New to Production

[Espirion]

Hey everyone. So I finally realized I can access the forums lol. I've been messing around with Ableton Live 8.2.2 the last few weeks along with NI Massive. The only thing is...I have a terrible (and I mean absolutely terrible ear for music). I come from absolutely no musical background and know very little musical terminology. I've picked up a little from a friend trying to teach me but it's not really helping. I've messed around in Massive and everything I get either sounds the same or just doesn't sound like that "OMGWTF" wobble bass. It's very...meh. Also been running into some trouble with the Midi Track trying to lay down the wobble after finally getting one that I like. It sounds choppy and not what it sounds like when I preview it in Massive. I'm not sure why that's happening but it's severely limiting me and getting me really down. I've watched countless videos to learn different tips and go off of that to make my own sound but nothing seems to be working. I don't know if anyone can help me out here or point me in some sort of direction but I thought I'd say hello and hope someone could help me. Maybe a few questions could help me narrow it down for anyone reading this and thinking "tl;dr."

1. What are maybe some typical OSC's to use in Massive?
2. How can I fix that damn MIDI Track issue?
3. Tips on what to do next?
4. General Massive Tips?
5. Anything else?

Hopefully someone can help me out. I've been lurking, reading the giant Bass thread - http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=159658 and learning from there, taking things, making them mine, but still sucking lol. Thanks in advance! I really don't wanna give up so hopefully I can make this work.

[Hircine]

1. What are maybe some typical OSC's to use in Massive?
2. How can I fix that damn MIDI Track issue?
3. Tips on what to do next?
4. General Massive Tips?
5. Anything else?

search around for how to synthesize sounds instead of how to make make them in massive, you will find tons of threads and books about the subject.

[Espirion]

1. What are maybe some typical OSC's to use in Massive?
2. How can I fix that damn MIDI Track issue?
3. Tips on what to do next?
4. General Massive Tips?
5. Anything else?

search around for how to synthesize sounds instead of how to make make them in massive, you will find tons of threads and books about the subject.

What do you mean synthesize sounds?

[Crimsonghost]

YouTube "dubstep massive". More tutorials then you'll know what to do with. Granted a lot of it is the same wanna be Skrillex sound, but just watch a few of them and youll quickly learn the basics of sound design (within the context of massive that is).

*edit

What do you mean sounds "choppy"? Wobble out of sync? Notes fading into eachother? Notes attacking too quickly?

[MassAphekt]

YouTube "dubstep massive". More tutorials then you'll know what to do with. Granted a lot of it is the same wanna be Skrillex sound, but just watch a few of them and youll quickly learn the basics of sound design (within the context of massive that is).

*edit

What do you mean sounds "choppy"? Wobble out of sync? Notes fading into eachother? Notes attacking too quickly?

80% of massive's tutorials are garbage lol

[Hircine]

YouTube "dubstep massive". More tutorials then you'll know what to do with. Granted a lot of it is the same wanna be Skrillex sound, but just watch a few of them and youll quickly learn the basics of sound design (within the context of massive that is).

*edit

What do you mean sounds "choppy"? Wobble out of sync? Notes fading into eachother? Notes attacking too quickly?

80% of massive's tutorials are garbage lol

distance and district's are really good.

[MassAphekt]

YouTube "dubstep massive". More tutorials then you'll know what to do with. Granted a lot of it is the same wanna be Skrillex sound, but just watch a few of them and youll quickly learn the basics of sound design (within the context of massive that is).

*edit

What do you mean sounds "choppy"? Wobble out of sync? Notes fading into eachother? Notes attacking too quickly?

80% of massive's tutorials are garbage lol

distance and district's are really good.

indeed! Im just saying most are like YOI YOI YOI ZOMG MODERN TALKING BASS and screams.. I don't see much in making multisynths, if not any

[ehbes]

1. What are maybe some typical OSC's to use in Massive?
2. How can I fix that damn MIDI Track issue?
3. Tips on what to do next?
4. General Massive Tips?
5. Anything else?

search around for how to synthesize sounds instead of how to make make them in massive, you will find tons of threads and books about the subject.

What do you mean synthesize sounds?

Well look up what te word synthesize and that should answer your question

[Espirion]

Okay so other than telling me that Massive's videos are garbage, can anyone tell me something useful? Other than synthesizing sounds, which I will look up on, what can I do to make something a little better. Not even something that's super pro or amazing. Just something I can feel good about myself with lol. I also have FM8. Would using that be easier? Since my midi track gets messed up with Massive, would using FM8 or Operator be a better place to start? I'm not looking for that Skrillex or Datsik or Nero or any kind of pro sound wobble. I'm just looking for something I can be pleased with and that will fit into a song. How do I know what sounds good and will fit though by the way? Like I said, my ear is terrible and I have no idea if the sounds I've made that I thought sounded good, are even good (if that makes sense). Sorry for the long blocks of text but I hope someone can come along and point me in the right direction. Maybe some terminology lessons would be good lol.

[ehbes]

Do you know fm synthesis? If no then I'd stay away from fm8

[bassbum]

To fix your wobbles you need to go to the global tab, un-check extern sync and set the tempo to the tempo of your daw.

The best Massive tip you will get is... Read the manual and Google anything you dont understand.

Other than experimentation, analize the music you listen to, your probably doing that all ready, most people do once they start producing.

Everthing you will ever need to know is on this forum and IMO its one of the best prodution forum online.

As you have no musical background I would look up some music basics like;

Major and Minor scales (TTSTTTS and TSTTSTT)
Triad chords and Variation chords

[Espirion]

To fix your wobbles you need to go to the global tab, un-check extern sync and set the tempo to the tempo of your daw.

The best Massive tip you will get is... Read the manual and Google anything you dont understand.

Other than experimentation, analize the music you listen to, your probably doing that all ready, most people do once they start producing.

Everthing you will ever need to know is on this forum and IMO its one of the best prodution forum online.

As you have no musical background I would look up some music basics like;

Major and Minor scales (TTSTTTS and TSTTSTT)
Triad chords and Variation chords

That helps a lot thank you. I'll check that out right now real quick. Question though. I've read a lot about resampling and did a quick google on it but I still am unsure of what it is or how to go about doing it in Ableton. And not only that but what's the point of doing it? And lastly for right now, is a solo Massive wobble good enough or does more need to be added to the chain to give it a better sound? And yes, you'd be correct in saying I've been analyzing everything now lol. I haven't stopped listening to dubstep for the last 2-3 weeks.

EDIT: Your suggestion helped omg thank you! I've been trying to figure out how it got like that forever! I really don't know how that could have become the standard lol

[bassbum]

To fix your wobbles you need to go to the global tab, un-check extern sync and set the tempo to the tempo of your daw.

The best Massive tip you will get is... Read the manual and Google anything you dont understand.

Other than experimentation, analize the music you listen to, your probably doing that all ready, most people do once they start producing.

Everthing you will ever need to know is on this forum and IMO its one of the best prodution forum online.

As you have no musical background I would look up some music basics like;

Major and Minor scales (TTSTTTS and TSTTSTT)
Triad chords and Variation chords

That helps a lot thank you. I'll check that out right now real quick. Question though. I've read a lot about resampling and did a quick google on it but I still am unsure of what it is or how to go about doing it in Ableton. And not only that but what's the point of doing it? And lastly for right now, is a solo Massive wobble good enough or does more need to be added to the chain to give it a better sound? And yes, you'd be correct in saying I've been analyzing everything now lol. I haven't stopped listening to dubstep for the last 2-3 weeks.

To start I would just learn the basics of synthesis, EQing and FXs.

Resampleing is where you export your sound and then add more processes to it and then export it agen add more................blah blah blah.

The advantages to this is

save CPU,
If you EQ the sound the EQ will be pitch shifted with the note once you load it into a sampler,
If your using detuned waves or unison you can pick out the part where its phazing just right and use just that.
You can layer as meany waves as you want in a sampler.
And more crap I cant remember..........

Theres also layering... this is done to fatten up drums or synths.
Stuff like.....
Haveing 2 snares and 3 claps playing at the same time to make one supper snare drum,
Or have 6 massive instances playing that same notes but with different settings to make one huge sound.

Some sounds are good straight out of massive, IF you know what your doing but most of the time I would add EQing, Distortion, Very light Flange and Chorus, Delay and Reverb, in that order.

[bassbum]

500 POST!!!!!!!!!!

I have nothing more to add.




















You just lost The Game!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Espirion]

Damn I lost the game . Thank you very much for your help. I think I can find some stuff on music theory and stuff like that. That should help out a little. And the effects you listed, you mean the ones from Ableton right?

[ehbes]

For music theory google the ravenspiral guide its a great read

[Espirion]

For music theory google the ravenspiral guide its a great read

First or second link?

[ehbes]

1st

[Espirion]

Great! Thank you! I'll have to read up on that. In the mean time, let me ask this. Are there certain OSCs that are "most commonly used"? I've been using Modern Talking with very lackluster results. Others I've used are the Additive's, Math ones, Squelchy, Gentle Speech, and Scrap Yard. Is it typical in a wobble to have at least one saw? Most videos I've seen that produce good wobbles have used at least one. I didn't know if this was like a general rule or anything lol.

[bassbum]

Damn I lost the game . Thank you very much for your help. I think I can find some stuff on music theory and stuff like that. That should help out a little. And the effects you listed, you mean the ones from Ableton right?

Im using Kjaerhus Audio's Chorus, Flange and Phaser, they where free with Computer Music Mag and I think they are free online too. Im using Camel Phat Distortion as well.

Other than that every thing I use is standard with Ableton. The saturation that comes with Ableton is amazing, try it on Snares.

Great! Thank you! I'll have to read up on that. In the mean time, let me ask this. Are there certain OSCs that are "most commonly used"? I've been using Modern Talking with very lackluster results. Others I've used are the Additive's, Math ones, Squelchy, Gentle Speech, and Scrap Yard. Is it typical in a wobble to have at least one saw? Most videos I've seen that produce good wobbles have used at least one. I didn't know if this was like a general rule or anything lol.

Try the chrome wave table all the way to the right. Add a saw wave on OSC2 and change the spectrum box to format and play with the knob under it. Also try the Sine shaper insert and go to the routing tab and listen to the sound you get before the filter and after the filter, with the filter on with a wub going obviously.