[Creating a new track - how do you begin?]

thanks for input guys it's really interesting because that is pretty much what I set out to do, and try to do.

but i usually get stuck creating a buildup into a climax, and then I try to make that into a full track but i get writers block almost instantly after the climax loop, so to speak.

so i know what I have to do I just seem to not be able to do it in lieu of a small amount of tracks that just happened..

I think my problem is I lose focus, the sense of professionality,(i mean, im done just playing around making loops I wanna start making tracks and put put music)

I just don't seem to be able to get over that thought of "what to do now" once I have buildup and climax..

so annoying. either I get stuck for like an hour trying to find the right pad sound and get mad and bored and shut the project down, or I can't seem to get the kick and bass line sounding right and get stuck eqing for an hour, get mad and shut the project down

[NES Journey To Silius Remix]

thank you man!

[Spiritual Healing Remix (100bpm)]

i have started on time simulation a little bit

 

now after a while i finished the three main melodies. but tbh, its a pretty boring track now that i really listen to it.

we could do something really fun out of it, maybe some really fast twilight acid fullon or something.

or a completely different track, do 5 choices aswell and we choose one

[Spiritual Healing Remix (100bpm)]

If you are into it, we shouldl start by finding a way to communicate and send eachother the midis. Email is probably the very best solution since it works for both communication and file attachments.

so feel free to send me an email to aeap@aeap.se if and when you are ready to begin

Also, have five suggestions of songs we can begin with remixing, and Ill have five suggestions aswell, then we will agree on one of them.

It doesnt really matter to me which one we end up with, the process will be equally easy/difficult, and equally fun

 

_______________________

suggestions for our first remix collab;

no particular order at all. i chose pretty easy ones. starting out with a track like Time Dilation wouldnt be very smart i think

well, not "easy" ones, but tracks with somewhat re-creatable main melodies and again, its going to be a remix, so its not like we have to re-create the track part by part, its a remix and as long as it contains the main melody/theme of the track we are of course free to experiment

MWNN - Sugarrush

yahel - for the people

liquid soul - global illumination

talamasca - time simulation

oforia - maximiser

(or pretty much any track with a somewhat simple main theme for our first production

dont wanna spend like 5 hours trying to find the notes for something

[Spiritual Healing Remix (100bpm)]

Padmapani;

 

Thank you for the very lenghty reply and explanation

Yes you are correct about protools, it is essentially a piece of studio hardware that is mandatory for the software to work. Sorry for not replying to all of it, but I just gotta get this out first

 

Lets forget the discussion about how to work the collab, because I got a splendid idea.

 

We both use or own daws, we work entirely in midi, so we will have the exact same track - only we use our own synths, samples and FX.

This will mean we will have our own unique version of the same track

The perfect solution. So each of us will end up with two entirely different sounding versions of the same track

But we use the same midi files.

For example, i make a bassline, send you the MIDI, and you use whatever synth you like for that midi, and I do the same. And we work like this for all our sounds, hihats, fx, everything.

So the same song, but two completely unuqie end results

 

And we eliminate completely the problem of having the same daw, the same vst's, etc.

I think thats a genious idea tbh.

You up for it?

I mean, sending eachother midi files is soo easy and fast, and we can do whatever we like with them, and once we have "synched" eachothers midi files (that we agree upon to use - you might like my bassline midi, I might like your melody nr 3 midi, etc) and two unique tracks of the same song will be created

 

Ive never done this before but its the perfect solution! And if one of us sends us a midi of a melody loop - and there are a few notes in there you dont particularly like - then change them! And if you send me a midi of a hihat loop, Ill do the same!

This way the songs too, will be a bit different, but still the same song, and it will end up

"AP vs Padmapani - Title (Ap version" and "Padmapani vs AP - Title (Padmapani version)"

I think its a brilliant solution if i might say so myself.

And it will be extremely interesting to hear the end results

 

So if you like this idea, all we have to do is either come up with a track to remix, or do something original. But for our first collab I think we should keep it simple, choosing a track to remix, and use eachothers midi files, and change them to our own liking.

And if one of us do not like the others midi file of a certain loop or melody then that person vetos it, and we scratch it, so we only use those we both think sound good.

Then we can of course still make small changes to the pattern.

 

We could start with midi patterns for example the bassline, the kickdrum, a few hihats, and two melody layers.

Then we just send eachother new midis all the time and say "this midi starts at bar 45" and we try it, tweak it if we like it , or keep it as is, or say "nah dont like that one" and we scrap it, and we chose another midi file to go at bar 45.

I hope you understand what I mean

 

It wouldl be fun as heck, and I really look forward to it!

Also, any automation, lets leave that out of the midi files, lets do those on our own to make the end result more interesting and exciting

 

So in other words,

we exchange midis, we will have the exact same structure and length of the song, but will sound completely different

And if there is a specific sample either you or me want to use, then we just send eachother that one and say "put this at bar 108" and if the other person likes it we keep it, if not, scrap it - or use it!

Just as long as the structure of the song, i.e the bpm, length and placement of the midi patterns are identical - we're good!

 

Sorry for repeating myself over and over I tend to do that when explaining something, I guess Im used to explaining to people that doesnt understand, so its not like I think you are slow or anything, its just a habit of mine, to really make sure the other person gets what I mean

 

So what do you say?

[Spiritual Healing Remix (100bpm)]

interesting, you really don't notice anything in the context.

 

 

why not? but i work with logic and mainly use u-he synths. so it's pretty unlikely that we can agree on that

 

don't get me started with reason. it's nearly the most confusing piece of software i've ever come across. all those cables, different pattern editors and the lack of a overseeable arrange view that's also working for more complicated tracks and the peculiar automation controls nearly made me quit trying to produce for good. it's only when i discovered logic that things "logically" came together

 

what do you mean that you dont notice anything? are you referring to the samples used in the context of my track?

sometimes i have a hard time understanding people even when it might be obvious for the other party.

 

why not, are you referring to our collaborating? again.. im not stupid or anything, its just, i dont know, i get paranoid i guess, so i just wanna know that i understand correctly

sorry.

 

ooh. you use logic. well thats a bummer. I guess we COULD mail wavs back and forth but it usually dont work very well. It works - if we happen to have a perfect collab-chemistry, but there is a great chance it wont work.

Well, Reason is actually very very simple - but then again, ANY new DAW you are looking at for the first time looks like a Sumerian Tablet.

So i know what you mean. And I dont want you to learn to use reason just so that you can collab.

BUT I do recommend reason, if you have an idea in your head (like i had with this remix) - to quickly get it down in sounds and sequenced.

You dont have to pick vsts or FX and stuff, it goes MUCH MUCH faster to just create it in reason.

Then, once you feel you are satisfied, just export the MIDI, and Import it to Cubase or whatever. That is how I usually do it anyway, when Im serious about a track.

OR - I start in Cubase right away. But it takes longer to get started; in Reason you can just get your idea out instantly, pretty much, because you have eveyrthing in front of you already, samplers, synths, fx, mixer..

 

Well, I suppose our collab experiment will have to be put on hold then. I do reallly want a Mac and Logic - I am tired of Cubase because I have the 2008 version, since I cannot afford to buy the latest version. And even if I wanted to - there is no crack avaliable for the latest version, so I couldnt pirate it even if I wanted to.

And there has been significant changes in both audio engine, and CPU support, since 2008 - for example, it only uses one CPU core, which of course is redicolous.

 

Ive of course tried other DAWs, the one that came with my Soundcard, but I didnt like it at all, seemed like a slimmed down version of a poor version of cubase..

FL Studio I dont like either, just because it confuses the hell out of me, I suppose I see FL as you see Reason.

I really do prefer a "real" DAW, like Logic, Protools, Cubase.

I also tried that which was popular a few years back, but I dont remember its name anymore.But I didnt really like that either.

 

In any way, Im a customed to Reason and Cubase - and I pretty much know exactly what to do when I want to do it, since Ive been using them since 2002 (and see them grow and become better over time) and I dont think I want to learn to use another DAW.

Except of course, when I can afford a Mac+Logic. I think it would be a smooth transition to go from Cubase to Logic, for some reason. Also, I think Logic has a better soundengine, but that is debatable. What I do know however, using a DAW that is from 2008 is just terrible. Nothing I can do about it since I cannot pull money from my lower crevice.

 

 

(by the way, I am currently looking into Hackintosh - To get MAC OSX on a PC - and if I can get that working, is Loigic avaliable for "free" ?

[Spiritual Healing Remix (100bpm)]

you didn't burst any bubbles. it was so close to the original that i considered it, but the lack of artifacts from timestretching (when going from 140 to 100 i'd have hear some when i do that in logic) and the lack of remnants from the original track made me wonder

 

thanks!

 

i do remixes from time to time, but as long as i'm not really satisfied with the result, the public won't hear any of it . currently working on some original material, but i have plans for turning fullon classics into newschool goa... no idea if that'll work out as well as i imagine, but it'll sure be interesting to try

 

Yeah, I was surprised aswell how good it turned out stretching from 146 to 100. Here is the sample, it really sounds pretty clean!

I am impressed with Wavelabs Timestrecher.

dudududu: http://picosong.com/uThD/

melody: http://picosong.com/uThM/ (your own kick and bass completely eradicates the remnants that you do hear when just soloing the sample)

 

 

I am looking forward to hearing your stuff even if you are not TOTALLY satisfied, because it is very obvious to me that you have massive talent and skill, just by that Cosmosis remake alone. Please share some of your work with us!

And may I ask, what DAW do you use?

I would LOVE to make a collaboration with you. We could chose a track and then we could remix it together! Would be really really fun I think, even if it turns out bad

But we do have to work in the same DAW, sending WAVs back and forth is not going to cut it... Also, we would have to have at least one or two of the same VSTs aswell.

I have quite a few so that shouldnt be a problem. Or we could just use reason

[Creating a new track - how do you begin?]

(TL;DR at bottom, wall of text incoming)

 

Do you begin with the bassline?

Main melody?

 

I usually begin with the bassline. Just the basic 3/4 note bassline to start with.

I then chose the key in which I want the track in, and then try and build melodies by "randomly" clicking around in a 4 bar loop.

I always add a delay to the melody directly, as a send, sometimes 3-6 (i.e third step in the bar in the left speaker, and 6th step in the second bar in the right speaker).

Some delays like reason have steps 1-16, which for me is the easiest to use, because you dont have to think about it, if you put it at 4, you know the delay is gonna kick in at the final step of the bar.

Some delays use a whole other system, which I havent quite figured out yet.

like 1/4D, 1/2T and such. I knew the "conversion table" before but have completely forgotten.

When working with Cubase my favorite delay is the Waves Supertap.

it works just like in reason and you just know exactly how it works just by looking at it.

 

anyway im going off point.

 

Like I said, basic bassline, a kick, and then I play around trying to create a melody and see if I find one.

If I do, I build a loop based on that melody, with FX, hihats, other melodies, counter melodies and so on, until I basically have the climax of the song ready.

 

Here is my problem.. Creating the rest of the darned track!

I have probably 100 reason and cubase files with just a damned loop

 

 

Sometimes I begin with creating some sort of intro, but that never works out at all.

 

How do you begin a song, and how do you finish it?

 

Since I started creating music in 2002, I literally have finished about 10 tracks. From start til finish.

And I have over 100 songs, that only have a buildup, and a climax.

 

The sad part is, many of these sound really good, and if I just would be able to create the whole song I could start releasing stuff on Ektoplasm!

I mean, how hard can it be right? Just do some intro, some breaks, some drumrolls, a little melody variation and youre done!

(in short terms)

 

But noo, not for me.. I almost always end up with just a buildup, a loop, and a climax. With layers and layers of Goa Psychedelia.

But a track? FAR from it.

 

 

so. How do you begin your track, and how do you finish it? Do you have any pointers for me?

Sometimes I actually try drawing on a piece of paper, like the intro part, the break part, the bridge, the loop, the break, another bridge and so on, and try to do that then in cubase. that has worked a few times, but then the melodies never sound any good. But at least I have a full track.. yay...

 

So you see, even though Ive spent well over 10 years making music (on and off with many years of pause at a time) I only succeeded in making about 10 full tracks..

 

I also do hiphop beats, and those are like, piece of cake compared to psytrance and goatrance. I have TONS of finished hiphop beats and many of them are actually good, and Ive sold 4 beats to upcoming rappers in my country. Not for much of course, but at least they thought they were good enough to want to use them.

 

I love sampling, So a hiphop beat for me, is basically some track I find, I chop up samples, make a track just by using the samples, EQ it proper, then just fill in the rest with matching bassline, kick , snare and hihats. Done. Sometimes i takes me like 20 min to make a 3 min hiphop beat that sound pretty damn good.

 

Oh well, thats a big wall of text and Im sorry so ill make a

 

 

 

 

TL;DR:

 

How do you begin a track on an empty sequencer like for example Reason or Cubase - and how do you finish. Basically, what is your work order.

Like for me its a basic bassline in a key I want the track in, a random kickdrum, and then start playing with a melody. And most often than not, thats where it ends. A climax loop.

 

Thanks in advance for sharing your method ! Amateur or pro - doesnt matter at all! I want input from any, and everyone. Thanks guys bye!

[rave mission classics - remixed - part 1]

Hmm, yeah, I realise they arent really that good, sounds almost like i just took midis from the originals and put new instruments to them.

But I didnt i promise!

I re-created by A/B listening to the best of my ability.

 

Maybe it was too early to share on psynews. Because my purpose once the tracks are re-created is to remix them, but I wanted the foundation, the structure, first.

First and foremost, its a fun musical challenge, you train your ear, and it feels nice and refreshing to have an old track sound new again

 

I actually tried getting hold of Loving Loop and Planet Fuse, but couldnt. Actually Planet Fuse I did get in contact with, but he flat out refused giving me the vocal samples used in the original.

those that say "silent wishes" and "noises" or whatever it is that she says.

He is like 40 years old and seem to take his old music VERY seriously, I mean comon, who am I hurting by re-creating a track that I have no intention of making any money from?

If it was me I would give out the samples directly no questions asked.

Needless to say I was disappointed.

[Blue Planet Corp ZNA 2015]

strange, I hardly recognize any of them

didnt he play any oldies too, btw?

he must have played like, Alidade or something?

Antidote?

[What new music did you get today?]

I "acquired" Asia 2001 - Psykedelia Re-Issue

Pretty nice tracks on there! Too bad almost all of their other tracks arent really good.

[NES Journey To Silius Remix]

perhaps i should post the original for more interest.

i actually think this is one of my best productions so it would be sad for me if noone likes it : )

but its ok, im not REALLY gonna be sad

and you dont actually NEED headphones i just usually say that because of me almost always mixing using headphones and sometimes you get very fooled when you later listen to it in speakers.

 

i used to have both soundcard and audiomonitors but that was a long time ago I had to sell almost all my belongings to keep from living on the streets : /

well, many years ago and I know have at least a good computer and two monitors and a pair of headphones

just need a soundcard and speaker monitors to be set.

Im using the built in motherboard soundcard atm ; ((

 

worst crap ever...

 

[wanna check out our new music video ?]

Not bad!

[ZNA gathering 2015]

The Remix Jorg played was the Juan, Domi & Jorg version (=> Jörg is him, so he DID remix that track)

 

Pleiadians did not play the Antidote remix, they did play Pentagon & Full Mental Jackpot Remix, but not the Time Dilation & Zeta Reticuli

Oh okay.

Was just curious because K-BAN mentioned Jörg had his own version of the remix I know he is the same Jörg as in Juan, Domi Jörg, and also Shiva Jörg

 

okay , phew, so at least I didnt miss my favorites

Shame for you guys tho!

 

Thanks for the answer Master Anoebis!

[MY FIRST PARTY at 20150521.]

so nhjo is gonna do a 5 hour live set?

damn i wish i could afford plane tickets

 

Arbeit.

Arbeit = german word for: work

Arbeit
arbejde
práce
работа
ажил
작업
工作

 

yup. when all else fails : use German.

[Misheard samples :)]

"You know the moon, you know the stars. Do you know Mercury?"

 

"There's something different about Larry"

 

"You ladies from another world"

 

"Ever-loving mystical chants, not now!"

 

"Might as well smoke flowers, smoke flowers, smoke flowers"

 

what? please say the song titles aswell please

trip tonite remix: "each neuron etangled with... an electric penis"??? i still have no idea what it's supposed to mean

 

3:20

 

I think that part was for the female Etnica fans.

You know what I mean.

[Spiritual Healing Remix (100bpm)]

how did you do the main lead? it sounds a lot closer to the original than anything we got in the reproducing known melodies thread.

 

I sampled it, EQd it to remove bass/kick, and Time Stretched it.

So no fancy sorcery, and I wish I could do it on my own.

Yeah I know that thread, I was looking there the other day and I was really freakin impressed tbh.

But yeah. I sampled it .

 

Sorry to burst any bubbles. :/

By the way im extreeemely impressed what you did with the moonshine thing, that is unbelieavable how close you come to the original. In fact, I could barely notice the difference between the original and yours.

 

Damn man, why dont you do alot of remixes your self? Its fun, homage to the artist, and you learn alot by trying to re-create songs. (check my Rave Mission Remix thread). I dont aim to re-create any sounds there, but I am to re-create the song structure, then ones im done with that, im gonna start the remixing part.

Which for now, Im bored with

 

I like both of them better than the original, but I have to say that I can't wait for the 100bpm version...it's so hypnotic!

 

Wow thanks man, that really makes me wanna jump back in and finish the track! I really mean it, comments like these is exactly what I need to get my inspiration flowing.

Thank you!

[Spiritual Healing Remix (100bpm)]

well, since the intro part is still shitty as fuk, i didnt wanna bore you with like, three minutes of bad intro, so that is still very much a work in progress.

Also, I intend to continue the track using more classic melodies from the original Muses Rapt version, for example the beautiful piano melodies.

 

so I made a 146bpm version instead, in the meantime

and yeah, the intro needs work i know! its horrible ;/

 

but i still wanna share it, so you can give me ideas, cus im empty in my head now, been thinking and working on this on and off since about 6 hours

 

http://picosong.com/uDF7/

 

this time i mixed in speakers, so I dunno, should sound ok.

thanks for listening

[Misheard samples :)]

I always thought Cosmosis - Moonshine; the girl said "the moon, the moon shining on seance".

Which I thought was beautiful.

[Spiritual Healing Remix (100bpm)]

working on it atm, its 8 min so far

 

thanks for support guys

[Spiritual Healing Remix (100bpm)]

Thank you! I was noticing the melody in the intro was a bit painful, but i agree it wasnt as bad as i thought it would be, listening to it today, sober.

I think I actually I am gonna work on this track quite a bit.

Maybe sample in that pianoloop from the juan, domi, jorg remix, or a dark pad thingy or something, too keep the intro company.

 

 

So I will look forward to doing that. And posting it here.

[Spiritual Healing Remix (100bpm)]

Seriously, I must have gone mad or something.

In headphones, at this particular moment, with the right amount of ... in me, it sounds pretty decent,

but in the morning when i listen in speakers it will probably sound whack as fuk.

I only used reason for this, and mixed only using headphones and mastered only using headphones, i literally have NO idea what it actually sounds like.

 

 

but here it is.

 

A pre-beta demo of my Remix of Spiritual Healing.

 

Enjoy, I guess.

 

(btw, picosong somehow messes up the quality. its like it automatically downgrades it to 128kbit or something i dunno.

but whatever. its a wierd project to begin with. but i had fun the past 2 hours or so thats for sure)

 

end of thread is updated version

[NES Journey To Silius Remix]

 

enjoy!

Im quite happy with the result.

Made in 2012 i believe.

as with all my productions, they are mastered in headphones so quality in speakers will vary.

i do not yet have studio monitors.

so if avaliable put a couple of hifi or monitoring headphones on

[The psynews photo album]

you are very handsome, nohomo!

 

regarding rotwang, he looks exactly like i imagined. like a total BAWS.

[Rate the above track - Fun game]

Pure awesomeness. 8/10.