How is techno made?

ssscientist said:
Seconded.


.
Click to expand...

And thirded.

I've been making a lot of random trance-meets-jungle type of stuff lately, and I do it all different ways. HammerHead is a great freeware drum machine that I use a lot. I also record acoustic drums and make my own loops. For keys I use a Korg MicroKorg a bit, but mostly cheap toy keyboards -- Casio SK-5 and SA-1 and Realistic Rapmaster (Casio Rapman equivalent). Or even my upright piano.
 
chestwick91 said:
In my opinion most of this CRAP is made by samples from fruity loops, reason and what can be a shit toon of other programs because some kid likes break beats and he has no musical talent, nor can he/she play an instrument...nor do they know anything about outboard gear or recording techniques
Click to expand...

I make incredibly complex classical music using fruity loops. I am no teen, and I guarantee you it's not crap.
 
Wow

Didn't realize you were a FL user. I guess it has really grown up, huh?

I've got an old version (1.0) of Reason (it came on the pc) that I found too challenging. I've also got an old version of FL that came with a midi controller, but that was when it was pretty much a drum machine, and not a particularly good one at that. I should say, however, that I'm notoriously short on patience with the learning curve of software, so don't judge anything by my experiences with really old programs. I'm sure that, not only are they more powerful now, they're more intuitative than they used to be.

Personally, I'm a Cakewalk kinda guy, but my needs are pretty simple. I think they tend to be more intuitive to me than the competition, but maybe that's because I come from the old analog, multitracking, guitar playing era.

I've wanted to check out Live for quite awhile, I just figured it was more for experienced synth players.
 
I like electronic...and yes there can be very good stuff made out there in that world, fact i listen to a lot of it...But before you tell me i am wrong...go into the"techno" section anywhere and buy a cd and it's usually just loops....boring no need for that..and besides..first and formost, i gave an answer to the question...
 
chestwick91 said:
I like electronic...and yes there can be very good stuff made out there in that world, fact i listen to a lot of it...But before you tell me i am wrong...go into the"techno" section anywhere and buy a cd and it's usually just loops....boring no need for that..and besides..first and formost, i gave an answer to the question...
Click to expand...

composing a melody or harmonic rhythm that repeats purposefully, is different than purchasing a loop CD and just using the standard drum beat that everyone else uses.
break down any popular song and you'll get repetition. Whether it's chordal progressions, drum rhythms, or the form of the song itself. The average consumer likes to hear the same stuff over and over again, whether they know they are or not. I'm sure you've written something that can be categorized as repetitive...unless you're writing atonal music and show refusal to follow any rules of music theory.

but I think most people were responding to your comment on how electronica composers know nothing of having musical talent, how to record, or how to use recording equipment (or as you said, "outboard gear"...depsite there being hundred and hundreds of hardware synths and samplers in the world for many many years :rolleyes: )
 
originaly was done by using Analog Synths and analog Groove boxes or Drum Machines, Analog sequencers and stuff....
Today in Keyboard Workstations, but mostly on the Computer.
 
chestwick91 said:
I like electronic...and yes there can be very good stuff made out there in that world, fact i listen to a lot of it...But before you tell me i am wrong...go into the"techno" section anywhere and buy a cd and it's usually just loops....boring no need for that..and besides..first and formost, i gave an answer to the question...
Click to expand...

Yeah I use loops alot too...except I call them riffs. :rolleyes:
 
Image Line have worked hard to make FL a major player while keeping the price down.

I would recommend it as your first software package.

It was one of the first I used on PC and I still use it today.


.
 
sorry my brains running a million miles a minute...

Im one of the electro guys who have no talent. ;)

If your wanting to make stuff similar to kmfdm, frontline assembly and such.
I say...find something interesting, and just play with it alot.
I know KMFDM errrrrrr...sascha...uses some pretty high end hardware synths.
(their adios record...he mostly used a futureretro...its damned sexy.)

You can use FL...it will give you an IDEA of what things are...
ADSR, filters, and such...along with a bit of drum programming.
But just keep in mind...theres more stuff out there than Fruity Loops.

(for the record...i hate hate hate hate fruity loops.)

Also...i say brush up on midi...theres really no reason to delve headfirst into it
When you dont know the difference between hi-pass and Low-pass.
You can route midi cables for days...but it wont mean squat if you cant get a decent interesting sound out of what your using.

I pretty much got started using Hammerhead, and a TS404. You can download them free at http://www.threechords.com/hammerhead
(theyre freeware)
The TS-404 takes some getting used to, especially if your exporting to
Wav files. hammerhead is a drum / sampler module.
VERY VERY easy to use. The 404...its a VERY VERY basic synth program.
It will help you under stand the basics of synthesis...what knobs do what.
It has a built in sequencer too. They have a forum on the HH site...
any questions can be directed there.

Dont worry about making anything as heavy duty as wumpscut right off.
That will come in time. Just get used to what things are...then work up
from that.

Um...Get used to BPM too...thats Beats Per Minute.
That is one of the most important things. Its basically a number.
Say...100bpm's...You could take a sample that is based at 100bpm.
Put something over it that is 200bpm...and you could get something kind of interesting. Or you could get something that is complete crap.

And dont get me wrong...it ISNT just throwing samples around.
You played piano..So yeah...your a little ahead of the game.
You can throw sequenced drums around like crazy...
But you;ll need something else to bring it all together.
Thats where instrumentation comes into play.
(i played bass before electronics, and picked up piano
after...i have a lovely baldwin, a nursing home didnt want it,
so i took it!)


I personally prefer to use Acid.It has everything i need right there.
It handles loops, you can track, Full Midi Implementation.
And its been around for quite a while...and they offer a
free version of it. (Acid Xpress)
So...i suggest you go there, and snatch that.

um...I also suggest...
Ignoring the premade sample cd's for your own production.
Its ok to use them to actually work with somewhat quality samples...
if your actually worried about your arrangement skills. But I suggest...
Making your own. I found its much more fulfilling, and honorable,
To have made EVERY sound. rather than supplementing with
someone elses talent...or acid loops...or some over priced loop set,
that someone else will recognize and tell his friends about..
how you "ripped off that sound."

(i tell my friends about how disturbd ripped off more than a few acid loops
for their live show...it annoys me to notice them...and im sure it does
other as well. im kind of a HUGE snob when it comes to that sort of thing.)

That issue is later down the road. Pointless to really worry about it now.

But like i said...just find something.
Stick to it, learn the ins and outs, have fun, find ways to keep interested.

And eventually you can be a telentless shit bag too!
(just like me!)
:):):):):):):):):):):)


i pretty much told you everything you need to get started.
So get to it. (id look into a wav editor...like sound forge im sure you could
find an old free version of sound forge XP somewhere.
They used to give free versions bundled with sound blaster soundcards.)
Ive built entire tracks using only hammerhead, and ts404, and soundforge...
Its a matter of layering, and copy and pasting...

I almost forgot...With all of these programs, and shooting files from one
to the other....Be creative...find new ways to do things.

Later down the road...when you feel your getting comfortable with it all.
Look into Circuitbending...Its a VERY nice skill to have.
But completely unnecessary. (it helped me learn how to repair my gear
when something goes a little haywire.) Its modifying pre existing instruments,
into bigger, meaner monsters. I bent a Zoom MRT-3b Drum Machine....
And i DOUBLED its usability.

anyways...good luck.
 
chestwick91 said:
I like electronic...and yes there can be very good stuff made out there in that world, fact i listen to a lot of it...But before you tell me i am wrong...go into the"techno" section anywhere and buy a cd and it's usually just loops....boring no need for that..and besides..first and formost, i gave an answer to the question...
Click to expand...

Good point.

Its not like the world of eletronic music is floading with creativity, and there is indeed a lot of kids out there doing music with pre made loops

But its the same as accuse a whole music genre like Rock is floaded with kids on their garage playing nonsense with their guitar and no music knowloge at all.
Even thou is partially true, you cant say that there is no real talent in that genre



And for the guy, who neg repped me without saying his name

Fair enough. Just show who you are, I dont bite :eek:
 
casualty, do you have any tips on getting the best out of Acid Xpress? I've been playing around on it for several hours in the past few days and I can put together some things but can't seem to get enough control to get a decent drum beat, any kind of tips for messing with that freeware for now would be welcomed.
 
SacredDespair said:
casualty, do you have any tips on getting the best out of Acid Xpress? I've been playing around on it for several hours in the past few days and I can put together some things but can't seem to get enough control to get a decent drum beat, any kind of tips for messing with that freeware for now would be welcomed.
Click to expand...

you can download different user banks, or make your own.
User banks are collected sounds you can load into the drum slots.

Make a beat...whatever bpm.
Remember what bpm it is.
When you load it into acid, make sure that bpm is the same as the beat you just made in the drum prog.
Then go back in to HH, make another beat...the exact same BPM as the last.
But make them sound different.
Load that, and the previous beat...into acid.

I found it best to mix two different beats. to see what happens.
But play with it.
Or, you can make a few short beats...
save them as *.raw files...then make your own userbank...
WITH those short beats...That can get kind of interesting.
The possibilities are endless.

For acid...all that you really need to know to make it work the best for you...
Is that, what ever bpm you set the program to...it will bend the wav's to that
bpm setting...despite what bpm it is. If its too different from the bpm you set in acid...it will sound like butt.

There is a setting you should know about...
if you r-click the sample boxes, on the left of the screen, then click properties,
you'll get a large wav form show up in a new window,
you'll see a box on the left of the new window...that says...track type.
The only two i use are Loop, and One-Shot.
Loop, bends the wav file to fit what BPM Acid is set on.
One-shot, doesnt loop the sound...and it always plays at the bpm it was
made on.
But, if you make a beat...at 100bpm, and load it into acid...
set it to one shot, then turn up the ACID bpm's to 200...
Then add another beat, (track type set on loop)
You should get some pretty interesting results.
(although 200 is a bit too high for now.)

Its all about creativity, and process. Learning the programs and such.
Once you learn the programs and such, you'll be flowing in no time.
All the programs i told you about, are fairly simple to use.
There is a slight learning curve...but its not too difficult.

Just experiment and have fun.

*on average...these are the set tempo's per style.

Actual techno is usually built around 120-160bpm
Breakbeats and dnb between 160-200bpm
Human Heartrate (average) 80-86bpm
Anything slower than 120bpm, starts altering from trip hop or hip hop
Downtempo, or just slow electro.

these also matter, what kind of sound your working with.

The freeware is pretty self explanatory.
anything in particular you wanted to know?
 
techno is not made; it is born.

(my full internet alias is TragikTeknoRemix btw hehe)

its like this little guy in ya that doesnt stop dancing..

i use reason and sampletank, occasionally a CZ101 if i got one in my possession ;)

you really have to have an idea of what you want to do, like writing any other song.

i usally start writing a techno song with a synth part. i sit and play with notes until i have something cool. from there, it's over. by the time i'm done, (usually 20+ hours :D) i might not even have that original little melody.

i've concluded that you have to have minimal mental stability and sanity to be a techno artist.
 
TragikRemix said:
i've concluded that you have to have minimal mental stability and sanity to be a techno artist.
Click to expand...

this is my opinion...

That comment is fairly accurate.
...but id say electronic musician over techno.

i dont really like techno..the word or the idea.
Seems really limiting.
like a country musician, trying to do a metal record. it isnt going to work.

Electronic music is more than just techno.
Its more subject to humanity than people expect.
If people are open to it, it varies as much as any other
form of music. Techno, in the way i see it,
is kind of emotionless, "out for a beat", dance music.
Fuck dance. Fuck it.

Saying techno....inflects a lack of depth, and substance.
and nothing more that a 4/4 beat and some cheesy synth lines,
and even cheesier vocal samples.

I want to feel something more than move.

Any way you look at it...
Electronics do seem to take either a low amount of mental stability.
Or, anymore, as ive noticed...a complete lack of self-awareness.
Ive seen some performances, where they act, and their performance
is so f-ing lame...i feel embarassed for them...and i have to leave.
Like i want to get up on stage, slap them and take their laptops away,
and tell them that they can get them back when they know better.
(and if i see one more person, perform, with only a fucking laptop...
im going to put my boot into someones fucking face.)

But thats like everything else in the world.
This means more because this is what we're a part of.

But yeah...that comment is fairly accurate.
 
that hurts!

btw, i do like 'electronic musician' better ;)

from my standpoint (as an 'electronic musician' and huge fan of electronic music, including everything from techno, all the way back to corny 80's dance music :D )
it's ALL about dancing.

actually, it's meant to be all about energy. the more of an adrenaline rush, the more people moving to it, the better, because that's the purpose.

from a musical view, techno is crap i guess :( i'll admit it, it's really not about music or melodies or keeping tempo etc etc etc, but about changes, motions and energy.

like i said, you gotta be pretty crazy in the head to really appreciate any form of electronic music.

as far as i'm concerned, theres nothing wrong with walking onto a stage with a laptop and small keyboard with a million faders, knobs and switches.
 
TragikRemix said:
that hurts!

btw, i do like 'electronic musician' better ;)

from my standpoint (as an 'electronic musician' and huge fan of electronic music, including everything from techno, all the way back to corny 80's dance music :D )
it's ALL about dancing.

actually, it's meant to be all about energy. the more of an adrenaline rush, the more people moving to it, the better, because that's the purpose.

from a musical view, techno is crap i guess :( i'll admit it, it's really not about music or melodies or keeping tempo etc etc etc, but about changes, motions and energy.

like i said, you gotta be pretty crazy in the head to really appreciate any form of electronic music.

as far as i'm concerned, theres nothing wrong with walking onto a stage with a laptop and small keyboard with a million faders, knobs and switches.
Click to expand...

i didnt mean to insult anyone. lol

It was just my opinion.

Ive never been a dancer, or involved myself in anything dance.
(i do enjoy watching people dance...its just not my thing at all.)

The laptop and keyboard thing...welll...atleast youd have a controller,
better than nothing...a little better...but the people who strictly use
a laptop...running ableton...and acting like theyre a full blown one man
metal band. Headbanging and shit...lame. and pathetic.

I dont know...when i perform...i dont use a laptop.
just a minimal setup,

sampler/
circuitbent drummachine/
maybe a synth/
maybe some circuitbent devices/
fx boxes/
mixer/

the only midi, is sync, between the DM and an electribe, if i use it.

just kind of feel like a performance, should be a performance.
not just triggering samples.

energy is based on emotion.
My emphasis, is on the emotion, all emotion,
not just an emphatic adrenaline rush.


if your interested.

My sequenced project...
http://www.myspace.com/casualtyfigure

My live, experimental-noise project...
http://www.myspace.com/tmitmo

tmi/tmo is the one i promote.
 
ok, so I was wondering if I could put a midid track on acid xpress through my crap Casio. If so how? How would a mic hook to my computer? Do I need any special connectors? and do you do shows by yourself casualtyfigure? how do they come across? I was asking this because I want to start doing shows and not only can I not find anybody willing to help with a live show, quite frankly, I\'d rather not have to mess with having other people. I know I can write all the music and sing it, so I see no need to try and include other people for no reason. thank you you so much for everything so far, you\'ve been a tremendous help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top