Alright here it is! My first finished song from my debut album, Experiments. Here's In Instrumentation, a tight little piece combining a sampled chip saw and a VSTi, two very opposite ends of the instrument spectrum. Hope you enjoy, please leave comments!
Download Here (http://www.uploadtemple.com/view.php/1156282822.zip)
Be aware not to use the saw in a higher region, because after 0:54 it gets pretty false for a while.
Nice.
The saw sounds a bit offkey to me, especially as it gets higher. So I'll second what Sam says about getting too high with the saw. Maybe create another instrument with the saw and filter it for high regions?
I have no qualms about quality...
Uh...
The saw glissandos sound a bit shaky, offtune. I'm really missing those chip-staccatos too ;D
The ending is dragged on too long.
So yeah, quality stuff, but (I'm critting a bit of style here, so take what you choose) is a bit sparse, as if it could use a little more meat, harmony, ornamentation, etc.
Yeah...the saw. I knew it was off tune. I meant to tune it but was too busy writing to change it. You guys are right about the higher regions. Sam, could you define 'false' in your context? I'm afraid I can't agree with you on the Saw glisses. That's kind of how they were meant to sound.
Ending too long? Hmm. That's kinda funny because before I posted this I did increase the ending. But I love that second saw melody so much (the one with the turns and what not) that I had to play it twice.
Ooh...Staccatos...I'll have to remember that. Thanks for all of your advice.
"False" is often the result of improper dutch to english translation :P
In dutch it means vals, which sounds like false in english, but SamZen refers to the term Offkey ;)
I do think (haven't listened to the song yet as I'm at work) that if the saw is offkey at the higher frequencies, it will also be offkey at the lower. Do note that a saw becomes sharper at its higher frequencies, which makes this offkey to appear quicker.
Vals...Another word falls victim to the language barrier. Thanks for the heads up LP. I will try to fix that saw, and when I do, I think I need to fix the ID3s. Are you guys who downloaded getting any artist or album info?
Thanks LPChip, 'offkey' it was. And you're right about the possibility for the lower region as well.
-nice bassline
-not too keen on the effect on the saw (reverb?) but i guess that's personal preference
-lovely break at 1:08 :)
-the heavy flange on the snare sometimes weakens the accent, so maybe it would be better to double it up with another clean snare?
-1:40, i love this little sweeping riff.. how do you do stuff like that ? :(
good stuff :p
Quote from: "xincbox"-nice bassline
-not too keen on the effect on the saw (reverb?) but i guess that's personal preference
-lovely break at 1:08 :)
-the heavy flange on the snare sometimes weakens the accent, so maybe it would be better to double it up with another clean snare?
-1:40, i love this little sweeping riff.. how do you do stuff like that ? :(
good stuff :p
Woah, nelly! Let's break it down a bit.
Quote-not too keen on the effect on the saw (reverb?) but i guess that's personal preference
That's an echo ( I assume you're talking about 1:47?) AKA A delay. In this case its called an echo because no effect is used, I'm just repeating the melody and lowering the volume. This isn't one of my favorites, but I still like it. Very Tiesto-esque.
Quote-the heavy flange on the snare sometimes weakens the accent, so maybe it would be better to double it up with another clean snare?
I don't have a flange on the snare. I have a phaser (slightly same sound, but it's played only when sound is played, unlike a flange which is always going) on the hihat channel. And I'll see what it sounds like doubled up.
Quote-1:40, i love this little sweeping riff.. how do you do stuff like that ? :(
Yay filters! This one is created by using a filter and a z-macro. Unfortunately, I don't have time to explain it now, but I will in a while. Check back later
ah, wasn't sure if it was snare or hats i was hearing.. and i get flanger and phaser mixed up all the time! and maybe it's just the general sound of the saw that doesn't work for me.. i'm not sure
but yay, z-macro = another thing i've ever tried/managed to get my head around.. can't wait to learn
Ok, a quick lesson in filters and z-macs.
1. First, run modplug.
2. Second, open a song you'd like to experiment with (Or make a new one, but you will need at least one instrument)
3. Go to the Patterns tab
4. Click on the button that says "Zxx" near the top of the patterns tab.
5. Next to "SF0" it should say set filter cutoff, at the bottom of the screen, where it says "Fixed Macros", select the drop down menu that should say "Custom" and set it to "Z80-Z8F Sets resonance" or "Z80-ZFF Sets resonance"
6. Now before you want to do the 'sweep', in the effects column of the channel you're sweeping type Z8F or ZFF depending on what mode you picked in step 5.
7. Then, to do the sweep, start with Z00 in the effects column, and Z7F at the end of the sweep. Interpolate the effect.
8. If you need any help because I'm a bad teacher, PM me or post it here.
You can also automate it in the instrument tab by creating an envelope for it. If you learn how to use it, You can basically get to the same thing as the simple Z00-Z7F and Z80-ZFF.
I believe you can find information on this in the OpenMPT manual.
LP did you get a chance to listen to the song yet?
Not yet. I should have a bit of time this weekend.
I have found a bit time before going to eat to do a quick review.
First of.. Yeah, indeed off key!!! Ugh. :P :)
I'm not fund of that dance kick. Reminds me too much of trance.
In fact, I think this song would qualify more under trance than chiptune for that matter.
The beat is a very basic 4/4. I understand you've tried to do nice stuff with the hihats and stuff, but the bassdrum just pumps out of it. Also you could do more with this basedrum.
The melody could use some work too. Try to use silences between the notes to give it more space. It is now like a fire cannon that can't stop, and since that one note is nice, it just plays that note the entire time.
It has a few nice pieces, but overall, it has the same feeling which doesn't keep the fun in the song. After one listen, I'd not put it in repeat, if you know what I mean.
Ah dinner is ready, and I have basically said what I wanted to say. :)
Quote from: "LPChip"I have found a bit time before going to eat to do a quick review.
First of.. Yeah, indeed off key!!! Ugh. :P :)
I'm not fund of that dance kick. Reminds me too much of trance.
In fact, I think this song would qualify more under trance than chiptune for that matter.
The beat is a very basic 4/4. I understand you've tried to do nice stuff with the hihats and stuff, but the bassdrum just pumps out of it. Also you could do more with this basedrum.
The melody could use some work too. Try to use silences between the notes to give it more space. It is now like a fire cannon that can't stop, and since that one note is nice, it just plays that note the entire time.
It has a few nice pieces, but overall, it has the same feeling which doesn't keep the fun in the song. After one listen, I'd not put it in repeat, if you know what I mean.
Ah dinner is ready, and I have basically said what I wanted to say. :)
Thanks for your critique. This has been my first piece since that not-so-great-Battle In Your Body (It's only saving grace was that it was remixed by Hellscion before I uploaded it) I've been tracking for a while, but it was always at the back of my mind (I also made computer games at the time), so I never quite finished any pieces. Recently, I regained my interest in tracking, and this is (once again) my first piece since BIYB.
QuoteFirst of.. Yeah, indeed off key!!! Ugh. :P :)
I'm not fund of that dance kick. Reminds me too much of trance.
In fact, I think this song would qualify more under trance than chiptune for that matter.
Yeah, that damn saw needs to go. I actually did change it, but I don't have the time to upload it again. And you're right, this song is more trancey, the only reason I had it as chip was because of that damn saw which I now want to die. :twisted: I'll change it to trance. Also, percussionwise, I'm very sample-ey challenged. In fact, I'm sample-ly challenged in general. I did get some stuff off of BB Paradise but haven't had time to convert each and every sample one by one.
QuoteThe beat is a very basic 4/4. I understand you've tried to do nice stuff with the hihats and stuff, but the bassdrum just pumps out of it. Also you could do more with this basedrum.
I Like bass and bassdrums. What can I say. If I hadn't used a VSTi on the bassline, I would have used two channels on that as well.
QuoteThe melody could use some work too. Try to use silences between the notes to give it more space. It is now like a fire cannon that can't stop, and since that one note is nice, it just plays that note the entire time.
What one note?
QuoteAfter one listen, I'd not put it in repeat, if you know what I mean.
Yeah, I gotcha. 8)
Once again thx for the review.
Quote from: "SoundCrafter"
Thanks for your critique.
You're welcome :)
Quote from: "SoundCrafter"
Yeah, that damn saw needs to go. I actually did change it, but I don't have the time to upload it again. And you're right, this song is more trancey, the only reason I had it as chip was because of that damn saw which I now want to die. :twisted: I'll change it to trance. Also, percussionwise, I'm very sample-ey challenged. In fact, I'm sample-ly challenged in general. I did get some stuff off of BB Paradise but haven't had time to convert each and every sample one by one.
You didn't had to toss that saw aboard. It was great, it just needs to be pitched properly.
Quote from: "SoundCrafter"
I Like bass and bassdrums. What can I say. If I hadn't used a VSTi on the bassline, I would have used two channels on that as well.
Thats good, but the hihats you hear in the beginning just gets drowned away by it. Either lower both's volume a bit, or raise that of the hihats. They deserve to be there even if its just a little boost.
Quote from: "SoundCrafter"
What one note?
It was a figure of speech. Occasionally you keep the note on for like half a pattern, which is too long for a note that just doesn't do anything. Atleast thats the case in this song. It happens a few times.
Quote from: "SoundCrafter"
Yeah, I gotcha. 8)
Once again thx for the review.
And once agian, you're welcome :)
Before I start, let me let you know I've been playing my Xbox for countless hours straight while listening to Daft Punk, so sorry if Im a little fuzzy... :wink:
The melody is hmm unexpected sounding. Like I expect the next note to be a C and it's a F# or something, it just plays on my expecatations, kinda like a clever movie. Nice chippy sound to it too.
The rest is super-catchy. Makes me want to bounce. Really cool song, I even have to agree on the length, not too long or too short.
Thx for the review SH, it really means alot.
Quote from: "LPChip"It was a figure of speech. Occasionally you keep the note on for like half a pattern, which is too long for a note that just doesn't do anything. Atleast thats the case in this song. It happens a few times.
Aah...thanks, but I'm afraid I can't agree with you there. Sometimes you have to hold out the note for a while, let it soak in. Although I wouldn't recommend doing that with an offkey saw. :lol:
Quote from: "SoundCrafter"Thx for the review SH, it really means alot.
Quote from: "LPChip"It was a figure of speech. Occasionally you keep the note on for like half a pattern, which is too long for a note that just doesn't do anything. Atleast thats the case in this song. It happens a few times.
Aah...thanks, but I'm afraid I can't agree with you there. Sometimes you have to hold out the note for a while, let it soak in. Although I wouldn't recommend doing that with an offkey saw. :lol:
Yeah sure, but atleast DO something with that note while its on... Vibrato or anything... not dry, as you did. Some times I just had the feeling the note was whining, if you know what I mean.
If there is one thing I have learned about music in my 7+ years as a tracker, it's that there aren't many rules to music, just guidelines.
Yeah, I have to agree with you there Squirrel. If there were 'rules' to music, well, let's just say electronic music would not be anywhere NEAR as prevelant.
However, LPChip is right about the note. Even if you were to hold out a string note for a long time, even strings have variations. Looped saws do not, so you must put them there so you can make it aurally pleasing
You'll all be happy to know that my next song will be what I dub an "Active Project". This means I'll be taking your comments to heart and changing the song. I'll post every version, with a list of changes, so you can download what you like.
Bump because we started an interesting convo and no one's finished it. 8)
Curious you should mention strings. I was wondering how you would particularily sample a good string sample.
I remember once starting with a saw-like chip sample and putting it through constant filter and volume adjustments in the envelopes, and then adding a chorus and a compressor to make a synth string. Just wondering what you guys would do.
Anyways, aside from that et al, if there ever were rules to music, then they were meant to be broken (at least I would think so). I just remembered something about a 24-scale note in the tracker handbook... is anybody brave enough to attempt to track this? :P
Sorry, that was random.
Yeah, I'm sampley challenged too. Go us! :D
2 CrazyAznGamer
I agree, rules should be challenged all the time, but after a while also electronic music appears to have its rules.
Because lots of things simply are defined by the formulas of natural physics. So you have to accept them and use them.
Not of course the rules of some old academists, made when there was no electricity at all.
Octave-scales of 31 notes are now possible, as is a sequence of 74 steps.
A string sample is supposed to be in a loop. The first thing is the quality of the exactness of the sample.
Hearing the transition-point in what is supposed to be a continuous sound, is unwanted.
The problem with these kind of samples is often the slight changes in 'sound' inside the sample.
If you have a, say 'rough', sample of this kind, and you imply several effects on the sample on top of it,
the result will probably be even worse to use it as a 'smooth' loop sample. Other peaks, other zero levels in the
waveform.
I've written some notes about this here (http://www.louigiverona.com/webarchive/samzen/samps/smplopuk.html).
I've seen your page before, and it's helpful in creating samples. I keep volume and filter envelopes on string samples proportionally periodic so I can achieve this "smooth sound" you talk of. :)
As to the rules of physics: electronic music uses a synthetic method of calculating pitch, so naturally, a few notes may be slightly off to the human ear. Of course, personally, I find that indicative of a "computer aesthetic", and that, by actually defying sound physics, it creates its own aura of attractiveness esoteric to electronica. Rules should be challenged because in some cases, rules actually limit the agenda.
My excuse for repeating myself about that page. But good you mention it, because it reminds me of the fact, that
the page is not finished yet.
Most of the time I don't challenge rules, but just ignore them. Which doesn't mean there aren't any. But I set
them inside a composition. And the next song probably the set of rules differs. After all, when you make a song,
you'r busy with choosing limits, by picking some instrument sounds out of the huge number of possibilities.
But back to the topic-song. Nice parts-division of the song, and a clever ending with that low tone.
A fast drumroll before every break has become somewhat common nowadays, so I would suggest to use it with caution in next songs. It's a bit the same problem as with effects. If they are used all the time, they loose their extra power, so aren't 'effect' anymore. Not 'effective'. They become part of the normal basic thing.
Alright, I'm going to play the role of necromancer here and ask a really strange favor.
Sam, Squirrel, LP, anyone. Do you have this MP3 caked up on your harddrives anywhere? Mine since died, and so has this host. ;) I was hoping to show a friend, and remind meself.