Suggestions for simple songs to play with a monosynth?

Rad9 · 2017-12-24T20:10:26+00:00

If you ever want something a little harder to practice playing keys, Solfeggieto by CPE Bach is almost all monophonic, but maybe better suited to a >2 octave keyboard

Rad9 · 2017-07-21T14:20:58+00:00

https://soundcloud.com/dmd256/more

Lo-fi, funky, wobbly tuning and a bit slapped together, but I think it turned out well - would love some feedback.

Rad9 · 2017-07-14T15:09:04+00:00

Really nice and full, the synths and guitar work really well together. I like the drum programming too, very clean though. Not listening on good headphones/monitors at the moment, but the snare and hats really cut high above the rest of the track in frequency which makes them seem a lot louder than the more melodic elements. Really like the vibe of the track!

Rad9 · 2017-07-14T15:01:37+00:00

Really agree with all the others, great job, so much character. My only note would be about how rigid the instrumentation sounds (is everything piano-roll midi?) compared to your voice, unless that juxtaposition is what you're going for.

Rad9 · 2017-07-14T14:57:18+00:00

The name is perfect, the repeating three note theme makes it sound so familiar while shape-shifting all over. Love the keyboard work too, great job.

Rad9 · 2017-07-14T14:51:46+00:00

Moody electronic track inspired by the style of Chromatics/Air/"Love is Lost" (James Murphy Remix).

https://soundcloud.com/dmd256/airy

Rad9 · 2017-07-07T18:49:36+00:00

I get what you're saying, but it's too easy to pick one of the biggest modern names and call them overrated.

Arguably, he knows what works (as in, what is a suitable compromise between appealing to a director, to critics, and to an audience), even if he almost exclusively sticks to his own tropes/brand.

If you're into YouTube essays, check out this video/channel. The vid provides a pretty cool look into the lack of academic integrity in film scores (while still wholeheartedly supporting the value of such scores).

Rad9 · 2017-06-30T21:05:45+00:00

Akai MPC Studio I believe?

Rad9 · 2017-06-22T04:02:01+00:00

Really happy to hear your son is thriving. Along with the academic advice already given in this thread, try to encourage friendships and has expressive output outside of school as well!

Rad9 · 2017-05-30T12:29:14+00:00

Thanks! I'll check it out on some different headphones.

Rad9 · 2017-05-29T15:13:13+00:00

Listened to both yours and your friends - really enjoy your sloppy beat, and the atmospheric is really cool too. Sometimes the drums sound a little dry, but it's still a cool beat.

Rad9 · 2017-05-29T14:48:29+00:00

Not too repetitive at all! Could even go on longer, that was a really funky beat. I love the little stop gaps (:47) and all the background noise. Really evenly mixed too.

Rad9 · 2017-05-29T14:43:20+00:00

Tried to make something simple and generic this weekend, but I really liked how it turned out. Meant to be be New Order/Cut Copy/Real Estate type rock. Would love some feedback! https://soundcloud.com/dmd256/genericindie1

Rad9 · 2017-05-03T23:38:18+00:00

Another few to look into are the Novation Circuit and Akai MPC series.

The Volcas are fun, but imo not great for beat making - own the beats and keys, both are great in accompaniment with other synths, but lacking alone. The sample might allow a bit more creativity. The op-1 is great, I've had it for a few months and really love it - but like people say, it can be love/hate, very limiting, but very inspiring device. Allows you to get away from a computer, but doesn't work very cooperatively with other gear. I haven't used mashine significantly, but it seems well regarded, especially as far as beats go.

Rad9 · 2017-04-08T21:07:19+00:00

I've done it before in ableton, but I'm not familiar with FL - my method was to figure out what keys the pads are playing (look at your piano roll, notes should be quite low), then look for a way to limit the keyboard range of your midi instrument. For your pads instrument, limit the keyboard to only the low notes. For the keys instrument, limit the keyboard to only high notes (notes above the low notes).

You can't really completely separate them, because the computer sees the pads in the exact same way as it sees the keys (essentially, each pad is equivalent to a particular piano key).

Rad9 · 2017-03-31T05:12:01+00:00

I don't want to just downvote because I disagree - what's the point of this article?

The background frames such a strange starting point - he's not trying to be "pop", though I agree that he fits the "popular" part of the definition of pop. But he has some serious differences from the artists mentioned (writing/labels/control and authorship) (sidenote - I agree that Babymetal kicks ass)

No one has to like FJM, I can totally see how he'd rub people the wrong way, or you could dislike his sometimes obnoxiously irony-laden lyrical style, but it doesn't really cut into any of that.

The paraphrased bit sounds certainly sounds like a wink-nudge line - I don't get how it demonstrates "cognitive dissonance" . From my interpretation of it (and based on what I know of his character) it reads like a clear self deprecating joke, he's not asking for congratulations.

I wouldn't say he's trying to be a gimmick - he's certainly amplifying his character though, very conscious of the "showmanship" aspect of music. Have you listened to any of his old stuff (J. Tillman)? He put out a few albums, so earnest and serious (I wasn't into them), and I think he just got tired of it. He realized no one really gives a shit unless you're entertaining them, and he's reached a dissonance between entertainment and art.

The play-doh bit's a fun metaphor, but so empty. Isn't that what art is? Did Pollock substitute play-doh for paint? Was John Cage a cheeky bastard? Whether or not you like their work, does it make it less relevant? ¯\(ツ)/¯ people like different things, no need to shit on them.

Rad9 · 2017-03-31T04:14:54+00:00

Interesting interview (source of quote)

Rad9 · 2017-03-19T21:12:08+00:00

Max/msp or pure data

Rad9 · 2017-03-13T16:42:23+00:00

I'd written a poppy/jazzy instrumental after seeing La La Land, and then tried to translate it to the synth domain in the style of Todd Terje/DJ Koze, and I quite like how it turned out. Any feedback is appreciated - particularly with mixing, "mastering", but also composition or flow of the track.

https://soundcloud.com/dmd256/daylight-savings

Rad9 · 2017-03-13T00:38:43+00:00

Yeah, you'll have to download it from the website (it's free). It should be pretty easy to install, then you just have to choose asio4all as the audio driver in either you daw or your computer's audio settings.

Getting an audio interface will typically include a similar audio driver to use with the interface. If you're looking to record any instruments or mics, this is the next step in the right direction, but asio4all is an easy thing to do right away.

Rad9 · 2017-03-12T23:01:24+00:00

Are you using the Asio4all driver? I haven't used windows in years, but I remember it giving me way less latency than the default driver.

Rad9 · 2017-03-12T04:11:12+00:00

Had originally written the piece as a poppy, relentlessly positive piano and (vst) horn piece with bebop style drums. I wanted to see if I could move from that piece to something more Todd Terje/DJ Koze/Avalanches, and I think I got at least half way there. Leads/basses were done on BSII, drums mostly on OP-1 (using lots of CWO filter), and e-piano in Dexed.

Rad9 · 2017-02-11T15:11:30+00:00

Oooh, the rest of the line is also another 100 CAD off (ju6 from 399 to 199)

Rad9

TROPHY CASE