I can totally relate to this. I’ve wasted tons of time just searching for sounds everytime I started a new track just to get dissapointed with the inconsistent results. Thanks Ricky for putting this out there! ❤
Exactly!! that’s when I decided to make a template for my machines. But again, don’t get too specific because you’ll keep making the same song over and over. Hahaha
What you're getting at is one of my core goals and philosophies for creating electronic music. One of my biggest regrets from my days playing in metal bands, was the best album I released. None of the songs sound like a cohesive album, the genres and styles are too fluid. The individual songs are good I think, but together they don't make any sense. When I started making electronic stuff, I didn't want to replicate that mistake, and new I needed to figure out how to make things cohesive. Getting the Model:Cycles was my "ah hah!" moment. Since then I've stockpiled other Elektron gear, and I have fewer issues with GAS because even though I might like a piece of gear, I can tell from the get go that it just probably won't fit with what I'm trying to accomplish. I try to use the same bass and percussion elements from song to song, and sometimes try to reuse even the focal points, at least in terms of tambre or texture etc. Consistency in "acoustic aesthetic" is crucial to having a defined sound IMO. If that's important to you, these words are gospel.
Thanks Ricky! 💚 Personally, I'm still proud of the advice I gave a friend after she posted the meme of the old-timers at slot machines searching for a snare: I decided not so long ago to choose my top 3 snares and always use those. Layer them (play with amp shape/volume and timing of each) and pitch, filter, overdrive, soundshape them as necessary for the song. That way I'm never endlessly searching, and can still have distinct snares in my songs, while having "my" sound.
that point at 6:12 about the misconception of fx being 'cheating' or somehow unworthy in sound design is v relatable. it's such a ridiculous and baseless idea, feels amazing to let yourself drop it.
@RickyTinez ! Crazy you should mention Night Grooves. My 1st house project was on that label in 1999 as MLK vs Soy Sos (I'm Soy Sos). The songs are "Skin" & "Moments In My Life". We later went on to do records on Dance Tracks, Waves, Yellow among others and ultimately as 3 Generations Walking on Spiritual Life. A lot of our records were centered at the Body and Soul party with Francois K, Joe Claussell and Danny Krivit. Reach out if you ever want to talk about those sessions...
Ha! Earlier this month I watched your Pittsburgh video with Buscrates, Richard, and Richard’s Cure t-shirt. Enjoyed the jam and I’m now awaiting my Voltage Lab 2.
hello, it is me from current year, thank you for always being an inspiring artist. I remember when i first started making music i had a lot of rules about how I wanted to approach music so that i was unique and that I sounded different than my contemporaries in the genres. As I've grown I find my self making rules to simplify or limit my self so that I always sound the same (or similar) as my other projects. I think it's really important to find your sound, but it takes a few years (maybe) and a few hundred messed up runs to get there.
Thank you Ricky. I was struggling to find my sound, and i think it's because every time i was changing tools, vsts, and drums samples. This idea of having a common foundation really makes sense. Thanks!!
Love you too Ricky. You wouldn't believe how often I rushed to TH-cam in anticipation of a new video from you. Even though most of your music is not my style ... but there's a TON to learn - in the words of Warren Huart: "a shnizzzelton" - from your videos. Aside from that it's most interesting to watch you make tracks ... and you're also funny in explaining what you do. I am not exaggerating whan I say: You're chanel is one of the three most important ones to me. Stay safe, have a good time ... and see you next year!
This speaks right to me. And an important point about creativity. Creativity stems from constraints and when you are designing sounds, you're doing it to serve a purpose and to have a function - your own sound.
SMH, so simple, so insightful. I search for drum sounds every time I start to create. So much time lost. I usually find the same sounds hidden in different packs that I’ve collected. Gonna try this…a simple insight that is changing my whole approach to creating music. 🍻
On point! I arrived on the same this year. Confirming talk! I used to make from scratch everything because was looking for my sound all those years. Now it’s consistent and more phunn! HNY!
Maaaan, the comparison to bands using the same, or at least a limited selection of, instruments is an exact analogy I've been using. I got so bogged down feeling like I had to keep getting new drum packs and make new drum racks, specifically. I don't use samples besides drum one shots, but it's always been a significantly time consuming part of the process. I trimmed my keyboard rig down to my Nautilus and Prophet 08. It's all I need right now, honestly.
Once again, sound advice. Currently in the stage where cutting down the “instruments” is essential. Especially when noticing constant use of favorites! Keep the material coming Ricky, as I keep on being a huuuuuuge fan! #nothingbutlove
Exactly, around the end of the year I asked myself what do I use the most and how do I set it up closest to me? And then whatever I didn’t use that often I put away and I didn’t even realize that they were basically gone. My process got quicker, more fun, and more rewarding!
I was nodding my head a lot. I usually get a group of sounds and try to make 4-8 tracks from that sound set. Lots of advantages to the approach… biggest might be that you save a lot of time after song 1 and so all the other tracks are about creativity. I then pick the tracks from the set I like most to master.
💯 !!! Very well said... you nailed it! Hobbyist for a few years here & I have wondered sometimes if I may be making some huge taboo mistake with my sounds and choices. Not anymore! This vid gives anyone with doubts about their own creativity and production a true free pass to run with it & enjoy the hell out of it! I hope tons of other creators see this vid and benefit from it too. Tysm! And happy New Year! 🎉
Really good advice, showed me the importance of being organized in order to be able to do what Enrique is talking about here. I am going to start doing this!!!
As a beginner, I've been collecting sample packs thinking "more material, more inspiration..." but in real it doesn't work that way at all. Just a ton of stuff that makes everything more complicated. I have to get rid of most of them and think about what I could really need, simplify and start from there. Anyway your advice sounds so simple and logic that for sure will inspire a lot of producers. Keep up the good work mate, I wish u a happy new year!
Great video Ricky, agree with this thought-process & approach 100%. We all probably have thousands of drum samples and constantly start from that blank canvas fighting to get to something sounding good. What if we had 5 kick samples we know worked and sounded great, 5 snare samples, 5 hat samples, etc...makes things so much easier & helps shape that artist sound you talked about. We know how these sounds sit in the mix, can make basic modifications to alter them, what kind of bass we need to use with them, etc...Extending into this concept with synths is even more spot on. Tone. All your sounds coming out of a Korg M1 are going to give your track a certain "tone" you wouldn't get re-creating those sounds in Serum. When you look at the gear list for some older artists, their track to track tone makes so much more sense. Every synth has its quirks and tone that helps color a track, find yours
Bro, awesome video, awesome advice. It’s so easy to get stuck digging through presets, sample packs, the perfect snare etc that actually making music takes a back seat. Find what moves you and just get to making music🔥 Love you too bud, see you in 2024🙌🏻
And not even just the sound, it could relate to buying gear and trying to get a new sound from machines! Appreciate you and the support, and your channel! Much love bro!
Its so logical and it seems that I knew this subconsciously. But the way you just described it man. I wish I would have heard this a couple of years ago. Damn thats gold advice here!!!!!
This specific "philosophy" has helped me loads, especially as a beginner. It really helps to create a workflow that leads to finished tracks as opposed to getting burnt out in the early stages of just creating each element. I like to think of it as a painter and their pallet; each blob of paint on the pallet is enough to make hundreds of paintings, so why would they scrape off the paint and bin it after just one painting? Just because the foundations of your tracks are used over and over again isn't to say your tracks are going to sound the same - it's really not as limiting as you might think!
thanks man, you are awesome :-) . I completely agree too, my only consistent albums are ones that I made the songs all in one ableton file, not the best practice but it worked haha
thank you! I started resampling my own drums to create my own custom kits, and have some consistency and my own sound in that area. Especially as my productions are very varied (from gritty afrobeat over soulful house to harder hitting house) I need something that connects everything and communicates my own musical identity. Your video kind of summarizes the journey I made.
I have appreciated your constant inspiration as I seek zen through midi clocked hardware. Thanks for this valuable insight and tacit validation. Stay rad.
Even though I've never made a "favourites" folder from all of the various sample packs I've acquired over the years, 8/10 times I end up picking the same drum sounds at "random" 🤣. Funny how the subconscious works. You have a style ingrained in you, just need to discover and acknowledge it!
Great advice. I have been doing this subconsciously over the years. Funny, a while back I was listening to some of my first projects and the style was similar to what I do today. It has evolved but the elements are the same. Keep up the great work!
I really love those, well, let’s call them production hints or producer hints. Thanks for making those kinds of videos! (I do like the other ones too, but at the moment, this kind of content and information resonates with me in a different, more personal way.) I guess, it can be actually pretty helpful to take the time and listen to one’s favourite artists (probably album by album or EP by EP) and figure out what it is that they were doing that makes some of their work from a certain phase so very much their thing, their style. At times I think that some people who are developing their style and learning their craft are afraid of using things like templates (in a DAW) or presets (on instruments). Of course, no one likes the idea of listening to a set of tracks with a growing feeling that it’s the same song over and over again. But things don’t necessarily end up being the same just because one starts off by using what helps to get/keep going. More often than not, reinventing the wheel each and every time one sits down to create something can make things more difficult and/or power consuming that they need to be. Yet, sure, there is nothing wrong with starting from scratch. If it feels like doing so, why going against that flow. Whatever helps creating, learning and having/keeping fun along the way is a good thing, I guess. And it sure is a good thing to keep an open mind … as one might realise what those things are that keep coming back, that make things feel just right and/or are just helpful to do or include. Thanks so much for this video! Bits like these are just gold!
I was just like you back in the day; I was really trying to get that Naked Music deep house sound, but didn't realize that they were using specific equipment/sounds of that era. I'd also try to reinvent the wheel every time I'd make a song, wasting valuable time I could be using to actually make music. Now that I have my specifc sounds that I use placed in various templates in my DAW, I can easily just jump in and start creating while sticking to my own sound. Sometimes I'll add a few new elements here and there, but for the most part, folks still know its me who produced it (the few fans I have anyway 😅) Great video man and Happy New Year to you!
I'd be interested in hearing more about how working with the MPC and how that helped out with Ableton! I'm working on a Maschine + and specifically finding a good workflow from one to the other is something I'm struggling with.
I needed this so much without even knowing. I've been playing in a metal band for 15 years and switched to EDM a few years ago, so your examples resonated so much with me. Thanks Ricky!
I used to be in a band as well! And the only thing that ever changed in my set up, was what pedal I turned on but it was the same guitar and same Amp for years! And we made a ton of music
@@RickyTinez Yes, exactly the same for me. My amp and guitar were even considered „our sound“ and it would even have been counterproductive to change that. But with all the possibilities of electronic music, I somehow forgot this important principle in a minute…
Glad to hear someone else speak on this. I too recently adopted a "these machines are my band" approach. It makes things so much more focused and cuts out all the aimless soundsearching. Corny but... Its like what you were searching for was right infront of you all along 😅😂. Great content as always mate
That’s totally it! And on a higher level, it can really stop you from constantly buying the latest and greatest gear. Because then you have to ask yourself is it better than the band member I already have? Is it easier to work with that one than it is the one that I have?
@@RickyTinez it is very much like that haha. When i came to the decision to fire most of the band obviously it caused friction, but now i have only the band members that make music with me........and no excess drummers eating up the last slice of pizza 😂. Got the band back together and the lineup is solid and simple, Octatrack, Polyend Tracker, Novation AFX station, and one other Smallform revolving band member (something stereo output and polyphonic) sofar the Roland S-1. The idea is tracker is main composer/drummer(4 tracks for drums 4 for sequencing external), Octatrack is many many things but its playing performance mixer/fx/looper/blah blah. AFX on Bass duties. Various small sound generating sources on pads etc. So far its a winner. I can jam out ,have fun, feel like im performing, its tactile, and best of all i can record my performance as stems into OT for later export and reimport back for more mangling 🤘😈🤘. oh and the S-1 has that cool draw/chop osc waveform function which of course gives me access to custom wavetables i can sample into PT to use in its granular/wavetable synth modes. Octatrack also allows me to better work around the trackers limitations and use it to hold a loop static and cue up the next part/pattern on tracker (the song mode is still rather lacking so i like to make patterns then cycle through manually) or go crazy with PT performance fx too. Just endless potential. And finally achieving that much chased after balance of form function and accessibility but in a dawless capacity. Hoping that more people catch onto the band methodology.
This video could not have come at a better time, just finished a track I’m really happy with. What a great idea to keep that track and the sounds as a starting point for my next tracks. Thanks ricky. And a happy new year. ✌️
totally, its like wearing the same thing everyday. One less decision so you can get to the next step haha. a bit of an extreme example but im preaching to the choir here
I love this video, it reminds me off all the stuff that is so iconic in Jungle/DnB. Obviously the drum samples, but also things like Acid's time-stretching, Eventide H3000, the Access Virus, and plenty of other devices. Yes you don't NEED it, but it's hard to iterate on a sound and craft something that feels fresh and new while also belonging to a lineage when you have to approximate through other means. Less ability to iterate or discover something new within that realm.
I've found my hardware setup at the moment is a really perfect limited palette to work from and noticed my sound is so much more cohesive - obviously I make new patches but I use the same drum machine and bass synth - love hearing you talk to camera bro - happy Christmas and New year bro
Sounds are a huge part of what makes your own style... problem these days is that many people believe that having more gear will make you better, when it actuality restricts time for actually composing...
Yes! I've been waiting for this video. It was the one thing that I noticed in all your video's: you always start out with a dope ass drum groove within a minute, as if you pluck it out of thin air. I always wonder what is behind that. A follow up video that I'd LOVE to see is how you actually arrive at a drumkit. What is your process for finding a cohesive whole that works for you. Does the drumkit arrive over time, by adjusting your drums track after track, or is it more of a project in a limited time where you get behind your DAW and minitiously nail every single sound once and take it from there, or do you look at it in a very different way? And while arriving at your goto kit, did that involve enlessly scrolling through sample libraries? Anyway, love your videos, I religiously watch all of them as soon as they drop.
its a combo of solid sounds I like that I know work, as well as having the patterns burned into my vision haha. Which is a blessing and a curse. Lately I've been trying to step out of the typical patterns but its tough
any tips for a beginner on how/where to find my own sounds? lets say i want to find some nice kicks for boom bap hiphop beats. where would i start? do i just use the first one i like via sampling old records?
I think there's something to be said about the general culture of emphasizing "unique" sound design as producers. I remember a few years back, a producer friend of mine gave me the critique "it's cool, but some of the sounds sound a little presett-y" and they're sounds I literally made myself. Regardless, presets are there for a reason - to sound good! Literally companies pay people to pack their software with good presets, so people will be inspired to use it and create cool stuff. I wish I could say that I ignored my friend, but I instead took it to heart and was like "damn, do I need to put more time into my sound design?" Today, I don't care as much. I love sound design. A lot. But I also just like feeling good when I make music. The biggest irony is that some of the producers who are revered for their sound design literally use presets (Sam Gellaitry with Omnisphere on his first few releases or Monte Booker using literal basic sine waves with slight modulation) and there's nothing wrong with that. Find what works for ya and make shit you like
For those of us interested in unfound sounds it’s actually the opposite. We need to save the notation and keep experimenting and searching for better sounds.
Reminds me of a BB King quote that goes something like “if you can’t play it like your hero, play it as best you can and that’s your style.”
I can totally relate to this. I’ve wasted tons of time just searching for sounds everytime I started a new track just to get dissapointed with the inconsistent results. Thanks Ricky for putting this out there! ❤
Exactly!! that’s when I decided to make a template for my machines. But again, don’t get too specific because you’ll keep making the same song over and over. Hahaha
What you're getting at is one of my core goals and philosophies for creating electronic music. One of my biggest regrets from my days playing in metal bands, was the best album I released. None of the songs sound like a cohesive album, the genres and styles are too fluid. The individual songs are good I think, but together they don't make any sense. When I started making electronic stuff, I didn't want to replicate that mistake, and new I needed to figure out how to make things cohesive. Getting the Model:Cycles was my "ah hah!" moment. Since then I've stockpiled other Elektron gear, and I have fewer issues with GAS because even though I might like a piece of gear, I can tell from the get go that it just probably won't fit with what I'm trying to accomplish. I try to use the same bass and percussion elements from song to song, and sometimes try to reuse even the focal points, at least in terms of tambre or texture etc. Consistency in "acoustic aesthetic" is crucial to having a defined sound IMO. If that's important to you, these words are gospel.
This guy's the best. Love videos like these that get into the reality of production.
Thank you Leash for watching and the kind words!
Thanks Ricky! 💚
Personally, I'm still proud of the advice I gave a friend after she posted the meme of the old-timers at slot machines searching for a snare:
I decided not so long ago to choose my top 3 snares and always use those. Layer them (play with amp shape/volume and timing of each) and pitch, filter, overdrive, soundshape them as necessary for the song. That way I'm never endlessly searching, and can still have distinct snares in my songs, while having "my" sound.
that point at 6:12 about the misconception of fx being 'cheating' or somehow unworthy in sound design is v relatable. it's such a ridiculous and baseless idea, feels amazing to let yourself drop it.
@RickyTinez ! Crazy you should mention Night Grooves. My 1st house project was on that label in 1999 as MLK vs Soy Sos (I'm Soy Sos). The songs are "Skin" & "Moments In My Life". We later went on to do records on Dance Tracks, Waves, Yellow among others and ultimately as 3 Generations Walking on Spiritual Life. A lot of our records were centered at the Body and Soul party with Francois K, Joe Claussell and Danny Krivit. Reach out if you ever want to talk about those sessions...
Ha! Earlier this month I watched your Pittsburgh video with Buscrates, Richard, and Richard’s Cure t-shirt. Enjoyed the jam and I’m now awaiting my Voltage Lab 2.
Killer sentiment. This same philosophy has helped me actually start releasing tracks i'm stoked on! much love homie.
One of the best tutorials I’ve seen in over a year - great work
hello, it is me from current year, thank you for always being an inspiring artist.
I remember when i first started making music i had a lot of rules about how I wanted to approach music so that i was unique and that I sounded different than my contemporaries in the genres. As I've grown I find my self making rules to simplify or limit my self so that I always sound the same (or similar) as my other projects. I think it's really important to find your sound, but it takes a few years (maybe) and a few hundred messed up runs to get there.
Thank you Ricky. I was struggling to find my sound, and i think it's because every time i was changing tools, vsts, and drums samples.
This idea of having a common foundation really makes sense.
Thanks!!
i think a unique workflow is another great way to automatically garner ones own sound.
Love you too Ricky.
You wouldn't believe how often I rushed to TH-cam in anticipation of a new video from you.
Even though most of your music is not my style ... but there's a TON to learn - in the words of Warren Huart: "a shnizzzelton" - from your videos.
Aside from that it's most interesting to watch you make tracks ... and you're also funny in explaining what you do.
I am not exaggerating whan I say: You're chanel is one of the three most important ones to me.
Stay safe, have a good time ... and see you next year!
hahaha shnizzzelton!
Thanks for all the kind words and support! Onto another great year, see you then Henrik!
Great video, loved the message. Appreciate you Ricky, all the best for 2024 🫶🏻
This speaks right to me. And an important point about creativity. Creativity stems from constraints and when you are designing sounds, you're doing it to serve a purpose and to have a function - your own sound.
SMH, so simple, so insightful. I search for drum sounds every time I start to create. So much time lost. I usually find the same sounds hidden in different packs that I’ve collected. Gonna try this…a simple insight that is changing my whole approach to creating music. 🍻
Yes. Been doing this for years. Great vid. I’ve never heard anyone else talk about this. ❤️
On point! I arrived on the same this year. Confirming talk! I used to make from scratch everything because was looking for my sound all those years. Now it’s consistent and more phunn! HNY!
Maaaan, the comparison to bands using the same, or at least a limited selection of, instruments is an exact analogy I've been using.
I got so bogged down feeling like I had to keep getting new drum packs and make new drum racks, specifically. I don't use samples besides drum one shots, but it's always been a significantly time consuming part of the process. I trimmed my keyboard rig down to my Nautilus and Prophet 08. It's all I need right now, honestly.
...... honestly, this video and idea is absolutely mind-blowing to me. Wow. Really appreciate your insight and knowledge, Ricky!
¡Gracias!
Ricky, this is your most important video. Great advice and true mentorship here. Thanks
Yup. I wish I knew this 20yrs ago. Just realized and embraced it a few years back and of course now I have tracks signed to some of my favorite labels
Once again, sound advice.
Currently in the stage where cutting down the “instruments” is essential. Especially when noticing constant use of favorites!
Keep the material coming Ricky, as I keep on being a huuuuuuge fan!
#nothingbutlove
Exactly, around the end of the year I asked myself what do I use the most and how do I set it up closest to me? And then whatever I didn’t use that often I put away and I didn’t even realize that they were basically gone. My process got quicker, more fun, and more rewarding!
I was nodding my head a lot. I usually get a group of sounds and try to make 4-8 tracks from that sound set. Lots of advantages to the approach… biggest might be that you save a lot of time after song 1 and so all the other tracks are about creativity. I then pick the tracks from the set I like most to master.
Yes! and it marks an era within your creative stages. Making it super easy to put together an EP or an album!
💯 !!! Very well said... you nailed it! Hobbyist for a few years here & I have wondered sometimes if I may be making some huge taboo mistake with my sounds and choices. Not anymore! This vid gives anyone with doubts about their own creativity and production a true free pass to run with it & enjoy the hell out of it! I hope tons of other creators see this vid and benefit from it too. Tysm! And happy New Year! 🎉
This is amazing to hear, thanks so much for taking the time to write it all out. I was feeling the same way! Glad I’m not the only one :) ❤🎉
Really good advice, showed me the importance of being organized in order to be able to do what Enrique is talking about here. I am going to start doing this!!!
the comparison with a band also using the same instruments made totally sense, good advice!
Hell, AC/DC makes the same song! 😂
🤣@@madtho
As a beginner, I've been collecting sample packs thinking "more material, more inspiration..." but in real it doesn't work that way at all. Just a ton of stuff that makes everything more complicated. I have to get rid of most of them and think about what I could really need, simplify and start from there. Anyway your advice sounds so simple and logic that for sure will inspire a lot of producers. Keep up the good work mate, I wish u a happy new year!
Great video Ricky, agree with this thought-process & approach 100%. We all probably have thousands of drum samples and constantly start from that blank canvas fighting to get to something sounding good. What if we had 5 kick samples we know worked and sounded great, 5 snare samples, 5 hat samples, etc...makes things so much easier & helps shape that artist sound you talked about. We know how these sounds sit in the mix, can make basic modifications to alter them, what kind of bass we need to use with them, etc...Extending into this concept with synths is even more spot on. Tone. All your sounds coming out of a Korg M1 are going to give your track a certain "tone" you wouldn't get re-creating those sounds in Serum. When you look at the gear list for some older artists, their track to track tone makes so much more sense. Every synth has its quirks and tone that helps color a track, find yours
The Triton master 🙏
Thank you I needed to hear this again
Bro, awesome video, awesome advice. It’s so easy to get stuck digging through presets, sample packs, the perfect snare etc that actually making music takes a back seat. Find what moves you and just get to making music🔥
Love you too bud, see you in 2024🙌🏻
And not even just the sound, it could relate to buying gear and trying to get a new sound from machines! Appreciate you and the support, and your channel! Much love bro!
@@RickyTinez 🙌🏻❤️🙌🏻
part of me needed to hear that - thx🖤
Its so logical and it seems that I knew this subconsciously. But the way you just described it man. I wish I would have heard this a couple of years ago. Damn thats gold advice here!!!!!
Great video greater photo from 2012. Love to hear more on this topic. Thanks a lot!!
This specific "philosophy" has helped me loads, especially as a beginner. It really helps to create a workflow that leads to finished tracks as opposed to getting burnt out in the early stages of just creating each element. I like to think of it as a painter and their pallet; each blob of paint on the pallet is enough to make hundreds of paintings, so why would they scrape off the paint and bin it after just one painting? Just because the foundations of your tracks are used over and over again isn't to say your tracks are going to sound the same - it's really not as limiting as you might think!
That is an incredible analogy! It really doesn’t work across so many different art styles
I love the way you think and communicate your message and approach to creativity. Thanks Ricky!
Thank you so much for the view and the kind words.❤
thanks man, you are awesome :-) . I completely agree too, my only consistent albums are ones that I made the songs all in one ableton file, not the best practice but it worked haha
thank you! I started resampling my own drums to create my own custom kits, and have some consistency and my own sound in that area. Especially as my productions are very varied (from gritty afrobeat over soulful house to harder hitting house) I need something that connects everything and communicates my own musical identity. Your video kind of summarizes the journey I made.
Thanks man will do, love you too!!
I have appreciated your constant inspiration as I seek zen through midi clocked hardware. Thanks for this valuable insight and tacit validation. Stay rad.
Even though I've never made a "favourites" folder from all of the various sample packs I've acquired over the years, 8/10 times I end up picking the same drum sounds at "random" 🤣. Funny how the subconscious works. You have a style ingrained in you, just need to discover and acknowledge it!
Exactly! So I just put a zero or a one on the sample name so it shows up at the top of the folder haha.
your advices are always the best ones. Thanks!
Great advice. I have been doing this subconsciously over the years. Funny, a while back I was listening to some of my first projects and the style was similar to what I do today. It has evolved but the elements are the same. Keep up the great work!
You are honing in on your craft! Amazing
❤ thank you for your cool videos all these years. Greetings from The Netherlands.
Always such good information from you. This video is no different. Great advice!
I really love those, well, let’s call them production hints or producer hints. Thanks for making those kinds of videos! (I do like the other ones too, but at the moment, this kind of content and information resonates with me in a different, more personal way.) I guess, it can be actually pretty helpful to take the time and listen to one’s favourite artists (probably album by album or EP by EP) and figure out what it is that they were doing that makes some of their work from a certain phase so very much their thing, their style.
At times I think that some people who are developing their style and learning their craft are afraid of using things like templates (in a DAW) or presets (on instruments). Of course, no one likes the idea of listening to a set of tracks with a growing feeling that it’s the same song over and over again. But things don’t necessarily end up being the same just because one starts off by using what helps to get/keep going. More often than not, reinventing the wheel each and every time one sits down to create something can make things more difficult and/or power consuming that they need to be.
Yet, sure, there is nothing wrong with starting from scratch. If it feels like doing so, why going against that flow. Whatever helps creating, learning and having/keeping fun along the way is a good thing, I guess. And it sure is a good thing to keep an open mind … as one might realise what those things are that keep coming back, that make things feel just right and/or are just helpful to do or include.
Thanks so much for this video! Bits like these are just gold!
I was just like you back in the day; I was really trying to get that Naked Music deep house sound, but didn't realize that they were using specific equipment/sounds of that era. I'd also try to reinvent the wheel every time I'd make a song, wasting valuable time I could be using to actually make music. Now that I have my specifc sounds that I use placed in various templates in my DAW, I can easily just jump in and start creating while sticking to my own sound. Sometimes I'll add a few new elements here and there, but for the most part, folks still know its me who produced it (the few fans I have anyway 😅)
Great video man and Happy New Year to you!
Really appreciate your content, it's all about having fun 🎉
I'd be interested in hearing more about how working with the MPC and how that helped out with Ableton! I'm working on a Maschine + and specifically finding a good workflow from one to the other is something I'm struggling with.
That 2nd track sounds like a song that was popular here in the netherlands early 90s , cant remember title but this sounds amazing
I needed this so much without even knowing. I've been playing in a metal band for 15 years and switched to EDM a few years ago, so your examples resonated so much with me. Thanks Ricky!
I used to be in a band as well! And the only thing that ever changed in my set up, was what pedal I turned on but it was the same guitar and same Amp for years! And we made a ton of music
@@RickyTinez Yes, exactly the same for me. My amp and guitar were even considered „our sound“ and it would even have been counterproductive to change that. But with all the possibilities of electronic music, I somehow forgot this important principle in a minute…
Glad to hear someone else speak on this.
I too recently adopted a "these machines are my band" approach. It makes things so much more focused and cuts out all the aimless soundsearching. Corny but... Its like what you were searching for was right infront of you all along 😅😂. Great content as always mate
That’s totally it! And on a higher level, it can really stop you from constantly buying the latest and greatest gear. Because then you have to ask yourself is it better than the band member I already have? Is it easier to work with that one than it is the one that I have?
@@RickyTinez it is very much like that haha. When i came to the decision to fire most of the band obviously it caused friction, but now i have only the band members that make music with me........and no excess drummers eating up the last slice of pizza 😂.
Got the band back together and the lineup is solid and simple, Octatrack, Polyend Tracker, Novation AFX station, and one other Smallform revolving band member (something stereo output and polyphonic) sofar the Roland S-1. The idea is tracker is main composer/drummer(4 tracks for drums 4 for sequencing external), Octatrack is many many things but its playing performance mixer/fx/looper/blah blah. AFX on Bass duties. Various small sound generating sources on pads etc.
So far its a winner. I can jam out ,have fun, feel like im performing, its tactile, and best of all i can record my performance as stems into OT for later export and reimport back for more mangling 🤘😈🤘. oh and the S-1 has that cool draw/chop osc waveform function which of course gives me access to custom wavetables i can sample into PT to use in its granular/wavetable synth modes. Octatrack also allows me to better work around the trackers limitations and use it to hold a loop static and cue up the next part/pattern on tracker (the song mode is still rather lacking so i like to make patterns then cycle through manually) or go crazy with PT performance fx too. Just endless potential. And finally achieving that much chased after balance of form function and accessibility but in a dawless capacity. Hoping that more people catch onto the band methodology.
Brilliant advice Ricky .
All the best for 2024🎉
This video could not have come at a better time, just finished a track I’m really happy with.
What a great idea to keep that track and the sounds as a starting point for my next tracks.
Thanks ricky.
And a happy new year.
✌️
Hell yeah! Congratulations on finishing a track. You are proud of. That’s an amazing feeling.
I just put one or two 303s and a 707 on almost everything as a starting point. Not really an unique style but a very good way to get started.
totally, its like wearing the same thing everyday. One less decision so you can get to the next step haha. a bit of an extreme example but im preaching to the choir here
Yes, me too, In my default ableton set I also have a 707 core kit, its great, and use it in most of my tracks!
That's a wonderful advice to start the new year with ❤️
This is something I needed to hear man thank you 😊
Thank YOU for being a member! ❤️
Thanks ! This is really helpful🙏
This is great advice. It makes so much sense.
I love this video, it reminds me off all the stuff that is so iconic in Jungle/DnB. Obviously the drum samples, but also things like Acid's time-stretching, Eventide H3000, the Access Virus, and plenty of other devices. Yes you don't NEED it, but it's hard to iterate on a sound and craft something that feels fresh and new while also belonging to a lineage when you have to approximate through other means. Less ability to iterate or discover something new within that realm.
🙌🏾. Great message!
Finally someone said it! Thanks You So Much🙏❤️🔥
I've found my hardware setup at the moment is a really perfect limited palette to work from and noticed my sound is so much more cohesive - obviously I make new patches but I use the same drum machine and bass synth - love hearing you talk to camera bro - happy Christmas and New year bro
hell yea! there's always a foundation or a root to our music, things on top come and go but the similarity will be there :)
This is exactly what I needed to here right now. Thank you, mister Tinez.
Happy new year!
i needed to hear this
Words to live by. Great advice.
Happy new year dude
I got a ton of Strictly Rhythm records, I could tell you were a fan. I tend to use a lot of the same tones as well, just like a band...
Excellent advice! Thanks for the insights as always
Sounds are a huge part of what makes your own style... problem these days is that many people believe that having more gear will make you better, when it actuality restricts time for actually composing...
On point! Thank you!
Inspiring as always
Great advice Ricky - I really appreciate it! I hope you have a great new year! Cheers
Brilliant advice. Thanks
This is gold! TY
Very good advice, I have so many samples (which I keep adding to!) I just end up never getting anything done!!
Great and honest advice! Thank you
I'm not even a DJ or EDM artist and I can't stop watching Ricky's videos. Thanks TH-cam algorithm!
Love this video
great simple advice, cheers
i agree with this well put !
Yes! I've been waiting for this video. It was the one thing that I noticed in all your video's: you always start out with a dope ass drum groove within a minute, as if you pluck it out of thin air. I always wonder what is behind that.
A follow up video that I'd LOVE to see is how you actually arrive at a drumkit. What is your process for finding a cohesive whole that works for you. Does the drumkit arrive over time, by adjusting your drums track after track, or is it more of a project in a limited time where you get behind your DAW and minitiously nail every single sound once and take it from there, or do you look at it in a very different way? And while arriving at your goto kit, did that involve enlessly scrolling through sample libraries?
Anyway, love your videos, I religiously watch all of them as soon as they drop.
its a combo of solid sounds I like that I know work, as well as having the patterns burned into my vision haha. Which is a blessing and a curse. Lately I've been trying to step out of the typical patterns but its tough
Wise words
any tips for a beginner on how/where to find my own sounds? lets say i want to find some nice kicks for boom bap hiphop beats. where would i start? do i just use the first one i like via sampling old records?
Happy New Year man
Same to you! Thanks for the support :)
Brilliant ❤ yes yes yes
It’s never been said better!
I think there's something to be said about the general culture of emphasizing "unique" sound design as producers. I remember a few years back, a producer friend of mine gave me the critique "it's cool, but some of the sounds sound a little presett-y" and they're sounds I literally made myself. Regardless, presets are there for a reason - to sound good! Literally companies pay people to pack their software with good presets, so people will be inspired to use it and create cool stuff.
I wish I could say that I ignored my friend, but I instead took it to heart and was like "damn, do I need to put more time into my sound design?"
Today, I don't care as much. I love sound design. A lot. But I also just like feeling good when I make music.
The biggest irony is that some of the producers who are revered for their sound design literally use presets (Sam Gellaitry with Omnisphere on his first few releases or Monte Booker using literal basic sine waves with slight modulation) and there's nothing wrong with that. Find what works for ya and make shit you like
Cool vid as ever
That sweater is bad ass.
that was a good one .thx have a great2024
did you release the first song you played at 0:04 ?
Bruv you OK. No stress.
Words 👌🏻
Hope to see you at NAMM I will have a gift for you for your elektron boxes!
Cool stuff. The never ending hand clap that always sounds the same gets sooooo boring. Don’t be afraid to just you a snare yall! ✌️
For those of us interested in unfound sounds it’s actually the opposite. We need to save the notation and keep experimenting and searching for better sounds.
If only the ep133 had been available in the 90s ❤
🤣
Proudly and deliberately picking the default FL template kick snare and hats while ignoring my 300 GB of high quality drum samples i paid for.