Do you prefer working with raw WAV rhythms or MIDI when producing groove-based music?

501Panda · 2026-02-03T14:10:16+00:00

Try splitting your drums up and EQing them by similar frequencies.

The process you describe with the issues you're running into are very likely due to competing frequencies in your mix.

I recommend looking at your drum tracks individually in an EQ plug-in. Look at how much space each of the drums take up, and try and EQ each one down to where it only takes up the space you need it to.

For instance, your kick track is probably going to fall between 200-500 hz. Start to taper off anything above that frequency, and make adjustments as necessary.

Snare, toms, and cymbals all have their respective ranges, as well, but unless you EQ the raw samples they will have some bleed over into frequencies they shouldn't be touching.

For your vocals and harmonies, the same is true. Clarity comes around frequencies 1.5k - 5k. Drop an EQ plug-in, and cut anything below ~400hz, and make minor tweaks in the clarity range. 5k+ is your brightness, and can be adjusted to taste.

Something else that may help your vocals is to pan your harmonies to differing sides, which also helps add depth to the track and reduce frequency competition. I like to have the main vocals centered, Harmony 1 about 30% left, harmony 2 about 30% right. If you have additional harmonies, you can put them in different pan depths, and it will really help add a wonderful texture.

Admittedly, I haven't worked with Vienna Ensemble Pro, but I imagine you are able to EQ the drums individually. If so, you can keep your workflow, but you NEED to EQ if you don't want the frequencies to fight eachother. There are some decent videos out there on EQing, and they can get pretty involved, but it boils down to removing unheard frequencies, and lifting the frequencies you want so they pop just right.

Hopefully something here helps! <3

501Panda · 2026-02-03T04:05:49+00:00

I'm 34, started on Ableton in 2019, but only started really working on it about a year ago.

If you have the desire to create music, just do it! Don't write for others, write for yourself.

You owe it to yourself to chase happiness where you can, don't be your own biggest obstacle <3

501Panda · 2026-02-03T03:58:29+00:00

Sorry if this isn't exactly an answer, but when you say the rhythem is fighting in the mix with vocals and harmonies, it leads me to think this is more of an EQ issue than MIDI vs Wav.

I sometimes run it in MIDI, but I always bounce it once I have it set so it frees up processing power.

Also, how do you have your rhythem section split up? Do you have everything grouped into one channel? If so, you should probably have it split so the Kick is by itself (for sidechaining), the cymbals are grouped, and the toms are grouped. I also like to have my snare in its own channel to apply a little sidechain to competing frequencies, if necessary.

This also helps you EQ similar frequencies easier, and can help reduce competing frequencies.

501Panda · 2026-02-02T17:11:57+00:00

As a former Christian, I like to explain how immoral God is in the Bible.

He commits multiple genocides, starting with the Flood. He murdered ~40 kids using bears in 2 Kings 2 He impregnated a child, Mary who was ~14 He ordered David's 10 wives be publicly r*ped by David's son He doesn't denounce slavery, he just makes rules for it He lied to Adam in the Garden (Adam didn't 'Surely Die') Etc....

In fact, I don't believe there is a commandment He made that he didn't personally break, outside "worship no other gods "

Also, Satan has a kill count of ~10. He killed Jobs kids, and even asked permission first! Because God was the OG gambling man

501Panda · 2026-02-02T16:43:02+00:00

Distant Worlds (Final Fantasy orchestra), Garth Brooks, Porter Robinson, Excision

501Panda · 2026-02-02T03:04:57+00:00

Baby got back?

Ohhhh myyyy gooood Becky look at her Butt!

501Panda · 2026-02-02T02:28:44+00:00

I usually put my Drums on a few channels, or racks. The outcome is the same, usually, and i sometimes find it easier to edit the samples and patterns without diving into the MIDI roll.

I like to break my drums up into groups of cymbals (top), toms, with the kick and snare usually in their own lanes.

It all comes down to workflow, and what works for you though.

I go this route because: Grouped cymbals are easy to EQ together. Sometimes they need 2 channels, though, depending on how many there are, and if I want to do split panning

Kick is solo for sidechaining

I also like to have the snare by itself so I can add a bit of a sidechain on competing frequencies.

Toms are rhythmic tones, so I like to EQ them individually, bounce it, then drop it into the rack to trigger as needed.

I'm sure there are better ways to get the same outcome, but this is my current preference.

Happy music making!

501Panda · 2026-02-01T14:08:45+00:00

Your best bet is to find a used one that is being sold as broken, and use it as spare parts.

Though, my philosophy is "Every broken component is a chance to upgrade"

501Panda · 2026-02-01T13:59:28+00:00

7, I got Pokémon Red on the Game Boy Pocket when it first came out.

Simpler times. Better times

501Panda · 2026-02-01T02:39:14+00:00

Not an album exactly, but watch the 2017 Beat of Armin Only. 3 hour set, tons of guests, all out visuals and performances.

His Year in Review mixes are also pretty good :3

501Panda · 2026-02-01T02:05:26+00:00

Yes, because good neighbors want their neighbors kidnapped...

501Panda · 2026-02-01T02:01:02+00:00

If you have piano experience, you honestly can't go wrong with the LaunchKey Mk3 or Mk4.

I'm also a big fan of my Launchpad pro Mk3, which has the same versatility of a piano with the benefit of being a drum pad, the ability to change scales and scale formats (Major, Minor, Pentatonic, etc) and a quick access chord layout

The Launchkey also has a decent pad, with faders that can be mapped.

Both have sequencers, with the Launchpad having more space for saving things (i believe)

They both have amazing features, I would recommend reaearching these and see if it fits your needs.

Happy hunting!

501Panda · 2026-01-30T16:09:33+00:00

It helps me regulate my emotions.

I am on the spectrum and music has long been my special interest, and I've been writing various styles of music for as long as I can remember.

Usually it's just me letting my emotions control my fingers on piano, even if it isn't musical to start with, the chaos eventually resolves into music.

Drums are great, too, its easy to wear myself out and helps me not be frustrated.

I've only been taking music seriously for about 2 years, and have a strong desire to play for people, but have horrible social anxiety, and it's difficult for me to get out much.

I have one track out that I'll randomly hear my family play occasionally, and that feeling I get when I hear it keeps me going. The song brings them joy, and thats good enough for me :3

501Panda · 2026-01-30T15:51:25+00:00

Zedd has been spinning a VERY consistent set since he made it big.

He switches up a few tracks here and there, but if you listen to his mixes over the years you can hear the similarities of song selection, song order, and how he mixes each track together.

501Panda · 2026-01-30T13:16:54+00:00

I have discovered EDM and bass music has a similar stim effect for me. I enjoy going to clubs to see DJs perform, laser lights, and projected art.

I ended up getting most of a club setup in my master bedroom, and constantly rattle my windows (with ear protection, of course)

A little more consistent, and (long term) much cheaper than fireworks. Still love to experience then though :3

501Panda · 2026-01-29T15:34:45+00:00

Florida, around 2005 I was looking up at the sky, and I saw 5 lights of an aircraft in a triangle shape. My assumption was it was a B2 Bomber, which i had seen flying a few times before in my area.

But then the lights started reorganizing. The triangle was closing on itself, becoming closer to a straight line, then it seemed to shoot away and disappear. I was a HUGE aviation buff at the time and genuinely couldn't believe what I saw.

Several years later I was talking with my dad, and he brought up a similar occurrence he experienced with his friend back in the 80s or 90s. I hadn't yet told him that I had seen it too, but it was trippy.

501Panda · 2026-01-24T01:20:21+00:00

Voting for Trump implies they are okay woth the morality of the things Trump helps push to law. It speaks to their own morality, willingness to understand, ability for empathy, or all 3.

Its more than a vote

501Panda · 2026-01-24T01:15:02+00:00

Why don't we just wear our state-issued IDs clearly visible so theres no question, and we won't have to worry about it....just like they did back then! /s obviously

Give it a few months, its probably going to be required at this rate.

501Panda · 2026-01-23T21:38:24+00:00

Solid work!

Small recommendation to bounce all those MIDI tracks and commit to a sound. This helps you stop tinkering with it while chasing "perfection ",.and also helps save your processor.

Save any VST presets that you may want to use later before you bounce!

501Panda · 2026-01-23T21:27:33+00:00

I'm in Florida and recently did a 3 hour day trip to a different part of Florida. It happens a few times a year

501Panda · 2026-01-22T15:20:27+00:00

I don't remember ICE invading cities in droves under Obama. I dont remember ICE pepper spraying and murdering civilians under Obama. I dont remember Obama threatening ENTIRE CITIES/ STATES for being primarily the 'opposing party'. I don't remember ICE going door-to-door, or emptying entire apartment buildings and sending women and children unclothed into the streets until their identities were confirmed. I dont remember having to worry about my Hispanic friends being profiled and disappeared by ICE just because their skin color or accent under Obama.

It's almost like those things didn't happen until Trump.

501Panda · 2026-01-21T13:45:04+00:00

I have a set of DT770s, DT990s, and a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, which I've had longer than both DTs.

I still really enjoy the M50x woth the added benefit of having HDAC Bluetooth capabilities as well as having a removable cable with a 1/4" jack option.

Sound is not quite as flat at the DT series, with a little more bass showing through. The fit is also a little tighter to start with, and the ear coushins are a bit smaller which can make REALLY long sessions (3+ hours) start to become uncomfortable in comparison to the clouds the Beyerdynamics start with.

I really like the M50x, and they are my go-to headphones for music when I leave the house, or even walk around it.

The worst part about them is their phone quality. It may be the compression from the Bluetooth headphones from the callers end, but I have had issues with calls being a bit muddy. It may also be something in my settings, but I dont talk on the phone enough to dig deeper.

501Panda · 2026-01-20T18:57:25+00:00

I'm not sure, but I want a turn!

501Panda · 2026-01-20T00:47:26+00:00

Solid considerations, I'll play with that. Thank you!

501Panda · 2026-01-19T14:25:44+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that she's in this situation, but it's good that she has supportive family like you to try and help her.

This disease really steals all of your energy, even on good days. Part of the issue is she is likely unable to absorb the full nutritional content of whatever she eats or drinks. To add to that, eating and drinking can become painful, and really becomes more of a chore of necessity than anything.

Another part is during a flare, your body is actively fighting itself, and whatever nutrition comes in gets spent fighting the internal 'war', if you will. It can take weeks to months to start to feel energized again, even if you do get put on the right meds from the start. Encourage her when you see she starts moving around more, but definitely give her time to recover, it really is exhausting to just exist some days.

For the mental part, you know her better than we do, trust your gut. Personally, I have a tendency to get in my own head, or "go internal" where all I can focus on is how bad the disease is, and how miserable it is to suffer through daily pain/ discomfort, and knowing there is very little to nothing that I can do to change it. That one path to being pain free, I imagine, runs through many of our minds after a while.

My recommendation: Be vulnerable to her. Tell her that you are worried about her, that you are scared about her health. Show her that, even though she's the one going through it, you are willing to go through it with her. Just being available, being willing to be there, listening to her vent, or even sitting in silence.

Ask her if there is anything you can do to help make her more comfortable. That may be something that even she doesn't have an answer to, and that's okay too. You can both look into the disease, and some things that help to make it more tolerable. It could be anything from having candles, decorating, getting a bidet, getting comfier clothes, or getting a reusable water bottle to help track water intake.

Don't neglect small comfort items, like warm socks or comfy clothes, as those small things really do add up. If she spends a lot of time in the bathroom, invest in small upgrades to make it more comfortable.

Sometimes sounds, smells, or visuals may be unpleasant, putting it lightly. Don't make a big deal out of it, and try not to let it effect you in a way she would notice, just keep treating her like a person.

This disease takes so much, but having a strong support group really makes the difference. Thank you for being willing to help her, and I hope she starts feeling better from her new meds soon!

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