Korg Forums

jazlover · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject:

Here is my method with a warning. This is not very efficient and it seldom takes you where you think you are going. My ideas are always changing as I hear the results. So you may find this precarious. I am usually inspired by a progression, a groove or some idea in my head. After I have a groove or progression, I build around it. I try to find the melody that I want. Then I improvise on the other tracks. The biggest problems with my method is that my recordings are audio, primarily 1st or 2nd takes. That means that my songs are not sychronized to a drum track or anything else. Since it is live recording (not midi) I can't go back and quantize the instruments. I need to find more efficient way of working. Editing on the D1600 is not as precise as on a DAW. But I love the D1600. It is a great machine. The thing I like about the way I work is that, if I am not moved by the sounds they don't stay. If the sounds moves me hopefully they will move others.

Febuary's OSAM I approached with the idea of an acoustic suite. With perhaps a Spanish and European sound in my head. The song is called A Spanish Lady in White (Senora en blanca). My biggest problem has been getting it down to a workable size. I have cut out various parts and it is still long. After cutting out part I am trying to piece it together so that it sounds like one song. We will see what happens.

I plan to experiment this OSAM. The songs should all be different hopefully.
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JonSolo · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:55 am Post subject:

This sounds fantastic jaz...I cannot wait to hear it.

Again, size does not matter (no worries, no stupid jokes attached this time).

We are coming to the line this week boys and girls...and we are not past the halfway point for entries. Sad

georgeinar · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:32 am Post subject:

Yeah, I've been waiting for March to start so I can post my electro ballad. I think everyone is going to want to add tracks to this one, like Stephen said he would add a guitar track. But I'll post what Ihave first and see if he wants to do a lead on it as well then we can compare the 2 versions.
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DrWho · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject:

Yea - we all work our own way - the thing is that we all have to develop our own say to make tunes. This is probably the one thing that isn't taught in any class / manual / users guide etc. Funny thing is that I actually expected some process to be given in the Korg docs. but there wasn't any.

There are 2 key things that I need to make tunes. One is a lot of what I call "seed" material. And creating seed material can be spares for weeks. So when I am in the mood so to speak, I'll just let the recorder record for the most part. In this way I build up many bits of musical ideas - most of which never get used. Kinda like kiss many frogs looking for a princess.

Then I find one or two that I want to work with, and suck them into my audio software - which lets me arrange each piece as a little object. Then I build my tune by placing these objects on different tracks at different places in the song. Sort of connect the boxes. To create more boxes to link up - I go back to the original sound settings, and work with them - this can take ages - to produce better variants. These get sucked into the PC, and around and around I go until I am completely burned out with the tune after listening to it a zillion times.

Then I take a break.

Then I go around some more.

Then I take a break. Then I hope I am not out of time.

Then I take another break.

Then work on the audio characteristics - panning / fading, voice quality - trying to polish it up. Sometimes I have to go back to a snippet and redo it - so good notes about what sound what tweaks were made - what key etc .... all needed!

Whew - time to take a break Smile

={> Art
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DrWho · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject:

Hmm .. can't start anew thread.

This is a test.
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Lorenzo · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject:

finished!
Regards, Lorenzo
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chordial · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:29 pm Post subject:

I've always sequened everything up on the Triton, usually to the metronome for timing, and then added my own drum track later. The problem is that there's no groove. Being late in osam, I tried something different this time. Found a drum track (in the D1600 - I agree Jazzy, great machine) that had the right sort of feel and then added all the parts live. Took a few retakes, and maybe some parts are slightly out, the this seems like a much more 'musical' way of working.

Lorenzo - cool track, will post in the osam thread when it's fixed Smile

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JonSolo · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject:

Lorenzo · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

Daz · Retired Joined: 01 Jan 2002 Posts: 10829

DrWho · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:28 am Post subject:

Daz - you hit some key points man! Actually all of those points are key !!

For me #1 was akiller - it is sooooo true. For years I thought those anointed would just cut out a tune in one pass or two - as if the song would just materialize in your head and come out as your working on it. It is so NOT like that! It takes work - but knowing that it takes work is key to beating back your worst enemy = yourself!

The only one I don't agree with completely is #5. I need the 'warmth' to get the creative juices flowing. There is risk is saturating a part of the spectrum - it happened to me on one of my tunes in OSAM 1 - Caravan. I had to fix that after the fact, but because everything was in midi - I was able to make adjustments without too much fuss.
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JonSolo · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:50 am Post subject:

Daz you are dead on bro!

For me point 3 was a heavy. And perhaps one of the most vital.

If I can add a tad bit to that, maybe a number 6: environment. That is a huge part of the flow. Interruptions, bad lighting (not necessarily too dim or too bright, just BAD), poor choice of colors on the wall, etc. are all part of the work flow. Even the people that are around can influence the process in a negative way.

But you were right on all points... Except, I think your number 5 is not critical to a songwriter as much as it is to a keyboardist arranger. I say this because I tend to view a "song" a little differently that what I have read others views here.

When I write a song it is about the song, not the arrangement. It can be played on almost any instrument and with any style attached to it from hip hop to heavy metal to opera if the need be. The reason this does NOT conflict with my strong belief in your number 3 is that you have to be familiar with the instrument in which you are writing with and the operation of it (even if we are merely talking about your voice and vocal, as you can damage that with misuse) in order to successfully write the song. It might even just be in your head.

Jon

FOOTNOTE: George you got your hands full today, but don't forget to update the list!!!! Wink

georgeinar · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:20 am Post subject:

I'll probably update tonight when I get home from work. I am so pleased at the rush of songs now. I was worried, but my fingers were crossed big time. Are we missing anybody at this point? I'll have to check tonight. What an exciting month.
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DrWho · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:37 am Post subject:

Way cool check marks George Cool

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JonSolo · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:39 am Post subject: