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Post by Miguel on Dec 4, 2011 14:32:33 GMT -5
With some direction from a couple of friends, I started messing around with Midis. In the end I found that a lot of them are pretty unhelpful and messy in terms of note placement and accuracy. Though I found one midi to be especially good, so I went ahead and used that to experiment. I spent several sessions editing the song and today I have finished it. Summers, Eternal Tourist TrapI don't think I have captured the original spirit with this song, but it was nice practice all the same.
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Post by Miguel on Jan 2, 2012 14:28:04 GMT -5
V2s. V2s everywhere. Summers Midi Edit v2.Death and Retribution. This is the Second Phase ~Despair version of the song, which is slightly longer. Salvation. This is the last track of Second Phase ~Despair~, so this is actually a new song for many of you. For whoever here downloaded Second Phase ~Despair~, update the files by replacing them with the v2s in this batch: Of course, it's going to be a while before I get a chance to make a new batch rar for it, so anyone else who happens to download it should grab that batch as well. As it has been a while since I've posted here, the others songs I have made since the last post are: Some TS404The Oh SixAmerikko's Theme [Night Zone] (Actually a request) High LightOh and I have a new blog if any of you are into that sort of thing.
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Post by Miguel on Jan 5, 2012 0:49:28 GMT -5
And another. Earthbound - The PowerNo actual midi edit. Just putting both versions of the song together and playing it back. It actually sounds pretty good together.
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Post by Miguel on Jan 10, 2012 22:29:43 GMT -5
Two more. Donkey Kong 94 - Rocky Valley (This is another Midi edit, for practice. Drums were actually redone from scratch, however.) Nothing is Happening (This is something quick I did in an hour. Meant to be "short and sweet", but ended up becoming a 4 minute song.)
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Post by Miguel on Jan 12, 2012 11:45:36 GMT -5
Another new song. I started on it last night, but finished it up this morning. Tranquil CavernI'll admit: I ripped the second part of the bass off of another song, but can you guess what it's from? Hint: It's from a video game.
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Post by Miguel on Feb 6, 2012 19:37:48 GMT -5
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Post by Miguel on Feb 7, 2012 11:55:00 GMT -5
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Post by Umbra on Feb 7, 2012 23:37:42 GMT -5
Woah, you've really been working, Miguel. I have a lot of catching up to do on your songs. I'll give you more feedback once I've listened to them all. Thanks for the feedback, man! I really liked what you did in your songs, too! You should make some more. Really. Thanks for your feedback, too. Yeah, one of these days I'll get rid of my hiatus. Like, I'll grab it by the throat and throw it out the window. I went on hiatus because, well, I was having issues with the mastering and production--compression, mixing, and the like. I never took the time to sit down and read a book or manual on it, rather I tried to solve all of my problems by toying around with things, trial and error stuff. I came to the conclusion that although I love making music, there is a thing or to I need to learn about mastering and production, and about FL Studio itself too, before I go on and put my stuff online. I was happy for the actual composition, but not the sound quality of the final product (which I remember uploading to Youtube only to hear little bits of scratchiness in my songs). Being a perfectionist, I didn't like this. I also remember saying that I needed to have better equipment before I went back to composition, like at least a proper soundcard or interface for my guitar/keyboard. During my hiatus so far, though, I have learned more about Music Theory, which will probably help me a lot with the composing process. So, Miguel. If you mind me asking, how did you learn how to use FL Studio, or more specifically, how to mix and master? Also, do you know any music theory?
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Post by Miguel on Feb 9, 2012 15:14:36 GMT -5
Woah, you've really been working, Miguel. I have a lot of catching up to do on your songs. I'll give you more feedback once I've listened to them all. Yeah I tend to make a lot. Though I've slowed down quite a bit. Yeah, I understand that. Nice! I'm actually still learning FL Studio myself. Generally I have just been messing around and making things that "sound good to me". I've been playing it by ear and also simple trial and error. Though I have watched a couple of videos which indirectly taught me how to use the mixer (I actually went over a year without knowing it even existed) and how automation clips work. I'll eventually dive farther into vids as I go, but for now just trial and error and discovering how things work on my own. To be honest, I think my curiosity is drying up so I may need to change methods soon. Sadly, I don't know anything about Music Theory. I'm considering learning it in the future and also maybe pick up an instrument of sorts. Learning how to play a piano will likely be my best bet, though. EDIT: That is also to say I generally don't know much about mastering and mixing either. I do a bunch of volume/pitch tweaking here and there though. Because of that there's generally a difference in sound quality in a lot of my songs. Like, some songs are louder or softer than others. It's something I mean to iron out in time. Like everything else, I simply play it by ear.
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Post by Umbra on Feb 14, 2012 21:59:43 GMT -5
Yeah, I used to compose using the "what-sounds-good-to-me" method, and it has its advantages, one being that you get to experiment more and compose by ear while listening to the notes in your head. The disadvantage is that you don't know, Theory-wise, what you're doing and have to rely on your own analyses of what sounds good or bad, and why it sounds good or bad. Seeing how I want to turn my composing hobby into a career, essentially I had to stop using the method mentioned. I don't discourage hobbyists using it, though. Learning some Music Theory would be a good thing to do. I found Ricci Adams' Musictheory.net to be one of the better online resources for learning Theory. As for learning instruments, keyboard is really essential for composing. Since you're working with FL Studio, a MIDI Keyboard would be a good option as it can connect directly with FL Studio and allow you to record your ideas right into the program. Now, on a random note, Some TS404's rhthym sounds like a certain song by Queen. Just a random observation.
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Post by Youngster Joey on Feb 16, 2012 16:42:54 GMT -5
I know literally zilch about music theory, but I don't really understand why, from your explanation, it's so bad to compose without it. What's wrong with just composing by ear? Does music theory have a high predicative ability for what sounds good/bad? All I know about the technical side of music is that it's highly mathematical in a way :S
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Post by Umbra on Feb 16, 2012 21:49:26 GMT -5
At one point, I was asking the same thing--Why is music theory important to learn? Why can't I compose without it? Well, technically, I could compose with having limited knowledge of theory, but most of the process would be trial-and-error to find what sounds "good." If you know music theory, on the other hand, you know why it sounds good from a scientific standpoint, other than because of the explanation "it just sounds good," which basically makes the composing process much quicker because you know what you want to hear before it's on paper (or computer).
Even though Music Theory has much mathematical analysis in it, it isn't a science because in reality, there really are no rules in music as for someone who thinks something sounds good, another person may disagree. Music theory is more of a guideline provider, it tells you what works based on what has been considered "good" historically, but at the same time, it isn't saying "accept this or else!"
I'd say Theory is pretty important for any composer to learn, though, because aside from providing the tools for analysis, it opens up a variety of styles and techniques for a composer to use, which may perfect and add diversity to their music.
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Post by Miguel on Mar 5, 2012 22:27:30 GMT -5
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Post by Miguel on Apr 4, 2012 17:25:57 GMT -5
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Post by Miguel on May 7, 2012 22:31:28 GMT -5
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