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Grantmusic
Starting Member

 United States
6 posts Joined: Apr, 2009
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Posted - 2009/04/15 : 19:48:02
Hi I joined hoping that I could gain some insight into the music world and hopefully a few tips as what I should do as far as expanding my knowledge and music hardware and software. First I'd say I've completed my first ever "Album" (Its what I've been saying to friends but I feel that in comparison to what I've seen I feel like a complete amateur...) Anyways I guess I have about a half a dozen or so questions. I used reason to create my songs and have never really experimented other then with some very basic modifications and pretty much don't know anything beyond simple things and enough to navigate around reason to make a song. I've been wondering what/how to master a song so that I can get a better quality track. I've also after working with reason starting to notice that it has some limits (no direct way to insert vocals is getting a tad bit annoying after having to use another program to work with vocals and insert it into redrum or NXT to get my vocals into the song.) And to my knowledge no VSTi's I can use with reason outside of the standard reason rack. I'm wondering if this means that I should be looking at options like Cubase or another program (Can't use Logic I'm on a PC.) If I'm going to get Cubase I know that plugin VST's arnt free what should I be looking at as far as spending for getting Cubase and VST's? Also I'm looking into buying a new Mixer and CDJ's to upgrade from what I currently have (what I currently have is a mixxer that is two lines and a crossfader and that's about it no EQ's just a volume mic volume and mic input and headphone input. The CDJ's only have a pitch control on them so pretty much a stripped down DJ setup which I learned how to beatmatch ect.) As far as samples go I have a question of are there any actual American Sample companies? (Not that I mind all of them taking Euro's its just getting to the point that getting money ready for another production is pretty expesive.) Oh and if you wouldnt mind in addition to helping with all this advice give an honest opinion on my music from a musician perspective and what you like don't like what I can improve upon it'd be greatly appreciated
Thank you sooo much :D
Grant,
(to find my music its on my myspace artist profile page and yes I know its another icky myspace link but I didnt know of a better way to link you to my music for you to hear it Summer Breeze Hard mix and Merry Go round is in the hardcore BPM territory while the orignal Summer Breeze is more traditional trance BPM wise and sound wise.)
www.myspace.com/grantmusicproductions
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Edited by - Grantmusic on 2009/04/15 19:54:45 |
choonland
Advanced Member
    

 Colombia
1,100 posts Joined: Dec, 2007
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Posted - 2009/04/16 : 01:50:15
quote: Originally posted by Grantmusic:
I used reason to create my songs and have never really experimented other then with some very basic modifications and pretty much don't know anything beyond simple things and enough to navigate around reason to make a song. I've been wondering what/how to master a song so that I can get a better quality track. I've also after working with reason starting to notice that it has some limits (no direct way to insert vocals is getting a tad bit annoying after having to use another program to work with vocals and insert it into redrum or NXT to get my vocals into the song.) And to my knowledge no VSTi's I can use with reason outside of the standard reason rack. I'm wondering if this means that I should be looking at options like Cubase or another program (Can't use Logic I'm on a PC.) If I'm going to get Cubase I know that plugin VST's arnt free what should I be looking at as far as spending for getting Cubase and VST's?
that was hard to read but i made it through :)
I use reason too, and yeah, working with vocals is a proper nigthmare, it works with short vocal samples, but if you want to make complete songs with long vocal sections, its very hard.
I would recommed Cubase since you can work with waveforms very easily, and besides, you can use reason's synths as VSTs, just rewiring them into cubase. so you dont need to buy more VSTs meanwhile
I also heard a couple of your tracks, and they are sounding good. but one of the main problems with reason's sample libraries, is that the kicks are very weak, so you should start considering looking for new percussion samples to improve the quality of your sound.
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https://soundcloud.com/naturatech
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Edited by - choonland on 2009/04/16 01:53:04 |
Grantmusic
Starting Member

 United States
6 posts Joined: Apr, 2009
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Posted - 2009/04/16 : 03:54:11
Thank you sooo much Naturatech for listening to my Wall-o-text post XD sorry I should have made it more understandable and grammatically correct. You've helped alot I deffinatly will be getting cubase 5 within the year :). The kicks arnt standard Reason Soundbank samples. I'm wondering if somehow I screwed up either in mastering them (since I have no idea how to do this.) or that myspace is doing something weird to my tracks (I noticed some glitchy noises in the myspace player that arnt in the actual tracks.)
Now if I could figure out how the VST Kontakt works once I get Cubase I'll be able to get this idea of a song out of my head and onto something :). Once again Thank you so very much
Grant
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Audio X
Advanced Member
    

 United States
670 posts Joined: Feb, 2004
13 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2009/04/17 : 00:51:19
Cubase is a good program. FL Studio is another good one and getting better with every update!
Really any DAW that lets you use VST instruments and effects and work with audio will do just fine. They all sound the same in the end anyway (and don't let anyone tell you they don't, because it has been scientifically proven through nullification tests that they do) - Except for Ableton Live... something about its Audio Warp feature makes it sound different, and I would not recommend it for production.
Also, don't go crazy collecting VST instruments. Find one, learn how to use it, and you're set. Maybe you'll want one Virtual Analog, one FM, and an Additive synthesis one. There are some good freeware ones around, and you can find them on http://www.kvr-vst.com. You can also use your sampler as an oscillator with looped analog waveforms and create some nice sounds that way. There's a book called "How To Make A Noise" that I cannot recommend enough. It's free to download, so there's really no reason not to give it a go. http://noisesculpture.com/htman.html Cheers, and good luck!
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Edited by - Audio X on 2009/04/17 00:52:46 |
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