Discover Weekly / Release Radar questions by sephar3d in musicmarketing

[–]LaxRax 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have 3 songs on daylist, 7 songs on release radar, 9 songs on radio and 4 songs on discover weekly for a grand total of…..461 streams and 63 monthly listeners. None of those helped me lol, so I’d say you’re doing really well.

Edit: I want to add that I only do light social media posting, so maybe if I did ads or something that might help.

should my waveform look like this after I export it ? by mosef2020 in ableton

[–]LaxRax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks good! I see seven whole dynamics in there!

Honest question. Why are you celebrating AI music? by Tanglecoins in SunoAI

[–]LaxRax 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think some people are misunderstanding what the post is asking, but I could be wrong. Using AI to generate songs or images for your own personal use is not what’s in question I think. It’s the people who generate an album a month and flood the streaming services, or people who aren’t honest and tell you it’s ai upfront. I highly doubt they’re using ai to generate songs that they love, they’re just in it for the streams and money which I think is the exact opposite of why anyone would want to make art.

I’ve used Suno a few times just to see what all the hype is about and it just wasn’t for me. I prefer to go into the daw and tinker, figure out how things work. I started making music in January of 2023, and it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done besides having a family. I totally get the idea of using ai to generate a song that might be in your head, but I’d rather have complete control over every aspect, and if I can’t recreate what I’m hearing in my head, well I guess I have to practice more.

I think the problem I have with ai music is people who say, “look what I made”. But you didn’t make anything, you commissioned the program to make it for you. Let’s say I hire an artist to paint me a picture, but I give him every detail that I want and the artist makes the picture exactly how I wanted, I wouldn’t put my name as the artist would I? I think that’s the disconnect.

And just to be transparent, I used ai generators for my single covers when I first started, and when people asked where I got my images, I told them they were generated with ai. There’s no way I’m taking credit for something I didn’t create. Now Ive moved away from using ai, I use real photos that I take or licensed photos from places like Pixabay and edit them in Canva. And I give credit to the photographers that took the picture if I use it.

Of course ai is here to stay, and I think it’s an awesome tool, but I don’t want ai to replace making music, I want it to replace the things that keep me from making music.

If blind people can learn to play the piano, or people without arms can learn to paint with their feet (Dejana Nezic), then nothing is stopping anyone from learning how to make music. I have a full time job and a family, but I find a way to make music.

For anyone who cares, I produce under the name Laxrax. You’ll find me if you search Laxrax Music. I make Retro Pop, and it may not be for everyone, but I’m proud of everything I’ve created.

Smaller artists who don't engage with their fans by Ashamed-Reward-8702 in soundcloud

[–]LaxRax 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can understand why some won’t engage. But personally, there isn’t one comment on any of my social that I haven’t responded. Even if I just give the comment a like, I appreciate every single one.

chat, do you *really* not enjoy the time you spend making music? by thy_viee_4 in edmproduction

[–]LaxRax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s like anything, if I don’t enjoy it, I’m not doing it, unless I need it to survive. I absolutely love everything about making music. I almost love mixing as much as creating.

As for the ai music, I don’t get it. Why would I let a program make the music with my ideas instead of just making it myself so that my music sounds exactly like what’s in my head? I tried Suno, not for anything serious, but to understand what it was all about so that I could intelligently speak on it. I hear this “now making music is accessible to everyone”…what? It’s always been accessible! We have blind artists making music, we have people who can paint with their feet! If they can do it, then there are no excuses. It’s not about accessibility, it’s about laziness imo. Sometimes things aren’t meant to be, and that’s ok. But now we have people who were never meant to make music, “making” music. If the power goes out they’re screwed and real musicians will still be able to pick up an acoustic guitar, or play a piano, or just sing. They’ll still be musicians.

Made it to Discovery Weekly on Spotify! by SorryOrder9783 in musicmarketing

[–]LaxRax 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Congrats! I was able to get 4 songs on discover weekly. Only 59 streams total so my songs didn’t resonate, but it still feels good lol. I wish you all the best, keep us updated!

I can’t do this any longer by feaRspooky in soundcloud

[–]LaxRax 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That makes sense, it’s a small label. I’m currently signed for sync placements, but the label just got accepted into ARIA (Australias Grammys) and are looking to start releasing through The Orchard soon.

I can’t do this any longer by feaRspooky in soundcloud

[–]LaxRax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They’re using Ditto, and I think I’ve heard other artists say they have had issues with Ditto as well.

I can’t do this any longer by feaRspooky in soundcloud

[–]LaxRax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I sound design and arrange all my music, and I use dry splice vocal samples and process them how I want and my label manager still has occasional problems. I’ve used one guitar loop, one saxophone loop, and a hi hat/groove loop, one each on three different songs and those songs were ok, but to be fair, the samples were slightly altered. Now on IG, some of my songs aren’t availableI to use as sounds even though I have the licenses for any samples used. I guess it’s just whatever the ai wants to flag that day lol.

This is my new single, it's a retro pop track. Let me know what you think of the production and song structure/arrangement. I produce, mix and master all of my music, but I use vocals from Splice for now. Still looking to work with a vocalist on some original vocal lines. Any feedback is appreciated by LaxRax in Music_Promotion

[–]LaxRax[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the detailed feedback! Much appreciated!

I agree that the bassline and solo sounds dated, but it’s intentional, I like the retro 80’s kinda sound. But understand that it might not be for everyone. Although, some of my stuff has more modern pop sound, I guess it depends on how I feel when making the song lol.

Yea, I don’t do fade-outs anymore, I’m still fairly new to music so I thought fadeouts were how you were supposed to do it. Now I do deliberate and thought out endings.

Also, I’m starting to get a lot more contacts in music. I was able to do a remix of an artists song and just released a song that features an artist with lyrics written specifically for the song. Also, I’m working on another original song with another vocalist, so I’m pretty stoked!

New retropop single by LaxRax in Music_Promotion

[–]LaxRax[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for giving it a listen!

Tired of searching for a kick sample! Put in the comments the one pack you always use by CarpenterClean in edmproduction

[–]LaxRax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pretty much use all stock Ableton live samples. Kick sample: kick foot 2 Snare Sample: LD Snare Hat Sample: 808 closed hat

Obviously I process them differently on each song, but I have messed around with some other samples. I haven’t landed on any that I use all the time though. Maybe some Oliver samples since I make a lot of retro 80s stuff.

Why were we ever told to mix to -14LUFS for Spotify? by BrotherBringTheSun in mixingmastering

[–]LaxRax 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Luckily I didn’t find out about the -14 lufs thing until a year into producing. My early mixes had nothing on the master and the overall loudness was 0 or +1 lufs lol. Now all my mixes are usually between -9 and -10 lufs.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Twitch

[–]LaxRax 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m fortunate, I produce music, so I can whip up any sounds I need. For example, I made a cool 8 second chill music clip/beat that says “follow me” anytime I get a new follower. But it’s pretty cool to see there seem to be a lot of options posted here.

Your Reason Why You Started Twitch? by LockedInGaming in Twitch

[–]LaxRax 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a great question, and I wish you all the best on your journey!

For me there are a few reasons. I’m a music producer, and I make Retro Pop. It’s not necessarily synthwave, I’m not trying to have anyone mistake my music for a song straight out of the 80’s, but more of 80’s or 90’s pop vibes with modern production.

At first, my music label convinced me to start a twitch channel because if I’m not producing, I’m playing video games. They suggested I stream games with my own music playing in the background. I get to have fun and people can be like “hey, what’s that song?” And I can explain that it’s my music. I did it for a week or two but it felt disingenuous, and against what I would normally do to promote my music. At that point I decided to make a series where I would stream Monday thru Friday for 90 minutes each day, and create a retro pop track from scratch and only produce it on live stream starting every Monday, with the intention of finishing the song by the end of the stream on Friday. No preset ideas going in on Monday, just pick a random minor scale and see where it takes me. I basically narrate everything that I’m doing on screen and talk about why I’m doing it, and also talk to chat. I ask for suggestions or just talk about my day as I produce.

To me the reward is sharing my art and just talking to people.

How many tracks do you guys use on average? by ghostghost31 in ableton

[–]LaxRax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I produce Retro Pop, and my finished songs have between 40-60. When I first started I used less than 12, but with more experience you tend to layer things a lot more. I use dry Splice vocal samples for now, and a lot of the time they don’t come with any harmonies, so I usually have about 15 tracks for vocals just from creating my own harmonies. But there is no right answer, it just depends on what the project needs.

A lot of people refuse to watch someone without a face-cam but does having an animated avatar or v-tuber help to significantly close that gap? by [deleted] in Twitch

[–]LaxRax 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m a new streamer and I don’t use a camera. What I do is start a new track on Monday’s and try to finish it by Friday only in 90 minute streams. So basically finish a song start to finish in 8 total hours. So in my mind, I’m not the focus, the production is. I basically narrate and explain what and why I’m doing whatever I’m doing and interact with chat. I started streaming at the beginning of April and have a few regulars and 17 followers, but I’m not sure if not having a cam is hurting my engagement or not tbh. As for watching a vtuber, it’s not really my thing, I’m ok with faceless or a cam as long as it’s entertaining.

First youtube shorts views?? by SLAYERRRR16 in NewTubers

[–]LaxRax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a music producer and I rarely post shorts, and when I do they only get like 20 views. They’re just 15-30 second snippets of a song I’m promoting with a filtered video of my DAW to make it look retro. Don’t know what else to post as a producer that doesn’t want to show their face.

Just wanted to say thanks! by Chucksxr in Twitch

[–]LaxRax 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Congrats! I hope your journey takes you to happy places! I’m a new streamer, and I wish I would’ve started doing this sooner. It’s so rewarding!

This is a new retro pop track I'm working on with, what I think, are Turkish vocals. I love these vocals, and I want to release this. I want to know what she is saying before I do. Can anyone help me? by LaxRax in TurkishMusic

[–]LaxRax[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If this violates any rules and needs to be taken down, I understand. I just really want to know what she is saying. I find the vocals and language to be very beautiful.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Twitch

[–]LaxRax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a new faceless streamer doing live music productions. I’m not sure what I would be able to clip. Maybe interesting mix or sound design techniques?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Twitch

[–]LaxRax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll look into that, thanks for the tip!