by djnarrative | 3 Jun, 2011 | Reckorder Tutorials
Recently I've spent weeks going through each of my samples in order to create a database that i could really use. For too long my ever growing sample library was becoming increasngly more of a hindrance to the workflow having to listen to too many samples and found i tended to go to the same sounds for e.g kicks, as there was so many to look through, despite being in their in their own "Kicks" folder) On retrospect i think the reason was the time it would take to listen to them all and because i was still building the library and didn't know how the sounds compared with each other. Now though, having 200 high quality kick drums as opposed to 3000 kick drums is a big step forward for my workflow and made a massive difference to my music making (and workshops) so i thought i'd share my own method and couple of tools that can help organise large sample libraries. The first thing is that i have always used is to create a folder structure and then browse within the DAW. The structure has gone through many revisions but the current one is working really nicely and well worth the time investment. I think its the one i'll be sticking with and while its based around my own sample collection it may provide a solid starting point for anyone looking to create their own. So after much time and consideration my folder structure looks something like this. Bass / Loops folder - Samples folder Drum Hits / Broken down into different percussion folders Drum Loops / Broken down into...
by djnarrative | 30 Mar, 2011 | Reckorder Tutorials
If you're producing your own music, there are (at least) two approaches to mixing down your music. Mixing while you go along and/or after you've arranged the track. I used to only look at mixing the tracks after i had an arrangement i was happy with, but nowadays i find that mixing as i go makes a big difference with the final mixdown being for final touches. If i was to start again i think i would definitely pay a lot more attention to the mixing process as i was making music. The main reason being that frequencies get taken up with each layer/idea you add into the mix, and the ideas can very quickly get lost. Its a particular issue if you use loops, as if you've then got to go back and eq the loops so all the elements punch through the mix, the whole character of the track can be changed, and it becomes a lot of hassle. The reason for not mixing, for me at least, was to retain that creative flow. I'd find that ideas would come out really quickly, and i didnt want to get bogged down with what i viewed as technical side. Now however i view it more as a big part of the creative process where you are moulding that sound, and paying particular attention to what frequencies the sounds and layers you are adding are taking up. As you might expect hearing the frequencies only really became possible when i was able to afford a decent set of monitors, though i'd suggest not making the mistake i did, or...
by djnarrative | 8 Dec, 2010 | Reckorder Tutorials
This is something that i really should have started way earlier. In all sequencers you can setup a template set, so that when you load a new song, you have all the tools you need to start. This took me a while to do i think because i was still working out my process, what i needed, how things were best routed, etc, but now i've done it it really makes a big difference. Instead of loading Ableton and setting these things up each time I did it once then opened the Live Preferences and under the File Folder tab clicked “Save Current Set as Template”. Now each time I launch Live I am ready to go with the things I like pre-set. My current template is quite big as it has all the instruments and inputs i might use in a track, but I find it much quicker to delete channels than set them up, so i'd suggest listing all the elements you currently use in a track and creating a channel for each. Though try and just keep to the ones you use often, as having too much as it can strain your processor. Obviously templates are based on what you use in your studio, but to give you a idea here is a version of mine. Channel 1 : Drum Rack - With set of sounds ready to make beats with already mapped to the pads. Each of the drum rack channels has spectrum analyser and eq and are grouped (kicks, snares, etc). The groups each have eq and compressor, and spectral analyser so you...
by djnarrative | 2 Oct, 2010 | Reckorder Tutorials
Drum Racks and instrument racks are a fantastic thing. Especially when you use them with Ill Gates method of 128s. More on that later but til then here is 3 videos and a link i have bookmarked on the subject that have been useful in the...
by djnarrative | 2 May, 2009 | Reckorder Tutorials
Ableton has a wicked little midi effect called Scale. This is incredibly useful as it allows us to basically avoid hitting wrong notes. We can pick a scale and then create within it. o/ For me im looking for a way that enables me to work out what scale my riff is in and then progress the riff from there as thats the way my ideas come to me but this is equally useful so until i work that out here is a great tutorial from the ableton resource site Ableton life...
