually when im low on time and that.
il start from old patches and start changing bits up- save it- change it -save it and so on.
I normally start my tune with a drum loop, work that out a bit. then start looking for some old patches iv made see if any of the sounds are right.

Tweak presets

I tend to make them as I go, but I do have a decent amount of patches that I've made over the past six months. Those get used occasionally. I screw with factory presets sometimes too.

i make some sounds as in i play about with a synth and often from that get an idea for a song