I suck. Bad. Please help.
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I suck. Bad. Please help.
Ive been "playing" electronic music now for 10 mnths. I am completely committed, have read books, watched videos, i spend every min i can "practicing". I love it and i want to be good so bad but nothing is happening for me. I wont quit. Thats outta the ?. I dont know anyone else who duz this so theres noone to learn from. Ive been a musician for 30 yrs so i know it takes puttn in the hrs. I know my instuments pretty good im just having the worst time takin off. Anything helps.
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FranciscoArellano
- Junior Member
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 3:29 pm
What do you mean? No inspiration?
When I started making electronic music, it was 8 months ago. I got the emx1. For me, it was something like instant love with the machine. I was able to do what I always wanted to do: drums and melodies, modify sounds and "perform" live. Some knobs I had no idea what were for. I never made bass, because I had no idea how to make them and how were done, etc.
I wanted to create some dnb music because I loved Seba/Paradox kind of dnb, but of course it was imposible for me. I also liked some techno music but, still, imposible for me.
Like you, I started reading things, watching almost every tutorial I saw on the net. Still, every week I find myself surprised for things I didn't know about the machine.
That said, I just relaxed my idea of "I want to do this kind of stuff" and felt free to make whatever came to my mind. The result was awesome. Of course now I hear many of the stuff and I can hear my own progress.
Well, the thing is, I think I was lucky enough because the emx1 ALWAYS inspires me to do things. Its such a great machine. I guess if I had bought another hardware maybe my interest would have been different.
I got volca bass and beats and at first I was very annoyed because had no idea how to use them and I guess that if I had got them before, I wouldn't be able to do things with them because the workflow is different to the one of the emx1.
I also got a System1 and haven't done much with it, besides using it to midi control the notes on the emx1 and some leads.
One of the things I realized is that I wasn't listening electronic music and that of course reduced my knowledge. After 8 months practicing, I can now realized what people do with their songs. And then listening it becomes pleasurable and also very instructional and inspiring. I have realized that when I listen more music, I then feel more inspired and thins flow more easily. For example, yesterday I listened techno for like 5 hours and thought "I have never used my bass this way, I'll try how to make it". Then I came home and now I'm working on a new song.
Okay, that being said, I can advice you three things:
1.-Maybe your machines are not the ones that suit you more. Try others.
2.- Let things flow. If you come from another musical genre, let it guide you (my first tracks were very ambient and inspired on the music I used to make 10 years ago: metal).
3.- Listen to music with the same dedication you practice.
oh... and 4.- I don't use computers. I love hardware. I didn't realized that till I tried them.
Well, that's my experience, I hope it might help you.
Greetings!
When I started making electronic music, it was 8 months ago. I got the emx1. For me, it was something like instant love with the machine. I was able to do what I always wanted to do: drums and melodies, modify sounds and "perform" live. Some knobs I had no idea what were for. I never made bass, because I had no idea how to make them and how were done, etc.
I wanted to create some dnb music because I loved Seba/Paradox kind of dnb, but of course it was imposible for me. I also liked some techno music but, still, imposible for me.
Like you, I started reading things, watching almost every tutorial I saw on the net. Still, every week I find myself surprised for things I didn't know about the machine.
That said, I just relaxed my idea of "I want to do this kind of stuff" and felt free to make whatever came to my mind. The result was awesome. Of course now I hear many of the stuff and I can hear my own progress.
Well, the thing is, I think I was lucky enough because the emx1 ALWAYS inspires me to do things. Its such a great machine. I guess if I had bought another hardware maybe my interest would have been different.
I got volca bass and beats and at first I was very annoyed because had no idea how to use them and I guess that if I had got them before, I wouldn't be able to do things with them because the workflow is different to the one of the emx1.
I also got a System1 and haven't done much with it, besides using it to midi control the notes on the emx1 and some leads.
One of the things I realized is that I wasn't listening electronic music and that of course reduced my knowledge. After 8 months practicing, I can now realized what people do with their songs. And then listening it becomes pleasurable and also very instructional and inspiring. I have realized that when I listen more music, I then feel more inspired and thins flow more easily. For example, yesterday I listened techno for like 5 hours and thought "I have never used my bass this way, I'll try how to make it". Then I came home and now I'm working on a new song.
Okay, that being said, I can advice you three things:
1.-Maybe your machines are not the ones that suit you more. Try others.
2.- Let things flow. If you come from another musical genre, let it guide you (my first tracks were very ambient and inspired on the music I used to make 10 years ago: metal).
3.- Listen to music with the same dedication you practice.
oh... and 4.- I don't use computers. I love hardware. I didn't realized that till I tried them.
Well, that's my experience, I hope it might help you.
Greetings!
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Spheric El
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 795
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:32 pm
- Location: Liverpool
Nicely put Francisco .I like the bit were you used metal to inform your ambience 
I need a mixer to make music. And have a recorder plugged on the end so I record instantly. I use a cd burner with remote. Just hit the big red button and capture everything as I hear it ,then jam with my machines. Only hit record when its sounding good all of a sudden . The desk helps it get there. Then I ride about on the filters and envelopes, muting machines via desk and rely on a heavey effect section - 4 KPs plus reverbs. Build up ,make noise ,chill down ,end.
Then stop the cd. If its full I eject ,throw it in the cd deck (player) and start all over again on top for a 2nd remix pass.
I usually use about 3 synths or drums. ER1 ,Monotribe, TB3, volca keys, miniak keyboard..
But the set up changes ,mixing desk (or two) are always used for me.
You can us a computer to record to with Audacity or Ableton (instead of my burner) but for me its not as instant. I can always import my CDs to audacity or something else, but I agree with above about a mouse and screen. It give a total different experience (less live) and different outcome.
I need a mixer to make music. And have a recorder plugged on the end so I record instantly. I use a cd burner with remote. Just hit the big red button and capture everything as I hear it ,then jam with my machines. Only hit record when its sounding good all of a sudden . The desk helps it get there. Then I ride about on the filters and envelopes, muting machines via desk and rely on a heavey effect section - 4 KPs plus reverbs. Build up ,make noise ,chill down ,end.
Then stop the cd. If its full I eject ,throw it in the cd deck (player) and start all over again on top for a 2nd remix pass.
I usually use about 3 synths or drums. ER1 ,Monotribe, TB3, volca keys, miniak keyboard..
But the set up changes ,mixing desk (or two) are always used for me.
You can us a computer to record to with Audacity or Ableton (instead of my burner) but for me its not as instant. I can always import my CDs to audacity or something else, but I agree with above about a mouse and screen. It give a total different experience (less live) and different outcome.
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Spheric El
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 795
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:32 pm
- Location: Liverpool
Pigdogsux
Thanx for the words guys. Means alot. Ill put them to use and patch on. Right now im using volca bass, keys and fm w an akai rhythm wolf and kaossilator 2. I have so much fun w them. I also have a volca sample and electribe s m 2 but i dont use them. They just aren't fun. Oh, im going thru an 8 channel behringer xenyx ufx 1204.
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Spheric El
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 795
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:32 pm
- Location: Liverpool
Cool.
Is that the electribe sampler 2?
About the rhythm wolf, seen some terrible reviews on YouTube.Really put me off..but if its workin for you ,then don't listen to me. The problem was mainly having to tune it periodicly with a computer..like every half hour or so, by connecting USB& audio cables. If its sounding poor,check with a guitar tuner.
But hay, I don't own one, just what I've heard.
Is that the electribe sampler 2?
About the rhythm wolf, seen some terrible reviews on YouTube.Really put me off..but if its workin for you ,then don't listen to me. The problem was mainly having to tune it periodicly with a computer..like every half hour or so, by connecting USB& audio cables. If its sounding poor,check with a guitar tuner.
But hay, I don't own one, just what I've heard.
Its an ealier eletribe from 2001 i think. I havnt had to tune my akai yet and i use the hell out ov it, its a fun machine, i like it much more than volca beats. I took everyone's kind words and have been jamming alot since. It'll come, i want it that bad. I cld just use a support system here n there. Can u turn me on to any artists that use hardware?
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Spheric El
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 795
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:32 pm
- Location: Liverpool
Good stuff ,keep the faith.
Artists..well Aphex Twin springs to mind.
Brian Eno has a nice new LP out.
But check Cuckoo on YouTube.
A lot of the exciting stuff now is bedroom producers..this community.
I will highly recommend Kink live. Check his boiler room set or his radio dub set and watch how he jams tracks live...real inspiration.He even does an interview on YouTube, explaining his workflow. Sorry no links ,just check kink on YouTube.
Artists..well Aphex Twin springs to mind.
Brian Eno has a nice new LP out.
But check Cuckoo on YouTube.
A lot of the exciting stuff now is bedroom producers..this community.
I will highly recommend Kink live. Check his boiler room set or his radio dub set and watch how he jams tracks live...real inspiration.He even does an interview on YouTube, explaining his workflow. Sorry no links ,just check kink on YouTube.
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FranciscoArellano
- Junior Member
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 3:29 pm
Do not force yourself.
You have expectatives about what you're doing, you are waiting for a result. That creates anxiety and do not let your ideas flow because you're not focused on what "you like", what you "feel" whenever something comes to you, but on what you "think is good or bad". Good or bad is judgement, has nothing to do with inspiration. If what comes from your inspiration is good or bad, that comes later and usually it doesn't matter.
I highly recommend you to get a week off music. Do other things. Go to the countryside with no musical instruments near. When you come back, you'll have another aura, another energy. You'll miss your music.
Realign yourself.
Peace.
You have expectatives about what you're doing, you are waiting for a result. That creates anxiety and do not let your ideas flow because you're not focused on what "you like", what you "feel" whenever something comes to you, but on what you "think is good or bad". Good or bad is judgement, has nothing to do with inspiration. If what comes from your inspiration is good or bad, that comes later and usually it doesn't matter.
I highly recommend you to get a week off music. Do other things. Go to the countryside with no musical instruments near. When you come back, you'll have another aura, another energy. You'll miss your music.
Realign yourself.
Peace.
Man, u guys are great, thanx. I thought aphex twin was just software. Thats cool as hell. Makes him even more badass. I love all the stuff on YouTube. Alot ov talented folks out there. A week away from playin sounds torturous but ill give it a cpl days. Willin to try anything. One more thing real quick. How do i connect a monotron delay up to my system to work w my instruments? Directly to a volca or to my board?
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FranciscoArellano
- Junior Member
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2015 3:29 pm
I don't know cuz' I don't have one.Pigdog wrote:Man, u guys are great, thanx. I thought aphex twin was just software. Thats cool as hell. Makes him even more badass. I love all the stuff on YouTube. Alot ov talented folks out there. A week away from playin sounds torturous but ill give it a cpl days. Willin to try anything. One more thing real quick. How do i connect a monotron delay up to my system to work w my instruments? Directly to a volca or to my board?
The way I do it is this: I have all my synths and drums and stuff connected to a mixer. The output of the mixer I connect it to a Kaosspad3+ (effects processor), and from there, I connect to speakers.
Yep. Im there. System is fine. Can u clock the kaossilator 2 directly to volca? It seems to go in n out a1/2 step. I think ill take the other guys advice and stay away for a few. Its gna b hard. Like u, im in love w my machines. Do u take a day or so off as well? I c ur from Liverpool. My grandmother is from Birmingham.
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Spheric El
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 795
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:32 pm
- Location: Liverpool
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Spheric El
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 795
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:32 pm
- Location: Liverpool
As for mono delay ..
It works best as insert effect,not send effect as it passes through the dry original instrument.
If your desk has prefade FX send then use that and turn down instrument channel to zero.This gives flexibility of choice without re patching cables.
If desk FX is post fade send then I'd recommend inserting your Volcas etc direct into Monotron for effecting.
It works best as insert effect,not send effect as it passes through the dry original instrument.
If your desk has prefade FX send then use that and turn down instrument channel to zero.This gives flexibility of choice without re patching cables.
If desk FX is post fade send then I'd recommend inserting your Volcas etc direct into Monotron for effecting.