soundwave106
Joined: Nov 24, 2004 Posts: 331 Location: Elmo's Mud Wrestling Club
Audio files: 2
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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 5:39 pm Post subject:
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Electro-house (along with dubstep and most of the newer dance styles) is for the most part an in the box style. So this would be a very similar rough guideline on how to do any sort of modern, computer-oriented music.
A) Get a DAW such as Logic, Ableton Live, Cubase, etc. etc. etc. I use Reaper personally, but Ableton seems to be the go-to for
B) Get a good software synthesizer and drums package. Something like NI Komplete would be a good "starting point" in my opinion, but possibly your DAW will include enough synth and drum plugins for you to get you started...
C) Set up some way of monitoring (headphones or monitor speakers; I could not personally imagine making dance without a good monitor setup with a sub, but some people seem to successfully use even just a good pair of headphones...)
D) Learn some elements of synthesis. Learn some elements of mixing (EQ so that each instrument is in its own "space", instrument compression, sidechain compression, etc.), DAW automation (*very* important in most modern dance styles), and basic mastering.
Again, the DAW's free plugins are probably good to start learning this. There is plenty of "extra" effects plugins and mixing plugins out there though.
E) Icing on the cake: hardware controllers (like pads and keys) so you don't have to hand-program as much in, or (in the case of Ableton Live) controllers to launch clips etc. so you can "play more live".
F) Practice, learn the tools.
To give an example: that track linked to uses (to my ears): a four on the floor rhythm (layered - BD + snare + hand clap + cymbals alternating priority in the same sort of rhythm), a saw type lead ("supersaw" techniques might be worth exploring here) as well as other rough wavetable type sounds (typical of Massive), multitracked (three part harmony) female singer with reverb, definite sidechain compression on the beat, and lots of automation to get the swooshes, swells, pitch bends, and feel right. Obviously the "devil's in the details". |
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