Production Methods?

[fatcollective]

just wondering which methods you use when producing a track.

i.e.

get all the percussion in order, then work on synth, bass etc?

work on synth first?

try to finish in one session?

come back a week later and finialise things?

etc... etc...

i seem to layout the main body of percussion first, then work on bass and then work on all the details, i.e. synth, filters, other fxs, fills, edits etc..

how do you do it?

[rhythmtech]

usually come up with a synth or bassline first then start working everything else around that..

normally like to finish the composition in 1 or 2 days then work on the mixdown after a days rest.. prefer to get everything done when its fresh in my head

[Electrictribe]

usually come up with a synth or bassline first then start working everything else around that..

normally like to finish the composition in 1 or 2 days then work on the mixdown after a days rest.. prefer to get everything done when its fresh in my head

pretty much howi do things. Do try to get a basic arrangement in a day. 2nd day to add fills and rework bits i feel don't work then another few hours to mix it down. But defo helps to have a couple of days rest before mixing down and come back with a fresh head. Usually do some final amendments to arrangement then too.

[dirty_bass]

I used to start with the bottom end, and then work up.
Now I try not to work any regular method.
After reading much Eno methodology and stockhausen, xanakis, I try to start with something I wouldn`t normally each time.
Methodology breeds repetition and stagnation.

I would advise anyone to shake things up now and again.

Start with the hats, leave the kick till last, or start with a Pad.
Don`t even make techno, make something else completely then at the last stage mould what you have into a techno framework.

[decoherance]

Don`t even make techno, make something else completely then at the last stage mould what you have into a techno framework.

i really like that idea, have done it a couple of times, need to do it more.

[fatcollective]

I used to start with the bottom end, and then work up.
Now I try not to work any regular method.
After reading much Eno methodology and stockhausen, xanakis, I try to start with something I wouldn`t normally each time.
Methodology breeds repetition and stagnation.

I would advise anyone to shake things up now and again.

Start with the hats, leave the kick till last, or start with a Pad.
Don`t even make techno, make something else completely then at the last stage mould what you have into a techno framework.

great idea steve, gonna give this a try.

[eyeswithoutaface]

the minute you start laying "rules" the minute it all falls apart in my opinion. Open up a synth, start playing. Open up a sine wave, start making a bass, start making a kick. Get some new loops, chop em up, crush em down, slice them and rearrange them into something totally new.

I cant stand people who use templates too i have to say, well not the person obviously haha but the method i.e just swapping the parts for each track and keeping that same mix dynamic on every tune. Easily the laziest approach to production. If you cant build up a track from total scratch each time, your simply not producing

[dan the acid man]

yeah when ever i've made tracks i've always changed the way i work, i always found if i started with the same parts and worked in the same way my sound stayed the same and never changed

[RDR]

What they all said!

plus

dont listen to them

dont listen to techno

get a microphone and start sampling!

[jk_scowling]

I try and start off with an idea, either a method of doing things or what you want the track to be like. It might not end up anything like that but it helps.

[fatcollective]

the minute you start laying "rules" the minute it all falls apart in my opinion. Open up a synth, start playing. Open up a sine wave, start making a bass, start making a kick. Get some new loops, chop em up, crush em down, slice them and rearrange them into something totally new.

I cant stand people who use templates too i have to say, well not the person obviously haha but the method i.e just swapping the parts for each track and keeping that same mix dynamic on every tune. Easily the laziest approach to production. If you cant build up a track from total scratch each time, your simply not producing

im not on about templates, just diffrent ways poelpe put there tracks together, maybe people do just change their samples but in the same sequence and this is deffo lazy, im not on about that though...i just wanted to know about peoples diffrent methods? personal methods etc? weird maybe unusual shit you do when making tracks, stuff you picked up that you always put into your production?

[force]

If you cant build up a track from total scratch each time, your simply not producing

BULLSHIT!

There's a million and one ways of producing.
You can take elements of previous work you've done and manipulate it into something completely different. Its what you do with it that counts.
Making something totally viable without sounding anything like the original piece.
I often find old loops etc, that i've made that fit other pieces perfectly with some molding and manipulation

Sounds like your applying rules there mate!

[loopdon]

Almost sounds like you gotta make your own piano every time before you play it or something [strongly exaggerated comparison].

I think a thread like this could quite well manage without ''rules'' etc. Tell people how you work, listen to how others work. If something sounds good to you - try it, if not: Don't! Isn't that easy? To easy probably.

[eyeswithoutaface]

BULLSHIT!

There's a million and one ways of producing.
You can take elements of previous work you've done and manipulate it into something completely different. Its what you do with it that counts.
Making something totally viable without sounding anything like the original piece.
I often find old loops etc, that i've made that fit other pieces perfectly with some molding and manipulation

Sounds like your applying rules there mate!

yeah ok i get your point there, but i think you knew what i mean really. And it's not bullshit, it's my opinion. I respect your's enough to not call what you have to say bullshit mate, it would be nice to have that respect back.

I'd actually forgotten about going back to older tracks or projects and working from there, but again i think you knew what i meant

[FILTERZ]

the minute you start laying "rules" the minute it all falls apart in my opinion. Open up a synth, start playing. Open up a sine wave, start making a bass, start making a kick. Get some new loops, chop em up, crush em down, slice them and rearrange them into something totally new.

I cant stand people who use templates too i have to say, well not the person obviously haha but the method i.e just swapping the parts for each track and keeping that same mix dynamic on every tune. Easily the laziest approach to production. If you cant build up a track from total scratch each time, your simply not producing

worked for motown though innit

they hardly ever touched their desk

[judas_beast]

Ahh, nothing beats a 'my ways better than your way' argument on the net. Who gives a **** anyway, the only rule in music is: if it sounds good, it is good.

[eyeswithoutaface]

never said you were on about templates mate, was just bringing that into the discussion because it seriously wicks me off and is the height of laziness :) Naughty Naughty people using templates

apart from the usual i try and keep any really good tricks up my sleeve :)

[fatcollective]

never said you were on about templates mate, was just bringing that into the discussion because it seriously wicks me off and is the height of laziness :) Naughty Naughty people using templates

apart from the usual i try and keep any really good tricks up my sleeve :)

ha ha...not even a little peek? :)

[rhythmtech]

are we talking about templates of tunes or DAW templates..

cause if its DAW templates then theres nothing wrong with having your sampler loaded up and your fave synths loaded etc.. no differant to having your studio already wired. (and who in there right mind would re-wire their hardware everytime theey write a new track.

also i'll usually have my sends/fx channels on my template..

but if we're talking about having sequences already templated then i agree its pointless and counter-productive.

[christian wagner]

Be creative - do things differently, but beware! dont do it that much that you loose your vision you had in the first place :)