Off Topic > Creativity
The music production & Composition (mega)thread
espio100:
music production & Composition
A record producer or track producer or music producer oversees and manages the sound recording and production of a band or performer's music, which may range from recording one song to recording a lengthy concept album. A producer has many roles during the recording process. The roles of a producer vary. They may gather musical ideas for the project, collaborate with the artists to select cover tunes or original songs by the artist/group, work with artists and help them to improve their songs, lyrics or arrangements.
Table of contents
How to get started
Recommended gear
Cheap gear
Medium priced gear
The good stuff
Samples, patches and VST's
FaQ
Usefull links
Getting started
Producing music may seem like an expensive hobby because you need thousands of dollars worth of studio equipment and other stuff but thats not really the case. All you really need is a laptop and a digital audio workstation (or DAW for short). You can have a lot of fun making music, but getting a good recording and arrangement of your song requires some work and knowledge. Thats why I decided to make this thread. Well im not an expert either but i'd like to bring other people into the hobby.
To get started you need two things. A computer and considering you're reading this thread on the internet about a lego video game, you're probably good for that. Any computer will basically do. Unless you have a 2006 intel atom stuff laptop or something. The other thing you need is a DAW, or Digital Audio Workstation. A DAW is basically a piece of software used for composing, arranging and synthesising sound into music. I recommend FL studio, Ableton live and Cubase Pro. I personally use FL studio because imo its the easiest the use and is the most versatile and customizable.
Of course other gear like keyboards and midi controllers are really usefull, which I will be covering in the next subject.
Recommended gear
Some useful gear which is recommended but not mandatory will be neatly listed here.
A good pair of headphones
I live in a suite and my neighbors probably dont appreciate my terrible music so some high quality headphones are quite usefull. If you are looking for some, be sure to buy headphones with a flat frequency response. Some good brands are Sennheiser, Audio Technica and Beyerdynamic.
Studio monitors
Dont have neighbords or simply don't care? Well I dont. Studio monitors are fantastic if you want to listen to your creations with natural acoustics or something. I honestly dont like wearing headphones all the time since im autistic and headphones never feel right for some reason. Both options are good really. Some good brands are Yamaha, KRK and JBL.
MIDI keyboard
While you can play or try out your synth or sound in your DAW with your computer keyboard. A MIDI keyboard is a godsend. Its basically a cheap piano that you hook up to your DAW which can then translate key presses to notes. Can also be used to directly record into your DAW and usually comes with a couple of drum pads and controllers. Can be 25 keys up to 88 keys wide. Not to be confused with a synthesiser. Some good brands are Akai, Alesis and Native Instruments
Audio interface
Also known as a sound card or digital audio converters. They basically convert digital audio to brown townog audio. But espio, why don't I just use the soundcard in my computer? Haha good question billy! The soundcard in your computer, which usually in intergrated in the motherboard itself can produce electromagnetic interference (or EMI for short) and it can totally forget your stuff up. I had this problem a lot with my old speakers and frankly it was driving me nuts. But there's more! You can hook up microphones and other stuff into it to directly record the audio into your computer. Pretty neat. Some good brands are Focusrite, Yamaha and Steinberg
Microphone
Im pretty sure everyone knows what a microphone is. The are basically 2 types which is dynamic and condensor but for music production you probably want a condensor. Condensors need phantom power though, Which can be included in your Audio Interface. I just bought a podcast microphone which uses USB to save me the trouble. Pop filters are recommended. Some good brands are Rode, Shure and SamsonCheap gear
For all your Sub hunderd dollar boogaloo.
Headphones
Sennheiser HD280PRO - $99,95
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x - $99,00
Audio-Technica ATH-M30x - $69,00
AKG K 240 - $67,99
BEHRINGER HPS5000 - $29,99
Studio monitors
Mackie CR3 - $99,00
Edifier R1280T - $99,99
M-Audio AV32 - $89,99
MIDI Keyboards
Nektar Impact GX49 - 49 keys - $99,99
Alesis V Mini - 25 keys - $89,99
Alesis V25 - 25 keys - $89,00
Akai Professional LPK25 - 25 Keys - $59,80
Audio interface
Focusrite Scarlett Solo - $96,00
BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC202HD - $59,99
BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UM2 - $29,99
Microphones
Audio-Technica AT2020 - $99,00
Samson C01U USB - $79,90
Neewer NW-700 - $31,99
Medium priced gear
For those who aren't poor, plebs.
Headphones
Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO - $249,00
Shure SRH840 - $199,00
Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7BK - $186,00
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x - $149,00
AKG K 240 MK II - $107,08
Studio monitors
Mackie CR4 - $149,99
BEHRINGER STUDIO 50USB - $149,99
PreSonus Eris E4.5 - $195,00
MIDI keyboards
Alesis VI49 - 49 keys - $229,00
Novation Launchkey 49 - 49 keys - $199,99
Nektar Impact LX61+ - 61 keys $199,99
Nektar Impact LX49+ - 49 keys - $159,99
Alesis V49 - 49 keys - $129,00
Audio interface
Scarlet focusrite 6i6 - $249,97
Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 - $229,00
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 - $149099
Microphones
Rode NT1A - $229,00
Audio-Technica AT2035 - $149,00
The good stuff
If you stuff money maybe idk
Headphones
Shure SRH1540 - $499,00
Bose QuietComfort 35 - $349,00
Studio monitors
Neumann KH-120 - $1499,90
Yamaha HS5 - $399,98
KRK RP5G3-NA Rokit 5 - $319,00
MIDI keyboards
Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol - $299,00 up to $999,00
Studiologic SL88 - $499,95
Nektar Impact LX88 - $289,00
There aren't any audio interfaces or microphones I recommend buying thats over $250. Also prices may change over the course of time, please notify me if that happens.
Samples, patches and VST's
Quick rundown
Samples are pre-recorded audio files like kicks, snares, claps and hats. Or even effects and loops.
Patches A sound setting used on synths to produce all kinds of sounds
VST's is an audio plugin software that usually runs universally across all DAW's
These are pretty essential. But don't worry my friend. I will link soms links where you can get started.
Sample magic - Free and paid samples and patches
Samplehonics - Free and paid samples
Splice - Free VST's
Komplete players - Free usefull VST's
Massive - My go-to synth VST. $149,00
ReFX Nexus - Also very good Synth VST. $249,00 (minimum)
Sylenth1 - Synth VST. $139,00
Serum - Advanced Wavetable Synthesizer. $189,00
FaQ's
What is compression/EQ/Reverb/...?
Compression: Amplifies silent noises and reduces the volume of loud noises giving an overall better sound but reduces quality a bit.
EQ: Or equalization is adjusting certain frequencies across the spectrum (e.g. bass boosting)
Reverb: Basically an echo but shorter. When a sound is reflected of a wall back to you.
Delay: Basically an echo. Playing the same note or audio again after a certain period of time.
What is the difference between a lead and a pad?
Lead: Usually made for melodies or well, leads.
Pads: Usually used in the background as a more athmospheric/ambient sound
Honestly you can do whatever you want. Theyre not sounds but rather descriptions of sounds.
What's the difference between a piano, keyboard, synthesiser and midi keyboard?
Piano: Acoustic instrument. Doesn't need electricity (duh)
Keyboard: Electric instrument. Needs external audio interface.
Synthesiser: Generates sounds. Usually has integrated speakers.
MIDI Keyboard: The same as a normal keyboard.
Should I get an brown townog synth?
Short answer, no.
What BPM should I use for this genre?
Hip Hop - 85–95 BPM
Glitch Hop - 105–115 BPM
Techno - 120–125 BPM
Synthwave - 100–130
House - 115–130 BPM
Electro - 128 BPM
Dubstep - 140 BPM (with a half time, 70 BPM feel)
Drum and Bass - 174 BPM
Or just do whatever the forget you want.
Help, I dont have any inspiration!
Experiment my dude. Change the process, change the outcome (-daddy mick gordon)
Usefull links
FL Studio tutorial
Ableton live tutorials
Cubase pro tutorial
Music production subreddit
honestly I have no loving clue what im talking about lmao. Follow my soundcloud please thanks
PhantOS:
You should put Nexus on the vst list
Nix the Glaceon:
https://clyp.it/t40h43gw
unfinished lol
Brickman:
is this thread for posting production and composition feats as opposed to just posting full tracks? because i think it would be cool if people posted details on how they did stuff instead of just posting links to their soundcloud
Stick Man:
Serum is a great VST that has a lot of functionality.
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