House music production

[DJ Namaste]

Tips/tricks:
Swing/ groove, drum programming?

Key?

instruments/VST's?
Anything for a good disco house strings sound?


I have been trying for a disco house sound... any tips?

Post any good interviews here too!

And please, dont say, "its a feeling" :thefinger:

[Josh Max]

Nearly all disco house hits include samples long and short from actual disco tracks. You can find obscure disco records to sample pretty safely.

There's also a lot of disco house sample packs you can buy too. They'll all include strings for sure. Just loop them in a sampler and tweak away.

A trick for the drums is to use actual acoustic drum samples, and then lay down an electronic kick over the top. Claps on the half beat are essential too.

I don't know it's just ...a feeling.:D

[DJ Namaste]

In ableton, I have found quantization of the hats and snares gives the swing effect when you use 1/16 T at abou 17 -25%.

I am trying to find good string VST's. Reason has some good patches. Anyone know of good string patches in Reason? I am thinking the strings in Suit 117 - Smaller.

The Drum kit in Suit 117 - Smaller sounds like a sampled record, but also synthesized.

Ideas?

I think the Roland 707 gives a great house sound.

[Rodan]

I'm very interested in this topic as well.

So what suggestions do you have on where to look for old disco records to sample?

I'm going to try the 1/16th quantisization method in fruityloops and let you know how to work it out.

I think the biggest problem I have is getting authentic sounding strings.

I know this isn't legal but here is a great site: vst-club.com where you can find some sample packs and vsts to try and find which one suits your production best.

Also this site has some interesting info: http://sonictransfer.com/bass-sequencing-tricks-from-daft-punk.shtml#more-105

[§andalwooÐ]

if you want REAL swing, DO NOT use quantize PLEEEEEEEASE

unsnap your grid i.e., in fruity select 'none' in quantize menu, in reason click the magnet, etc etc

swing comes from latency on even numbered 16th notes

i.e., straight beat looks like this:

| . I . | . I . | . I . | . I . |

swing beats look more like this:

| .I .| .I .| .I .| .I .|


but honestly if you want your drums to have a unique groove, don't have your computer do it for you, UNSNAP THAT PIECE AND USE YOUR EARS!!!!!

[§andalwooÐ]

I'm very interested in this topic as well.

So what suggestions do you have on where to look for old disco records to sample?

I'm going to try the 1/16th quantisization method in fruityloops and let you know how to work it out.

I think the biggest problem I have is getting authentic sounding strings.

I know this isn't legal but here is a great site: vst-club.com where you can find some sample packs and vsts to try and find which one suits your production best.

Also this site has some interesting info: http://sonictransfer.com/bass-sequencing-tricks-from-daft-punk.shtml#more-105



if you use fruity I highly recommend buying KONTAKT, the newest version comes with over 33 gigs of HIGH quality sounds including the vienna symphony iibrary which is basically the best strings you're ever going to find outside of sampling

also, learn about sidechaining....the breathing effect you hear in most house/trance comes from sidechaining the kick to whatever you want to breathe....

and....yes sample old music as much as possible :D

[DJ Namaste]

Quantize to the 1/16th T means it is off grid, it is simple. It only quantizes to a percentage rather than right on the grid. I have been writing off grid for months, and it sounds ok, but quant with 16th t on at 10 % sounds good.

Kontact - Price?

[Josh Max]

Kontakt 3 is $400.

My favorite VST for string sounds is IK Multimedia's Miroslav Philharmonik.

Also some sequencers and different drum plugins now have a "humanize" effect that can loosen up your quantization to sound more real. If you can manually program without quantize then cool, but there are tricks to make it easier for that sound.

[§andalwooÐ]

yeah, same principle, I still think live midi recording, or no-grid punch ins are the best way to get swing...

edit @ josh: yeah but thats the easy way out :p

komplete is 1000 and thats what i bought

off the top of my head i think kontakt is 350 or 399

if you only get ONE NI instrument I would get kontakt. The sample libraries it comes with are worth the money in and of themselves.

Also it is the best sampler ever. :D

[Josh Max]

josh: yeah but thats the easy way out :p

Laziness is highly underrated.


if you only get ONE NI instrument I would get kontakt. The sample libraries it comes with are worth the money in and of themselves.

Also it is the best sampler ever. :D

:werd:

[DJ Namaste]

I have a hard time buying software, the resale value...

I am thinking about it though.

Any good sidechain compression vsts for ableton? I have tried a few, not impressed. I typically do volume changes in my clips to give compression.

[DJ Namaste]

I have a hard time buying software, the resale value...

I am thinking about it though.

Any good sidechain compression vsts for ableton? I have tried a few, not impressed. I typically do volume changes in my clips to give compression. you can automate rhythms in the volume that way.

BTW of VSTs, I love lazysnake, if you havent tried it, give it a shot.

[§andalwooÐ]

sidekick is dope and free

w/ resale you mean as opposed to hardware i assume...that I understand completely

for me though because of the cheap upgrades, sample libraries and versatility/compatibility of software far outweighs its sonic limitations which can of course be overcome with good eqing compression and sample selection

either way kontakt is the utter ish

[§andalwooÐ]

also, sidechaining typically compresses rather than just reduces volume so you will get a different effect, unless you automate your compressors ratio..but even then it makes it much harder to do cool edits b/c you have to make a spike every time your kick hits/rolls etc...

[Josh Max]

The new version 7 of Ableton is supposed to have a great brand new compressor, with you guessed it ...sidechaining!

So if you are going to upgrade anyway, maybe you should hold off on buying something for that.

[§andalwooÐ]

uh heh

yeah i dunno but kontakt doesn't do sidechaining so we're talking about two different needs here.

there are plenty of pc supported vsts/plugins that do that including WAVES which every mother and their neighbors dog has

kontakt and sidechaining have NOTHING to do with each other. If you like ableton sweet but I would love to participate in a debate on whether NI's vsts outweigh abletons stock plugs...........

sidekick is FREE FREE FREE!!!!!


my 2 cents here: if you want to invest in software get kontakt or massive if you dont' have a hardware synth, and if you want the sucking effect ain house/trance get a sidechainer I.E., sidekick

[Josh Max]

Any good sidechain compression vsts for ableton? I have tried a few, not impressed. I typically do volume changes in my clips to give compression. you can automate rhythms in the volume that way.

I was chiming in on this subject. I guess I should have quoted this in my response.

As far as NI's instruments... they definitely perform over and above the instruments Ableton has to offer.

[DJ Namaste]

http://dancemusic.about.com/od/remixersproducers/a/FreemasonsInt.htm

Check out this interview

Anyone tried NI Reaktor?

[§andalwooÐ]

I use Reaktor a lot!

Definitely a powerful tool there. I have started my own ensemble but it is still under construction :D.

The amount and diversity of ensembles you can find online is astounding.

[Erik B]

if you want REAL swing, DO NOT use quantize PLEEEEEEEASE

unsnap your grid i.e., in fruity select 'none' in quantize menu, in reason click the magnet, etc etc

swing comes from latency on even numbered 16th notes

i.e., straight beat looks like this:

| . I . | . I . | . I . | . I . |

swing beats look more like this:

| .I .| .I .| .I .| .I .|


but honestly if you want your drums to have a unique groove, don't have your computer do it for you, UNSNAP THAT PIECE AND USE YOUR EARS!!!!!
so true so true...well said bro

[arcOne]

Buy a Rhodes.

[sidneyfrost]

I like 1/2 and 1/4 measures of old funk and motown kuts to make that classic disco house sound...