Workflows

[Tad.]

How does everyone go about making tunes, starting points, workflow in general, etc?

[IV4]

Drums first. Bass is next. Process the bass until I think it is fun. Come up with notation. Mix with the drums. And then add every thing eles.

[msmith222]

Usually drums first, but anything can set it off really. If you use logic, we just posted our basic workflow here:

http://dnbforum.com/showthread.php/1...late-for-Logic

[spyre]

Drums, pad than i get bored and stop

[jimjimjim]

Drums, pad than i get bored and stop

drums - get 16 bars. then spend 1 week trying to write a basline that doesnt sound lame. give up, start a new project - write 16 bars of drums.....

meh writers block or whatver its called is a PAIN in the asssssssssssssssssssssssss

[ApeCat]

When I'm in the zone I can start from basically anywhere; chopping up a break, messing with frequency splitting and experimenting with filters or just a one shot sample that sounds nice.

Been focusing more on mixing lately so I haven't had the time I need to just sit down and bury myself in production..

[DaftFader]

I normally always start with the drums, then sometimes the bass or pads. I'm having real trouble getting my workflow refined though so normally do it differently every tune to see what works the best for me.

[RedRavenRuler]

I seem to work ass backwards to most... I start by making a synth sound I like that inspires me, get a pattern going with it, maybe add in 1-2 addition "Intro" synths and then move onto drums. As a drummer who's played with live bands for some reason I find it easier to write a really interesting percussion section once a few melody elements already going. From there I usually get a bass patch of some sort going and get some MIDI for a bassline started... Once I have what I consider to be a solid MIDI arrangement I bounce to WAV and to chopping and re-arranging and perfect the mixdown in that stage.

[gingerDoe]

first I personaly need firm concept,a detailed plan about each element of tune and how will it work,from little shaker so low in volume you wouldnt even conciously notice it to upper harmonics of sub bass

actualy I plan in my head each harmonic of each synth in way so it will never fight with other synth,for example if you have reese with saw waves tuned +- 25,then if you fit neutral square wave to it,it will work nicely becose the harmonics of reese are +-25 away from harmonics of square..... so thats the reason the square + reese combo is extremly common,becose it sounds good and its also flawless on technical level

first thing I do is kick drum,and then I will make sub bass and fine tune loudness of the two,that gives me firm values around witch I make everything else,the definite loudness of sub is super important becose its the element that takes most headroom,one thats always to blame when something starts clipping,

[ShirPan]

really different with every tune, its quite rare that i would start with drums though...

[Salvus]

drums - get 16 bars. then spend 1 week trying to write a basline that doesnt sound lame. give up, start a new project - write 16 bars of drums.....

meh writers block or whatver its called is a PAIN in the asssssssssssssssssssssssss

So true mate. I have this problem at the moment. Eurgh

[Southern]

I usually start with synth sounds - pads and basslines usually.

[parsons19]

Changes all the time mate. I used to try work to a formula, eg. Drums then Pads, etc. etc.

Now however I just really go with the flow and I think it works better for me ! Sometimes I will find a really cool percussion loop thats sparks an idea or sometimes I might find an awesome music loop and get processing on it to get some ideas sparking. Sometimes I will come up with a melody or sometimes a chopped up vocal. Whatever it is, if it starts me off and gets me into the flow that usually when the tunes come !

[Russla-DJ]

I have found using a couple of tracks for reference is the quickest way to get a track moving, start by listening to what has been used in the reference tracks and then continue to dissect the track 4 bars at a time. Keeps the flow going and stops mental blocks.

[JimpaDirt]

I usually start off with drums just to have something to work on. But its so fucking depressing just sitting and scrolling trough your drum samples, trying to find the perfect ones so after that I'm all fed up with the project already haha. So after making the beat I usually just take a break and then later come back and try to get some basslines laid down on and after that I just play around with sounds and melodies and the rest of the stuff.