Hey all,

Not sure if this is the right sub for this topic, if not please move it to the appropriate place..

I'd like to see what everyone thinks of buying MIDI element packs on sample pack site such as Samplemagic, etc.?
Do y'all consider that cheating since someone else came up with the melody and your just voicing it? Or because your voicing it, it's still your original melody? Obviously since those packs are royalty free, it becomes your property but I just wondered how people perceive the use of these sort of tools.

Personally, I used some pre-made MIDI as the pad & piano base for this track but build around it and obviously added elements to complement that (purchased) progression. However I got a fair bit of feedback praising me for the progression but I've always felt a bit guilty due to that whole idea basis not originally coming from my own head.

As someone who is clearly not fluent in music theory, sometimes I feel that MIDI element packs are the only way to spark an idea that could take me to the "next level" of production.

What does everyone else think?

Here is my take. They make them for us to use them. What you will find is that other producers use them too. Hell, I've even had two tracks signed to a label that had MIDI files that I bought and tweaked.

I use the MIDI files as a starting point. Then I end up moving things around once in ableton. Don't look at it as cheating. I don't.

I think this is helpful if you're starting out.
It's also helpful when testing out sounds. I'll slap a pre-made melody to see how the sound responds to note changes, etc. To see if I like it.

This thread is yelling for this:
I thought using loops was cheating, so I programmed my own using samples. I then thought using samples was cheating, so I recorded real drums. I then thought that programming it was cheating, so I learned to play drums for real. I then thought using bought drums was cheating, so I learned to make my own. I then thought using premade skins was cheating, so I killed a goat and skinned it. I then thought that that was cheating too, so I grew my own goat from a baby goat. I also think that is cheating, but I’m not sure where to go from here. I haven’t made any music lately, what with the goat farming and all.

-unknown

This thread is yelling for this:
I thought using loops was cheating, so I programmed my own using samples. I then thought using samples was cheating, so I recorded real drums. I then thought that programming it was cheating, so I learned to play drums for real. I then thought using bought drums was cheating, so I learned to make my own. I then thought using premade skins was cheating, so I killed a goat and skinned it. I then thought that that was cheating too, so I grew my own goat from a baby goat. I also think that is cheating, but I’m not sure where to go from here. I haven’t made any music lately, what with the goat farming and all.

-unknown

A copypasta in a thread about pre-made midi. Can we just stop for a second and appreciate what just happened?

The main issue with midi packs is weather or not they contribute to your creativity.  I usually start out just mocking around in the piano roll, but sometimes I want to just make something fast.  Then it´s cool to just import a midi file and play around with it until it´s no longer recognizable.  It´s what I do that is the creative part, not the file.  I´ve even made tracks that started out as Ableton lessons.  The end result was nothing like the tutorial tho´.

If anybody can make KNAS, then why don´t they do that?  Instant fame.  Just add water!  If S.A. had no clue he would never have seen the possibilities of the midi.  If VEC or whoever had thought their packs was ready-to-go hits, they could just sell the finished tracks to Bieber or the likes.  That would generate a hell of lot more cash than selling maybe 1.000 copies of the packs, and having them pirated to 10.000 bedroom producers.

And to the people who says using presets: WTF!  Seriously, there´s at least 50.000 presets available for Massive.  You´re just flattering yourself if you think you can make one that does not already exist.

Quote from: Xan on January 14, 2016, 08:33:30 pm

I think this is helpful if you're starting out.
It's also helpful when testing out sounds. I'll slap a pre-made melody to see how the sound responds to note changes, etc. To see if I like it.

I just use melodies from other songs for that. Cheaper, works just as well.

If you can figure out a melody from another song, sure.
There's also less reputable ways to get midi/sample packs without paying....