Music Composition & Production [Archive] - David Icke's Official Forums

jake49

21-09-2010, 09:56 AM

Hi,

If anyone needs music composition for any short films, documentaries... whatever you need - please get in touch!

Also if you're an act or artist, I produce all kinds of styles and genres too.

I have some music on http://www.jakesanderson.moonfruit.com
But best way for production would be to send me a track and I'll send it back with ideas on it.

For composition, just give me an idea of what you're looking for and I'll get back to you. You can get in touch through the contact page on that website.

Thanks.

thegatherer

14-10-2010, 12:34 PM

Hi Jake,
I remember you replying to my thread about Cubase and was hoping you could explain something for me.
It's a pretty simple thing but I just dont know the answer. Ok, when recording in Cubase etc how do you decide whether to record a Mono track rather than a stereo track?
Obviously the final mix will be stereo, but are some instruments just more suited to being recorded in Stereo?
Anything you've got on this will be appreciated. I'm just about to start recording the 4th (and hopefully) final draft of a song I've been working on, so I don't want to make any fundamental mistakes. Cheers.:)

mv8800

14-10-2010, 04:36 PM

I record my bass and vocals in mono and pan the overdubs myself. Mono bass helps keep the mix less muddy in my opinion.

passing

14-10-2010, 04:44 PM

I record my bass and vocals in mono and pan the overdubs myself. Mono bass helps keep the mix less muddy in my opinion.

Main vocals tend to be mono... perhaps with stereo effects :)

A common technique is to play the same guitar part twice and pan one each side, which is richer than one guitar in stereo. Or copy the mono guitar, again panning one L and one R but making their EQ or effects slightly different.

I hope I'm not butting in...

godgoo

14-10-2010, 05:35 PM

thegatherer

14-10-2010, 07:12 PM

Main vocals tend to be mono... perhaps with stereo effects :)

A common technique is to play the same guitar part twice and pan one each side, which is richer than one guitar in stereo. Or copy the mono guitar, again panning one L and one R but making their EQ or effects slightly different.

I hope I'm not butting in...

No you're not butting in, it's a forum!:)

Thanks for the reply. I have been doing what you suggested up to now, ie recording guitars and vocals in mono...I have been doing the panning thing too, though I have left the effects the same both sides, but I will try making them different.

Question is then... what's the correct time to use a Stereo channel??:confused: Maybe, say a lead guitar...that you want big but not panned L or R???

thegatherer

14-10-2010, 07:27 PM

I record my bass and vocals in mono and pan the overdubs myself. Mono bass helps keep the mix less muddy in my opinion.

Hiya mate, what exactly do you mean by 'overdubs' it's a term I do'nt use myself so dont quite get what you mean. I always record bass in mono too.

mv8800

14-10-2010, 08:28 PM

Hiya mate, what exactly do you mean by 'overdubs' it's a term I do'nt use myself so dont quite get what you mean. I always record bass in mono too.

I mainly record emcees and I insist on 2 takes of the main vocal and a few over dubs/adlibs to strengthen the vocals up. Have a listen closely to some 2pac songs from the 7 day theory album for a great example. I hope that helps and would love to hear your music. Peace

thegatherer

14-10-2010, 08:44 PM

I mainly record emcees and I insist on 2 takes of the main vocal and a few over dubs/adlibs to strengthen the vocals up. Have a listen closely to some 2pac songs from the 7 day theory album for a great example. I hope that helps and would love to hear your music. Peace

Ok, I'm with ya...I would call it say Vocal doubletrack and backing vocals, just different terminology. Yeah I will post something when I get it finished, but will be a while yet. I'm playing the instruments and mixing etc. May still have to learn a bit about Mastering too, though that's a whole other ball game from what I've read...though I haven't attempted it yet.:cool:
Be interested to hear your stuff too mate.

mv8800

14-10-2010, 09:55 PM

passing

14-10-2010, 10:22 PM

No you're not butting in, it's a forum!:)

Thanks for the reply. I have been doing what you suggested up to now, ie recording guitars and vocals in mono...I have been doing the panning thing too, though I have left the effects the same both sides, but I will try making them different.

Question is then... what's the correct time to use a Stereo channel??:confused: Maybe, say a lead guitar...that you want big but not panned L or R???

Cheers.

If you like your lead guitar in stereo, go for it. In general though, the lead voice and guitar/trumpet/whatever solos are more or less central - you make them bigger by making them louder :D or by making every other instrument which uses similar frequencies a little quieter.
Quieter and louder can be acheived by using volume or preferably EQ - you dig a space like a well-hole in the field of your song for the lead instrument to fill up - and maybe overflow a bit. It seems best to reduce rather than increase EQ values - and then raise the master volume - because you can get distortion quite quickly ...which can be good sometimes as well :D:rolleyes:

thegatherer

15-10-2010, 01:52 AM

Cheers.

If you like your lead guitar in stereo, go for it. In general though, the lead voice and guitar/trumpet/whatever solos are more or less central - you make them bigger by making them louder :D or by making every other instrument which uses similar frequencies a little quieter.
Quieter and louder can be acheived by using volume or preferably EQ - you dig a space like a well-hole in the field of your song for the lead instrument to fill up - and maybe overflow a bit. It seems best to reduce rather than increase EQ values - and then raise the master volume - because you can get distortion quite quickly ...which can be good sometimes as well :D:rolleyes:

Hey, great post mate! Great information.:)
I am learning a lot about EQing etc at the moment, though I'm still at a stage where I'm getting to understand why the presets (EQ's) in cubase do what they do. Just getting to the point where it's working with me now...I'm using the presets and then playing with them to suit my songs. It's making a massive difference. You're right about reducing eq's aswell, that didn't occur to me for a while.:D
Have you got some music online anywhere??

thegatherer

15-10-2010, 02:07 AM

Here's a few bits I've done : WWW.slapupmill.bandcamp.com

I used to hate mixing but when u learn your plugin/equipments capabilities and A B your favourite commercially released song to your mix u can get great results. You'll never get commercial quality at home but the average listener don't really know.

Hey dude, I did check out some of your music there, really good stuff.:) You know I just love music when it isn;t pandering to any commercial nonsense, because it's a pure artform then...and it starts having the effect on you, spiritually that music should, so respect to you on that one aswell.;)

Is A B ing your mix the thing where you sort of copy the EQ pattern from another song and apply it to yours...?? I've heard about that, but I guess that's moving towards mastering isn't it?

mv8800

15-10-2010, 08:19 AM

Hey dude, I did check out some of your music there, really good stuff.:) You know I just love music when it isn;t pandering to any commercial nonsense, because it's a pure artform then...and it starts having the effect on you, spiritually that music should, so respect to you on that one aswell.;)

Is A B ing your mix the thing where you sort of copy the EQ pattern from another song and apply it to yours...?? I've heard about that, but I guess that's moving towards mastering isn't it?

Yes mate. It's the easiest way I found for doing a good mix. Izotope ozone is a great plug for mastering.

Thanks for listening to my tracks too :D

thegatherer

15-10-2010, 12:56 PM

Yes mate. It's the easiest way I found for doing a good mix. Izotope ozone is a great plug for mastering.

Thanks for listening to my tracks too :D

I have heard of Izotope ozone...does that have appplications for AB ing tracks? (what does A B stand for I wonder?). I will check that out when the time comes. Cheers.;)

passing

15-10-2010, 01:10 PM

Hey, great post mate! Great information.:)
I am learning a lot about EQing etc at the moment, though I'm still at a stage where I'm getting to understand why the presets (EQ's) in cubase do what they do. Just getting to the point where it's working with me now...I'm using the presets and then playing with them to suit my songs. It's making a massive difference. You're right about reducing eq's aswell, that didn't occur to me for a while.:D
Have you got some music online anywhere??

I have had stuff online but at the moment I'm working on new tracks, starting again again ;)

EQing is a hard thing to describe, and I find it quite difficult to do, too. But I've been picking up tips over the years and getting slowly better...

mv8800

15-10-2010, 04:46 PM

I have had stuff online but at the moment I'm working on new tracks, starting again again ;)

EQing is a hard thing to describe, and I find it quite difficult to do, too. But I've been picking up tips over the years and getting slowly better...

I used to be scared of compression/eq etc because of the shear amount of tutorials online written by so called pros.

Then I remembered I was making music, not doing brain surgery. Enjoy what u do. Don't mix a track to what u have read.

When I eq this is what I do: A - B it (a and b are probably a reference to old tape/reel setups btw) and set the eq shape to the classic V (some old stereos had this printed on them) and work from there. Roll off everything below 60hz, push 4k a little as thats the vocal area. Monitor through speaks, head phones and different systems to get comfortable with ur mix.

thegatherer

16-10-2010, 01:42 AM

I used to be scared of compression/eq etc because of the shear amount of tutorials online written by so called pros.

Then I remembered I was making music, not doing brain surgery. Enjoy what u do. Don't mix a track to what u have read.

When I eq this is what I do: A - B it (a and b are probably a reference to old tape/reel setups btw) and set the eq shape to the classic V (some old stereos had this printed on them) and work from there. Roll off everything below 60hz, push 4k a little as thats the vocal area. Monitor through speaks, head phones and different systems to get comfortable with ur mix.

So are you saying that you A-B the overall track first before doing any individual eq on individual instruments, vocals etc??

passing

16-10-2010, 02:46 PM

I used to be scared of compression/eq etc because of the shear amount of tutorials online written by so called pros.

Then I remembered I was making music, not doing brain surgery. Enjoy what u do. Don't mix a track to what u have read.

When I eq this is what I do: A - B it (a and b are probably a reference to old tape/reel setups btw) and set the eq shape to the classic V (some old stereos had this printed on them) and work from there. Roll off everything below 60hz, push 4k a little as thats the vocal area. Monitor through speaks, head phones and different systems to get comfortable with ur mix.

Sounds good... A-B is playing from start to finish, right?

mv8800

17-10-2010, 10:01 AM

Sounds good... A-B is playing from start to finish, right?

I tend to start my mixing and when I feel like my mix is ok ill play about 10 secs of the commercial track at a busy point. I'll run them together as well to see how they sit.

There is a plug that can take an eq shape from another track, I think its called frequalizer.

passing

17-10-2010, 10:41 AM

I tend to start my mixing and when I feel like my mix is ok ill play about 10 secs of the commercial track at a busy point. I'll run them together as well to see how they sit.

There is a plug that can take an eq shape from another track, I think its called frequalizer.

Yeah, I ought to use reference tracks more - especially with headphones I lose sight of where EQing is going. Cheers, I'll take a look at frequaliser or similar programs. :)

mv8800

17-10-2010, 11:32 AM

Are u going to mix with a chain like where u drop ur vsts in to the mixers out channel?

theabominablephenomenon

17-10-2010, 05:37 PM

Can anybody tell me how to get side-chain compression working using
Cubase and Waves plug ins?
For example i might want to push my bassline down where it meets a kick drum..
So I put the side chain compressor on both tracks but I don't see any results..:confused:

mv8800

17-10-2010, 06:21 PM