Forum Activity for @deltadio

Cloud Bounce desktop app

General Producer Chat

[quote="SamuelClouston"]

Mastering by ear is a great tool - I've always believed AI/auto mastering is just for people who refuse to learn. Not only will you get the exact sound you desire for your track by mastering yourself, but you will learn an enormous amount on the way.

(.......)

[/quote]

I agree with everything you say on this topic, but for me that's another s-t-e-e-p learning curve. The idea that mastering typically also should take into account which (streaming) platform you intend to publish it on almost makes me faint in utter despair...

CloudBounce is pretty loud for sure. The mastered version of a track has a peculiar rectangular wave shape so (unfortunately) it is easily recognized as being AI or a typical CloudBounce product, but like I said in my original answer, it has some worth as a 'comp' for your own mastering attempts.

Genre recipes step-by-step

Member Content Requests

[quote="SamuelClouston"]

Good idea!

I'll kick things off.

JUNGLE MUSIC

• BPM - anywhere from 75-85 - you don't want to go as fast as D'n'B most of the time, or it becomes too robotic and hectic.
• ................
• <snip>
• ...............
• Ragga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IezLEriYO-U , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flyCeihI8pM

Hope this helps any budding Jungle producers - one of my favourite genres to produce!

[/quote]

Yes! That's awesome Samuel, so glad you've got the ball rolling. I most definitely believe this way of deconstruction/analysis has an added value, at least for some of us, the analytical types with brains working a certain way ("Programmers Do It On Command!", "Programmers do it with pointers" etc.). 

Your BPM indication for Jungle at 75-85, goes a little over my head since I thought the Jungle "standard" was approx. double that (>=140 BPM), I have tried to educate myself by reading the somewhat related Reddit discussion "Dubstep - 140 or 70 bpm?" [link] but it still is a bit cloudy for me, that wonderful reference track that you mention (Euphoric intro [Special Request - Pull Up (Tim Reaper Remix)]) I simply can't imagine to be < 140 BPM (it turns out to be 165BPM) but I understand you just want to highlight the euphoric intro of this track; Goldie's track is 163 BPM. I feel a bit stupid when I see Sully - Swandive (YT comment: "Which 3 chumps disliked this absolute banger, ffs!") is a surprising 112 BPM, so I take it some parts were on 1/32 grids or higher (?). Anyway, me being too noob for not getting the bpm trickery is not the topic!

Cloud Bounce desktop app

General Producer Chat

At some point they did update the CloudBounce client: to v. 1.0.5 (Build date Apr 20 2022). I still use it for quick mastering of (unfinished) tracks that I want to (privately) share with peeps. For this purpose CloudBounce does not disappoint. Haven't tried it yet on more serious stuff.

Genre recipes step-by-step

Member Content Requests

Genre recipes step-by-step

Hi y'all, glad to be back. It's been a while. I have noticed the PT forum still is a bit sedentary but with quality posts like the 35 days collab and others I am still very much motivated to follow and participate.

This here request of mine has been on my mind for years. I would like to have time-lined step-by-step recipes for music genres. I realize that deconstructing an existing song is part of the essential skill set of any (aspiring) music producer, but 'recipes' offer a quick intro into a genre (say 'minimal tech', 'reggaeton' [or even more specific sub-genres] etc.) AND give you the tools ('the grammar') to deconstruct other songs.

Recipes should include (this is not a complete list, just a quick sketch):

• BPM
• Key
• Named parts of the song
• Instruments typically used in each part
• Midi resources for used instruments 
• Variation indications
• Length indications of parts
• Insight as to which instruments are layered at what time
• etc.

The fact that such a recipe is bound to be very generic is exactly it's point, aspects like melody or chord sequences can be left to the 'cook' (but the recipe should include some pointers for those elements, possibly also some midi files). 

If you argue that any construction kit or song template already equals a 'recipe' I would like to point out that analysis/interpretation/deconstruction of these resources is still left to the user. What are the attributes of the core drum beat of a track, what are its typical variations etc. Not many song templates that I know are meticulous in their part descriptions and quite a lot of song templates don't contain a song from start to finish; none of the templates that I bought contain any written explanations of the parts of the song and their (possible) variations.

I am not entirely sure in what shape or form such recipes should be presented, but even a more narrative form could work: "Start your 126 BPM E-minor Minimal Tech song by a hi-hat loop (sample of your choice or midi [link]) for xx bars, at bar xx introduce a kick etc. For this genre make sure your chosen hi-hat and kick (...)  etc." A recipe built like a spreadsheet with time-lined columns and their musical parts could work even better.

It's my expectation that no song following the recipe will sound the same so it could be a fun challenge for competitions.

Perhaps on the WWW there's already a comprehensive, possibly authoritative resource on music genre recipes that I don't know about, in that case I would appreciate a link.

Loopcloud vs Splice (not really)

DAW or Software Questions

Splice has a “Skills” section with online tutorials but not quite like Producertech, Sonic Academy, Groove3 etc., the important difference being that the Splice’s “Skills” is just a small part of their product portfolio with the current number of tutorials on it being tiny, just about 39 courses, most of them < 35 minutes. However, most of their ‘boutique’ little tutorials are nicely produced and have interesting topics and imaginative approaches. The current Splice instructor staff is refreshingly diverse (as we now come to expect) and include three female producers/instructors, the current staff is comprised by Claire Marie Lim, aka dolltrick, Erin Barra, Kenny Beats, Liz Maniscalco, Max Nepa-Rewak, Pat Cupo, Sharooz Raoofi, Smythe, Thavius Beck, Umru, Sharooz Raoofi is the 'Steve Duda' of Splice’s “Astra” synth and we all know and love Thavius Beck. They are all a geeky bunch but the end product is probably the jewel in the crown of (at least) my Splice experience!

Here is the current listing (Nov. 25th, 2021) compiled by me; none of the courses can be purchased/downloaded (some courses are listed in multiple categories):

The main course categories are: Synthesis; Sound Design; Tools; Mixing and Music Theory

[Synthesis]
Creating custom wavetables with Splice samples
Creating sounds for techno and electronica with Astra
Creating sub-bass sounds with subtractive synthesis
Getting creative with granular synthesis
Getting to know Astra


[Sound Design]
Adding motion and movement to your tracks
Comping in Ableton Live 11
Creating a full hip hop sample from start to finish
Creating a full soul sample from start to finish
Creating custom wavetables with Splice samples
Creating sounds for techno and electronica with Astra
Creating sub-bass sounds with subtractive synthesis
Designing hybrid reverbs
Electronic bass processing
Gain staging: your key to a clean recording
Getting creative with Beatmaker
Getting creative with granular synthesis
Getting to know Astra
Groovebox sequencing techniques
How to create polyrhythms for dance music
How to create unique drum kits
How to customize your loops
Kenny Beats on vocal production and samples
Processing vocals for electronic music
Recording and using field recordings
Resampling techniques
Shaping your sound with automation manipulation
Slicing and sampling loops
Sound design 101
Think big, do small: Tips for recording and processing
Turning found sound into music
Unstuck in a loop: Creative techniques for sampled drums
Use your illusion: disguising your samples
Using arpeggiators to build a song


[Tools]
Building dynamics with arpeggiators
How to create unique drum kits
How to customize your loops
Mixing essentials: Grouping, subgrouping, and buss processing
Using arpeggiators to build a song


[Mixing]
Creating a full hip hop sample from start to finish
Creating a full soul sample from start to finish
Mixing 101
Mixing essentials: Grouping, subgrouping, and buss processing


[Music Theory]
Adding motion and movement to your tracks
Building the perfect drop
Getting creative with granular synthesis
Groovebox sequencing techniques
How to create polyrhythms for dance music
Kenny Beats on inspiration
Kenny Beats on networking and preparation
Music theory hacks for lo-fi hip hop
Processing vocals for electronic music
Recording and using field recordings
Scales and melody 101
Shaping your sound with automation manipulation
Songwriting production and arrangement tips
Turning found sound into music
Writing chords and harmonies for future bass

This concludes my "Loopcloud Vs Splice" thread, may it inspire other threads to go a little deeper into the topics they raise...............

Loopcloud vs Splice (not really)

DAW or Software Questions

The last two important features of Splice are their “Community” and “Skills” sections on the Splice site.

The “Community” doesn’t really provide a forum like on Producertech but is project centered; you upload a project and other people can “splice” that project in order to rework it leaving the original project obviously unaltered. This concept has been tried before on a website + app called “Blend”, quoting a meta-text of theirs: “Blend is a collaboration network for music creators. Share in-progress projects and discover tutorials, plugins and sample packs from other producers.” Unfortunately, Blend is virtually deceased with zero development and a smallish userbase with almost no recent collabs going on. I was thrilled to bits when I discovered Blend, it is such a brilliant concept but it simply didn’t gain any traction. I think one of the reasons is you either have a solid project with commercial potential where collaborating only dilutes your already abysmally poor revenue potential, or it is a craptastic or just mediocre project where nobody is interested spending their time and talent on.

I don’t think Splice has avoided the Blend pitfalls, they even managed to ruin the entire Blend ethos by heavily promoting commercial projects with templates for sale. Even when a project gets spliced the public interaction between original ‘composer’ and subsequent ‘splicers’ is minimal or non-existent, there is a private message feature which I think will be used most of the time but that does not a community make. Now with a bit of luck you can stumble upon very talented bedroom producers who actually look for specific collabs but even these budding artists have for instance 10.000 plays, 72 likes, 18 followers which is a devastatingly poor validation of their talent.

Maybe the whole collab philosophy simply isn’t resonating with the target audience, either you don’t have the skills and/talent so you know you have nothing to bring to the table, or you have skills + talent and the only thing on your mind is breaking through on your own merit. Some careers have collabs at their core but I would assume they are the exception rather than the rule.

Being a music production student with moderate progress on the learning curve you don’t risk too much by collaborating in the early stages of your journey, it could be fun and you could probably learn a thing or two, but I don’t think it is something that the majority of us is interested in. If it were the sympathetic “Blend” would have been HUGE!

updated by @deltadio: 11/25/21 07:35:33AM

Loopcloud vs Splice (not really)

DAW or Software Questions

On transplanting Beatmaker drumkit samples to Loopcloud Drum pads I noticed that some sounds needed e.g. some envelope tweaking so as to have them sound like they did in the Beatmaker drumkit. I discovered that Splice Beatmaker offers an FX section on each pad that beats that of Loopcloud drum on points!

Loopcloud vs Splice (not really)

DAW or Software Questions

A recent update (Nov. 11th, 2021) brings the Splice desktop app a fair bit closer to the Loopcloud app; it is clear whose playbook Splice is following if not outright copying! The core functionality of browsing samples, searching for samples; previewing them and using search filters is now pretty much the same. The Splice desktop app even seems superior when considering the "Presets" search feature, it has actually plenty of Astra (Splice's own Synth), Serum, Beatmaker (its own drum app), Spire and Sylenth presets, WITH audio previews. Not your average run-of-the-mill presets either although that impression might be a little skewed since I was looking in categories like 'vocals'.

To be fair the recent update of Splice Desktop app loads samples MUCH quicker so browsing/previewing them is not exasperatingly slow any longer (Loopcloud app still faster though). Interestingly enough Splice also has two, three minute long samples like city noises, industrial sounds etc. There are some odd design aspects, in the app you'll have to "save" the filter you chose; it's no more than an OK button within a pull down screen but without saving your new search attribute will NOT be applied; Loopcloud as we know has a select and click anywhere (or just wait) way of applying filters. Also, as you can see in the screenshot, the checked item "Your library" is NOT ACTIVE (despite the checkbox in its graphic) you'll have to select it so it turns blue, that's just poor design, a checked checkbox in any GUI means the underlying feature (etc.) has been turned on; obviously this is not a huge thing, just pointing it out.

updated by @deltadio: 11/19/21 01:23:46PM

Which Controllers Do You Really Appreciate?

DAW or Software Questions

Try and top that!

Loopcloud vs Splice (not really)

DAW or Software Questions

Now for a quick update on exploring the Splice Beatmaker; it seems to offer a nice array of genres (although some of which contain 0 drumkits like 'Moombahton').

Some kits within genres clearly don't belong there, but overall, there are nice drumkits on offer that come with 1 pattern (not always the cool demo pattern which is odd).

One thing immediately jumps out: these kits are cheap compared to Loopcloud Drum, only 5 credits a piece! Splice Beatmaker has nice features like lane export and instrument specific stock patterns (i.e. you don't have to use the hopeless randomization function for your kick line but could choose one of the kick savvy patterns like an ‘offset’ pattern (see screenshot). Unfortunately, there are not many of these instrument specific stock patterns to choose from but it is a nice feature to learn from.

Splice Beatmaker only has 32-step lanes on the (singular) grid (you could interpret that that as the equivalent of 2 Loopcloud Drum patterns), if they are full with a pattern then you can save them and start with another one and/or drag this pattern to your DAW. This limitation not being able to design and sequence multiple patterns is not such a big deal when you drag out every pattern to an Ableton clip for instance but it seems an odd choice. Now I must say I have raced trough the features so maybe I have missed something important but it is not hiding in plain sight in the GUI of that, I am sure. It is meant to be a light weight app so this 1 pattern of 32 steps feature could be by design. To be fair Loopcloud only has 16 step lanes but this is amply compensated by a total of 8 patterns you could sequence.

Looks like the grid is fixed on 1/32, so it is in your DAW that you’ll have to make refinements. Loopcloud Drum isn’t more sophisticated either BTW although Loopcloud Drum has the note-repeat/flam function which I can’t find in the current Splice Beatmaker.

Splice Beatmaker’s outputs can be single or multi so that’s nice.

One cool aspect of Splice Beatmaker that it doesn’t only care for dance genres; it comes with a decent amount of pop, world, cinematic etc. patterns and you can find plenty of drumkits for them with the additional patterns attached to them. One thing: changing out the drumkit also changes the pattern, if you’re happy with the pattern you have before you, then you must ‘lock’ it (there’s a button for that) before you change drumkits, not a biggie of course once you know this but potential horror if you don’t (losing the brilliant pattern that you just programmed …) [no undo function].

Copying a cool Splice Beatmaker drumkit to a Loopcloud Drum kit?

Copying a cool Splice Beatmaker drumkit to a Loopcloud Drum kit involves going into the pad mode of Splice Beatmaker and then choose “Render audio clip” of the sound you want to export, only after that you can “Drag audio clip” to a local folder (don’t attempt to drag them straight into Loopcloud drum, it will work but it won’t work, you’ll see what I mean) and from there you can drag those samples to the pads of a (new or existing) Loopcloud Drum kit. Because in Splice Beatmaker you have 8 pads and in Loopcloud Drum you have 16 pads you could look for another 8 Splice Beatmaker cool kit samples to import. Don’t forget to save your new Splicey Loopcloud drumkit and choose the option “Include samples”. This Loopcloud Drum/ Splice Beatmaker fusion makes for great new drum kits with a best of both worlds vibe. Because all these samples are already prepared for drum kit use they sound great from the get-go. Obviously it would work also the other way around (Loopcloud  Splice) but with an 8 pad limitation…

Sometimes ‘simple’ is just a better fit in a workflow, Splice Beatmaker _could_ be all you need. Loopcloud Drum is a different kind of simple and I am sure the limitations of both of them would not appeal to each and every producer.