Questions tagged [production]
For questions regarding the creation, recording, mixing, and mastering of music.
144
questions
1
vote
2
answers
4k
views
Connecting a Looper to a Guitar Multieffects Pedal
I want to practice guitar silently via headphones using a looper (Boss RC-30) and a multieffects pedal (Im considering the Boss GT-100).
The Multieffect board has an fx loop (send/return). I'm ...
2
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Focusrite Saffire (56 and others?) "no hardware connected" on windows 10
Spoiler: At least for my issue I found a solution, see my answer for that.
Recently I got back into recording and wanted to connect my Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 to my Windows 10 machine. AFAIK the ...
8
votes
3
answers
33k
views
How to make a sound appear to be more distant?
I have made a recording of a source close to the microphone.
How can I make it sound more distant than it is? Which effects do I need to use for this task?
(I need an imitation of small room. ...
4
votes
1
answer
44
views
How do I transfer my garageband project to logic pro without the vocals messing up?
I exported a project to logic from garageband and everything lined up PERFECTLY. I got so excited because I recorded this song years ago before I had logic. I thought everything was perfect until I ...
1
vote
2
answers
74
views
What should be key considerations when splicing drum loops?
In this post, I asked you all about isolating individual hits from a drum loop. This was important to me because I wanted to actually edit the drum loops to create my own version of the original.
...
1
vote
1
answer
337
views
Where are these audio clicks coming from Ableton Live 11 Suite?
Audio clicks and pops in Ableton are nothing new to me. Needing to fade audio clicks at the beginning (and sometimes ending) of clips is part of my workflow if I don't want to re-record an instrument,...
3
votes
3
answers
135
views
How do I convert drum loops purchased online into MIDI drum racks in my DAW?
I am totally new to the world of loops, which seem to be a pretty big deal for some genres, such as EDM and techno. I've always taken pride in creating my drum beats from scratch and modifying the ...
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can you bass boost a song repeatedly?
I was using a plugin/service to bass boost a song when this question came to mind:
Can you Bass Boost a song that has already been Bass Boosted after being Bass Boosted? In other words, can you ...
8
votes
5
answers
10k
views
How to remove reverb from a recording of a voice?
How to remove reverb from a recorded voice?
Is there a difference between a monophonic audio signal and a stereophonic reverb related to this removal process?
1
vote
0
answers
52
views
Music Practice Question (I think?)So I tried replicating notes of one piano to my piano, same notes, but it still sounds different - help? [closed]
I’m an amateur. I also have the sheet music stuff with me as well, and I have reference to the sound.
My attempt sounds about similar, but the original music seems a bit higher. I’ve copied the notes ...
11
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Can I turn any synthesized instrument into a bass by lowering the frequency?
In terms of electronic music, when I'm picking a "bass" can I choose any instrument, including leads, and just set that instrument to be of lower frequency (lowering the octave) in order to create a ...
7
votes
4
answers
982
views
How to make something sound REALLY far away
I'm trying to add some trumpet solo into my film and I want to make it feel like you are in the school and someone is playing it in the far away playground/another building.
For (1) post-production, I ...
4
votes
0
answers
103
views
Ableton Push Start/Stop with a Sustain Pedal
MacBook Pro (Big Sur 11.5.2)
Ableton Intro
Ableton Push 2
OnStage KSP20 (the sustain pedal)
Is there a way to get an Ableton Push 2 to play/stop via a foot pedal? My sister has a gig in a few days and ...
1
vote
0
answers
23
views
Show automation missing from tool bar - LogicProX
Hey guys I was working on this project and suddenly the automation button is no longer showing on the look bar.
I can access it individually for each track or through the 'show automation' command on ...
9
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is the number of keys on a controller keyboard important in music production?
Recently, I've been doing bedroom productions as a personal hobby, and I've been thinking of buying a midi keyboard, a digital piano, or a synthesizer to help me produce songs.
Right now, I'm using ...
2
votes
0
answers
43
views
Is there an equivalent to "format painter" (Microsoft formatting tool) in Ableton when editing MIDI notes?
For example, I recently had a two MIDI chords. They were the same chord, but one was eighth notes and the other was quarter notes. Is there a quick way to apply the "formatting" (read: ...
2
votes
2
answers
136
views
Talking with the audience in a show [closed]
How long is most practical for talking to the audience to create interest?
Why talking to the audience is important to create excitement?
When is the best timing in a performance for talking to the ...
1
vote
2
answers
109
views
Using Synthesis to Create Original Sounds
Many videos I've watched on synthesis aim at emulating physical instrument sounds (or sometimes physical sound effects), with the pursuit of realism as a guiding principle. At first, this struck me ...
2
votes
1
answer
125
views
Do electronic instruments need to be EQ'd?
Producers use EQ to shape sound generally, but I know a particularly useful feature of EQ is the ability to cut frequencies that are unwanted. For sounds that are created/designed digitally, though, ...
0
votes
1
answer
116
views
How to produce punchy cinematic sound?
Folks:
I am in the production stage of one of my songs. I tried to give it to mixing and mastering engineers to do it. The problem is like finding a needle in a haystack. Everyone claims to be an ...
3
votes
2
answers
275
views
Aggregate audio interfaces and use outputs into analog mixer - possible?
Can two USB audio interfaces be aggregated together, with the intention of using all its outputs to connect to the inputs of 12 or 20 track analog mixers that are usually used for live-sound? Secondly,...
4
votes
3
answers
222
views
How to properly record electric guitar?
I want to record my electric guitar for the sake of making covers as well as my own music, however I'm having trouble getting a good tone. I have 3 possible approaches (one of which has worked fairly ...
0
votes
1
answer
951
views
What is the best WAV encoding and why? [closed]
I'm using Audacity to export a track, and there are just too many options to encode a .wav export:
Signed 16/24/32-bit PCM
Unsigned 8-bit PCM
32/64-bit float
U-Law, A-Law
IMA ADPCM, Microsoft ADPCM
...
2
votes
2
answers
5k
views
How can I transpose an audio track in Logic Pro X without having the duration changed?
I'm recording vocal audio tracks, but I don't reach some pitches (like a C2) so i tried singing the parts one octave higher and using the transposition feature in the inspector (Shortcut: "i"...
-1
votes
3
answers
166
views
What's wrong with my wave? It looks fat
I compared the waves of the track of someone else and my own and my track is very thick. Can you please explain who knows what's wrong with my wave? I think a thick wave like this means a lot of bass? ...
9
votes
2
answers
398
views
Types of synths used in modern guitar-based music
I have a solo project where I write rock/metal, and I am interested in adding synths to my music in order to expand the sonic possibilities, add more interesting textures, make the tracks sound bigger ...
4
votes
3
answers
83
views
Instrument plugins with weak attacks
I have some instrument plugins that have unfortunately weak attacks -- by this I mean it sounds like they have an ADSR envelope with an attack value higher than I would like, so it makes the ...
2
votes
1
answer
83
views
How can I make my vocals stand out without ducking the instrumental in my EDM drop?
I'm pretty excited about my new EDM track, but first I better figure out how to make the vocal chops in my drop stop making the instrumental sounds duck (especially the melody synth). You can really ...
0
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why get an audio interface if I could just use USB?
I have a USB mic, USB midi controller, and monitors that use a regular 3.5mm jack connected directly to my computer. I was wondering why people get audio interfaces? Is there something they provide ...
4
votes
1
answer
99
views
Mix is not static?
For example I deal with volume. In some parts tracks sits nice with other sounds and etc, e.g. works. In some parts of the track when some instruments drop then some tracks sounds too loud so I think ...
1
vote
1
answer
118
views
For electronic music production, are there any differences between using small synths vs big synths?
This is a newbie question by someone who is just learning to play piano.
On YouTube there are some talented musicians that play and remake famous electronic music riffs and tunes.
One group uses very ...
-3
votes
1
answer
96
views
How to flatten frequencies like that
What I just didn’t work out. No multiband compressor will work that way. It's only a clipper or distortion that can do that.
0
votes
0
answers
55
views
Recording with Scarlett 2i4 in Audacity (Mac)
I want to record audio into Audacity via Scarlett 2i4 audio interface (connected to a Behringer DDM4000) on Mac, but I does not show up in the drop down list, I only see the integrated microfone, ...
2
votes
4
answers
942
views
Is the audio in mp3 and video files the same?
For example: I'm listening to an artist's album on my PC. The tracks are mp3 audio. I then listen to the YouTube official video clip, and what I find is that audio in the video of the same track ...
0
votes
1
answer
140
views
When To Register With Peforming Rights Organization, such as PRS or BMI?
I am a newbie freelance musician. I make music of various genres but my main work will be in ambient type music I will be uploading on my own Youtube page and Spotify.
I will also be making a range of ...
2
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What are the benefits of stereo or mono recording?
Is there any difference between recording in mono or in stereo? Does stereo convey more atmosphere?
What is the use of recording in stereo or mono? And what do you recommend?
1
vote
4
answers
94
views
Is it necessary to be a performing musician to be a music producer?
Is it necessary to be a performing musician to be a music producer?
I have some years experience playong guitar and keyboard. I just know how to play Gymnopédie nº 1 by Satie. On these two instruments ...
7
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Covering songs by other artists - does money change hands?
Many bands cover songs by other bands, unofficially at concerts, or usually on live recordings (for example, Kurt doing Man Who Sold the World by David Bowie, at an MTV unplugged concert.
I always ...
2
votes
3
answers
114
views
Where can I find useful stuff to learn music production?
I'm trying to learn how to produce music. More specifically, I use a lot of MIDI for orchestral/chamber works. And as a classically trained musician, I don't find it useful when they start trying to ...
0
votes
2
answers
99
views
How to practice hearing what other people hear and techniques to detect I'm diverging
I'm not hearing sound objectively.
For example when I produce music, even after the final mixdown, I think my brain is actually adding things that aren't objectively there. Not entire instruments and ...
3
votes
1
answer
99
views
Arrangment/voicing vs EQ/production
When composing rock/pop music, I am wondering, when considering the timbre of the guitars, whether focus should be placed on voicings (power chords vs barre chords vs single notes etc) or simply on ...
2
votes
3
answers
213
views
What’s the Purpose of “Mixing” a song
Can someone explain to me what the purpose of a “mixing down” a song is, and the purpose of it is. Oftentimes, next to certain pieces equipment, a “mixer” is regarded as probably the most important ...
8
votes
2
answers
219
views
How does sound design affect musical composition?
For the purposes of this question, I'm using definitions commonly used in electronic music production:
Sound design: The creation of single sounds, that can be used in a composition. For example, ...
3
votes
1
answer
204
views
How is voice processed in Elliott Smith's Angeles?
I've been wondering how is the voice processed in Elliot Smith's song Angeles.
My guess is that it's duplicated (maybe recorded twice? That would already make them a little different) and then eqed ...
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Are studio monitors necessary for producing tracks?
Studio monitors are expensive. Excellent quality headphones are cheap.
When I look at how people listen to music, it's almost always on earphones, headphones or cheap small speakers.
Are studio ...
3
votes
1
answer
102
views
How do DAWs work, and specifically, communicate?
I have done very little in the way of production other than use GarageBand a little, but from what I've read, DAWs allow applications to be chained together. But how?
I had pictured they might expose ...
0
votes
1
answer
198
views
What order should I use guitar amp, sims and cabs in?
Please explain to me what’s what and why?
There are many plugins on the Internet. I do not understand. There are amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, pedals. Then there are cabinets, impulse loaders, what are ...
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Can you use a midi controller without knowing how to play any instrument?
Can someone without any instrument experience create a song "by ear" using a midi controller?
Or would you recommend getting a piano keyboard, learning how to play it first, and then use the midi ...
7
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Does including a sport commentator voice in a music track make me owe him mechanical royalties?
If I make some electronic music and it contains voice of a sport commentator (soccer game) over the music of my production, then when publishing the track, do I owe this commentator any royalties?
...
4
votes
3
answers
373
views
I find it hard to understand compression
Unlike other effects, compression seems to be the hardest for me to recognize as there's no much of notable change when it's applied, so how do you determine if your drums need to be compressed or not?...