 Questions from a beginner. |
Kaz1983
Newbie
Registration Date: 18-06-2009
Posts: 3
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I have recently purchased Fruity Loops Express Edition ... I've found it very good considering it's very limited, this is why I will be upgrading to the Producers Edition but I notice that there is XXL Edition as well. My question is how far can you take producing drum and bass on Fruity Loops in the Producers Edition compared the XXL package? I now see investing plenty in learning the ropes in any music producing software, so you may as well have the best software you can afford. I just was looking for feed back from users -idealy from someone who has use 2 or more of them- of the three different software packages Fruity Loops provide.
I want to head down the darker drum and bass/jungle/jump up styles that DJ Hype , Andy C and Hazard tear up ... right now I'm just mucking around with the drum kit sequencer, I'm getting thee idea being the importance of hi hats and snares in drum and bass but because I can't chop them up I can't start making hi hat/snare patterns and build ups -unless I'm doing something wrong. What has suprised me even though I've listened to drum and bass for at least 10 years is the amount of different sounds that goes into producing drum and bass, especially the more chilled out drum and bass, LTJ Bukem for example.
I suppose I'm not to sure how to mix in a decent drum pattern with bass and other effects. I'm starting to think I cannot do it with the Express Edition I take it? As for bass lines are most if not all wobbly to dirty to pounding baselines that I want to get my hands on are made from scratch?
Oh and can anybody recommend any reading/viewing regarding drum and bass music theory? I'd be thankful if some could, as I'm a little stuck on what needs to be done next.
Anyway just thought I'd say hi and let you know were I'm at and ask a few question along the way ....
This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by Kaz1983: 18-06-2009 16:36.
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18-06-2009 16:35 |
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wrm
orchestral/idm/deep/liquid/experi/mental
Registration Date: 13-09-2006
Posts: 465
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^^^ agreed.
all you need is your ears and a little bit (well a big bit) of feel for music. I am not sure whats the difference in the versions (checkout the fuity homepage and see what each version offers and consider if its worth putting more money in it). But the version you have is pretty much OK for starting to produce dnb. Its all about experimenting and dont expect that you will make kickass dnb choons after 1 or 2 months producing...you WONT. Take your time and be patient...explore what each buttons and knobs do. Learn how to work with samples in the sampler, that should be your first aim IMO. Composing the sound should be the least you should worry about now. As for the reading of a dnb music theory...there is no such thing man, its all about you and your feelings. Of course there are some composition advice of dnb track which are pretty much always followed (intro, breakdown, drop...etc)... try to look through this forum. there are plenty of topics you will find handy and plenty of them will answer your questions...remember, search for your question at first, if u dont find your answer then ask ;-) cos there are loads of topics on here...cheers man
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18-06-2009 18:21 |
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BattleDrone 
2161... the future.
Registration Date: 30-12-2005
Posts: 6,413
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FL express edition can do all you need.
I have the producer edition and do all my tunes with it.
You really seem to think that a lighter version of the software limits your possibilities, this is not the case. A lot of the extra stuff in the XXL edition is useless or at least unnecessary.
Drumnbass music theory is not any different from any other music theory, the only thing which I find important in DnB is the "happy accident" you mess with sound and suddenly something goes wrong, but it sounds cool, so you keep it.
A drumline in DnB is usually al break that has been cut into individual parts using (in this case for you) Fruity slicer and has been edited (drum hits have been moved around to create new patterns with the same drum sounds) and layered (put some extra kicks, snares, hihats onto the break to improve the sound or change it's feel).
Wobble basses can be made with simple sound generators like 3XOSC in FL studio.
To get it wobbling you need to mess with the cut off LFO for the instrument. TO make it dirty you need a distortion effect (Fruity BLood distortion is not the best, but it will show you where to go).
Check the free VST plugins thread to expand your instruments and effects collection...
Check the sample section and links to free samples to have some basic sounds and read this forum, a lot of typical questions for the beginning DnB producer have been answered on here already, they are in the FAQ/Knowledge base
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18-06-2009 22:57 |
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Zugzwang
Doin' it for the love
Registration Date: 13-05-2009
Posts: 206
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Ez mate,
I really like FL Studio for Drum and Bass, but it takes a very long time to get professional sounding results. As it does with any Digital Audio Workshop (DAW). If I had to only recommend one piece of advice to you, it would be to enjoy making music on FL, the styles you want to make with whatever synths and structure of song you want, and pick up/practice using compression, EQing etc. along the way. Because if your journey towards becoming a professional DnB artist isn't fun, it will be a very uphill battle until you finally get the results you're looking for.
There are a lot of possibilities to explore, my friend, take your time and enjoy them. Play around with all the knobs and weird synths and effects. 
I'm looking on the FL site and it doesn't look like there is any difference between the Producer and the XXL editions of FL Studio unless you're buying the retail boxed version, in which case you get a couple sample CDs extra. The Producer edition has basically all the possible functionality unlocked, except for a few of the high-end VSTs like Sytrus, Toxic Biohazard and Poizone. But to be honest, I really only use the Fruity Slicer for my breaks and I sample almost everything else. I actually use Reason for most of my synths, so it is a good idea for you to have either Sytrus or Native Instrument's Massive or z3ta+ or another synth like that, something powerful that will get you started, since I'm not going to try and convince you to buy Reason too.
I say fuck music theory, make what sounds good to you. Don't be restricted by "This intro has to be this many bars and this bass has to sound like Noisia in every song I make blah blah blah", start worrying about that stuff if you're close to getting tunes signed. Even I have to remind myself sometimes that my intro doesn't have to have a hi-hat or whatever in it because no one is going to be rinsing it.
Just worry about one thing: Having fun.
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19-06-2009 03:31 |
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demure
mastication fo de nation
Registration Date: 22-01-2009
Posts: 921
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| quote: |
Originally posted by Zugzwang
Ez mate,
I really like FL Studio for Drum and Bass, but it takes a very long time to get professional sounding results. As it does with any Digital Audio Workshop (DAW). If I had to only recommend one piece of advice to you, it would be to enjoy making music on FL, the styles you want to make with whatever synths and structure of song you want, and pick up/practice using compression, EQing etc. along the way. Because if your journey towards becoming a professional DnB artist isn't fun, it will be a very uphill battle until you finally get the results you're looking for.
There are a lot of possibilities to explore, my friend, take your time and enjoy them. Play around with all the knobs and weird synths and effects.
I'm looking on the FL site and it doesn't look like there is any difference between the Producer and the XXL editions of FL Studio unless you're buying the retail boxed version, in which case you get a couple sample CDs extra. The Producer edition has basically all the possible functionality unlocked, except for a few of the high-end VSTs like Sytrus, Toxic Biohazard and Poizone. But to be honest, I really only use the Fruity Slicer for my breaks and I sample almost everything else. I actually use Reason for most of my synths, so it is a good idea for you to have either Sytrus or Native Instrument's Massive or z3ta+ or another synth like that, something powerful that will get you started, since I'm not going to try and convince you to buy Reason too.
I say fuck music theory, make what sounds good to you. Don't be restricted by "This intro has to be this many bars and this bass has to sound like Noisia in every song I make blah blah blah", start worrying about that stuff if you're close to getting tunes signed. Even I have to remind myself sometimes that my intro doesn't have to have a hi-hat or whatever in it because no one is going to be rinsing it.
Just worry about one thing: Having fun. |
somethin i have been forgettin recently
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19-06-2009 04:35 |
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selig
Steppa
Registration Date: 10-07-2008
Posts: 159
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| quote: |
| Originally posted by ZugzwangI'm looking on the FL site and it doesn't look like there is any difference between the Producer and the XXL editions of FL Studio unless you're buying the retail boxed version, in which case you get a couple sample CDs extra. The Producer edition has basically all the possible functionality unlocked, except for a few of the high-end VSTs like Sytrus, Toxic Biohazard and Poizone. |
You have to pay extra for Toxic Biohazard and Poizone, you get Sytrus, Directwave, SimSynth Live, SoundFont Player, VideoPlayer, DrumSynth Live and DX10 with the XXL package.
IMO it's only really worth upgrading if you want Sytrus and Directwave. I honestly cant remember the last time I used the other stuff.
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19-06-2009 12:12 |
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BattleDrone
2161... the future.
Registration Date: 30-12-2005
Posts: 6,413
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| quote: |
Originally posted by selig
If you plan on buying sytrus, which is a good synth, it's worth upgrading to the XXL package, just because you get it cheaper that way. Otherwise I wouldn't bother, I never use the other synths.
It's definitely worth upgrading from the express edition though. I couldn't imagine not using the piano roll, it's the best thing about fl imo. |
I never understood shit from Sytrus, it just looks confusing to me, just like LovePhilter, I can't figure out how that shit works so i leave it alone.
A lot of synths and effects simply don't work for me because I can't find my way in the GUI, but there are soooo many VST's and VSTi's that I have everything I need at hand.
Piano Roll is a MUST HAVE, without it you can't make music, full stop.
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19-06-2009 15:35 |
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Tomos
Infidel
Registration Date: 15-04-2007
Posts: 2,276
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| quote: |
Originally posted by BattleDrone
| quote: |
Originally posted by selig
If you plan on buying sytrus, which is a good synth, it's worth upgrading to the XXL package, just because you get it cheaper that way. Otherwise I wouldn't bother, I never use the other synths.
It's definitely worth upgrading from the express edition though. I couldn't imagine not using the piano roll, it's the best thing about fl imo. |
I never understood shit from Sytrus, it just looks confusing to me, just like LovePhilter, I can't figure out how that shit works so i leave it alone.
A lot of synths and effects simply don't work for me because I can't find my way in the GUI, but there are soooo many VST's and VSTi's that I have everything I need at hand.
Piano Roll is a MUST HAVE, without it you can't make music, full stop. |
Tbh, I don't really know how to use Sytrus and LovePhilter that well either but I use them all the time. The presets are actually very respectable, imo. Whack a VST or two over them and you've got yourself some sweet sounds.
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19-06-2009 18:56 |
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