Im feelin good... I think Im gettin the hang of it!

Tall T · Jul 21, 2007

Okay so if any of you guys remember I posted a song that was recorded at my house about a month back when I first got my home studio set up and I recieved a lot of critisism and pointers on what to do better... Well I've been workin on learnin this equipment (Tascam Digital 8track mixer and Cubase SX3) and I really think Im startin to get the hang of it... Here's a link to one of our group songs I jus mixed down: http://www.zshare.net/audio/2798115a60ed07/
I havent added any effects to it because at this point it seems like whenever I add something to it, it makes it sound worse instead of better... So all I got is the 'You Wa Shock' plugin added that I copt off this forum (thanks for the DL btw) and the song is sounding pretty nice... I need to turn the chorus up some and I think a little bit of echo should be added when I say 'Main One' during the hook... Any suggestions? high fives? critisism? Lol all is welcome... By the way, Im on the hook and 2nd verse for anybody wondering...

*edit* here's a more finished version: http://www.zshare.net/audio/28002301291379/

Tall T · Jul 21, 2007

By the way... Im sorry if this thread is against the rules, Im just learning and I figure the peeps in the studio section can help me more than any other section of this site

City Situation · Jul 21, 2007

Sounds good to me.

BOOBOO619 · Jul 22, 2007

WOW, sounds clean man. Good $hit.

You made the beat?

Tall T · Jul 22, 2007

BOOBOO619 said:

Naw bro I didnt make that beat, I just recorded an mixed the track... Plus spit on it of course lol. This track is going on our mixtape so they arent all origanal beats (some are mainstream, some are from soundclick, some with dudes permission to use non exclusively).
I just turned the chorus up a tad an clean some things up, also added a little reverb to the backups an the hook... lemme know if it all sounds good: http://www.zshare.net/audio/28002301291379/

MAC WE$TERN · Jul 22, 2007

How do u hook that up to fruity loops? Does it work with Reason as well? I never messed with any vst's before.

BOOBOO619 · Jul 22, 2007

MAC WE$TERN said:

VST plugins are a MUST IMHO, especially with a program like Fruity Loops. There's so many high quality instruments and effect plugins you can get.

If your running version 7 of FL Studio, to make it really easy for you, just install all these VST plugins to this folder: C:\Program Files\Image-Line\FL Studio 7\Plugins\VST and Fruity loops will automatically find them for you without you having to add the folder path yourself.

Do this for Instrument plugins (not effects):
After you install them, just load up FL, then go to the Channels menu, then Add one, then More..., then go down to the bottom of the list and click on REFRESH, then Fast scan (recommended) and finally after FL finds those plugins they will come up as a RED color and alls you have to do then is select them by clicking on the little boxes. Then close down that big list, go back to the Channels menu and then load them in like you would any other instrument.

To install FX plugins, do the same exact thing, but instead do it from the FX Mixer. Just click on any of the FX inserts (1-8), click on Select, More... and follow the same steps as above.

*BTW, sometimes a lot of freeware plugins just come with the ".dll" file and no installer. The .dll file is the actual VST plugin. So to install that, just manually put it in that VST plugins folder or extract it to that folder.

It's really simple, I like how FL Studio gives you the option to select your own plugins after it finds them, most other programs just select them for you and in some cases if you have too many plugins, it'll freeze because of a incompatible plugin or some $hit.

Mr. Samos · Jul 22, 2007

Reason doesn't support VST, or Audio for that matter.

Personally I think FL Studio is kind of a toy IMO. It doesn't offer me anything. I think it's plugin support is rather weak also. But hey, use what you got and what you like, I'm not downing it, I just can't stand it anymore, it's so un-professional for my taste.

Now to get this thread back on track:

Tall T: The track sounds alright. Your mixing has taken a huge leap since your last drop, so, you are getting better. As far as the hang of things, well, that takes a long time, you can learn to master YOUR setup, and get the hang of your setup, but, be patient.

Not bad.

Tall T · Jul 22, 2007

Mr. Samos said:

Thanks for takin the time to peep and respond pimp! much appreciated

BOOBOO619 · Jul 22, 2007

Mr. Samos said:

I seriously don't understand what's so un-professional about it or why people keep dogging it and calling it a TOY. I see it as a great tool, just as any other plugin or host. It's all a matter of personal preference.

Reason why I think it gets dogged is because 1st of all it's name, "Fruity Loops," the name sounds toyish and unprofessional to begin with. Big reason why the company decided to change & condense it to FL Studio rather than the full out name Fruity Loops. 2nd, there's SO MANY d@mn users (especially Pirated software users), therefore there's going to be a lot of crappy examples of songs floating around on the internet. Most of these people ain't that serious, just kids "trying" to make beats. 3rd, a lot of people trying to start off think that FL is the one stop program and you don't need to look further. What I mean is FL comes with built-in samples & built-in instruments/FX, therefore those barely beginning think that's all you need. However, that's where they went wrong, they settled for those BS built-in samples, instruments and FX. Not that all the instruments/FX suck, but the built-in samples DEFINITELY DO. 4th, the GUI (Graphical User Interface) is unique & might be too graphical for some as it doesn't sport that conventional plain windows look. I like it though, especially the Browser sample pallete, really conventional.

So I personally see FL more as a tool, such as a drummachine. A drummachine on steroids though. I think it's better strictly for beat making, vocal recordings should be added through other programs I think.

Mr. Samos · Jul 22, 2007

BOOBOO619: Good response. When I say Toy, I don't mean as a whole. I just mean little things that bug me, and some big things. For instance, a lot of the technical terminology used in the DAW is, wrong. It's not all proper terminology. That bugged me somewhat. Another thing is the uniqueness of the sequencer itself. The Step Sequencer and the Paylist together are very unique. However I don't like the way they work. Reason is the most unique software I've seen yet, and even IT follows the standard multi-track-style sequencer. I don't like the Playlist, I don't like the Step Sequencer, I don't even like the Piano Roll. It's just not my type of program you know? I like to stick by the standard, it's what I've always used. Making a bunch of melodies and loops on a step sequencer and then drawing all of those channels in on a playlist is, not my style.

However, I do give Image Line props for there plugins, they make some nice plugins, and FL Studio is getting much better.

I also like the Fruity Sampler/Wrapper. It makes chopping up samples very easy and it's a very cool little feature, however, I still prefer Kontakt over it!

Cubase SX is just, the WAY to go IMO. It offers everything, it's a highly regarded and respected DAW, and it's such an easy program to use, and you can tweak every little aspect of your composition with it.

So, it boils down to preference.

Tall T: No problem dude. The track has a good feel to it. I like the beat. Sorry your thread got Hi-Jacked, atleast it will stay up in the forum! lol.

BOOBOO619 · Jul 22, 2007

Mr. Samos said:

I know what your saying, but as far as Cubase SX being the WAY to go, that's still a matter of preference. I bet if I used it, I would have a lot of trouble making shit on it because I'm so used to FL Studio's layout. I find FL easy as hell to use, just as you find Cubase easy to use. I think it just depends on your style and how you like to use the program. I personally like to stick in one pattern in the beginning when I make my shit, then I split the individual tracks out into their own pattern later for the final "song" mix down. When I do everything in one pattern first I find it easy because it all just loops for you and you can just mute out elements & turn them on like a live session to see how it would sound in a song type setup. And as far as FL not following the standard linear style sequencing, I think that's fine, it's still all a matter of personal preference. I see no problems in breaking shit down into patterns and then re-arranging them in the playlist. It's still linear though, shit flows from left to right, so it's not like it's super unique. It's just a different way of breaking things down into patterns. BTW, how can you not like FL Studio's piano roll, that shit is crisp as hell.

How you like this new beat of mine, just made it this morning?
http://www.zshare.net/audio/28087003404a50/

Chilled out style

Tall T · Jul 22, 2007

Mr. Samos said:

Lol I'm not even trippin. I'm just glad to get a lil feedback from dudes who actually know what they're talkin about instead of just some highschool kids sayin 'yeah that songs cool' or 'that shit goes'... haha that doesnt really tell me much you know? I guess I'll take this time to say add our group page if you're feelin the music Lol http://www.myspace.com/looneyboyz

Sick Wid It · Jul 22, 2007

Honestly, I think the beat is responsible for the songs appeal. The vocals are really weak. The rappers sound like they lack confidence and vocal strength which I'm guessing is due in part to not having recorded much (if at all) before, and maybe not used to hearing their own voice as well. Lyrically they sound like a zillion other "rappers".

Overall it's nothing I would buy or play in the car but it's on par for someone who's just starting out. The song as a whole could be better although I've heard much worse. You could improve the song by re-recording the vocals and telling them to sound like they actually want to be recording this time, and mix everything from scratch starting with the beat. The last thing you want your music to be is plain & boring cuz that doesn't give anyone a reason to care if they ever hear it again.

And about people considering Fruity Loops to be toy'ish and subpar for "real" music production... It wasn't intended be professional-grade recording/production software, or designed to be direct competition for Cubase, Logic, Pro-Tools, etc... Its always been more of a novelty for younger people who want to fuck around and make beats (there are a couple more programs like this coming down the pipeline btw, aligned with big name producers). Fruity Loops became widely popular with its audience and that's what caused the shift in thinking that they might actually be able to turn it into something. The companies whole adjusted advertising & marketing approach proves it. Either way, it's got a ways to go before it could become a serious contender, and would require a rebuild from the ground up.

Mr. Samos · Jul 22, 2007

BOOBOO619 said:

Lacks in midi editing.

City Situation · Jul 22, 2007

Yeah Fruity Loops is a pain. Here's some beats I made with it:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=548704
Fruity Loops in some ways eases the creative flow (because of all the things you can do in just one program), but at the simplest point, it makes the creative flow hard. The simplest point being the Step Sequencer and Playlist system.

Unfortunately I have grown used to Fruity Loops and now I need to learn other programs. MPCs are still so easy for me though. I love them. I don't have one though. The advantage FL Studio has over it, is it's so easy to keep a large sound bank and then just play the samples as notes, and there's a lotta VSTi and looping options so you can play sustained notes. So I like how you can play a lotta different instruments on FL Studio, but on MPC it's mainly sample based. That's why I gotta get the MPC + Keyboard setup. But there again, Fruity Loops does have an advantage. Yeah keyboards will have much better sounds, but in Fruity Loops you can easily get more. On keyboards you have to transfer them from the computer. Also I haven't gotten used to editing keyboard sounds, I can only do it in Fruity Loops (Channel Settings with LFO, Envelopes, etc).

Also one thing I don't like about it is, I got to use FL7, and in the Templates > Hip Hop it says "everything you need for a hip hop beat" (something like that), and they have gunshot sounds. I don't think I'm gonna pay for Fruity Loops any time soon.

BOOBOO619 · Jul 22, 2007

City Situation said:

Yeah Fruity Loops is a pain. Here's some beats I made with it:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=548704
Fruity Loops in some ways eases the creative flow (because of all the things you can do in just one program), but at the simplest point, it makes the creative flow hard. The simplest point being the Step Sequencer and Playlist system.

Unfortunately I have grown used to Fruity Loops and now I need to learn other programs. MPCs are still so easy for me though. I love them. I don't have one though. The advantage FL Studio has over it, is it's so easy to keep a large sound bank and then just play the samples as notes, and there's a lotta VSTi and looping options so you can play sustained notes. So I like how you can play a lotta different instruments on FL Studio, but on MPC it's mainly sample based. That's why I gotta get the MPC + Keyboard setup. But there again, Fruity Loops does have an advantage. Yeah keyboards will have much better sounds, but in Fruity Loops you can easily get more. On keyboards you have to transfer them from the computer. Also I haven't gotten used to editing keyboard sounds, I can only do it in Fruity Loops (Channel Settings with LFO, Envelopes, etc).

Also one thing I don't like about it is, I got to use FL7, and in the Templates > Hip Hop it says "everything you need for a hip hop beat" (something like that), and they have gunshot sounds. I don't think I'm gonna pay for Fruity Loops any time soon.

Don't rely on any templates or built-in sounds bro. If you know exactly what your doing, musically, then you should be able to do anything you want without using templates n shit. FL Studio is great, but I think it's best to strip it down first or just desregard the built-in samples, then add in your own shit. Create your own samples folder and also add in plugins.

Mr. Samos · Jul 22, 2007

City Situation said:

Unfortunately I have grown used to Fruity Loops and now I need to learn other programs. MPCs are still so easy for me though. I love them. I don't have one though. The advantage FL Studio has over it, is it's so easy to keep a large sound bank and then just play the samples as notes, and there's a lotta VSTi and looping options so you can play sustained notes. So I like how you can play a lotta different instruments on FL Studio, but on MPC it's mainly sample based. That's why I gotta get the MPC + Keyboard setup. But there again, Fruity Loops does have an advantage. Yeah keyboards will have much better sounds, but in Fruity Loops you can easily get more. On keyboards you have to transfer them from the computer. Also I haven't gotten used to editing keyboard sounds, I can only do it in Fruity Loops (Channel Settings with LFO, Envelopes, etc).

Huh?

FL Studio has zero advantage over an MPC. The Akai MPC is one of the most powerful and versatile pieces of hardware you could incorporate into any studio, period.

Mr. Samos · Jul 22, 2007

By the way, with workstations you don't need to transfer anything, unless you composed an entire beat inside the workstation and wanted to transfer/export the tracks into Pro Tools or something, for example by recording each sequence on the workstation into separate tracks on a DAW. However, you can just hook up your workstation and slave it off of the DAW if you wanted, and play the tracks directly into it through midi. You can slave it off of an MPC also and play directly into the MPC. Hardware is very compatible when it comes to things like this, there really are no limitations. The only thing to keep in mind is preserving quality. And if you wanted to transfer sounds into your workstation, you wouldn't need to, you could just use your workstation as a controller and play the sounds into the DAW, no transfering needed.

INCHEZ · Jul 22, 2007

for just gettin into the production side... I think it sounds good
keep it up pimpin

Im feelin good... I think Im gettin the hang of it!

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