Is there a method to the madness???

[stray411]

There was a post that kind of touched on this but I think this is an interesting and useful subject to expand on.

What is your production method? In other word, how do you go about making a track? Do you start at the bass or drums and then work up or, like me, do you start with a progression or melodic element and work down?

I'm interested in how you guys go about it.

Stray

www.mp3.com/PerpetualProductio

 

[Beathoven]

Search for sample -> "Sample It" -> Add percussions -> Add bass -> Sequence changes -> Export -> Master


Beathoven

 

[LAZI]

You can't be asking for production secrets and not give em up.

Me... I flips it. I'll try something new in a heartbeat. I've forgotten more midi sequencing tricks than i've even used. Just sitting down and starting to do something without knowing what i really want or how I'm gonna try to get it gives me some of my sickest tracks. Just start playing with some of the crazyest warmest sounds I can find until something just clicks. One note leads to another and it's over.

The majority of the time I do find myself doing the drums first. Sometimes I'll just go back and redo the drums in a track just for the hell of it. Made some tracks better and some worse.

 

[stray411]

Lazi,

I wish I had some secrets to give.

I personally do it similar to you. I just sit down at the keys and start playing with progressions and melodic elements. Once I start feeling something I go from there. Adding strings, rhythmic instruments and pads. I almost always leave bass and drums for last as I find they dictate how the track will sound and I don't want to close the door on my creativity too soon. This technique does not work well if you are confined by genre, which I am not.

I just thought of some tricks you can try though.

Layering instruments is probably the single most important thing I do. Not just layering though. Detuning and panning is the key to getting huge sounds. This is probably most effect in strings and ensemble sounds.

Ever have a drum machine sound like a turntable? I use a pitch wheel to control the pitch on one drum machine and play back a pattern on another machine. I'll have similar patterns on both and just alter the pitch (with the pitch wheel) on one to create a new rhythm. This is a real cool trick I used to use all the time. It really fattens the drum line and makes for a cool effect.

Those are the only one's coming to mind right now. None of my production techniques are secrets though, I'm always willing to share.

Stray