[Closed] Music Producers of Singletrack...

To kick it off here's a piece of electronic music I wrote last night.
It's partly in response to the **** who wrote my car off in the A30 thus week....music is a cathartic experience they say 😁

Just described by a friend on FB as "like Autechre driving on the Autobahn stopping to sip scrumpy in the way."

Listen to A30 by Chien Andalou on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/RXkLD

That’s nice.

I’ve just been drumming along to it.

This is the track I created for the issue 136 promo video. I used a Roland V-drum kit to create each track with midi connection to Garage Band for the recording. Then mastered using Soundclouds mastering options.

https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/M2Qh4smUAh3h6UV19

Not me, my son.

That’s banging’ 🙂

I caught a review of ‘Sisters With Transistors’ Review: How Women Pioneered Electronic Music on woman's hour yesterday. Might be worth a watch

I caught a review of ‘Sisters With Transistors’ Review: How Women Pioneered Electronic Music on woman’s hour yesterday. Might be worth a watch

Yep, read a review of it in the Grauniad sounds very interesting.

I have a long standing interest in early electronic music pioneers & already know a fair amount Daphne Oram, Delia Derbyshire, et al, but always open to learning more.

Good thread! I've not done so much music recently. Just been busy and the weather is better (and my neck injury is improving) so more riding instead.

As previously posted, I'm an Ableton fan and love messing about with it. I used to do quite a bit of travel and long haul flights passed quickly when paying about. I used to take my launchpad mini too. You can just about fit it in your lap with your laptop on the tray table (not on short haul!!)

Oh and Valhalla supermassive is my new favourite free VST.

Here's some music I produced Thursday evening. Well, produced a quarter of it I guess.

This is something I wish I'd gotten into years ago and I really regret not doing it. If there was some kind of adult music production night school or something I'd definitely go to it.

I've just recently started dabbling in Garageband and messing with drum patterns. I'm on the lookout for a cheap midi keyboard. I just want to learn how to make fat squelchy beats that make your face screw up.

So in a similar vein to the ‘guitarists of STW’ thread thought it might be nice to have a place to discuss gear, software, etc. and post music you’ve written/recorded/produced.

I wanted to start a 'Bass players of STW' thread but I was scared in case it bombed!

https://komarebi.bandcamp.com/album/nebulous

My latest album, have hit a bit of a creative wall, typically when I've got a few labels wanting to release my music so I've attempted to buy my way out of it by treating myself to a Squarp Pyramid MK3.

Just got a new laptop and moved all my music sw over, so hopefully I'll get to post something.

Use Cakewalk (free), cheap MIDI keyboard and AIR instrument pack, https://www.airmusictech.com/product/air-instrument-expansion-pack-3-complete#.YIQ-p5BKhPY

Also have a couple of guitars, Yamaha THRII and a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface. I aim to add some barely adequate guitar playing to the bleepy-blooping.

My setup a few months back, I've shuffled a few things in and out since.

https://ibb.co/p3sqLd2
https://ibb.co/Yf0jFHG

Ooh, synths 😎 I've got a couple of hardware synths, but mostly use software these days, especially since getting into Max for making my own.

My studio's a mess, need to have a good tidy and clear out.

I mostly use Ableton (got the full 10 Suite), running on an iMac (though I use a Windows 10 laptop live), Novation Launchkey 49, launchpad + launchpad mini, and a Steinberg soundcard.

Here's a remix I did that's just gone on Spotify...
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vFJNKas26YuhwjoYHtnoO?si=6dH0hwAgQAG513FLDEEXmw&utm_source=copy-link

I'm by no means a 'producer' but I am a muso so does it count? (I say muso, I mean, I'm a sax player so, ya know, honkpipe)

Last year's lockdown saw me get some bits of kit that I'm still getting to grips with, having gone back to the day job.

Ableton 10 and a focusrite setup here and having fun so will be watching this thread with interest

@LAP13 on the guitarists thread, we made this.

Would have been amazing to have a sax part!! Maybe next time?

Edit: obvs the "video" is the stuff I did in Ableton as I had to try and make something visual.

@AdamT that's ace

Would have been amazing to have a sax part!! Maybe next time?

👍🏻 Sure thing, could be fun

@Edukator
That would have sounded right at home at the free parties I went to and DJed at 20+ years ago.
Nice 👍 makes me want to put on some Chris Liberator 12"s

My setup a few months back, I’ve shuffled a few things in and out since.

Ooh is that a Yamaha CS10? I've got a CS5, it's kind of shonky but I love it 😀

That would have sounded right at home at the free parties I went to and DJed at 20+ years ago.

I was thinking that! Although I never DJed at them. But I was probably chewing vigorously in the corner

Here's my last EP. Been on a bit of a go-slow lately, ever since coming down with Long Covid. But I've got plenty of stuff in the works.

https://www.juno.co.uk/products/lrusse-planned-cities-ep/739397-01/

Incidentally I've been looking to get more into mixdown work lately. So (stealth ad I guess, sorry) if anyone wants any house/broken/electronic stuff mixed down, I'll do bargain rates for STWers! 🙂

I’ve been gradually building up my kit. I run logic on my MacBook, I’ve got a mini keyboard and a launchpad. But what really like doing is making acid house either with my TD3 or more often on the iPad Pro using GarageBand and Pureacid I could play with that all day. I have no talent whatsoever but its more therapy than anything else.

Making squelchy acid baselines with a 303 clone or software (or original if you're lucky!) Is probably one of the most fun things you can do on your own 😁

I lost a lot of time with Propellorheads Rebirth 303 emulator back in the day....a lot of time.

I keep looking at the Behringer 303 box, and nearly pressing the buy button. So tempting!

Ooh is that a Yamaha CS10? I’ve got a CS5, it’s kind of shonky but I love it

Close, it's the CS-15 with Don Solaris mods, it's a great sounding bit of kit.

I've got a couple of guitars, a Boss Katana amp that plugs into my Windows 10 laptop via USB and a hankering to make and record some music - just for my own satisfaction (or frustration and disgust).
I'm thinking of getting a condenser mic, and maybe a keyboard but I want to limit my spending until I know its a bit more than a 10 minute fad. I've downloaded Audacity and played with it a little bit; and now I've got a 21" monitor so it makes it better to use.
Will I regret starting with Audacity or should I bite the bullet and get a better DAW? Is Cakewalk better? I don't want to get into Apple territory yet.

Audacity allows you to multitrack, so it's a decent enough place to get started - at the very least you'll be able to use it like an old 4-track and record some noodlings.

The amount of "production" you can do with it will be very limited however. So you may well find that you want to upgrade to something a bit more fully featured. But no rush - it might help you figure out what you actually need from a DAW!

Agree about Audacity, it's a good piece of software. I use it for adding ISRC codes in the metadata, and it's very good for doing MP3 conversions, etc.
It is very limited as a DAW though.

The best cheap/free DAW I've used is Traktion (which I think is now called Waveform Free?)
Really good piece of software.

If you buy a midi keyboard - pretty much essential really - then you'll normally get a free or lite version of a DAW with it, normally either Cubase or Ableton.

I'm a big fan of Ableton, been using various versions of it since 2002ish. Currently running the 10 Suite, and it's marvellous 😁

I love the fact it's great for live looping of samples, DJing, even live work with guitars (on the fly looping, etc.), But also it has a standard DAW session view.
I mixed and mastered my bands recent singles on it, and now much prefer it to Logic, or even Protools, which used to be my go to for mixing.

I've been struggling to get anywhere with Logic and a Midi Keyboard. It's a real goal of mine to produce something I'd be happy with and others might want to listen.

Was thinking of a production course at Toolroom or Point Blank later in the year.

Anyone any tips??

Anyone any tips??

I depends on what you're trying to achieve.

If it's electronic music, written and mixed 'in the box' then keep on plugging away at it.

There is a lot of trial and error involved, and honestly the best way is to do lots of it and learn by your failures.

If you know anyone with more experience with Logic, then getting them to show you tricks and short cuts would be useful.

I'd say one of the most useful things I used to do was try to recreate favourite tunes or parts of tunes - you often can't! But you end up learning a lot on the way.

There's a lot of YouTube tutorials, use them for specific goals, i.e. how to create a type of baseline, or lead line, or drum pattern.

For more traditional recording and mixing, time spent in a studio is invaluable.
I've played in and recorded with various bands for nearly 30 years, and I was always the band member hanging over the engineer's shoulder asking questions and taking notes.

A course would probably have been quicker, but again I like the trial and error method 😉

On/off subscriptions to Sound on Sound and Tape Op magazines has given me a lot of tips over the years.

https://www.reaper.fm/ is a decent daw if you don't have the money to spend., you'll still need other vsts to go with it mind you. there's free stuff available if you look.

Working on new material at the moment but I have some fairly recent material available on Bandcamp (free download) and the usual streaming services:-

https://mattrobson.bandcamp.com/track/erin-quintile
https://open.spotify.com/album/0McdyIIHaPlkaI25MPAmXl

Played guitar since I was 19

from early on I always loved synths and drum machines

Adopted Ableton form version 4

Have done lots including a stint as original synth and ableton noise maker in a band - lots of fun

in the last year i've picked up the keyboards I always wanted - its wall to wall nord in my 'office' now

vast amount of cross over in my effects boxes

I've come to realize I don't care for making 'music' per se.

I just love making noises

I really should just go modular but i don't like the aesthetic enough

Look forward to how this thread grows

Here's a little house music jam I did on my modular synth, need to stop f'ing about and do some more instead of buying new modules...

Excellent

Thats done nothing to help my GAS for all things modular

That looks and sounds amazing and I have no idea what's going on there.

There's one of these for sale local to me for £40...
andertons.co.uk/keyboards-pianos/midi-keyboards-controllers/nektar-impact-lx-25-note-usb-keyboard-controller

I might grab it and make some noises.

I’ve been struggling to get anywhere with Logic and a Midi Keyboard. It’s a real goal of mine to produce something I’d be happy with and others might want to listen.

Was thinking of a production course at Toolroom or Point Blank later in the year.

Anyone any tips??

learing to play tunes you like is the standard way musos been at it.

this youtube has some nice deconstructions.

Find a tune you like, import the Wav or MP3 into your DAW (use a youtube downloader if you can't find the MP3), try to recreate. Depending on how complex the song is and how much practice you have had you might not get very close first time but you will learn a lot - suggest starting with things that are relatively simple for that reason so that you don't get frustrated.

Modular is different, at least for me, it is hands on experimentation and happy accidents most of the time.

Recommend Alex/Mylar Melodies focussed modular series for anyone wanting to dip their toe in the bottomless pit of opportunities to spend stupid amounts of money.

And yes, you could buy a bike/car for that (please god don't tell my wife)

cost it the reason I'm avoiding it at the moment

I feel sure i will be fragged to the darkside eventually

I've so far avoided going down the modular synth route.... I'm a massive gear junky, and I could see it getting very expensive!

On top of a collection of bikes (6 working + various frames), guitars and stringed instruments (at least 14 afaik), and Vinyl (2000+ LPs)....
I think my wife would probably leave me!

I do have 3 hardware synths, but nothing particularly special...

An original Microkorg (2001ish?,a Roland DD-10, and a Craft Synth 2.0.

I just picked this up from the local second hand shop. It looks like it's never been used.

I've got a vague idea what it does but I've never even touched one before so it'll be a learning curve.

I really don't need any other toys but the 'type to play' feature on garageband is awful. This should get me up and running.

Now how do I make big squelchy baps and booming kicks?

nice find!

that should come with Analog Lab software, great synths 🙂
much knob twiddling fun to be had with those together.
https://www.arturia.com/products/analog-classics/analoglab-v/overview

enjoy

Done remixes what I done...

Listen to The Supermercados Remixes, a playlist by Chien Andalou on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/H7M7R

Thanks for tips....not sure why I ruled out recreating other tunes to learn....🙄

I couldn't sleep so wrote/recorded this in Ableton.
Synth parts were done using a Modal Craftsynth 2.0.

Listen to Cheesedreams 2 by Chien Andalou on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/jBbPa

PSA for Focusrite gear - they're selling off 2nd Gen. Scarlett interfaces at a 30-40% discount.
Cheaper new from them (with a 3 year warranty) than the same products are going 2nd hand on ebay.

https://store.focusrite.com/en-gb/categories/scarlett-summer-sale

I've just bought a Scarlett 18i8 🙂

I also just moved my studio into another (bigger) room in the house, and built myself a better work-desk.

very happy in my 'man-cave' now 😉

nice set up ! if you want saxes on your mixes just shout 🙂

I'd be shouting if I had sax in my mix! 😀

Sweet setup but don't you have knees?

Sweet setup but don’t you have knees?

They're under the controller/keyboard.

PSA for Focusrite gear – they’re selling off 2nd Gen. Scarlett interfaces at a 30-40% discount.
Cheaper new from them (with a 3 year warranty) than the same products are going 2nd hand on ebay.

+1

This is a cracking deal. I paid £230 for a second hand, 2nd Gen Scarlett 18i20 just 6 months ago. £245 for a new one is a steal!

Finally got around to putting the album I did during the lockdown last year on Bandcamp:

https://chienandalou.bandcamp.com/album/isolation

The first few tunes have their bleak moments(!), and a couple were written in response to the birth of my friends' daughter (2 1/2 months premature and with a rare genetic disorder, some of the proceeds will be going to a related charity).

If you like random electronica (of various types), then it might be right up your straße.

Just listening to the tracks again (first time in ages) and I think this is my favourite...

https://chienandalou.bandcamp.com/track/isolation-10

Bit of a thread resurrection, but I had a bit of spare time, so whacked this track together. I think it's exclusively with Ableton built in samples as I forgot my disk with VST/Samples on.

https://soundcloud.com/adamt-9/handball?si=994c13a80a6341b58fbf841146cd2221

Feedback very welcome.

Quick note too.....there's another Guitarists of Singletrack jam going on. CHeck the thread:-
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/guitarists-of-singletrack/page/50/#post-12111504

Not done much production recently - been focusing on live stuff with my band now we can gig again 🙂

Here's a little something I recorded the other day - improvised and recorded in one take using Ableton.
(the glitches are meant to be there BTW - experimenting with the digital equivalent of a prepared piano)