Ableton Forum

Just felt like sharing some of the tips I've learned this year. Would like to hear yours too.

So...

Don't put monitors on books - Get stands:

Years of frustration of mixing bass solved in one easy, quite affordable sweep.
Now I enjoy producing even more and I am therefore more productive.

A good soundcard/monitors makes a big difference:

Buy the best you can afford. Better sound also means more enjoyment out of what one does.

Ableton's delay track feature:

I always thought this was just for time lag on outboard stuff until somebody pointed out that
it can be used for spreading sounds (doubling the channels, panning and delaying one side)
Great for handclaps, hihats, bongos etc. Also good for changing the hit point of drums.


Less is more:

DVS1's productions amazed me and inspired to make things more simple and make few sounds bigger instead of cramming it all in.

Oh yeah, TAL DUB 3 Is the bees knees.

I'll bite:

This is all relegated to Dance Music.

Less is more.

Always start with the drums and bass.

If your drums and bass don't move the track alone. Throw out the drums or bass or both.

Don't add anything that doesn't move the track. If it just adds noise and no movement / emotion. DELETE and move on.

Micro shifts in time can make all the difference. (a tick forward or back can make the track move or kill it).

While writing, always compare your song to other songs in your genre. If you can't mix it in or out of your set. DELETE and Start over.

Mistakes are some of the purest sources of inspiration and genius.

Always keep your mix from clipping while you write. You can slam it later after it already sounds good.

The silence between the notes is just as important as the music.

If the song doesn't play in your head over and over after you leave the studio, DELETE and start over.

When you think it's finished. Give it a day and listen to it again. If you still love it. It's good.

wished i never switched to plugins in 2001, but still would have my 1985 setup.

K.I.S.S. - 20-30 minutes to set up is too long for small clubs. 15min max.

Don't give the sound guy the option for multiple outs from your set up, they don't know your sound and will screw it up.

Just because you can bring half your studio with you live doesn't mean you should!

If you're using a live drummer, you will at one point hear nothing but drums onstage, it's inevitable.

eggnchips wrote: Years of frustration of mixing bass solved in one easy, quite affordable sweep.
Now I enjoy producing even more and I am therefore more productive.


DVS1's productions amazed me and inspired to be more simple and a make few sounds bigger instead of cramming it all in.

Good topic eggnchips.

Could you please elaborate on your bass sweep technique.

What/who is DVS1 ?

Cheers

has a great new remix out on prologue. Is he using ableton?

DVS1:
http://www.myspace.com/thedeviousonempls

He uses Reason or so he says in his interview on Resident Advisor.

As said in the original post, buy the best or don't buy at all.

Machinesworking wrote: If you're using a live drummer, you will at one point hear nothing but drums onstage, it's inevitable.

I love this one. We always say that you'll hear only the lead vocal and the kick drum at some point. haha. same idea.

I wish I had learned about Ableton Live earlier than I did.

-Luddy

@ChiDJ - all great tips, thanks

A couple of things that have already been said, but:

when I first started producing I would have the bass waaaay to loud for the mix. I used to think loud bass = loud track. Not true. Balancing the bass nicely with the rest of the elements can really bring out a track, adding punch and clarity to the whole sound.

Learn how to EQ and compress properly. Makes producing so fun when you know you can fit elements properly into the track.

A good one that ChiDJ said, if a track doesnt play in your head all day after producing it, bin it or store for something later.

Finish tracks off. Nothing worse than having a load of unfinished tracks that are closer to embryos than a tune. I had a load of tracks waiting to be loved, but could never decide what one to finish. So i went through all of them and put all useable elements into a folder for using later.

Main thing. HAVE FUN. I think its easy to get bogged down with sound clarity and quality, but enjoy every sound that you create.

Also, someone mentioned that you shouldnt place monitors on top of books. Why? I spent the whole summer doing this because I got a new computer desk that holds the monitors to low below my ears. Just wondering how I am damaging my production environment?

- Some clients are difficult no matter how hard you try.

- Not only is side-chaining overused, some people have no clue how to use it at all.

- It doesn't matter how 'good' a piece of gear is, if it's not working for you it's gotta go.

Tarekith wrote: - It doesn't matter how 'good' a piece of gear is, if it's not working for you it's gotta go.

So, what did you get rid of?

Virus Polar TI2 is going on Ebay next week.