[Sounddesign/Composing] A (LONG) Guide To Hardstyle
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Don't create topics asking questions, use the Sound Design or Software/Hardware section instead.
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arder-arderstyle
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- Joined: 22 Jun 2010, 15:31
I wasnt talking about editing melodies, but kicks, punches and stuff like that! Any amateur producer wont start with trying to make his killer lead that sounds like nc, if he doesnt start to practice with samples he wont learn anything about making actual hardstyle. Sound Design is something you should learn over time while trying to develop your own sound but its nothing you should start with. I dont think Zatox started like that, i dont think Headhunterz started like that and i dont think any of the pro producers really started like that. Yeah ofc its good to learn sound synthesis over time and its necessary to take it to an advanced, serious level, but for the beginning, and thats also what a tutorial is for, it is not necessary at all and rather slowing down than speeding up the learn process. Anybody who's trying to get to an actual pro level will notice sooner or later that he will need to create his own sounds, but for the beginning you should do everything else but focussing 100% on creating your own leads, kicks, but learning the arrangement and finding your own style.nikkita wrote:@Alex,
Sure, you could also just rip off someone else's melody and change a note here or there instead of learning how to compose your own...
However, you should re-read what she said. You just more or less reiterated what she said in the first line.
In fact, it IS true. You can get away with doing the bare minimum, but if you encourage lazy practices you're going to end up with a lazy sound... and yeah, proof of that is in the fact whenever someone uses a sample, people are quick to jump on it. In fact, many respectable labels in the music world in general will also not take your work if you're sticking primarily to ripping other people off.i accept sampling - but i HIGHLY advice all upcoming producers to to their own thing as much as possible, i'm still a newb too, but i find it very sad that there is so much "presetwhoring" and ripping from other producers and tracks...
especially kicks and advanced soundsynthesis like leads... guys TAKE the effort to learn and create! this is was music is about! realizing what you hear inside your mind!
shoooo~...!
slow down here you'e both
right, maybe i should explain further what i actually wanted to say:
i said accept sampling.
but i don't like it - especially at "more advanced" noobs
alex is right when he says sounddesign and synthesis are something you shouldnt start over with when you're new, it's definatly something you have to learn over time, it's a learning process which equires a lot of time and expierence to be mastered.
and i know a lot of professional and semi-professionals are using samples and presets to make their life easier (in fact i just know a few know ppl who do their own noise rises, drums or really start off from scratch when doing lead sounds and whatever you want), i am aware of the fact that EVERY producer is faced sampling from the very start to the very end - i know you can't make every littlest detail on your own
ofc working with audio (samples, vocals,...) is something entirely different than synthesis, but BOTH are elementary
and BOTH have to be understood imo
and OF COURSE you HAVE to start with samples and presets, to get the idea of producing, if you're like "omg i'll never ever sample in my life" from the beginning you'll very soon be very frustrated and your workflow will basically not exist (i also had to learn that, in a pretty hard way... /:)
i say: do as MUCH as you can on your own and slowly try to understand how to do it
i think it's also some attitude thing...
i have a VERY VERY scientific view on electronic dance music and electronic arts in general, i basically "grew into" electronic arts ALWAYS also being told the scientific details to everything i learned and did (how does a sensor in a camera work? what is audio? what are colors? ...) - so i basically kept it that way when i got into producing, not just cause i was used to it, but more like cause i'm a damn curious girl and i wanted to KNOW whats going on behind all those knobs, cause i also wanted to do this.
the price of this very extended knowledge was my workflow and i REALLY struggle a LOT when i try to start or finish things, cause i mostly spend hours with just a few midi-regions tweaking on sounds, synths and scales and learing about them day and night
i definatly didnt spend enough time with samples - and i regret it.
and btw:
thanks guys so much for all the "thank you"'s haha :3
slow down here you'e both
right, maybe i should explain further what i actually wanted to say:
i said accept sampling.
but i don't like it - especially at "more advanced" noobs
alex is right when he says sounddesign and synthesis are something you shouldnt start over with when you're new, it's definatly something you have to learn over time, it's a learning process which equires a lot of time and expierence to be mastered.
and i know a lot of professional and semi-professionals are using samples and presets to make their life easier (in fact i just know a few know ppl who do their own noise rises, drums or really start off from scratch when doing lead sounds and whatever you want), i am aware of the fact that EVERY producer is faced sampling from the very start to the very end - i know you can't make every littlest detail on your own
ofc working with audio (samples, vocals,...) is something entirely different than synthesis, but BOTH are elementary
and BOTH have to be understood imo
and OF COURSE you HAVE to start with samples and presets, to get the idea of producing, if you're like "omg i'll never ever sample in my life" from the beginning you'll very soon be very frustrated and your workflow will basically not exist (i also had to learn that, in a pretty hard way... /:)
i say: do as MUCH as you can on your own and slowly try to understand how to do it
i think it's also some attitude thing...
i have a VERY VERY scientific view on electronic dance music and electronic arts in general, i basically "grew into" electronic arts ALWAYS also being told the scientific details to everything i learned and did (how does a sensor in a camera work? what is audio? what are colors? ...) - so i basically kept it that way when i got into producing, not just cause i was used to it, but more like cause i'm a damn curious girl and i wanted to KNOW whats going on behind all those knobs, cause i also wanted to do this.
the price of this very extended knowledge was my workflow and i REALLY struggle a LOT when i try to start or finish things, cause i mostly spend hours with just a few midi-regions tweaking on sounds, synths and scales and learing about them day and night
i definatly didnt spend enough time with samples - and i regret it.
and btw:
thanks guys so much for all the "thank you"'s haha :3
"ars ex scientia"
Nice one on the effort there! 
But I think for example explaining this structure might make people think they HAVE to use this structure...
So on this point I think you're actually narrowing the view of the readers
Also, "the break is where the magic happens" is a really weird thing to say I think
As the break is mostly the part where the hardstyle disappears haha 
But I get it ofc, breaks are very important to build energy down and up to create the rollercoaster of energy that is an elementary part of hardstyle.
So I would rather describe these flows of energy a track must have than saying this is the general structure - that makes tracks so much alike...
I think originality is much more in arrangement than in sounddesign
Anyways, great effort in this and I think on other points the tutorial definitely explains things to beginners well!
But I think for example explaining this structure might make people think they HAVE to use this structure...
So on this point I think you're actually narrowing the view of the readers
Also, "the break is where the magic happens" is a really weird thing to say I think
As the break is mostly the part where the hardstyle disappears haha But I get it ofc, breaks are very important to build energy down and up to create the rollercoaster of energy that is an elementary part of hardstyle.
So I would rather describe these flows of energy a track must have than saying this is the general structure - that makes tracks so much alike...
I think originality is much more in arrangement than in sounddesign
Anyways, great effort in this and I think on other points the tutorial definitely explains things to beginners well!
My first set of monitors ever, + my first midi controller ever just arrived yesterday.
And after reading your nice tutorial (and the commentary on them.) it is now finally clear for me what I should or shouldn't do. I always was fiercely against using samples, but now I think it can be very effective in getting a decent arrangement going and of course after that, I will replace most of those samples with my own 'scratch built' sounds.
A small thing that I miss in this tutorial is a decent explanation of scales and melody writing itself, ie. which notes go well together and why.
I advice everyone to read this: http://www.trancetutorial.com/Melody%20 ... inners.htm
and this was featured on the old GHF board, (made by Marcotjuh) it's epic.
http://thehardstylerz.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=37
And for the folks that are strugling with getting their own (Bedroom)studio ready, or have questions about the technical hardware / software part. This is a must read:
http://tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
And after reading your nice tutorial (and the commentary on them.) it is now finally clear for me what I should or shouldn't do. I always was fiercely against using samples, but now I think it can be very effective in getting a decent arrangement going and of course after that, I will replace most of those samples with my own 'scratch built' sounds.
A small thing that I miss in this tutorial is a decent explanation of scales and melody writing itself, ie. which notes go well together and why.
I advice everyone to read this: http://www.trancetutorial.com/Melody%20 ... inners.htm
and this was featured on the old GHF board, (made by Marcotjuh) it's epic.
http://thehardstylerz.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=37
And for the folks that are strugling with getting their own (Bedroom)studio ready, or have questions about the technical hardware / software part. This is a must read:
http://tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
meh.
Well said Geck-o It is easier for people to copy/go along with the same structure because they know they can't really go wrong, but yeah i'd rather producers to be more original
It is easier for people to copy/go along with the same structure because they know they can't really go wrong, but yeah i'd rather producers to be more original