Anyone else make their own music?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Following James' upload of his 80's influenced track, I wondered if anyone else on the forum makes their own music.
I know Mark is in a covers band etc and I think (sorry, can't remember who it is), someone else on here does their own stuff.

How about uploading some if you do and letting us hear it? It doesn't matter what type of music it is that you do, I think it would be interesting. If I get time I will upload some bits that I have done on my own. They won't be everybody's cup of tea but if you like electronic stuff then it just might be.

How about telling us what you used to create the track and what you use in general etc? YouTube is probably the best way to go if you want to link to it as I think Soundcloud is a no no?

I sold all of my hardware synths years ago so I use VSTI's now and my main OS is Orion Pro. I use Steinberg Hypersonic and lots of other bits and bobs and an M-Audio USB Synth with samples from films etc to create tracks. I don't tend to do vocals that much.

Anyway, here's something I did a few months back. It's a tribute to my favourite film ever 'Bladerunner'. I added some samples too from the film. I'll post more links as and when so maybe this could be an ongoing thread?

http://youtu.be/GzSkJtVlw54

[James]

I used to play guitar/keyboard/sampling/sequencing in an original band but never made any money out of it, just the usual family & friends at gigs, its sort of how i stumbled into djing, as id be the one providing the music during the breaks & before and after the gig

Hardware/synth wise, i used to own a roland jp8000, a korg n5ex and a yamaha sy85, coupled with a roland sp808 sampler/sequencer, all being recorded through an akai dps 16 track digital recorder

Then vst came along, well, vst was already there, but i felt that you was pretty limited with vst until the birth of the pentium 4

So i sold all my outboard gear and went down the software route

Software wise, i now use sony acid pro v7 for recording/sequencing, sony soundforge for audio editing, with various vst synths/effects and a midi keyboard, long gone are the days of wires/cables/leads everywhere and patchbays, thank god

Hardware wise now, i only use an edirol 10 in 10 out usb soundcard (http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&q=edirol+ua+101&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1280&bih=861&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=6233886246029575016&sa=X&ei=FrD9TcLrOZSu8QOu772qCQ&ved=0CGEQ8wIwAQ), and the tc helicon voice live for vocal efects

How i create each track is always different, it usualy starts about 2am with a beat, then just keep adding things and deleting things until im happy, then get up the next day and listen back to it with fresh ears and continue adding/deleting/editing

Usually the vocals are the last thing to be added

[James]

PS Heres a couple of other tracks ive been working on, hope you like them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qurr80bCf1c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knnHedw49kc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpUPCPNC3ts&feature=related

Shakermaker, just listening to soe of your stuff now on youtube, right up my street:beer1:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

The JP8000 was a very nice synth James.
I got into it all after seeing Gary Numan and Tubeway Army on TOTP's. My first synth was a Casio VLTone. It was all I could afford after saving up my paper round money! (It was the synth that Trio used on their 'Da Da Da' track.
Over the years I've had a Casio CZ1000, Roland Juno 6, Roland Juno 106, Roland JX3P, Roland D50, Yamaha DX7IIFD, Yamaha MS80, Korg M1 and various drum machines etc... I always wanted a Polymoog but finding a decent one that actually worked properly was tough. My mate has 2 in pristine condition though and one was used last year by Nine Inch Nails at the 02 Arena.

When I create stuff, I usually start around a piano line and a basic drum pattern (I can't play piano by the way). Once I have a rough idea of the structure of the track, I will start mucking about with patterns and sounds and build it up bit by bit. I prefer doing film score type stuff that is nice and chilled but I also do dark industrial stuff too.

I'll check out your tracks later on so I can turn the volume up a bit....(the missus is still in bed and my headphones are still in the van!).

[Larry B Entertainment]

Over the years I've had a Casio CZ1000, Roland Juno 6, Roland Juno 106, Roland JX3P, Roland D50, Yamaha DX7IIFD, Yamaha MS80, Korg M1 and various drum machines etc... I always wanted a Polymoog but finding a decent one that actually worked properly was tough. My mate has 2 in pristine condition though and one was used last year by Nine Inch Nails at the 02 Arena.



I used to have an M1...still regarded as having the best dance piano patch. I still have a Korg M3R knocking around somewhere.

Some of my own stuff is here. http://www.youtube.com/larrybuk


I use Fruity Loops 10, Nexus VST, Vengeance Sample packs (same as what Cascada use), a sample library consisting of around 30000 samples, Roland Juno G, Roland Handsonic and various VSTs.

[Daryll]

Way back in the early 80`s , I was a keyboard player , there were just the two of us , a female singer and me :D .
Equipment wise , Yamaha DX7 , Roland EM101 , Casio CZ100 and an old JEM SZ1000 mono synth.
I did make the Transcendant Polysynth
11893

The sequencer was an Yamaha QX3 , and just to match a Yamaha RX5 drum machine , had a pair of Yamaha digital effects units as well , all going through a 24-4-2 mixer.

Alas all that is history , these days I have a Roland PC 50 midi keyboard , software wise , Creative labs audigy 2 ZS sound card , creative Vienna soundfont studio , some of the free soundfonts are truly stunning.
various VSTi soft synths and effects , and last but by no means least , from arturia (http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/products#Analog )
I have the CS-80 and the moog modular.

screen shots

11894

Just looking at software sequencers , trying to find something that is simple to use :daft: .

Cheers

Daryll

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I have lots of VSTI's etc etc and as you say, lots of them are free but I would fully recommend purchasing Steinberg Hypersonic 2. It is an amazing bit of kit with literally 1000's of excellent instruments, loops, arpeggios etc etc..I use it a lot.

[Jonny Boy]

Must say, guys, I am LOVING all this electonica. I don't write or produce any myself, but do session vocals. Don't understand any of the technobabble TBH - no disrespect meant.

Some stuff i record on is....a bit like Marmite. I don't often get a creative input on it! :-)

I will post a recording I did recently, which was meant to be very experimental. Supposed to sound like something off a Scott Walker album and not easy on the ear BUT wanted to post for your synth-boys as it is entirely produced with virtual plug-ins. All instruments (i believe) for the orchestra were recorded as separate parts - 1st-4th horn, violin etc etc - - - the Cubase file was enourmous. I'm not 100% happy with the vocal, but though it would be an interesting/challenging listen - synth music from another 'angle', so to speak.

So, track written arranged and produced by Richard Cook (aka Art City Glimmer (http://www.youtube.com/user/artcityglimmer)/The Semantics (http://www.thesemantics.co.uk/).) called Didn't We Have It All.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21871505/05%20Didn%27t%20We%20Have%20It%20All-.mp3

[Eski75]

I mess around a bit at home. I was in a covers band that were (are...just without me now) pretty successful but got bored of playing other peoples stuff so let soomeone else have a go with the sticks.

I have a BOSS BR1200CD home recording studio which is pretty good, packed with effects for guitar and vocal together with a load of editing functionality (pretty cheap on the 2nd hand market now too..........around £300)

I fantasise that I'm something of a Mike Oldfield, playing every instrument etc. I've got my trusty Telecaster, don't need a Bass because the studio can turn your six string guitar into a bass. I've got Roland TD-8 electronic drums, which living in a Semi I bought for silent (ish) practice but have come into their own with this recording kit.

Maybe post something when it's complete.........maybe lol

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I had one of those Boss things. I liked the way you could record your work straight to the onboard CD burner. Good bit of kit that was but I decided to sell it when I went to software instead.