 newbie seeks help/ advice |
Doldrums 
Newbie
Registration Date: 26-07-2006
Posts: 3
 |
|
hey, I'm new to the forum. I was just seeking advice from someone perhaps older and wiser than myself.
I'm a drummer that is trying to get into the worderful world of electronica. I enjoy (amoung many other forms of music) Speedcore, Extratone, Gabber, Industrial, Dub, Digital Hardcore, "Modern" (neo "classical" / soundmass/ chance piece composition), Be-Bop Jazz, Hard-Bop Jazz and much much more.
The type of music I really want to get into would be Tech Step/ Dark Step, perhaps with a pinch of Speedcore/ breakcore. I think I have potential as a producer, and maybe a DJ someday (provide, I get the proper equiptment). I think that since I'm actually a trained semi-professional drummer that it would give me an edge in the drum'n'bass world.
So basically, I am just seeking advice from the more wise and more experienced. Where do I begin? I have Fruity Loops... I find it to be a little limiting and restricting. I tried to play with Reason 2.5 and I find it's pretty difficult to use without the aid of a MIDI controller. I have heard good things about Cubase, but I haven't been able to get my hands on it.
So if anyone could give me any advice, I would appriciate it. Anything, even advice about sample kits, programs, and breaks. I have no idea where to start and I need a little guidance. Cheers.
-Sean (aka Doldrums/ Seisak/ Siesak)
|
|
|
26-07-2006 06:46 |
|
|
jemone
Sponsor
Registration Date: 01-02-2006
Posts: 195
Helpfulness rating:
|
|
ez bruv,
right first up this is a long road and aint just about been rythmically compitent, theres a great deal of shit that goes into drum n bass production, its a fucking science mate period, its not just whacking some beatz n bass together n going yeah im bad, that wont get you far, and you wont be satisfied in the ever evolveing world of d n b, youll also find that as much as you think you know theres a great deal more you dont.
first place to start is basically start looking round some of the forums, theres alot of ok advice but also alot of shit out there so take it all with a pinch of salt, youll find the best way to learn and improve is to just keep practicing and making mistakes.
As far as saying you find fruity loops resricting, i seriously doubt youve discoverd its potential, now im a cubase user, and have no desire at all to use fruity poops, but ive heard alot of very talented producers on here make some lethel beatz with the thing, also reason i belive is very easy and quick to use once you know the basics, as for cubase, yeah go for it, but tbh, it can be a liitle daunting untill you know where your going, and youll find it more restricting tbh in the begining if you want fast results.
Basically i dont think it really matters to begin with what you use to learn on, just a program that you find is not to much of a struggle, but youll struggle with all tbh, but theres loads of books out there for these programs that will get you started. get yourself a midi keyboard, you can get them cheap off ebay, go for somthing like an oxygen 8, or an evolution,
get yourself over to somewhere like www.bourben breaks.com for your classic breaks, if you do a search for breakbeats in google youll find sites that have what you need for download http://www.breakbeat-paradise.com/bb_main.php
also aqquire a copy of recycle for chopping and speeding up your original funk breaks to around the 176 bpm mark, if you choose to go the cubase or fruity way, get yourself some virtual instruments (vst) again youll find a plathora of these for free if you need on the net if you do a google search, if youve got a drum kit, and some decent mikes, do yourself and the community a favour by sampleing some hits and posting them up in a pack once you know how, youll be amased how people will help you out when you offer somthing in return 
, sample wise, it may pay you as a total noob to find a sample cd, the ez rollers one is quite good, as is the new davide carrabone one, try www.bs1records.com for some good quality samples to get you started, also www.freesound.com for a wealth of weird and wonderfull noises and sounds, listen to alot of dnb, plus also other types of music, surround yourself in dnb, get to know its rules and ways, get to know peoples different styles, lastr up and most important, dont think by getting a copy of the latest music software is gonna make you goldie, it wont, dont think that your gonna get signed in a week you wont,dont do this to make money, youll be lucky too, and if you do you wont make asd much as you think you would, dont make dnb to be cool, it aint, and if your a family man, be prepared to have rows with your missus cause your frustrated that you cant make a decentb line and its playing on your mind, but most of all just try and enjoy it, leave any ego at home, its a hard slog, and theres some twats involved in the scene, but also some great people too, so basically just keep your eyes open, dont belive everything you hear or read, and the greatest advice i think we all have is you cant polish a great steaming turd, so get yourself good sounds and your half way there......
good luck bruv....youll need it
jem-one 
|
|
|
26-07-2006 09:18 |
|
|
BattleDrone
2161... the future.
Registration Date: 30-12-2005
Posts: 6,413
Helpfulness rating:
|
|
@jemone: Second that!
__
 Check my soundcloud (exclusive tracks on there)
|
|
|
26-07-2006 10:02 |
|
|
Doldrums
Newbie
Registration Date: 26-07-2006
Posts: 3
|
|
Hey Jem-one. Cheers my friend and thank you for all of the helpful advice.
Thankfully, I'm not a family man and I'm still realtively young (20 Y.O.). So I don't have to worry about taking care of others. I can just persue my life and my love.
I have dabbled around with Fruity Loops for a while. It's pretty user friendly. It's a good beat sequencer, and it holds up pretty solid to beats that are of Extratone/ Gabber/ Hardcore/ Speedcore speeds without crashing, Which I like. I enjoy laying tracks and loops down on this program, but it seems... Too.. Eh.. I dunno. The program is too restricting and too tight. I like having a looser sound. I guess that is my main complaint about FL. I would use Reason, but that program is hard to use (at least for me) without any midi controller. I will for sure pick up one soon. Perhaps one that you mentioned. While I was typing this e-mail, I ebayed a M-Audio Oxygen 8 25-Key controller.
Yeah, I understand that this isn't a genre that I would get successful doing. If I wanted to make money, I would look into Trance and be a Paul Oakenfold carbon copy OR I would get into Big Beat and be like propellerheads and make music for a bunch of soundtracks. I want to get in to the world of Drum'n'Bass for the love. Being as I am an american, I know that a lot of american producers don't really get wide-stream recognition - unless you are Dieselboy. I want to go it for the love and creativity. Not the drugs or money. Haha.
It's good advice for me to learn the rules of DnB. I have to know the rules before I can break them. So I shouldn't try to be too inventional right out of the gate. Learn the convensions first. Cheers on that note.
I will also for sure have to find some good compressor mics and sample some of my own breaks and beats on my set. If I get some compressor mics, I will for sure have to up them on this community. It's been a while since I have been in the studio as a drummer. Mainly I was in the studio doing drumming for Metal bands. I tell you, I can't be more happy to get out of the metal.
Lastly, where is a good starting out place for some good solid VSTs?
Anyway, I have to get back to work, but cheers mate. Thank you for your helpful tips and if you have any more words of wisdom, please share them with me. Cheers.
-Sean (aka Doldrums/ Seisak/ Siesak)
This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by Doldrums: 27-07-2006 10:26.
|
|
|
27-07-2006 04:38 |
|
|
Glim
Stuck In The Late Nineties
Registration Date: 16-10-2004
Posts: 1,848
Helpfulness rating:
|
|
jem-one touched on all the neccesary points and very well too.
As with any genre there are structures used in tracks that are DJ freindly and almost industry standard, you can pick these up by listening to tunes and then there are more experimental productions but neither work if there is no passion in them. You say you're a drummer and have a kit, well mate - that is a massive bonus if you can record your own drums, i mean if i could do that then i would certainly enjoy my producing alot more.
once you get a general idea as to what a solid dnb tune consists of then comes the disappointment of not getting the sound you want in your head to come out in your tunes, but with lots of things iin life its about persistence and this is where you seperate the people in it for a quick buck (aint gonna happen) from the people who are hungry for knowledge and want to evolve their sound. I remember some of the first tunes i made and they really were total shit, many i dont have now and may only listen to the odd one when very very drunk and sentimental, BUT without that phase of uncertainty you'll never improve, and remember you can alwayz improve even the big- guns should know that.
My general advice is to soak up as much dnb as you feel comfortable with to get an idea what you like, you say you want to get into techstep n dark stuff, well mate - there is so much to be learnt from other vibes within dnb that you can take away knowledge and ideas from to make what style you want, im a strong believer that SUB -GENRE'S are killing the scene, so be very open minded and dont pigeon-hole yourself, coz it aint gonna get you nowhere,
try and start recording your own breaks and lay 'em down mess around with sounds, samples, vst's etc, jus have a play around, dont expect too much too soon, (not easy to do) just get the feel of applying melodies over beatz.
i use FL 6 xxl and i aint got no problem with it really, it shouldnt feel restricted to you at the stage you are at mate, really it shouldnt yes there are other programs that may be more suitable for professional producing but for a beginner FL has and does everything you'll need.
jem's put some excellent links in his post to sites that have loads a goodies so go seek out some sounds that appeal to ya, and start using them
this has to be the best bit of advice i have been given when i started and that is:
YOU CANT POLISH A TURD
we're all tempted occasionally when low on time, insiration and passion but if you expect the end result to be substantial then give up,
but dont take it too seriously mate, it should remain a fun pastime/hobby coz thats what it is at the moment.
You've found a good site here, as we'll be looking forward to hearin anything you post up, alwayz some great feedback from the crew here, and once the new server is up n running, things will be alot more faster and accessible..
peace mate and good luck with your music makin
see ya around
Glim
__
My Sounds
|
|
|
27-07-2006 06:42 |
|
|
Muad'Dib
Andrejnalin
Registration Date: 02-12-2003
Posts: 4,197
Helpfulness rating:
|
|
|
|
27-07-2006 16:43 |
|
|
Doldrums
Newbie
Registration Date: 26-07-2006
Posts: 3
|
|
Hey thank you all for all of your very helpful advice, tips and links. Cheers. Many tips of cabernet to you all.
I didn't realize I was kind of behind in times as far as Fruity Loops goes. I have the studio producers edition V. 4.0.1. Could anyone tell me any major changes with V.4 and V.6? Or is it pretty much the same?
Yeah, I am for sure lucky that I have my own kit. I love my snare. I have a ludwig Acrolite 2 steel snare. I use Remo Emperor X coated heads, and I dial it really tight for a great pop sound. I think the attraction to Drum'n'Bass to me is being able to cut and program break beats that would be impossible to play in real life... And that's pretty extreme for me, considering I used to be a Black Metal Drummer.. And I have studied Be-Bop Jazz. Max Roach is an amazing drummer. If any of you ever get into sampling your own drums, it's important to understand the importance of acoustics and tuning/ dialing. It's important otherwise your kicks will always sould like shit (I always had trouble dialing my floor tom.. it would always sound too flat. as a professional drummer, you could easily spend a whole day just dialing up your drums). They will either be too flat, or too boomie, or too punchy. It sure is fun though. I'm also lucky that I in my even younger days, was a "rivet head" that really loved Einstürzende Neubauten for a while. As such, I have some 55 gallon steel drums laying around as well as a couple of kegs that would be interesting for sampling. Of course I'm not wanting to get into anything too experimental. I'm no squarepusher. It sure would be interesting to throw in one or two samples of that stuff.
Glim, you are probably right about not limiting myself and keeping an open mind. That is interesting that you say that Sub-Genres are killing the scene. I'm in the US so the scene is kind of few and far in between, so I don't really get to see that prospective. Could you kindly elaborate? I will for sure keep that in mind though. I probably shouldn't just limit myself to the sounds of Tech Step, or Hardstep, or Darkstep. So thanks for pointing out the error in my ways.
Lastly, I was wondering if any producers out there that liked to use any specific Chords or Modes? I'm not a trained pianist. I find more and more as I get into the electronic world, and further from the rock world that I have to learn more and more about the piano/ Keyboard. I have a basic understanding about music theory and piano. However, I'm no expert by any means. I find myself really enjoying making arps in the phrygian mode and Pelog mode. I'm also trying to stay as far way from diminished chords as I can. Black metal was nothing but diminished chords. I worked with black metal guitarists that used to gloat about knowing the diminished chords for every root note. This made me laugh because it seemed so restricting JUST to know diminished chords.
I guess that is enough of my bullshit for the day. I have to get ready for work. but I thank you all for all of your advice and tips. I'm very grateful. This seems like a great forum/ community, and I feel privileged to be a part of it. I look forward to being schooled by all of your great minds. Spassibo. Domo Arigato. Xie xie ni. Dêkuji. Takk. Cheers.
-Sean
This post has been edited 2 time(s), it was last edited by Doldrums: 28-07-2006 21:55.
|
|
|
27-07-2006 22:41 |
|
|
benji b
Steppa
Registration Date: 27-06-2006
Posts: 182
Helpfulness rating:
|
|
hello mate
i was in ur situation a little while ago (but i had no music experience wat so ever)
i asked for help on here too and i was suprised at how many people wrote back with loads to say, an so quicky. this is a good forum and it a bloody good place to get help an theres a fuckin load of nice people on here that will go out of there way to give u advice.
i cant really give u much help myself but here's a link to wat they said to me, if it helps
First Time Producer
take it easy mate
b 
|
|
|
28-07-2006 19:43 |
|
|
|
