Electronic music newb would like advice, a good foundation.

[easydiamond]

Ok, so me and a friend have been puzzling over electronic music for a couple months. To get a background, we're big on the Radiohead to name the large influence.

Equip: iMac G5 1.9, Ableton Live 5, a few free VST plugins, Dahornet, MDA plugs (used the loopex or whatever one and figured out the whole record a sound then it's looped, played back, but I want to learn that on a broader, maybe analog, form with different effects), Fm7, Guitar Rig 1, M-Audio Oxygen 8 V2, wanting to do the midi drumpad with pedals setup eventually.

I'm tired of sitting down and not knowing what to do, at all. I know I can turn on this plug-in, hit a key on my midi controller and make a crazy-ass noise, and I can then put a beat behind it, maybe add a guitar with an effect, but I feel that I'm missing out on the bigger, better, deeper technique of it all.

I want to know how Radiohead does the crazy background vocal parts on "Everything's in it's right place" (Kaos pad, but then I watch them on youtube live and I don't know where they start.) I'd like to know how to take a vocal or anything and route it through my midi controller and screw it up, but I don't know where to start.

We're competent musicians, well, he is anyway, but when we sit there for an hour trying to figure something out it's very discouraging.

So. Advice, death threats, LINKS TO ONLINE READING MATERIAL and/or TUTORIALS, or just basics are all greatly appreciated.

p.s. if you need any more info just ask. I'd really like to get pointed in the right direction and before it's said, we want to know how they do these things so we can learn from them not duplicate. We know we aren't Radiohead and I'm not trying to sound like an ass, I'm just lost.

 

[zazz]

im no expert on radiohead ...but i thought these guys were all about doing it through pedals and stuff and trying not to get too hooked on doing it all in the computer..... its these limitations that acctually bring out the best ideas.

 

[ssscientist]

I'm tired of sitting down and not knowing what to do, at all.

What you're doing wrong is sitting down and expecting ideas to come to you from outer space.

The song comes first, then the recording of it.

If the two of you can sit and put together, for example, a good verse and a good chorus away from the computer then it's time to sit down and start recording. Don't be afraid to let the underlying song warp and modify itself as you record it --- your instincts will keep you on the right track.

I my opinion what's frustrating you is putting the cart before the horse.

And if you don't succeed try again. Computers are WONDERFUL places for storing many, many versions of songs and ideas and fragments for later use, resurrection or incorporation into other pieces.


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[easydiamond]

What you're doing wrong is sitting down and expecting ideas to come to you from outer space.

The song comes first, then the recording of it.

If the two of you can sit and put together, for example, a good verse and a good chorus away from the computer then it's time to sit down and start recording. Don't be afraid to let the underlying song warp and modify itself as you record it --- your instincts will keep you on the right track.

This is what I've been thinking most of the time. We have songs written out, but they're all acoustic and it's transferring them to electronics that's tough. We end up recording the acoustic part and nothing will fit with it or it stands out too much.

Thanks, keep the advice coming.

 

[TripleJ]

Personally for me writing songs is all about dicking around. I can't sit down and go 'ok I'm going to write a song'.

Load up a virtual instrument you like and just muck around with it, make cool sounds. Record this whilst you're dicking around (being a virtual instrument it won't take up hardly any space). Then build from there. If you don't come up with anything cool thats fine. Good songs aren't made easily. You hear interviews with big artists and you'll often hear them remark that one of their biggest songs was just a little idea they had a few years ago and they just revisitted it later and built it into something great.

 

[zazz]

i find the computer is great for making those quick inspirational ideas into something that i can go back to.....but im more into trying to stay away from all the vst type plugins and keeping everything as much as possible in the non virtual realm.

since i am imposing these limits on myself.. instead of dicking around for hours experimenting with endless permutations of plugins i am acctually getting on with creating music.

 

[ssscientist]

. We end up recording the acoustic part and nothing will fit with it or it stands out too much.

Then you're doing it wrong.

Try something else.

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is guaranteed to drive you crazy.


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[JMarcomb]

use google to learn about music, listen to your favorite musicians and try to understand whats going on in the mix, practice, practice and practice

good things take time and energy