Music Production

[Asho]

Ok, so ive got some time in my holidays coming up, and i wanna try and set up my S90 and use it to record and produce music....but i dont have a faintest clue where to start and with what software?

I have my S90 running into the audio in jack at the back of my integrated sound card... and recording using audacity. But thats the limit of my knowledge. Any ideas where to go next??? Books, software, websites, personal experience?? anything?

[Taurus]

Try, fail, try again, fail, try. Untill you got something that works.
There are so many programs out there, a few industry standards, but its really down to personal preference. What works for one, may not work for another and vice versa.

My suggestion is you just try out a bunch, and love on first sight wins.

[Semmi78]

I think thats a very good tip from Taurus there. Just try out.
Furthermore this website could clarify a bit http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

[-=AnatomiC=-]

A simple advise - don't sit in your studio, like a dwarf in his goldmine: you need inspiration, fresh air and rest...

For electro music, I usually go to the party with my friends - I relax and listen to the music. If there is a song that I like, I try to understand it.

And if it's you composing music for the first time, it's almost certainly will sound like crap at the beginning (unless you are a genius): don't give up, it will keep getting better and better over time.

Also - you must play your music live, for a small audience first (like 30-40 people).
Because live, your music will sound different. I can say mine sounded better...

But don't do it before your music is acceptable, otherwise you will get to much criticism and this is bad for moral... on the other hand - positive moral, gives lots of encouragement and inspiration!!!

Deadlines help producing music also btw...

And what kind of music do you want to make?

[Omega Monkey]

Reminds me of a song lyric...

"Try again and fail again, fail better on the next try."

[Asho]

A simple advise - don't sit in your studio, like a dwarf in his goldmine: you need inspiration, fresh air and rest...

For electro music, I usually go to the party with my friends - I relax and listen to the music. If there is a song that I like, I try to understand it.

And if it's you composing music for the first time, it's almost certainly will sound like crap at the beginning (unless you are a genius): don't give up, it will keep getting better and better over time.

Also - you must play your music live, for a small audience first (like 30-40 people).
Because live, your music will sound different. I can say mine sounded better...

But don't do it before your music is acceptable, otherwise you will get to much criticism and this is bad for moral... on the other hand - positive moral, gives lots of encouragement and inspiration!!!

Deadlines help producing music also btw...

And what kind of music do you want to make?

Thats good advice...thank you! But totally different to what im thinking off lol!

I wanna know where to start putting together and using my S90 with the computer and a sequence to produce music.... Like to start with actually getting a recording of my own atonal compositions for strings, clarinet and a bass.

But your advice is nevertheless very helpful...thanks!

[Staccato]

I dont know how good your soundcard is, but if you want to make it easy for yourself, make sure it is a good one. To have no latency problems and communication problems is so much nicer then to have to compensate all the time. For example you can get some recording program like cubase and stuff.. if your looking for att good and chepa one, tracktion is probably your best choice. I don´t know so much about free programs, but search around the net and you might find some.

[Grey Loki]

The only free applications i've come across that are any good for recording are Mackie's Tracktion (for which I was fortunate enough to get a free version, when Mackie released it), Audacity (Which you've used, but I didn't get along with it), and Ardour - ardour.org. It started life as a glorified hard disk recording application, and has since evolved into a Pro Tools-esque multitracking application, for Linux and Macintosh. There are plans for a Windows port, but i'm not sure it's near a release candidate stage yet.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

One more think...very important...
Avoid using filters with your Drum Tracks (only if it's absolutely needed!), especially reverb!
When you listen to the drums with filters/reverb, it may sound richer and fatter, but I a mix it will sound very dirty. It will absolutely ruin you music, and you won't even know how it happened! :rolleyes: