Production
What In The MIDI Is This?
posted by DJ Story on Apr.17, 2011, under Production
I bought a Korg Triton and was sequencing on the internal sequencer. I could not for the life of me get the timing perfect nor the tracks in sync. Even with the internal metronome, the human ear is just not as perfect as a computer and it drove me up a wall trying to sequence these songs I was writing. The Triton I owned was only MIDI out and not MIDI IN. Meaning, I could use it as a MIDI controller but could not use MIDI within. When my neighbor introduced me to MIDI, let me tell you, it made my life a lot easier! I was writing songs like that! *snaps fingers* It had been around before I was even born and I had no idea about it. I should have done my research. Hopefully if you’re reading this now, then you’re in search of an easier method to create electronic music with. There are articles out there that breakdown what MIDI is in intricate details, I am going to explain in lame man terms for you.
MIDI stands for musical instrument digital interface and has taken over the industry in the past 20 years and is increasingly growing and growing. It is now a staple in the music production industry and enables electronic instruments known as controllers (because they enable you to control everything about the music) such as MIDI keyboards, drum machines, synthesizers, MPCs, etc. to communicate with computer software programs and hardware by signal. Unlike analog instruments, MIDI does not send audio signals. I repeat, MIDI DOES NOT send audio signals! If you go down to your local music store and play a MIDI keyboard or instrument, it will not make any sounds, unless connected to a computer software program. MIDI sends event messages to other devices that indicate things such as tempo, pitch, note length, volume, etc. etc.. To put it simply, you are now in full control of the music. You can control everything about the song all from your keyboard, drum machine or whatever controller you are using. It makes life a hell of a lot easier for you, trust me!
To get started all you will need is a MIDI controller (most people go with a keyboard/I use the Akai MPK49), a compatible music software program (I personally use Reason, it’s super simple to learn and has a massive sound library) like Reason, Logic, or even Fruity Loops if you’re just starting out. Also, if you’re still not quite sure what MIDI is or want to learn more, watch video tutorials online. There are tons! Thank you for reading and I hope you learned a little something from this article and you’re ready to go out and make some serious music!
Yoshi Bradley
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Dubstep Music Mastering – Part 6
By Simmon Power
posted by DJ Story on May.01, 2010, under Production
In this final part of our mini guide I am going to give you a real world set up you can use on your dubstep track. Applying these processes will give you a much louder master, ready to send out to labels and distributors.
Real world master process:
Start with an EQ, remove the subsonic frequencies using a linear phase EQ, low cut at around 25hz (even in dubstep music as harmonics this low do not add any thing to the track). Use the EQ to add some broad sweeting to the tracks top and bottom ends, a boost at around 70-80hz, wide Q, 1 to 3db boost. Then a 2/3db boost at the top from about 8khz- 20khz depending on the track.
Remove any muddiness from around 200-400hz using a precise cut of about 1 to 4db remove any problem frequencies using surgical cuts with very narrow Q settings. The best fault-rectifying mastering EQs are linear phase EQs because they have a very transparent sound, and do not add any coloring to the mix. This works well for dubstep as it keep the mix sounding ‘true’.
Then move on to the compressor, a low ratio of around 2:1 works well for dubstep with 3db of gain reduction, using an auto release setting. This will help bring the dynamics of the track in line. It’s generally not a good idea to EQ after compression because aggressive EQ setting will cause peaks above the 0db threshold and you want to ensure that the compressor is working in full. You can try using a multi band compressor before the limiter to control the compression of different timbre sections.
The last process will be the limiter, or maximizer. Try moving the fader down until the peaks of the track are being dealt with to about 3db of reduction, but with out causing to much distortion. Even if you like your dubstep distorted, its not needed or wanted at this stage.
To get even more volume out of your track you may consider the oxford inflater or the UAD precision maximizer, these are ‘psychoacoustic’ processors and will maximize perceived loudness with out resorting to sometimes problematic limiting and ultramaxamizing. Dubstep producers have been using this processor to great effect.
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Hot Tip for Making Progressive/Electro House
posted by DJ Story on Dec.28, 2009, under Ableton Live, Production
One of the secrets of progressive house is to use a sidechain compressor. What you do is put it on a dirty bass track or whatever else you want to create a ducking effect whenever the kick drum hits. Basically, the way this is done is to put a copy of your kick drum on a separate track, and then you run that as the signal into the sidechain compressor. Whatever track the sidechain compression is on will start pumping with the beat. You hear this kind of sound a lot in progressive house tracks. I personally love the effect, and use it a lot. The reason I like it so much is because of the fact that if you put it on a phat bassline, it will duck whenever the kick drum hits, which let’s more low end bass from the kick come through.
Here is a video tutorial I made showing exactly how to use a sidechain compressor to create progressive/electro house in Ableton Live:
