My way of Producing/Mixing

[DEEPHOUSEHEAD]

I find Talk of computers,sequencers,software and anything of the like,
very boring when it comes to discussing Production and Writing.
I don't hear how Mac,PC,an old shcool sequencer,etc,makes any difference to the end result

If we we're disussing Engineering and Programming,well thats another story,and I'm sure points could be raised from this point of view from the operator of applicable device.

As for Production and Writing,we human beings are instruments,
And need nothing but ourselves to transmit an idea.The Creator has given us vocal CHORDS,and ability to feel rythm.

I've been Producing for some years now,and early on,became very uninterested in changing technology.I found myself learning the basics of a sampler,or sequencer,or drum maching,for it to only become obsolete (with the acception of some choice pieces)
Idea(s),and someone who knows how to operate the music creating devices,is all that is needed to Produce ,(for just writing,no operator of anything is needed).

Ofcourse,without the general understanding and knowledge of Production/mixing/studio Vocabulary,music (and instrument)terminology(s),and training ear to understand exactly what certain sounds are called,
I would'nt get very far,
but I hav'ent found that much more than just that is neccesary.

My advise is simply concentrate on conceptual understanding of building a song/track.
It does'nt change for the most part with time.
Though,always keep up to date with whats out there and happening.
Technology is ever changing,and unless it is truly your passion,your just contributing to keeping the applicable companies in business(the companies which manufacture the devices).

A good song/track is just that.
The only thing that changes,with time,for a good song/track are
the devices that are used to take it from an idea and bring it forward.

Crazy thing is,is the best ones are the simplest.

[C hristian]

very true. I've been thinking much along the same lines recently. Which brings me to my next question that i had for you all...how do you handle all the constant change in technology? what things do you constantly update and stay on the leading edge of, and what hardware/software do you keep using, even after it's now considered "low-tech" in comparison? When do you update your gear? what makes you decide?

this is how/why fashions/trends in music come and go, the advent of new gear.

[Brian]

i'm a bit of a hardware collector, but i've switched to using primarily software because of the efficiency of a software based studio compared to a hardware based one (switching projects is as simple as opening a different file, no recording settings, resetting the mixer, etc.). i keep up with technology until i find what meets my needs, so for now i am set with the software i am using and i'm not paying as much attention to all the latest plugins, effects and so on.

while i agree with the idea that it's the music that matters and you have to avoid getting caught up in the technology to the point that you lose sight of the music, i don't understand the desire to downplay the importance of changing technology. changing technology and people who have focused on it have played such a major part in dance music over the years ... what if kraftwerk had taken this kind of disinterested stance on technology?

[ December 22, 2003, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: Brian ]

[O'love]

it's true: a good hook is a good hook...it doesn't need flawless production...but a flawless production will make a song with a good hook even better sounding..... maybe if only for fellow producers, but it's a good thing to aim for imho...

it's all tools..what works for you is good...

personally, i use software a lot, i am kind of chaotic and lazy, and i love the totall recall software offers....also i love experimenting with new technologies, so with all the plugins being released i am a happy camper...

but in the end i only use a few plugins and software packages, and i also use hardware soundsources...i try to use the best of both worlds: analogue hardware, and an FM synth unit, akai drumpads and a synth with lots of sliders and knobs to quickly program both my hard- and software...

i tend to record my midi hardware into my DAW software, and mute the midi-parts, and process the recorded audio, so i have all the tracks when i load the file in 2 years time..... i also tend to send tracks or submixes into hardware processing devices like tube-amps or tube compressors, or my nord micromodular....and then re-record them into my PC......

so the end-station is always audio inside my PC.....

i tend to sketch out songs either in Propellerheads Reason on my PC, or on my yamaha Rm1x hardware sequencer....the sounds aren't all that, but very usefull for quickly sketching out ideas..... although these will always be loop-based, i can quickly export the ideas on MIDI files into my PC and start arranging in a lineair fashion..

Olaf