Fruityloops song writing methods

[Pazoozoo]

Hi. I hope I've picked the right category and I hope this isn't a stupid question/post. I'm not completely sure how to word this question, but I'm hoping it comes together as I type. I've loaded alot of the songs that came with fruityloops and downloaded alot of flp's off the net hoping to learn different ways people are peicing together songs. Some people like to have one channel per pattern and use one, two, or more patterns playing together in the playlist. Some like to use several channels per pattern and alternate them in the playlist. I see some like to use layers alot as well. I'm not sure if the method that you choose to use depends on what your most comfortable with or if one is better to use than another but it sure would be nice to find a tutorial on which method to use.

It's been a long time since I used a tracker program like fasttracker - but I really liked this method. I would work on a song from start to finish and play along (midi keyboard or computer keyboard) with a pattern adding a new instrument's track and then simply copy and paste all the tracks right into the next pattern and keep going removing tracks I didn't want in the new pattern and adding one's I did. There was a flow. But I just haven't been able to get that comfortable in fruityloops.

I had been using pattern 1 in fruityloops as my "working" pattern that would represent what part of the song I am currently on (with all the tracks in the pattern)- like in fasttracker, and copying individual channels into seperate patterns to use in the playlist. The only problem with this is that if I have an alternating octave that spans two patterns in length I can only play along with the first or second octave of the pattern in my working pattern. And I have to break the flow by stopping and copying the newly recorded channel into it's own pattern, put it in the playlist somewhere, and get back to pattern 1 deleting what I just did to that track's melody to make room for the next part of the melody. There are other problems that occur as well using this method that I won't get into.

The other method that I've tried is putting together the song with 1 channel per pattern and then playing the song while recording on an empty pattern - the new channel. But this is awkward as well. I just haven't been able to find a way to get comfortable with fruityloops. It takes me days to do what use to take only 4 or 5 hours in a tracker program.

Are there any suggestions any fruityloop users might have for me on this forum about the best song writing method to use to create a nice flow?
I hope I was clear enough in this post.
Thanks in advance.
pazoozoo

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by Pazoozoo

The only problem with this is that if I have an alternating octave that spans two patterns in length I can only play along with the first or second octave of the pattern in my working pattern. And I have to break the flow by stopping and copying the newly recorded channel into it's own pattern, put it in the playlist somewhere, and get back to pattern 1 deleting what I just did to that track's melody to make room for the next part of the melody.

A single FL pattern can be up to 64 bars in length. If you want to try this function for yourself, in FL6 (and as far as I remember in all versions back to FL 3) there's a small window in the upper left hand corner of the main pattern screen. In default mode it has two dashes '--', but when you click your mouse there and push it up or down you can bring it down to one bar (4 beats) or 64 bars (256 beats).

This is the way you make triplet resolutions in FL too -- by setting the patterns to multiples of 3. Most of my FL patterns these days are swinging in triplet mode --- it just sounds better to me.

[chazba]

My kid, age 18 , has pieced together some catchy stuff using FL. My concern is that he, and many others will neglect the learning of fundemental skills like
1) How to play an instrument
2) Basic music theory
3) Exercising the muse
4) etc...etc...etc

It's kinda like getting good at video basketball, then trying out for the NBA.
Doya feel me????


chazba

[Pazoozoo]

Thanks ssscientist, that actually helped alot.
chazba....no, I don't feelya. I've been writing music for years. My question was regarding a program, not fundamental skills.
paz

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by Pazoozoo

Thanks ssscientist, that actually helped alot.

Cool. Glad to be of service.

And welcome to the board!