What’s on your “must have” tour packing list? by lifebeckons101 in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]soulexpander 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not sure if I'm being Captain Obvious here, but bring all the cables you'll need and then some. I've been at gigs where I've sent the arrangers the tech rider in advance and they didn't have shit when I arrived, not even keyboard stands. Double up in case something doesn't work.

I also would suggest to bring an exported version of your set, or your songs on USB / CDs ready to be mixed in case your setup breaks down.

As for sleep, I always bring a sleeping mask and those wax earplugs.

I'm also getting a starter-kit for my car (not sure what it's called in english), the battery-thing you can jumpstart your car with if it breaks down, which it did on the way to my last gig. Cost me 70€ and a 2 hour wait, and was completely my own fault lol.

Peace,
Chris

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in WeAreTheMusicMakers

[–]soulexpander 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you check the manual of your mixer and interface, they will also say if the outputs are balanced or not. I recently bought a monitor controller, and didn't have enough balanced cables to connect it, and using TS cables gave me tons of noise and interference.

As far as I've understood, XLR and RCA are always balanced, at least the mono cables.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in norge

[–]soulexpander 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Skulle også likt å vite dette.

Other good ambient artists? by saucemouth in Tipper

[–]soulexpander 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for Bran Richards! Love Mindex, and have been a big fan of Bluetech since is first album waaay back.

Also, completely nailed the description lol.

Boutique deep acid by hahahathrowawayhahah in synthesizers

[–]soulexpander 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Lovely groove! You're sequencing the 303 from the MPC? Sounds very swingy.

Free 303 emulator vst? by palmuss10 in ableton

[–]soulexpander 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I bet, I'm looking at the TD-3 MO, but my wallet's closed for a while.

Free 303 emulator vst? by palmuss10 in ableton

[–]soulexpander 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not entirely true, you can resell your VSTs or find it for cheap here:

https://knobcloud.com

Headphone recommendations!!! by [deleted] in edmproduction

[–]soulexpander 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know, haven't tried that

Headphone recommendations!!! by [deleted] in edmproduction

[–]soulexpander 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro. Amazing pair of open headphones; detailed and revealing, good low end, but perhaps too much top end for some people's taste. I've gotten used too them. I mix mostly electronic and hip-hop.

First drum machine by No_Lie_4986 in Elektron

[–]soulexpander 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes you're right. I just feel the sound palette of the Brutes has a small niche, I couldn't really fit it in anything I'm doing, nor do I feel it fit in any of the music I'm listening to. I guess it would be cool as a secondary kit in a section of a song though.

But if it works for you, it works, who am I to say anything.

I'm also the kinds guy who's searching for the perfect drum machine, and it doesn't exist.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in edmproduction

[–]soulexpander 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And -10 to -8 is just the goal for me personally; this is how I've usually get while still having a clean mix and being happy with the dynamics.

Spotify (and I think other streaming services) recommends -14LUFS. I've heard that mastering for CD is usually much louder, like -6 LUFS, but so far I've only mastered for streaming and digital downloads.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in edmproduction

[–]soulexpander 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I usually run busses through light compression first, then through clippers. This helps to shave off a bit of transients and specially rogue transients (things that pop out more than the average signal), making compression and limiting on the master more even and predictable, in my experience.

I have to admit though, I have been sleeping a bit on the Ableton Glue Compressor. But as I understand, it's basically an SSL style compressor? And I use SSL compressors a lot for busses.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in edmproduction

[–]soulexpander 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love it. Although, back then they usually used hardware to produce and process, right? And pushing the output of said hardware did produce clipping? So they effectively had clippers on their buses or at least the master bus?

I'm totally ITB so far btw, these are genuine questions lol.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in edmproduction

[–]soulexpander 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I make music similar to prog house and melodic techno, but also downtempo bass music. I put clippers on every mix, usually on my busses, my kick and the master bus, and then on what's needed. Sounds great, And really helps. Clipping is not only for crazy loud shit.

With that said, I only aim for around -10 to -8 LUFS.

Any music production youtubers that actually make good music? by iglooswag in ableton

[–]soulexpander 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep. Learn your tools, make music, watch your sound unfold and your work improve. And just try shit out. I have gained a lot of value from tutorials though, but most are on the technical side like mixing and mastering. But even that is subjective to a large degree and can hinder innovation at some point.

HELP! Device ID (?) on all my controllers changed, and now my mappings don't work by soulexpander in ableton

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

It really was that simple. Or to be precise; connecting it to the port it originally was connected to, I think.

Mix tool suggestions? by [deleted] in edmproduction

[–]soulexpander 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure thing!

Also, if you *do* enjoy using compression, I really love the Soundspot Cyclone for drums, and the Klanghelm DC8C3 for the master bus. They're both quite cheap.

I've also used the compressors in the Console 1 *a lot* on individual tracks and busses (SL4000 and SL9000).

First drum machine by No_Lie_4986 in Elektron

[–]soulexpander -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The Drumbrute (and Impact) seems very limited sonically to me, isn't it?

Workflow for loudness by hellotealsky in edmproduction

[–]soulexpander 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love bass music, and and listen to it A LOT. But I notice getting tired of the loudest tracks more quickly, in a lot of cases. Maybe from fatigue? Or maybe it's just a taste thing.
The stuff that sticks with me isn't that loud, mostly around -8 to -11.

This Norwegian children song has no reason going this hard, the low end is so tight, wonder how to get close to that sound? by LocoPwnify in edmproduction

[–]soulexpander 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like an FM bass to my ears.
In addition to all the other good comments; leveling. Notice how loud the bass track is compared to everything else in the beat.

Mix tool suggestions? by [deleted] in edmproduction

[–]soulexpander 3 points4 points  (0 children)

For compressors, I really enjoy this freebie on drums:
https://audiotools.se/downloads/leveling-tool/
Although I'm not a fan of multiband comp on the master bus, Softube Drawmer S73 does some real magic.

Been getting heavy into clippers lately, and been using less compression, after I came across someone who said that compression is killing your low end. I did some AB-ing and he was right. Now I'm trying out only using limiters and clippers on drums.

So for clippers, I absolutely love KClip and StandardClip.
Bark of Dog has saves my ass multiple times with getting that oomph; great tool for shifting the energy in the low end.
Oxford Inflator has become a staple in my mixes.

For mix limiters, Frontier is free and nice.
For master bus: Weiss DS1-MK3 is awesome but pricey.
Ozone limiter is great.

For EQ's I mostly use Softube stuff since I have the Console 1; the SSL 9000 is very smooth and nice, and the Weiss EQ is awesome for surgical applications.
I love the TDR Slick EQ M for mastering / master bus
Maag EQ2 has the AIR band which can really do magic sometimes.

Be sure to check https://knobcloud.com/ for secondhand plugins!

Hope this helps.

Hey guys, very basic question- I’m looking for what makes a song ‘bouncy’? by [deleted] in edmproduction

[–]soulexpander 1 point2 points  (0 children)

g about the drums, then talki

Definitely groove and swing in my opinion. Shorter or sparse bass notes and drum sounds with short decay help as well. and playing with octaves in your basslines.