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i had more the producing tech in mind... i think a lot of people (including me) are starting to overthink and overengineer tunes

^ that's your problem though man, nothing to do with the genre or the technology. It's how you're using that technology and allowing yourself to be influenced from within the genre you want to conform to. You're just comparing your sound to stuff which already exists...the formula.
If some new sound came out tomorrow and everybody jumped on it, everyone would be on a fresh vibe and could get away with making 'mistakes' or shit which sounds 'raw' etc.

OllieScott wrote:

wub wrote:Would a Dubstep track released today with only 5/6 elements at most (as some of the 'original' tracks had) have any sort of impact?

Unless it did something new or was by a well known producer from back then, it wouldn't. Music is all about progression and its fine showing an influence from past times but straight up copying something that has been done and gone isn't going to stand out unless there's something new about it.

I don't believe that for a second man. Most 'dubstep' is still musically and technically basic. I don't know how you're defining 'impact' but look at dungeon as a sound, look at Compa, Gorgon Sound, Swamp81 etc. They're doing alright.
Hatcha & N-Type picked up Cessman's "Gurkha" and "Stampede" for Sin City this year and some people were saying "oh, that's kinda reminiscent of the 2005 sound, nice" which is because...they were made in 2005. Cess wasn't that well known then and still isn't, but the 12" did alright. Look at the "Find Jah Way" 12" - very simple arrangement and sounds but done extremely well. That shit sold out twice I think. Look at RSD - his sound is still pretty much the same as 2008 but people still love him for it.
IMO it's not about 'standing out' anyway. Fuck it, just make good music, don't get greedy or think about it too much.

yes, but Grime especially. Only Kahn (and Zomby too an extent) have managed to capture the vibe of older Grime in the last few years.

This thread is false.

Lucifa wrote:yes, but Grime especially. Only Kahn (and Zomby too an extent) have managed to capture the vibe of older Grime in the last few years.

hmmmmm.

nah.

"Where were you in 92" by Zomby was made on an Akai S2000 and an Atari ST, using pretty much just that.

Different tech epochs have different vibes, no doubt. Has been suggested to just shelve your old laptops/production rigs for ready access to a particular sound.

Quality artist is going to manifest their intent, no matter the tech, though.

nowaysj wrote:Different tech epochs have different vibes, no doubt. Has been suggested to just shelve your old laptops/production rigs for ready access to a particular sound.

Would using a previous version of an ITB rig return a vibe though?

nowaysj wrote:Quality artist is going to manifest their intent, no matter the tech, though.

Too much chaff, not enough wheat.

wub wrote:

nowaysj wrote:Different tech epochs have different vibes, no doubt. Has been suggested to just shelve your old laptops/production rigs for ready access to a particular sound.

Would using a previous version of an ITB rig return a vibe though?

nowaysj wrote:Quality artist is going to manifest their intent, no matter the tech, though.

Too much chaff, not enough wheat.

This is solid protein actually. It is also the yin to my prior statement's yang, which answers your first question.

Home computers are a lot more powerful than 10 years ago, about 6 times better for the same price, which means it is easier for dudes like me to run complex software like Massive.

How significantly have soft synths actually developed in that time? What was popular in 2001? Zeta was popular five years ago, was it even around yet? Or just like, the first Wasp.

theres a lot more to tunes than technology, the scene as it was cant be replicated, a small group, meeting up every week, trying to outdo each other push new limits. Its all far too self - referential now. Massive plus subs plus skippy hats.

This was posted about old dnb/hardcore, but pretty relevant.

hybrid wrote:I think that music is of it's time in so many respects you'll never really be able to capture it properly.

Most of the tunes you love were made by people still buzzing from the energy they got from going out to classic raves and club nights, that's not something you can buy off eBay.

You may be able to get something sounding very similar but it will likely not have the same impact. A lot of those favourite tunes aren't even all that great if you listen to them now objectively, the setting and wider culture has so much to do with what sounds good.

I don't want to come across as being negative but buying loads of 90's gear wont transport you back in time.

The fact is samples were used so much then anyway there is very little hardware that will really make any difference, with a few notable exceptions.

That said there is nothing wrong with getting some good kit just try and use it creatively if you can.

Brendan Brady wrote:I agree with Hybrid - music's too entwined with the era it's made in - everything's different

It was a different world - clubs were different, technology and lifestyles were different, popular culture was filling the gaps and providing all the culture and stimulation the Internet provides today, people were less cynical

Main thing is that the music itself hadn't been done before - now you're retracing steps; everything you do already labelled and compartmentalised - also people were MUCH less technical back then ... You cannot make 90s music now - any more than someone could write a Shakespeare play or an Oscar Wilde aphorism today - it's like the difference between being a werewolf and wearing a Halloween costume

johney wrote:i had more the producing tech in mind... i think a lot of people (including me) are starting to overthink and overengineer tunes

i was trying to help this guy get started in music production the other day, and i realized that the advice i was giving him was kind of restricting him, though i didn't mean to at all. i think when musical advice is given it can be percieved as a "rule", which leads to overthinking and whatnot, when in actuality, most of the advice is really is context specific, subjective, a matter of taste, etc.

basically what im saying is that people need to be confident when they're producing, and not defer to common sentiment, or what their friend said, or what some guy on an internet forum said, because a lot of the time it doesn't even apply, and in the worst case people will think "if i don't put THIS plugin on my bass and compress with THIS ratio and cut the frequencies HERE no DJ is going to play my tune EVER" because that kind of stuff can become overblown

I remember a few years ago it was considered a pretty serious faux pas to put reverb on your kick drum, but berghain techno is pretty much based around putting reverb on kickdrums

Nevalo wrote:

Lucifa wrote:yes, but Grime especially. Only Kahn (and Zomby too an extent) have managed to capture the vibe of older Grime in the last few years.

hmmmmm.

nah.

hurrrrrrrrrrrrr.

yuh.

nah.

honestly though, it was a good tune.... but i think it was more hype than vibe.

Nevalo wrote:nah.

honestly though, it was a good tune.... but i think it was more hype than vibe.

What was? Percy? lol i didnt mean 'vibe' in a sit back and relax way, i meant in it in terms of capturing the sound of that era. Rest of Grime in the last year or two has just been either really badly trap influenced pieces, or slower tempo tracks with nods to eski. (Wen, Logos)

when i think vibe with grime i think of this.



percy didnt make me think "BLUD, man would murk on this wun, ya get me?!"

it made me think "well, this is different" lol

just me though.

uhhh i dont really get your point here, so are you arguing it's not a hype track or it is but it just doesnt do anything for you?

My general point was theres been little if anything in the last few years thats successfully re-captured the 'vibe'/atmosphere like in that vid you just posted.

Lucifa wrote:yes, but Grime especially. Only Kahn (and Zomby too an extent) have managed to capture the vibe of older Grime in the last few years.