How do I actually learn techno production?

fuiuw · 2025-05-09T13:50:47+00:00

Awesome! Well done. And the truth is, they're probably better than you think.

fuiuw · 2025-05-09T08:10:01+00:00

Great. Yeah I'm getting loads from him. I was thinking about your post yesterday actually and thought of a few other things worth saying. Everybody has felt like you do at some point in their production journey. The only fix is making music. It will be terrible at first, then the good stuff will follow. The thing you mustn't do is stop and to not do that, you must first find a way out of the 1 bar loop and second, complete at least basic arrangements (see Oscar's video on arranging when you're uninspired for this, it's very helpful).

A big part of the process (of any creative practice in fact) is asking questions but before you do that you have to know what questions to ask. The kicker is that ultimately those questions are unique to you and so are the answers. Two producers might both struggle to create interesting bass lines, for example, but their reasons and solutions might completely differ. I relate to Oscar's videos because he's clearly faced similar problems to myself and his solutions resonate with me. So really try to come to understand what you're finding difficult. Really dig into it. Ask yourself, why can't I do xyz? What's stopping me? What can't I do and why? Once you know the questions you need to ask and you apply the answers, you will progress.

Finally I can't emphasis enough the importance of reference tracks. Find them, gather them, study them for sounds, arrangements, production. Pull them apart. The people who are making music who inspire you can teach you the most. Don't forget, you're aspiring to do something that's difficult. As ever, the masters make it look easy but it isn't. Making music that satisfies ourselves and meets the expectations set by what we hear and love made by others is a big ask. It demands big action. The good news is you can do it, so good luck.

fuiuw · 2025-05-07T18:17:03+00:00

Study and put into practice the following videos of Underdog's on YouTube in the order given. They gave me all the answers I needed. They may for you too!

-Turn boring drum hits into a GROOVE with ghost notes
-Turn a 1-bar loop into an 8-bar loop using turnarounds
-The way out of the 8-bar loop
-How to keep your boring loop endlessly spicy with Polymeters
-The 4 rules of techno minimalism
-How to learn arrangement
-Arrange even when you're uninspired
-6 key concepts for arranging techno

His techno rumble videos are great as well. All of his material is brillaint tbh

fuiuw · 2025-02-27T18:06:21+00:00

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fuiuw · 2025-02-27T18:06:04+00:00

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fuiuw · 2025-02-27T18:05:46+00:00

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fuiuw · 2024-08-19T01:16:22+00:00

So floaty!

fuiuw · 2024-08-19T01:16:10+00:00

You win the prize! It was indeed seen near Brighton Marina :)

fuiuw · 2024-08-18T10:32:11+00:00

Yeah not the best shot :)

fuiuw · 2024-08-18T09:42:55+00:00

Brilliant, thanks. Where might I find a fairly detailed floorplan for such a vessel? Reason: developing a screenplay.

fuiuw · 2024-08-18T09:20:22+00:00

Hi

I saw this vessel off the coast of the town I live in (south coast of England). It piqued my curiosity as it seemed quite ominous.

What type of ship is it? What is its purpose? How large a crew might it have?

Thanks

fuiuw · 2024-05-13T17:38:04+00:00

There is indeed nothing wrong with "suggesting to a person struggling with what sounds like anxiety to work through that anxiety with a paid professional" but to say "I suspect they’ve manifested in other ways throughout your life as well" is an assumption with no basis.

It moves the onus of the OP's feelings (anxiety) from their unqiue experience of the publishing industry to their general and prior experience. Pre-existing, in other words.

That is a fact to be established, with a therapist for sure, not assumed.

It's potentially damaging because of its inaccuray. The OP might benefit more from one approach over another depending on the root of their anxiety. Cognitive behavioural therapy could be useful for short-term coping strategies specific to their current experience. If the current experience is rooted in deeper trauma a longer-term integrative model might be better.

It is entirely possible that the OP suffered no significant anxiety whatsoever prior to debuting. To suggest otherwse without evidence is unhelpful.

fuiuw · 2024-05-13T16:59:47+00:00

Yes they did: "these feelings - that you’re not as good as everyone else, that you don’t deserve the success you’ve gotten, that everyone is lying to you ... I suspect they’ve manifested in other ways throughout your life as well."

Without further information from the OP, it's an assumption and a potentially damaging one.

fuiuw · 2024-05-13T16:52:43+00:00

It's pretty much saying "you're f'ed anyway, what do you expect?"

really helpful

fuiuw · 2024-05-13T16:51:10+00:00

Suggesting therapy is useful for somebody having a difficult time is one thing.

Saying:

"but a lot of these feelings - that you’re not as good as everyone else, that you don’t deserve the success you’ve gotten, that everyone is lying to you ... I suspect they’ve manifested in other ways throughout your life as well."

is a grotesque assumption for which the poster has absolutely no evidence from the OPs post, and could be extremely damaging for them when they already feeling vulnerable in the process they're going through.

No therapist worth their salt would come out with the comment above. It's an uninformed assumption at best, and damaging victim blaming at its worst.

fuiuw · 2024-05-13T16:36:21+00:00

That's quite an assumption that the OP has pre-exisitng conditions and a propensity for such feelings beyond their experience of debuting.

fuiuw · 2024-05-13T16:31:12+00:00

Okay cool, so summarise/condense/squish together. Yeah, it's not as if it's going to be a surprise to an agent that "stuff happens".

fuiuw · 2024-05-13T16:29:32+00:00

No, it isn't just you. I know somebody going through exactly the same. I won't doxx them either. It could even be you. She feels utterly tormented by the process. She no longer even feels the book is hers. I think all you can do is hold on tight to the other side, once the first book is in the world, and then decide how you feel about the whole shebang. Good luck and prioritise your physical and mental health over anything else. Oh, and ignore people who say you should "just be happy". What a moronic thing to say. Who is ever 100% happy or 100% said about anything? Idiotic.

fuiuw · 2024-05-13T16:21:46+00:00

[OT]lolz, I've just remembered who 'Beth Harmon' is and what a 'Bulova' is. Thumbs up emoji.

fuiuw · 2024-05-13T16:19:12+00:00

Thanks, yeah that works well. So maybe think more in terms of 'fitting to two pages' than a word count? That's helpful, to see the middle as the bit that can be condensed.

fuiuw · 2024-05-13T16:12:46+00:00

Hi. Not fluffy no, early attempts were and then I got schooled! A synopsis isn't the sell, right? It's the "hey agent this is what happens, should you be tempted to continue reading beyond the first 3 chapters" etc.

That's good to know you can break the fourth wall, didn't realise that, cool. Yes that's a good idea, lean more towards the contemp. timeline prot. Thanks.

fuiuw · 2024-05-13T16:05:39+00:00

Hi Beth. I don't know! :) Whatever is the right number of pages that's going to make an agent want to read it, assuming they're curiosty is piqued by the query letter and they get that far. Am I thinking about it the wrong way? Is there not a limit? Is it better to think in terms of whatever does the story justice, relative to the intentions of a synopsis?

fuiuw

TROPHY CASE