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Learning Music - Mixing

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DrunkRandy
Posts: 189 - Karma: 162
I'm really into all sorts of music and the passion for it has really grown. I'm really energetic and when I hear some music poppin somewhere i can never stop just rockin out with my cock out. Anyways, the art of mixing and producing music and putting together stuff that I can play for myself and hopefully other people is really appealing to me. I get a thrill out of a good beat like nothing else.

Id be the first person to say that I am clueless when it comes to music behind the scenes. I don't know the controls, what different parts in a mixing program do, nothing. I'm not knowledgeable about bpm's, synths, whatever.

How do learn about all of this stuff? Most people who DJ and mix for fun have been doing it their whole life. I've always had a passion but I've never tried it and now I want to. Does it take just looking around on google and looking at youtube videos? Any programs you guys recommend I try out to learn the basics?
Nov 13 2013 1:43PM
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
Youtube tutorials, watching live dj sets and hearing different cuts/techniques.

For me amassing a decent library has been the hardest part, especially because I don't listen to deep house or trap or whatever in my everyday life.

Anyways, virtual dj is a decent free program that lets you figure out if you like mixing at all. Then you can only go up in price of controllers and programs and speakers/monitors. Traktor etc.
Nov 13 2013 2:42PM
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DrunkRandy
Posts: 189 - Karma: 162
Awesome thanks! I think my biggest thing is learning the functions of all the different things in the program. Most of the stuff i dont have the slightest clue what it does.
Nov 13 2013 6:18PM
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Tbrazier
Posts: 46 - Karma: 25
Im a huge fan of logic and the new version that was recently released is amazing. Pro Tools is the other popular music editing software. If you are interested in Logic or have any questions, feel free to hit me up!
Nov 13 2013 11:28PM
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panojibber.
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 683
Yeah Logic is fucking amazing software. The addition of the track stacks in the new version is an absolute life saver, not to mention its much nicer to look at and puts your screen size to much better use.

I would never use pro tools if I didn't have to though - the midi editing is crap, it sucks to look at, nothing is intuitive about it, and even people that use it on a daily basis hate it. For your purposes OP... Stay away.

I'd highly recommend logic, but this kind of stuff comes with a steep learning curve and it will be years before you get a decent sounding product with any software.
Nov 14 2013 12:41AM
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DrunkRandy
Posts: 189 - Karma: 162
I have time hahah! Any tips on how to begin this learning curve? Where the heck do i start?
Nov 14 2013 1:26AM
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panojibber.
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 683
If I were you I'd download Logic and just start to mess around and experiment. Just try to get sound out of it initially.. After that point there are so many different areas to learn; composition, theory, synthesis, mixing... There's not really one set way to do things.

Good things to know: MIDI, Piano Roll, Automation, Sends/Bussing, EQs, Filters, VST/AU... Those are some keywords that should get you started.

Also check out r/edmproduction, there are some good resources there for beginners.
Nov 14 2013 11:03AM
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DrunkRandy
Posts: 189 - Karma: 162
Great advice thank you very much! Just what i needed to hear!
Nov 14 2013 12:38PM
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
You can start producing straight off, or you could try mixing/"djing" first to get a feel for the genres. That's what I would suggest.

Of course people like Bauuer produced first and only recently has started to mix his stuff since he's popular. He was pretty bad at first haha but he had massive stoked audiences, talk about pressure for a beginner.
Nov 14 2013 1:49PM
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Brock.
Posts: 5698 - Karma: 1,327
im seeing him in dec, so stoked.

As far as music making programs, you should check out Fruity Loops and Ableton.

Fruity loops is very simple, and easy to start using without much experience.
Nov 14 2013 8:27PM
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DrunkRandy
Posts: 189 - Karma: 162
Awesome! Ill give all these a try!
Nov 15 2013 12:27PM
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mmmyeah
Posts: 2 - Karma: 11
just remember that you'll be producing stuff that sounds like absolute garbage. its guarenteed - expect it - nurture it! you'll get there. knowing music theory heaps ALOT when it comes to writing melodies, get that and sound design down and you'll make any DAW your bitch.

(sound design usually comes from external VSTs)
Nov 16 2013 4:21AM
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lIllI
Posts: 1255 - Karma: 1,986
Youtube
Nov 16 2013 4:10PM
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Hodor
Posts: 503 - Karma: 2,578
As others have said watch youtube videos for instructions. For ideas and inspiration, there are some awesome videos showing producers like avicci and swedish house mafia producing their music in studio.

The best thing to do is just to get a music production program (logic or Fruity loops are great), and mess around and experiment with everything in there. A lot of producers get certain sounds just by experimenting and fiddling around with synths and stuff like that.

I will say that the one rule in music production is that there are no rules. There is way too much unoriginality within electronic music nowadays. Don't get caught up trying to mimic other producers sounds. If you create what sounds good to you and don't worry about how others might feel about your music success will follow.
Nov 17 2013 1:56PM
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