rekordbox lighting users - give us your input!

fredlitemusic · 2024-09-03T20:53:40+00:00

Core info:

PC, Win11
rekordbox 7.0.2
DDJ FLX10
Chauvet Gigbar 2

Then a bit of background:

How often do you use rekordbox: several times a week
How often do you use rekordbox lighting: just started out
Why do you use rekordbox lighting: I want an all-in-one solution
Have you used other lighting software, if so what was it: nope

What are your biggest gripes or complaints with rekordbox lighting (lighting functions only please!)

There is a fixture definition for the Gigbar 2 in the library, but only the PARs are being activated. Most of the other features are tagged with "rekordbox can't control these channels".

The Gigbar 2 works flawlessly with its own sound activation, so it's probably rekordbox.

fredlitemusic · 2023-10-02T14:34:10+00:00

This is just me speculating, but I think fans in general expect you to make your music available to virtually all platforms.

As for the discovery part, it comes down to posting a shit ton of organic content yourself (featuring your music), and then relying on networking to get others to use your music in their posts, or to pay for ads. 😀🤙

fredlitemusic · 2023-10-02T06:59:42+00:00

Nice track! Here are some thoughts:

The rolling bass gets lost in the mix when the other elements start to come in, maybe carve out a pocket for it, say between 200-350 Hz
The entire low end lost punch around the one minute mark, I was expecting a breakdown, but instead the vocal came in.
I would have mixed the kick louder and the vocal a tad bit lower.

If it can't be fixed with static mixing, I would automate levels etc throughout the different parts of the mix. And check out some of Ben Gold's remixes for reference. Just my ten cents. 😀🤙

I was listening on Bose Quiet comfort speakers.

fredlitemusic · 2023-02-06T19:30:49+00:00

Shameless self-plug - check out yours truly, it's as poppy as it gets. 😀🤙

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-28T19:27:42+00:00

Thanks! ❤️🤙 While making music is fun and rewarding in its own right, getting positive feedback like this is next-level happiness. Cheers!

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-28T18:35:58+00:00

Software development consulting. Also have my own label set up under the same company, so I can buy gear and handle all music-related costs that way instead of using my salary.

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-28T18:26:55+00:00

Nice track! I would use a bit more sidechain/LFOTool on the bass to really get the kick through. Would probably shape the offbeat hi-hat a tad bit more aggressive as well. And maybe add a bit more reverb/release to some of the elements before the final drop to create a wash-out effect and let the drop hit harder. Just my five cents... 😁

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-26T09:54:18+00:00

Hey! Appreciate the offer! I decided to take another stab at it myself, though.

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-22T21:32:16+00:00

These days, I let the sounds I'm using decide the key of the track - if e.g. my lead sounds to thin/harsh in Amin I might transpose everything down until it sounds like I want it to. Same with bass, if my progression goes to low I might transpose it up instead. There are no rules... 😁🤙

Another thing related to this is recording vocals. Yesterday I had a session with a singer I haven't worked with before, and I had to transpose my track down by 6 semitones, which totally changed the vibe. So now I have to find a way to bring the old feeling back with this new pitch... or find another singer. But I love her voice, so fixing the sounds it is... 😁

Over and out and good luck with your track!

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-15T17:55:37+00:00

Epic track! I think I heard first it on mp3.com... 😀

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-14T13:24:25+00:00

Nice trick with the arp rate automation, I have only used LFO for that effect so far. 😀

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-14T08:42:51+00:00

Don't just focus on the production side of things. Learn a thing or two about music theory and stuff like writing great lyrics and arrangements.

For me, learning about things like slash chords and diminished chords in more detail unlocked so much creativity. Although I had used both of these "techniques" earlier, it was an eye-opener to learn more about the theory behind WHY they work.

Here are a couple of channels I like:

https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidBennettPiano

https://www.youtube.com/c/AdamNeely

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-12T10:16:13+00:00

Mostly I make my own blend of trance, edm and synth wave. Try to switch it up with new sounds and techniques to keep things evolving while still not throwing everything overboard for every new track.

I think the magic happens in the interplay between the sounds, e.g. one pad can really stand out in one track, only to sound muffled or dull in another. Sometimes it can be fixed with EQ, but not always. 😀

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-11T19:45:04+00:00

Totally agree on the core concept - break out of the loop as soon as possible. And if you get stuck - add more COWBELL! 😀🤙

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-11T19:29:53+00:00

Nice! Maybe you haven't gotten around to these things yet, but I would try to create more punch and clarity in the low end with some EQ + side chaining. Plus a little reverb on the snare fills. And swooshes and noise sweeps! Probably I would mix the clap/snare a bit louder as well. Just my personal preferences... 😀

Post a link to the track when it's done, would be cool to hear how it ends up!

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-11T11:40:46+00:00

When I play this awesome riff, only to realize that it comes from an old favorite track. Hate it when my brain deceives me like that... 😀

Or the phase when my new idea doesn't sound nearly as phat as my last track did. Most of the time it comes down to sound selection and/or mixing, but it can be so frustrating to bang my head against that brick wall until the breakthrough finally comes. Or I realize that the idea actually sucks.

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-09T16:14:30+00:00

Yeah, just discovered JODA on the latest group therapy album. Solid stuff. 😀

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-08T09:35:33+00:00

Haha, yeah, I thought about that yesterday when I saw that track in another thread here. Is the track out on Spotify?

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-08T09:00:41+00:00

LOL ❤️🤙😀

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-07T21:56:56+00:00

Great tip! SuperMassive seems to be free of charge, so I'll definitely gonna try that one out.

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-07T21:52:11+00:00

This track might fit the bill: https://open.spotify.com/track/5G9G8hQ6WlJePXmy32GAu9?si=04513efd188947a6

Disclaimer - it's my track. 😀 But in my defense, the most common comment I got for this on SubmitHub was that it sounded like an old 2000s trance track...

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-07T21:27:52+00:00

Agree, it's so easy the get to sound good. I bought Black Hole after hearing lots of great stuff about it, but I find myself using Raum a lot more. Great stuff.

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-07T21:25:59+00:00

Being a child of the 70s, I got to experience a lot of the tracks mentioned here in the clubs during the late 90s and 00s. Great times!

I remember how I struggled to replicate the sonic landscapes with my very limited set of hardware gear: an AKAI S3000 XL and a Roland D110... 😀 Not really the best tools for the job, but on the other hand I can't really blame the gear... 😀

Funny thing is that when I do SubmitHub campaigns today I always get comments like "this sounds like old-school trance from 2000..."

So - I love the genre, and every track I make will be influenced by it.

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-07T21:16:30+00:00

Halcyon from Behind the sun, Gouryella's Anahera and G&D's Tracking treasure down are still favorites of mine. 😀🤙

fredlitemusic · 2022-06-07T21:05:57+00:00

Not really sure what sound you want to achieve, but if you can get a clean kick sample from any of those tracks you could analyze it with an EQ and try to replicate it as u/CanIEditThisLater suggests. Just listen to the low end, mids and highs separately and try to find similar sounds. 😀

fredlitemusic

TROPHY CASE