Q&A yourself!!

[hutyluty]

Right, since the Q and A's have dried up, one way to fill the void would be to just talk to ourselves. I'll post a lot of the most common questions here and you all try and answer them as fully as possible. (If you don't want to/ can't answer a question then that's fine- likewise if there's a question you feel should have been asked then feel free to include it).

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.

5. Why did you start producing?

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.



I'll fill it in after some other people btw, didnt want it to seem too egotistical

[1point5]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)

Macbook, Logic 9, Midi Keyboard, KRK RP8 monitors

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)

Guitarist for about 12/13 years, fairly decent theory knowledge

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?

I have a template on Logic to help me get a tune off the ground quickly with reverb sends and instrument group auxes set up etc, but to actually start the creative process of a tune it can vary a lot. Sometimes i sample something and build a tune around that; sometimes a tune comes from me trying to synthesize a nice kick drum or something

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.

Microphone + random household objects, spotify

5. Why did you start producing?

I had a really basic DAW type free software thing that came with a guitar magazine in 2003, and tried making dance music with it for a laugh. A friend introduced me to fruityloops a few years later and I carried on making deliberately awful electronic stuff for a while, just for fun. Including an awful DnB remix of the Inspector Gadget theme which was the first thing I revealed to the internet (in 2008 i think). Annoyingly I think it's been heard by more people than all of my serious productions combined

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?

My main inspiration at the moment is anyone who has 'that' sound, the style that for me dubstep is all about. It's a certain rawness, rough-edged yet absolutely perfect somehow, and can be magnified through the warmth of vinyl. Mala has tonnes of it, as do artists like Pinch, Loefah, Vivek... the usual lot . But it's a production style rather than the actual aesthetics of the music - there are some artists that I love but don't really have 'it' - Distance, Kryiptic Minds, Silkie, for example.
The style is, for me, epitomised by the snare in Changes, the hi hats in Eyez, and the sub bass in Loefah's remix of I by Skream.

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?

Don't really think about it too much tbh, I just make music and enjoy it

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?

People have said that I have a distinctive 'style' but I really don't hear it haha, I suppose all I can think of really is that I'm not afraid to use a lot of reverb. I also use minor 9 chords probably a bit too much - they're so fucking jazzy

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?

BIt of both I guess, but I tend not to worry too much about DJ-friendliness

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?

I want to hear some of my own tunes on vinyl

Re-started my collection this year and am really appreciating the difference in sound this time

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?

Sub bass volume and getting the snare to sound good are probably my two biggest challenges producing a tune

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.

No idea what I'd call my best, but I think this is probably the closest I've got to 'that style' that I was talking about earlier:

Soundcloud

[binakversailles]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)
Fruity Loops, electric piano (which also acts as a midi keyboard), Some old casio synths my grandfather found on the street, $90 microphone and a set of $40 sennheiser headphones for mixdowns.

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)
Self taught piano and played drums for a year in year 9 of highschool. Cant DJ cause i dont know how and i cant read notation properly but i can make out notes and read very simple melodies.

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?
Usually start by writing chord progressions, then melodies to go with the chords only on piano, then write 16 bar loops with heaps of things in them (as they would be in the middle of the song), then to arrange i disassemble/reassemble these loops. Sounds shit, probably is cause i make shit tunes.

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.
Dont sample anything melodic only drums and dialogue from films. Love sampling films and recording ambience from around my house. Love sampling rain and aeroplanes as they fly past overhead. As for drums i usually just sample breaks from my itunes collection LOL. Whatever works i guess.

5. Why did you start producing?
Originally i wanted to be in a band (wanted to be the next Thom Yorke... as you do) but didnt know anyone else who made music and was too shy to try and seek that out so the only way i could make music was to use computers and we used FL at school so i bought it and started using it at home every since really.

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
Big musical influences are Zomby, Burial, Jon Hopkins,Gold Panda, Shlohmo, Radiohead. Non-musically i am inspired by Grimes a lot as she does her own artwork and she directs videos and doesnt just make tunes she curates her own brand, you know , what Grimes is. I find AFX inspiring just because of his 'dont give a fuck' attitude. And although Zomby is a tnuc via his twitter personality, reading interviews of him and burial, they inspired me alot in the way of creating art, as they are both anonymous (although zomby has a large twitter presence) the art speaks for itself and its about creating peices that work and have flow and logical presence rather than just tunes for people to listen to. I feel like i got that need to create full, coherent pieces from them and Fly Lo.

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?
I think i fluctuate between loose adaptations of genres like dub, garage, dubstep, downtempo, ambient and breakbeat. At the very least i take elements from those genres and try to adapt them to my tunes without ripping people off (though i probably do anyway).

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?
I would say that the use of melody as the central point of my tunes is something thats in every thing ive ever made. I dont know if thats an element but in almost everything i make the chords and melody combination is in practice, nothing ive done is ever based on purely drum and/or bass like a lot of dubstep/dnb/jungle music is.

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?
Artistic self expression. Im not trying to be Guetta i dont care if no one likes my tunes ( id like them to enjoy what i do) but at the end of the day, its my art. As soon as youre catering to what you think people want to hear, IMO its pointless exercise and to some extent youre just making a product that people want to consume. I think personally its best to just make what you would like to hear and something that expresses who you are, what youre feeling or going through and something that you would like to represent you. If youre honest i think the art is better. Im probably talking nonsense though, what do i know..

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?
Id like to make tunes that dont sound shit, and that reflect who i am and how im feeling. Id just like to make things that im proud of and that i enjoy. I dont expect anyone to like what i make so releasing tunes/making money of music is not a realistic goal for me and i cant dj or play live so thats not an option. Ultimately id just like to make an album that i can listen to from start to finish that has an aesthetic unique to it, a mood, emotion, an album thats cohesive and has narrative that would be as if you were a voyeur of my life for a moment in time when you listen to it. Like Burials Début, or Cosmmogramma or Kid A ( not as good as those, but in that vein).

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?
Technically i find creating a good sounding kick drum and making my piano and synth recordings sound not shit are the biggest challenge. I cant really master tracks at all either so thats a major challenge. Also programming drums that dont sound robotic is very hard but its also very easy to programme things so that they are way out of time (this is why i find burials music, especially the drum programming, so beautiful). I feel though that the most important part is the musical content and the mood or atmospere you create to evoke a emotional or physical response. People wont give a fuck if the snare isnt Eqd correctly if your song has them dancing or it touches them so that they cry or laugh or whatever, you know? That for me is the biggest challenge.

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.
This is the latest draft and its going to be the opening track of the album im making atm. I feel like im making progress. and i like the melodies and film samples in this. Its called 'Begin'. Soundcloud

[deadly_habit]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)
Cubase 5 (will update one of these days) & Renoise for DAW, various plugins and a UAD in my PC, hardware sitting around right now" Kawai XS-1, ART Pro VLA, Akai S2000, Alesis Micron, c64 with MSSIAH Cart, various mics, preamps and midi control surfaces, Neutrik Patchbay, Monster PRO 2500 power conditioner, yadda yadda. KRK RP6 gen 1 (which I really need to update and get some better monitors) Some shitty casio/yamaha keys and an acoustic guitar sitting around somewhere too. Stanton STR8-150 decks shitty gemini cdj and a mixer I need to replace.

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)
Self taught for the most part, dabble with guitar, bass, piano/keys, singing. Been making music/producing for over 15 years now. Been in punk bands, metal bands. I DJ but haven't touched my decks in ages, nor played out in awhile. Only real traditional training I had was taking drums as a kid, and a keyboard/piano class in high school to fill up a free slot since I was sick of having too many study halls and had taken all the art and computer electives already.

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?
Open my DAW and fuck around, I dunno I have a very sporadic motivation type deal. Sometimes I can't stop working on tunes, other times I can go months without coming up with anything I dig myself.

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.
Anywhere and everywhere, movies, tv shows, old vinyl that got crate dug, myself or friends on mic, field recordings.

5. Why did you start producing?
Because chicks did a room lit up with blue LEDs from gear fuck knows it was just a natural progression from being in bands and into music to the styles I dug, plus I wasn't reliant on others to complete tunes or show up to practice etc. That and you just have to get those songs out of your head into the world sometimes, that's the main driving point for me.

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
Too damn many to list from Orbital, to the Prodigy before I got too deep into various EDM scenes, Bad Company, Alec Empire, Nirvana, loads of crusty punk bands, loads of metal, jazz artists I'm 30 years old now, it's a large mish mash of artists and styles (frankly a blur at times now). Non musically fuck knows.

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?
I've made a shitload of genres and stuff over the years, lately I'd say DnB/Jungle, dubstep, ambient, and some instrumental hip hop.
I'm part of the scene when I want to be, I don't go out nearly as much as I used to when I was younger, nor do I spend my time listening to new dubs/releases as much so I guess I'm out of touch with "the scene", but at the same time it's a good thing because my production doesn't get tainted by the latest trends.

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?
Fuck knows, and why would I give away my signature element so others could recreate it even if I could pinpoint it? Find your own!

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?
Artistic self expression, but it can be made within the confines of a dj-friendly structure. There's a reason most of the "dj-friendly beats" stuff only has a shelf life of a few months.

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?
Ummm finish more tunes, hopefully at least an LP and then go through what I've made over the past year or so and maybe unveil some of it to the world since I've just been hording my stuff for months and months now and not letting anyone hear it.

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?
Kind of a loaded question while knowledgeable about a shit ton personally, you should always be learning. Most challenging personally is trying not to be your harshest critic or knowing when to just stop working on a tune before your add too much or adjust it to death, overcoming it is just a matter of self control.

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.
Fuck knows, whatever one has my head bopping the most on that particular day.

[chekov]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)
started off making tunes on cheap korg sequencers and recording them into a cheap copy of acid. upgraded this year to recording each track off the sequencers into cubase before giving up and moving fully to ableton

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)
played flute at primary school but gave it up to focus on guitar. mainly play drums now. also been djing for a couple of years, think i'm starting to get the hang of it aha

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?
always start with the beat then built the atmosphere around that. sometimes a melody emerges from that....

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.
been caning these samples i recorded in my room when i had the carpet taken up over summer. natural reverb n shit

5. Why did you start producing?
can't even remember now, probably to try and sound like enter shikari or some shit ahaha

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
hudson mo/luckyme and all the the 'wonky' shit hyperdub were pushing a few years ago was what got me fully into this scene so that i guess. loefah's probably the main guy now, both his own beats and the swamp 81 stuff

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?
generally dubstep but the last few tunes i've made have been about 125bpm instead. feel fairly detached from any greater scene largely due to my age. that said, it's felt like the scene in my city's been picking up quite a lot recently so that's cool

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?
frozen build up reverb preset on ableton lol

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?
used to go more for the former but i've been thinking more and more about how to build beats that i could fit into sets recently

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?
actually finish enough tunes to make it worth cutting some dubs

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?
making the mixdown sound professional enough. not fussed about making it sound shiny but it often feels like my tunes aren't quite there in terms of that

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.
don't want to be too hasty and choose my most recent one so i guess i'll go for this one haha
Soundcloud

[daeMTHAFKNkim]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)
Self-made PC 8gb RAM, Quad-core(orders parts on Newegg), Quad-Core 8GB Ram 2012 MacbookPro, KRK RP6s, Yamaha PSR-295, AKAI MPK Mini, Audiotechnica AT-20-20(Haven't used), Ableton Live 8, FL Studio 10, M-Audio Fasttrack USB, Pioneer DDJ-SX(Serato DJ). A bunch of Tone2 and Native Instruments stuff...and of course every other plug-in everyone knows about for software..oh and Vuze. Shoutout to Zippyshare Records for the quality tracks.

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)
Always loved all genres of music..seriously haven't met a single person that listens to such a broad spectrum of music(and produce). Played violin in 5th grade for a summer...played the french horn from 6th-7th grade(worst thing ever). Choir from 7th-10th grade. Mom wouldn't buy me a acoustic guitar so I joined a Guitar Class in high school and she bought me one cuz it was required(#motivated, #somebratshit, #hashtagondubstepforum). Then got an electric guitar in 10th grade...played my bros drums throughout high schooooool, self-taught piano after high sKOO....and just bought some DJ shit the other week so I'm learning that ishhh. I graduated high school in 2010 so there's the shitty timeline you can imagine.

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?
F-around with a synth and make a melody, work around that...so I technically start songs at the middle and work around it. A fucked up process.

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.
I don't sample. If Vengeance drum packs count then there yeee go. Or maybe youtube for some random vocal shouts and shizz to chop up.

5. Why did you start producing?
Cuz Ruskos "Woo Boost" this vid changed my life forever....
it's what started it all. Seen this shit on the same day it got uploaded...i was like the 5k viewer. Thanks DJ VIBE TV.


6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
All the artists/bands I've listened too...probably over 3000+ to name. I breathe music..it's my language..a feeling..life. Some hippy shit.

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?
I have a song made for almost every genre....so no.

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?
Glitched up sounds. I've already said it before somewhere in the forums..I use it for almost everything.

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?
I'd say for music in general...there should be a melody..within the drums, synths, or whatever.

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?
Finish some fucking songs...play my first shows...get signed...collaborate with some top artists...travel the world...find a wifey.

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?
Song structure...i'm retarded in that area...can't finish songs...ADHD. Never overcame it and hopefully will

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.
Soundcloud My most recent work...mixed better than any other song I've made...there's an actual stereo-field unlike my others...this sounds more pro-fresh...of course it's a Work-In-Progress cuz I'm a biggity bitch and can't finish songs. FUCKAUSFKCUAFMAN$IGBNOFDM

[Hircine]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)
HW:
2010 MPB, Maschine mkI, Axiom 25 2nd gen, Yamaha HS50, random 90s technics sub, Presonus Fireproject, Presonus Studio Channel. There are other pieces but they are rarely used.
SW:
Presonus Studio One Producer
Audiodamage Kombinat DVA and Eos
Stillwell Rocket
Sugarbytes WOW
Native Instruments Absynth, Massive, Kontakt, Razor and Guitar Rig
CamelAudio Camelcrusher
Waves L2 and Kramer Master Tape

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)
Playing live every other weekend with bands since I was 15, recording since I was 18, working in big hardcore and metal studios after school (got to know Krisium, Dark Funerals and many other latin american bands). I play bass guitar and drums for 7 years now. Started to prefer recording bands rather than playing with bands, production came naturally as my interest for the great jamaican studios grew (black ark, studio one et coetera).

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?
Usually try to apply something I learned or picked up from another producer. Layer drums, get a basic 8 bar loop going, go through all my reese sounds, lay down some midrange, work on a sub pattern and then start polishing everything and mixing down as go, adding high end content and so on.
4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.

5. Why did you start producing?
Because it's a beautiful science and art and it's better than dealing with real life clients.

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
People like King Tubby, Will Compa, Coki, Radikal Guru, the list is so long. Everyone putting out great tunes is a source of inspiration and someone to look up to.

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?
Dungeon-esque dubstep. I'm really away from the whole Europe - US - NZ - AUS circuit, but I try to keep in touch with the local scene in the continent. Currently putting out my own night dedicated to deep dubstep and vinyl culture with other local artists and supporting every international artist that comes to latin america. So far we had Joe Nice, Quest, Skream, Razor Rekta, Sargent Pokes and many more. I'm also constantly sending out dubs to other artists, having received positive feedback and good criticism. I almost shed a tear when Plastician dropped me a comment and a dl on a dub once hahah.

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?
I'd say my ghostly clap, my midrange and my ambiences. I've done in depth posts about those many times in the forum, feel free to pm me about anything and I will give you a full answer, not really a fan of keeping any "production secrets".

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?
I try to find a balance between both. Produce whatever you are feeling in the moment but keep in mind that you have supporters that expect a certain sound from you that you are particulary good at. Nothing wrong with surprising people every now and then though.

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?
Improve my mixdowns, do more radio guest mixes, release more music. Labels are my best option to get closer to the scene and I'd love to eventually release all my stuff. I'm also trying to pull a vinyl release split with another artist, but this a whole different story and it's going to take some time I guess.

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?
Getting my drums right in the mix was probably the hardest thing for me. Really take your time, pick the right samples and always layer everything. Do a lot of parallel processing (compression, satuartion, distortion), shape transients and sample envelopes, bus everything together and add some tape sim. Then, focus on getting your drum reverb aux right, use plate, make sure that the reverb tails are not clashing against each other and creating mud, eq bad frequencies out, compress slightly and saturate / distort for more character. Always remember to be subtle when processing stuff.

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why
My best songs are in my hard drive and in the hand of djs and producers that I look up to. Watch out for mixes, radio shows and guests to hear my new sounds.
Here's a freebie though
Soundcloud


Really long post, sorry for any typos.

Edit: Missed question #4, here it's:

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.
Vintage romplers, shitty drum machines, Reaktor sound generators, old drum and bass and jungle tunes, old garage and DOA sample packs, dub tracks and youtube.

Big up.

[press]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)

Software, Logic and a little Reaper. go to plugs include Albino, Omnisphere and T-Rracks Multiband limiter. passive Event 20/20s, Hafler amp, presounes fb10 interface, Axiom 49.

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)

the first genre i was into when i was kid and first starting buying music was hip hop around 93-94 (12years oldish) and was very much into hip hop untill 2000 when i went to my first rave, took me a couple months of being there to get high to find the jungle/dnb room and become obsessed with the music. in late 2004 i began to see an influx of forum posts about this new genre, at the time there was crazy crossover and confusion about the name, eski,grime,8bar etc etc and i started to listen, tbh just so i could be informed enough to hate on it cuz i still thought dnb was pretty much the pinacle of music. But as the genre and different vibes started to all fall under the dubstep name i was finding that even if most of the sounds in the genre were not really my thing there was something about the asthetic and openness that i liked and i began really looking for stuff in the vibe i do like. They were few and far between but they were there, now by 2005 i was awilling to admit i was a fan and took a trip to London and attended FWD....now im hooked. I had messed with a few "dubstep" beats before but by late 2005 i decided rather than use my only real edm influence, neurofunk dnb, to make neurofunk dnb i could now push that vibe in dubstep and found an awesome middle ground for my love of hiphop and dnb and could be much more forward thinking then i felt i could be with my dnb.

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?

drums first, usually more of a back beat than the entire rhythm section usually in audio, sub, atmos, lead/sample then fill in the perc. i often leave some room to develope a vibe before deciding if i want to add bongos or shakers or shuffle etc. of course it all depends but almost always i get most of the drumz going first.

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.

i am a sampling fool. lol I have sampled movies in most of my tunes, i most enjoy taking atmos sections. I have also sampled old dnb tunes. I love sampling.

5. Why did you start producing?

when i was into hip hop i wanted to rap but i suck. lol. so i was almost always inspired to be involved in music. Once i started raving i decided i wanted to produce and dj. I began making beats on three old Korg electribes in 2002-2003ish and shortly after began djing.

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?

musically i am still most inspired by the vibes and sounds common to neurofunk dnb especially circa 99-03.

non musically i like to read, ive finished quite a few songs right after good books.

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?

I do dubstep. People would probably say i do dungeon, but i try not pay to close attention to that, i think its great neuro has had a big impact on dubstep but i definitly dont want to fall into how i felt about making dnb. If i pay to much atention to try to be a part of the dungeon microcausim of dubstep im going to be less forward thinking than if i leave my inspiration to something outside the genre im making.

sometime i feel like with the influx of bro and now trap and even dungeon a bit there are all these people who barely want to associate with dubstep. Whether they want to identify themselfs as being into those subgenres or against them, so many people are looking for "a way out" of dubstep or have some shame in saying they are into certain fassets of dubste. im just going to hang in here and do what ive always been doing and thats pushing a vibe im into and regardless of vibe its all just Dubstep to me, it all has its place and deserves to be here...even though i am willing to admit it would be nice if what i consider the worst vibe in dubstep was not the most popular.

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes?
deep sci-fi vibes and tasteful mids.

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?

depends if you want play or not....if you want to be avant garde and dont care who plays your shit then add those wierd 8 bars that shouldnt be there, make that 2.5 minute intro whatever, but i think you can properly express your self and make an artful tune AND remain in the confides of of a dj friendly tune.

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?

Keep em rolling. I just want stay inspired enough to keep doing it, which gets harder and harder. I could still tighten up my mixes and do more promo as well.

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?

i find mixdowns the hardest to do (or at least admit that its good enough, im hyper critical of my mixes and know they are not as good as the top dogs...one day)

I cant think of a specific problem i overcame, but one thing i love about produceing are those platues you make, you hit this wall and once you learn how to overcome it, you have now leveled up, your better than you were before and you keep hitting the walls and keep overcoming them.....theres always more to learn.

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.

i have finally just recently created a song that has gained my best feedback, most people are telling me its my best yet...its not up yet though.

as for songs in my catalouge?(approximatly 60 tunes over 30 realeses in the past five years http://www.beatport.com/#artist/press/6 ... erPage=150)

I may have to go with KJ Sawka- Subconnectors (Press and Selfsimilar rmx) http://www.beatport.com/#release/subconnectors/159239
I had been a huge Sawka fan for ages so this was such an honor, and that beat just come out rediculous and although those wobbles sound perhaps dated now..i feel like then they were quite rude, yet so not over the top for the time.

[antman]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)

2011 27inch iMac. KRK Rokit 5, Logic 9, Massive and Battery.

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)

Drums

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?

Chu know, Drums. Beat is key.

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.

Freesound.org and random youtube videos of movies, and interviews.

5. Why did you start producing?

Curiosity mostly.

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?

Rusko, first dub I ever heard was his pro nails remix and gully flute.

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?

Dubstep for sure and more of the low end sort of mid rangey stuff. Nothing too deep, nothing to bro-ish. No. I dont feel part of a scene. Im just some kid making amateur dubstep in his room

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?

Signature element is the dark feeling that your supposed to get from dubstep. Recreating it? Sample some screams or some shizzz

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?

Self expression. Whats the point in making the music if your not going to enjoy it.

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?

To gain even a small following. I would like my stuff to be heard a little more.

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?

Keeping the tune interesting, I have yet to overcome that.

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.

Soundcloud

I feel it captures what my style of dubstep is like, dark and midrange.

[dougriley]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)
FL STUDIO 10, akai mpk mini, krk rp6/beyerdynamic dt990

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)
played drums for a while, that's pretty much it...

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?
i like to start with programming a few synths and choosing a number of samples i'm feeling at the time. from there i'll start with an 8 bar pattern that will most likely be the heart of the tune. i've recently been playing around with going about tracks in a different way in hopes of breaking some bad habits.

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.
freesound.org is always a go-to. other sampling usually comes from processing sounds from packs/synths.

5. Why did you start producing?
motivated by my obsession of the tunes i listen to... striving to build a vibe i can call my own.

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
i've always been into hip-hop, low-end music, sound design... once i was exposed to skream back in 2009, i was hooked. it's everything i ever wanted in one genre of music. having a very technical background in engineering and mathematics, i thought i could figure out how to do it on my own - turns out there's more to music than just fractions

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?
eih, hard to say, it's very structured, i know that for sure And i def don't feel part of any scene. i am the only one i know who listen's to this music and have to force friends to come along with me to shows or to check out my own tracks. i literally have no one to bounce ideas off of except for this forum; even with this board - i tend to hold back.

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?
haven't really gotten there yet to call something my own. a lot of my percussion is hip-hop oriented though.

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?
i'd have to say a mix between the two, but leaning more towards self expression. it's really all about the groove.

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?
i will die a happy man when one of my tune's is included in one of my favorite artist's sets.

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?
sound design/arrangement of samples. hand's down hardest thing in the world for me.

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.
here's one i'll never work on again, but enjoyed making...

Soundcloud

[billybuxton]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)
Hardware
2012 iMac 27 i5, KRK Rokit 8's, M Audio Oxygen 8 v2, Edirol UA-25, Sennheiser HD 25, E-MU E5000 Ultra

Software
Logic 9, Audio Damage Liquid, Camelphat, Cytomic The Glue, DaDa Life Sausage Fattner, Izotope Ozone 5, Schaack Audio Transient Shaper, Sonimus Satson Channel, SPL EQ Rangers, Tone 2 BiFilter

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)
Started DJin 5 years ago

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?
Open Logic

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.
Old Computer Games, Youtube Videos, Cheesy B-Movies

5. Why did you start producing?
My friend gave me a copy of magix music maker

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
Recently DnB Producer XTRAH. He is the king of DnB for me at the moment

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?
Very Experimental/Very Shit. No i dont feel like part of a scene.

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes
Nothing

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?
The artist thing

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?
Finish lots of tracks, master the E-MU sampler and become a DnB God

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?
Finishing tracks and i still haven't overcome it

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.
Nothing

[Brothulhu]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)
Software - Fruity Loops (and it's plugins), Massive, Harmor and BiFilter
Hardware - M-Audio AV40s and a Scarlett 2i2

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)
Played Cello for a year, bass guitar for a few months and recorder at school (didn't feel any sort of enjoyment from laying/making music until I started trying to produce)

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?
Either percussion (not my kicks and snares, hihats, bongos etc.)

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.
Radio plays, Interviews and documentaries

5. Why did you start producing?
Was into electronic music for a few ears (some drum and bass and psytrance) then I got into dubstep wondered how it was made, looked into it, had a go and loved it

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
So many things, I guess random lifehacker articles on productivity inspire me the most

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?
No idea and no

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?
I've only made a few tracks but I like making pads the most by reversing a sample of an instrument, drenching it in delay and reverb, adding some filters with automation then reversing it again. Sometimes I layer a reversed and a normal one to make them fade in and out

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?
artistic self expression

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?
I want to make an album of coherent tracks that tell a story and to continue having fun producing

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?
Sound design. Reading manuals, reading and watching tutorials has helped but I'm still not where I want to be

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.
The track I'm currently working on is probably my best but my best that I have uploaded is probably my first one (except the sub that cuts out in volume at some parts) -
https://soundcloud.com/cryonicdreams/cr ... r-free-320

[Cornbreadddd]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)

FL 9

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)

Jazz guitarist, Jazz bassist, solo / experimental bass guitar.

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?

Usually I browse until I find a single sound that represents what I'm looking for. I always start tunes with an idea of how I want it to sound in mind. Once I find that sound, I'll either make some drums or continue finding / making other sounds that compliment it.

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.

I've never sampled in any one of my tunes, it just seems like such a pain. Much respect to those who do it and do it well though!

5. Why did you start producing?

Well I was honestly inspired entirely by my favorite producers Valor and JazzyJazzy. Valor and I formed a fairly good friendship and he was telling me all important tips to producing so I thought, "Look, I have someone who is endlessly knowledgeable in production and mixdowns helping me, I'd be a fool not to try it out!" I loved how unique and original Valor's sound was and I wanted to see what I could do.

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?

Musically - Valor, JazzyJazzy (J.Tijn), Heny G, Quest, Silkie, Von D, Prism,
(Not dubstep) - Hiromi Uehara, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Do Make Say Think, Behold....The Arctopus, Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten.

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?

I would say it's just musical, jazzy dubstep. I honestly don't feel part of any scene unfortunately. I feel like no one has really heard any of my tunes but I'm sure some people would feel them.

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?

Mainly very long, progressive, and most importantly musical tunes that usually progress and end up in a completely different place than where they began. I like my tunes to tell a story.

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?

Artistic self expression, hands down, no questions asked.

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?

Continue to build up my library of tunes. Whether or not people listen isn't really too important to me because I find so much satisfaction in being able to look at my collection of tunes and listen to them and realize that I created something that I love. Hopefully that doesn't sound arrogant, but yes, I do get a ton of satisfaction out of being able to listen to my own tunes.

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?

Sound design, and creating or finding sounds that fit the vibe that I'm going for.

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.

I honestly don't know which tune is my best, but I'll post a clip of one that I very much enjoy. The full version is 15 minutes long and goes through tons of changes. Here's a clip. The clip doesn't do it justice though because the other parts of the tune don't sound anything like it once it progresses.

Soundcloud

[compa]

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
People like King Tubby, Compa, Coki, Radikal Guru, the list is so long. Everyone putting out great tunes is a source of inspiration and someone to look up to.

Thanks Hircine. Respect.

Will.

[ephyks]

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
People like King Tubby, Compa, Coki, Radikal Guru, the list is so long. Everyone putting out great tunes is a source of inspiration and someone to look up to.

Thanks Hircine. Respect.

Will.

Holy shit....its...its compa! I don't want to completely fanboy out here but your tunes are dope!!!

I've been admiring you from afar.

[ehbes]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)
2011 MBP i7, Reason 6.5, Izotope Vinyl, Sony MDR-V700, Akai lpd8 and lpk25

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)
mandatory recorder when i was 10, other than that none.

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?
i usually start with my pads if I'm working on a ambient track. I'll grab strings sample and go from there. If I'm doing a track with drums ill start with the percussion. This way, i can drop the kicks and snare in and out with it still remaining solid.

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.
oohh I've got a few. i really like sampling jazz records. Kind of Blue by miles davis is one of them. I also like sampling random sounds i here in pop rap and other commercial music. Then of course there are movies and soundtracks which can give great textures.
5. Why did you start producing?
when i was 12 or so my music teacher showed us this program called garageband and told us about midi, it somewhat interested me but i didn't think much of it. a few years later i heard a track (forget which but it wasn't dubstep) and wondered how he could make music on a computer. remember what my teacher told us about midi and went from there..

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
Musically its gotta be people like burial, ghostek, sangam, detz, and all the other people pushing that really lo fi ambient garagey music. I just really connect when that kind of stuff and when I'm listening to that kinda music at night I'm my most happy.

Non musically its photography. Sometimes ill just go on flickr and look up night photography, its amazing what you can find.

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?
id say my music falls under the ambient style. I try to take this overarching ambient style and apply it to other genres of music. as for being part of the scene, id say I'm not. I there are a few lesser known ambient artists that I'm in contact with, but other than that no, not really.

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?
id say it would be my pads. its fairly straight forward chain of reverb, lowpass, saturation,and compression. Feel free to drop me a pm and ill go into further detail about it.

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?
artistic expression. If you make something that is truly beautiful and great, DJ's will find a way to get it into their sets.

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?
2013- get another 1 or 2 releases under my belt. continue to improve my reverb application. I feel at this point I'm not using it to its fullest potential.

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?
for me it was creating a sound that was distant and lurking, yet bright and beautiful. I still don't think i have it so i'll have to get back to you on that one

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.
well my best one is under wraps at the moment so ill share what i think is my second best . i think my sample choice on this one was good and it built up a nice full sound.
Soundcloud

[Brothulhu]

Question 11 and 8 are probably making this one of the best threads for information on the board atm. Bigup Hutyluty

[erratech]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)
event 2030 monitors (just acquired), filterbank, microphones, controllers i dont use, floops, random vsts

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)
when i first saw aphex twins 'come to daddy' clip something just clicked - music can be anything you want. Its all been downhill from there.

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?
I generally start with a patch ive made or a piano and play around with some chords, then process it up how i want it. then i just think 'what does this sound want?" and then add that.

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.
OpShop records, the worse the better.

5. Why did you start producing?
As before. Heard aphex twin 'come to daddy'

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?
Tipper, Portishead, Aphex Twin, Bonobo, Wutang. They inspire me because of their ability to create a vibe.

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?
Most of it has a triphop influence, I write a variety of styles tho. Im part of the local scene, not so much the world at large. I am terrible at talking to people online.

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?
I love fragile sounds, pushing a sound so its at the point of breaking down. To recreate it i guess most of it is about contrasting light and dark elements - the bigger the bass the more fragile the delicate noise, also degradation of the sound and eq. Giving the delicate sounds room to breathe is the other key thing, I tend to have a fairly empty midrange compared to a lot of stuff.

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?
Self-expression, i do make fairly dj-friendly beats tho because it provides a familiar context to the track-and its fun when people play your stuff

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?
Work with more vocalists, release more music, finish ep with jamaican singers, more versatile djing + play more. Long term is keep making music and get it out there.

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?
Getting the sub right. I still struggle but a/b a lot and test on different systems. hopefully actually having some monitors will make it a lot easier once i learn them.

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.
Soundcloud
Its the first song i wrote that is an actual song with verse/chorus/bridge. Its really emotive and strong and except for the yell and a few notes on the violin (to make it more realistic) its all mine. Also the first song on a free ep i released earlier this year which was a bit of a turning point in actually being able to share my music.

edit: ehbrums that song has awesome emotive qualities, sounds really nice even thru my laptop speakers

[hutyluty]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)

Reason 4 and some Altec lansing speakers b2b Sennheiser hd 465

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)

I played the bassoon for a few years though I was never any good. I got into the Leeds Youth Orchestra though more due to the dearth of other bassoonists rather than my outstanding ability, I did get to tour Spain though 3 years back, played infront of the Royal Palace which was cool but haven't touched it since i went uni, even though I keep meaning to sample it. I've djed for about a year now, though still haven't played out, that should change soon though!

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?

I normally start with the drums though it changes sometimes, all depends on how I'm feeling, sometimes it'll be a synth patch i mess around with, other times it'll be a sample i want to use. Quite often what I start with isn't there when I finish the tune.

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.

HBO TV shows, talking heads albums, and jonathan meades documentaries to name a few.

5. Why did you start producing?

I started at school doing GCSE music, it was something to do at lunchtime when it rained, then I got a copy of reason at home and i just kind of carried on from there, though I didn't really take it seriously until a couple of years back when i finally learnt what an eq was and stuff (ie. when i joined this forum)

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?

Musically, I'd say my two favourite artists are probably 2562 and Pangaea, the music they make is generally so heavy but not overproduced, the kind of stuff I would love to be able to make. I also love a lot of the old school house producers like MK and Chez Damier who made stuff which still sounds like it could be done today years and years back

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?

I generally make house music, though so indebted to the past its kind of embarrassing. I try and make stuff which sounds more original but generally end up making pastiches of stuff done better 20 years ago. As for whether I feel part of a scene, there is definitely a house revival going on in Britain at the moment and i feel i have a bit in common with a lot of producers though I don't know many of them too personally. Maybe part of a scene in the internet age? idk.

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?

In most of my tunes, recently anyway, I've been using string parts and looping a particular chord I like to create a pad, generally stick some tape distortion on it and a bit of reverb and automate the filters throughout, helps keep things moving in the tune. I also have this one champagne popping sample which makes its way into every tune I do.

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?

Well like most people I'd want to think that I made tunes with only artistic self expression in mind but I always end up making the tunes I put online have a dj friendly intro and structure just incase someone wants to mix it. I do make some tunes which are just what I'm feeling at the time though I don't generally put them up.

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?

I want to set up a new alias for my weirder stuff, maybe get some more releases or if not then maybe a bandcamp pay what you like album or something. Also to dj more and get some sets in places

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?

Like everyone the mixdown was/ still is difficult, especially in regards to making stuff sound good but still sound raw and interesting. Also, making stuff so that it doesn't sound incredibly one dimensional- I think automating volume and panning of lots of different elements defintely helps, as well as sometimes not being scared to just leave a sound be and let it play firmly at the forefront of the mix when need be, not processing it over and over, letting natural dynamics create the impact rather than compression or whatever.

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.

Soundcloud

this is probably my favourite tune I've made, I did it in about an hour last year, just messing about at 160, there's only three elements in the whole thing but it just came out. ps. free download

[skwiggo]

1. What is your production set up? (hardware and software)

Hardware: Focusrite Saffire 6, AKG K240 headphones, Wharfedale Diamond Pro 8.2 monitors
Software: Ableton Live Suite 8, Korg Digital Legacy Collection, a few free VSTs from Computer Music

2. What is your musical history? (Any instruments/djing etc)

I've played guitar for about 9 years and drums for about 7 years. Also used to play some piano and took up to grade 3 but I was shite at it. Just started to learn how to dj but I've got a long way to go. I've played drums in quite a few local bands and still play with a band today.

3. How do you go about starting a new tune?

Its changed over the few years I've been producing - but nowadays I usually have a rough idea of what sort of track I'm goin to make. Then I start with the bassline if it's a melodic bass or if it's just a sub bass I'll start with the drums.

4. Name some of your favourite places to sample from.

Youtube - old songs and acapella pop/rnb vocals, freesound.org - random voices/nature. Lo-fi mobile phone recordings.

5. Why did you start producing?

Cause I wanted to make some tunes myself like the ones that I've heard myself and admired

6. Who inspired you and how, both musically and non-musically?

I think Basic Channel and the more minimal/dubby side of house, techno and dubstep inspired me the most - My earliest Skwiggo tunes back in 2008-9 were mostly terrible, badly mixed electro house abominations so getting into all that sort of stuff saved me from making shite electronic music basically lol

I don't really know if much non-musical stuff influences my music really :S

7. What genre/style would you place your music under. Do you feel part of a scene at all?

Nominally house - as it's my favourite style of electronic music - but my latest track is a disco tune and I've had a blawan rip off joke techno release. I've done grime and dubsteppy tunes in the past as well and I take influence from all over the place.

8. What would you say is the "signature element" of your tunes- and how would someone go about recreating it?

Most of my recent tunes are sample based but I'm using the wavestation a lot for pads so maybe thats it? I dunno lol

9. For you what is most important- artistic self expression or making dj-friendly beats?

I like the idea of dance music being more than just for dancing in a club but sometimes thats all you need. I think big artistic statements and dumb dj floor anthems both have their place IMO.

10. What are your production goals, both in 2013 and beyond?

Will probably be too busy most of the year to do a lot but I'll try to bang out a few more tunes and see what happens.

11. What do you find most challenging about production? Maybe describe a problem and how you overcame it?

Mixdowns are my production woe - specifically cluttering up tracks. Sometimes it's hard to tell when a tune is just right and doesn't need more adding to it.. Since I've got proper monitors and headphones though I feel like my mixdowns are slowly improving. I also hate trying to make drums sound as good as lots of pro producers. The only way to overcome these two problems is through practice, detailed comparison with other people's tunes and better drum samples lol.

12. Finally, time to plug yourself- post what you consider to be your best song and maybe explain why- ONLY ONE SONG.

Probably this tune I made for the Pokemon Compilation - i think it sums up my main musical influences the most.

I like some of my newer and older tracks probably better but objectively I think this is probably my best track:

Soundcloud