ich bin mal so frei und poste hier die 10 goldenen regeln vom shiva aus em neue Forum, sehr wegweisend
http://www.acidfx.gr/forum/
1. LESS IS MORE
Too much FX, too much notes in a phrase, too much elements, too much breaks, too much compression, too much limiting... All of those are worth avoiding. Effects are however among most abused from the above list... so remember, less is more!
2. MATHEMATICS
There is no music without mathematics. Notes and octaves are mathematical ratios. Try to pay attention to Hz value of root notes and slightly cut with EQ on even octaves for percussions and consider applying filters in regard to Hz value also.
Note duration (1/8, 1/8T, 1/16, 1/32 etc.) can be easily converted to micro seconds (msec). For example 1/16 on a 144 bpm tempo is 104,12 msec.
- If your bass line is playing mostly in 1/16 than decay on envelope should be less than 104 msec to avoid overlaping of bass notes.
- Also if you apply compression attack and release times should also fit into period of 104 msec.
- If you synthesize kick drum than decay should also be less than 104 msec and pitch envelope can be half or quater of this time (52 or 26 msec)
Those are just few examples but this calculations can be applied to almost anything. They give nice starting point for compression, synthesis and other FX tweaking.
More brave and those not in a hurry to finish track and become famous should contemplate a bit about Fibonacci series and how it can be integrated into music. The golden ratio (1 : 1,618) is also worth investigating. Some alternative tunings (phy scales, lucy 432 etc) fit better into certain mathematical laws and can sound more in tune than standard A=440 tuning.
3. COHERENCE
A tempo of 144 bpm is equivalent of 2,4 Hz pulse. All lfo modulations if coherent with 2,4 Hz will fit the track perfectly. Most of FX provide quite narrow choice for "sync to host tempo" modulations. By manualy defining rate of modulation you can increase complexity of modulations while remaining perfect coherence.
4. ANALYZERS
Always keep some kind of frequency analyzer at sight. Don't use it as a reference but rather think of it as a tool that's showing you what you don't hear. Human hearing can be trained beyond your wildest dreams. When you see the sound in the analyzer it is easier to focus your hearing and training can become really fast. Further on if you use 6dB slope you can adjust elements volume to it and start mixing from that point. That way you will be close to standard CD volume balance.
5. FIX IT IN THE MIX
Perfect mix requires no mastering! Don't expect some magic from mastering and expect that it will make your tracks sound better. Magic is in the mix process!!!
6. KNOW THE TOOLS YOU'RE USING AND RTFM
Reading manuals will improve your music more than installing 300 FX plugins and randomly twisting knobs on them until you get something meaningful. Know the signal path for each soft synth or instrument you're using. That's the only way you can know what to expect from knob twisting. Browsing presets is not music making! Do you make your music or is your music making you?
7. LISTEN A LOT
It's important to have a reference for your music. Listen carefully music you like and focus on details. But don't think of reference as a goal... Music making is not something that needs to get good enough. It should get better than the reference you choose. Innovation is better than imitation!
8. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
Don't get bound by genres or other musical forms. Don't try to fit in... rather try to stand out!
9. INVESTIGATE IN YOUR CREATIVITY
We are all creative but some have a hard time reaching that layer of self. When you're focused on success you're projecting your ego. When ego is on the "surface" your creativity is on the "bottom". But when you're focused on others (not self focused) your ego is at the "bottom" and your creativity is easy to reach. More you practice it better you will manage to use your creativity.
10. DON'T NAME YOUR TRACKS UNTIL YOU FINISH THEM
When you give name to something you only risk to attach to the name rather than to music. If you think of good track name write it down to txt file and save it for the track that you will finish because it is a good track. Finishing tracks with the nice name can turn out to be waste of time and track name.
