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Messages - Knappster

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31
Samples/Plugins/Software/Gear / Re: Acapellas?
« on: January 07, 2016, 07:59:38 pm »
Quote from: JMTR on January 07, 2016, 07:17:24 pm
Another question I have is - lets say I want to use an acapella at 95bpm, is there any way to use that acapella in a 126bpm house track? Downloading the audio file will keep it set at 95bpm right? Must I alter my own track's bpm so that it fits the acapella? And if so is that the case every time?

Yes I have stretched vocals many times using Ableton for mashups and for producing. I put Warp Mode to Complex Pro with Formants at 100%. This setting ensures a cleaner crisper sound for your vocals. I then use the metronome or a kick drum and drag warp markers so it fits. I find the auto warp isn't as accurate as me doing it manually. It doesn't take very long once you get good at it either :).

Side tip: If you want to do pitched down vocal (skrillex style...) settings are: Complex Pro, set your transpose to -12 (one octave down) and change the formants to ≈0%. Once you change the Formants you will notice how clear the pitched down vocals become. For pitched-up go to +6 or +12 depending on how chipmunk you want to go.

I would pay attention to some of the remix contests from Beatport, Indaba & WAVO to obtain vocals and track stems for remixing. This website http://www.remixcomps.com/ does a pretty solid job of putting together most of the remix contests going on presetly.

32
Composition/Arrangement/Theory / Re: How did you learn how to make music?
« on: January 07, 2016, 07:28:53 pm »
I used the website www.dancemusicproduction.com. So many great tutorials on there. Full guides that have you create a track as you go.

33
WIPs / Re: I KNOW MY LATEST TRACK NEEDS BETTER MIXING/MASTERING. BUT I NEED TO KNOW HOW?
« on: January 07, 2016, 04:21:04 pm »
Check out www.dancemusicproduction.com, they have a ton of tutorials including a mixing and mastering tutorial. Also, for simplicity Reid Stefan has posted a simple mastering tut on his YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=414zBsPtBwI

34
Composition/Arrangement/Theory / Re: Difference between producing an original and a remix
« on: January 07, 2016, 04:17:55 pm »
I think the difference is that an original is completely open to you to be as creative as possible as an artist. For a remix, I believe it is about also being creative but also about capturing your take on the original artist's message. For me it usually is following a similar chord progression and doing a new melody. I also find myself gravitating towards strong lyrical tracks.

A very popular track is GTA - Red Lips the original and the Skrillex remix. I took the track and did a MelBounce style, a completely different take on a trap/dubstep track. I incorporated the essence of the original message by including a trap break 3/4 of the way through.


35
Mixing/Mastering / Re: What software do you use to convert your final track to mp3 format?
« on: January 07, 2016, 04:09:06 pm »
I use iTunes. right click, convert to MP3. Works pretty easily and I have all the enhancement options turned off in the settings as well.

36
Mixing/Mastering / Re: Your Favourite Reference Tracks
« on: January 07, 2016, 04:06:54 pm »
Quote from: Scribit on January 07, 2016, 01:02:41 pm
My go to reference tracks are usually pop actually (Taylor Swift, Carly Ray Jepsen, One Direction) simply because I love the structure pop tracks have and I find it challenges me nicely to have a reference track in a different genre to what I normally make.

That is a cool idea. I think I will test drive it. I usually choose a track in similar style, that I emotionally connect with. One that brings out feelings that I would want to portray in my track. It is always changing as there is so much new music coming out all the time. I usually choose a different track for each project I'm doing.

37
Inspiration/Creativity/Motivation / Re: Prefer to sign to a label owned by an artist or not?
« on: January 07, 2016, 04:00:54 pm »
I have my fav labels that coincidently are owned by the Artists. Major labels have huge teams working behind them and selecting tracks for the label. Unless I get really lucky I don't think the actual label owner would even choose my track to be released on their label. That being said, I think it's about trying to form a personal relationship with some of the guys affiliated with the label. I talk with some of the guys from Black Sunset regularly about music in general, they are really helpful for me. I took part in a remix contest and was able to get a hold of some of them.  :)

38
Inspiration/Creativity/Motivation / Re: Number of hours(average) to complete a track?
« on: January 07, 2016, 03:47:53 pm »
Quote from: UsernamesGiveMeAnxiety on January 07, 2016, 03:25:52 pm
If I spend a week or two working on new concepts in multiple different tracks, and then I write something dope in 4 hours, I feel like that time I spent earlier was part of the reason I wrote what I did.

Yeah, that a great philosophy. Everything you do in music leads you to something awesome if you keep working at it. Especially though the dark down times haha.

39
Mixing/Mastering / Re: Tell us your master chain!
« on: January 07, 2016, 03:43:30 pm »
This tutorial by Reid Stefan really helped me out for a simple fast mastering chain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=414zBsPtBwI

40
Inspiration/Creativity/Motivation / Re: What dance label would you want to sign to?
« on: January 07, 2016, 03:35:42 pm »
Quote from: algorhythm on January 07, 2016, 03:20:21 pm
A State of Trance is just a radio show not a record label I believe (Armada would be the closest one)

Trueeeeee!  :o  ;)

41
Composition/Arrangement/Theory / Re: Overwhelmed by new prodcution knowledge!
« on: January 07, 2016, 03:33:45 pm »
I recently did about 10-15 hrs of tutorials. I learned more in the month working on these then I ever had before. I felt the exact same way. Music theory isn't supposed to limit or inhibit your artist creativity. I believe in the end your new found knowledge will help you. You just need to keep pushing forward. The new "rules" are just guidelines and it comes down to what sounds good to you that matters. Eventually if you keep pushing yourself to get into it you will create something far greater than you ever did before. Think about what you've learned and incorporate it bit by bit into your work. I find writing things down helps. Make a list of 2-3 things (at a time) you've learned and go and try them out. Separating actually writing a track and trying out a new trick is important. I find that most the time it leads to a really cool breakthrough and that motivates me to start a new project.

42
Mixing/Mastering / Re: Is mastering always neccesary?
« on: January 07, 2016, 03:25:47 pm »
It was actually detrimental for me to realize that writing, arranging, effecting, mixing & mastering are all separate entities when creating a track. It really sped up my work flow and slowed things down. It made it way less overwhelming because I sat down to write and already wanted the final product. Although I think it is a useful tool to learn how to master, I don't think it's important at the beggining. Working on my mix-down and making it the best I can will make or break any track I'm doing. Like what has been said here, you should'nt have to do much to your track if it's mixed properly. It's always better to send it off to an engineer to get it mastered. A pair of fresh ears in a professional recording studio will enhance the track just enough to make it "radio quality." Personally, and I think it's due to my producing environment I have troubles getting the mids/lows right. Sending it to an engineer over at Black Octopus, they give me feedback on what to improve,, I change a couple things and send it back in. It's always important to have a good relationship with your audio engineer. :)

43
Composition/Arrangement/Theory / Re: Any Trance Music tip and trick videos and tutorials on youtube?
« on: January 07, 2016, 03:16:26 pm »
It doesn't matter what DAW you use for tutorials, if you know your DAW you can do any tutorial. I strongly suggest checking out www.dancemusicproduction.com. I have done both Trance tutorials on here as well as the Mixing and Mastering tut. They gave me a step-by-step guide to creating uplifting trance which is exactly what I wanted. The finer details was what I was missing from my work. In total it was about 10-15 hrs of tutorials and about 20-30 hrs of practical work. The best part is taking what he says and creating your own original track as you go with him. Very intuitive and very informative.

44
Inspiration/Creativity/Motivation / Re: What dance label would you want to sign to?
« on: January 07, 2016, 03:12:09 pm »
I'd love to be signed to ASOT, Who's Afraid of 138!!!, Black Sunset, ANJUNABEATS. #trancefamily

45
Inspiration/Creativity/Motivation / Re: Number of hours(average) to complete a track?
« on: January 07, 2016, 03:10:35 pm »
Laidback Luke says he spends 4 hours tops on a track...although he hands it over to his ghost producer to finalize things...Ill Gates says 20 hours tops to complete a track...if you go over 20 hours scrap it, gut it for parts and move on. I find that when I am in serious music writing mode I can have a track fully arranged and most of the main parts done in one sitting. It's usually around 6 hours for one sitting and I am def not a pro. Then I start to concentrate on the finer details, EQ, synthesis, effects, fine tuning. All in all it usually takes me 2-3 sessions before I am "done." Then it is time for the mixing stage to begin. To me they are separate, I split up my work flow like this because things seem to come together quicker and easier. Then I usually send off to an engineer for mastering. If I am going to master a track myself, I hold off, start a new track or take a decent break (1-2 weeks*). I was told you need to be separated acoustically from a track before mastering or you become deaf to the track from listening to it so much.

*approx

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